Scalewise is proud to share an update on our ongoing partnership with Speak & Share, a preventive mental health charity making a meaningful difference across Victoria and Australia.
Two years ago, Hayden Surrao, Managing Director of Scalewise, joined the Speak & Share Advisory Board – bringing governance expertise and strategic advisory support to a passionate, mission-driven team. What has unfolded since is a genuine story of organisational growth, driven by the founders’ commitment to building something that lasts.
Strengthening governance from within
A key focus of the Advisory Board’s work has been establishing a structured approach to governance. Together with the founders, we have developed a comprehensive governance schedule that has brought clarity and consistency to Speak & Share’s decision-making processes. The result is an organisation that now operates with a clear framework for oversight and accountability – the kind of foundation that allows a charity to grow with confidence rather than risk.
Founders stepping into leadership
One of the most significant markers of Speak & Share’s maturity has been the evolution of its founding team. With Scalewise support, the founders worked through the development of defined General Manager roles, each with clear individual responsibilities, accountabilities, and expectations. This wasn’t change imposed from the outside; it was a deliberate step taken by a founding team ready to professionalise and lead at the next level.
A more structured organisation
Alongside the leadership work, Speak & Share undertook a broader reorganisation of its charity structure, reviewing how the organisation was set up and ensuring it was positioned to operate efficiently, meet its obligations, and deliver on its mission as it continues to expand. These are the kinds of decisions that reflect genuine organisational maturity.
Connecting performance to purpose
KPIs were developed across each functional area of the charity, aligned directly to Speak & Share’s strategy and budget. For a growing organisation, having measurable targets that connect daily work to the bigger picture is a significant step – and one the founders embraced as part of their commitment to continuous improvement.
Building financial resilience
Financial sustainability has been another priority. Through improved cash flow management, tighter overhead discipline, and a deliberate strategy to diversify revenue streams, Speak & Share has worked to build a more resilient and self-sufficient funding model. Reducing dependence on any single income source is a hallmark of a maturing charity, and it’s an area where the team has made real progress.
Growing as leaders
Beyond the structural work, the founders have invested in their own professional development, engaging openly with mentoring, feedback, and new ways of thinking about leadership. That willingness to grow personally is often what separates charities that scale from those that stall.
A partnership that’s about the mission
Scalewise’s role within the Advisory Board has always been to support, to offer perspective, ask the right questions, and help create the conditions for Speak & Share to find its own answers. The progress made over the past two years belongs to the team behind the charity.
As a veteran-owned business advisory, Scalewise is committed to positive mental health advocacy and to supporting purpose-driven organisations to thrive. We’re proud to be a small part of Speak & Share’s journey, and we look forward to watching them continue to grow their reach and impact for young Australians.
