Tom & Mick: Building a Wagyu Business, Managing Market Cycles and Leading with Purpose with Anna Speer

Welcome to the Tom & Mick Show! This week, Tom & Mick sit down with Anna Speer, whose career has taken her from teaching and AgTech to leadership roles with AuctionsPlus, Australian Agricultural Company, Woolworths and now Stone Axe.

Anna shares what she’s learnt about building strong teams, making commercial decisions and creating long-term value, while unpacking how Stone Axe is building a vertically integrated Wagyu business from conception through to consumption.

In this episode:

Anna’s unconventional career through agriculture and AgTechWhat private equity brings to an agricultural businessHow vertical integration can reduce exposure to market volatilityUsing 10-year herd modelling to make better decisions todayManaging rising feed, fuel and labour costsWhy building your own brand isn’t always the best strategyWagyu genetics, premium markets and future growthBuilding teams and adapting your leadership to different peopleChapters

00:00 Introduction and catching up with Anna Speer

03:01 Anna’s career through agriculture and AgTech

07:49 From Woolworths to Stone Axe

12:39 Private equity and commercial decision-making

19:29 Wagyu genetics and growing Stone Axe

26:14 Managing market cycles and supply chains

31:20 Herd modelling and planning 10 years ahead

36:00 Consumer trends and Wagyu’s premium market