Episode
EP 18: Building a Business That Can Grow Without You with David Askew
- Podcast
- CEO Whisperer by Saurabh
- Published
- Jun 2, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 4676
- Processing state
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Summary
What does it really take to build a company that can scale beyond the founder? In this insightful and strategic episode, Saurabh Jain sits down with David Askew , founder of Fast Automation , to explore the realities of building, scaling, and eventually stepping back from a successful technology-driven business. David shares his journey from leaving the UK and moving to Australia to building a career in engineering and launching Fast Automation in 1998. What started as a one-person operation grew into a successful automation company delivering complex robotics, engineering, and technology solutions across industries. The conversation explores one of the biggest challenges many entrepreneurs face: moving from being the person driving every part of the business to creating systems, teams, and processes that allow the company to thrive independently. Together, Saurabh and David unpack the founder transition journey, including leadership development, succession planning, hiring the right people, and preparing a business for long-term growth or a potential exit. They also dive into the future of automation, robotics, and AI, discussing how emerging technologies are transforming industries, changing workforce needs, and creating new opportunities for businesses willing to adapt. Beyond strategy, David reflects on entrepreneurship, self-belief, imposter syndrome, and why many successful founders underestimate the unique skills and decisions that contributed to their success. What You’ll Learn in This Episode David Askew’s journey from engineering to founding Fast Automation How Fast Automation grew from a one-person company into a successful automation business Why founders struggle to remove themselves from daily operations How to build systems that allow a company to scale…