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The Real Biz Life Chronicles
Unedited stories of Business, Branding and Life.
Banish boring as Tracy Fryer and her guests take a ride on the rollercoaster of being a business owner - or of simply being human! Get ready to learn exactly what it takes to grow with distinction and show mediocrity the middle finger. In this podcast Tracy interview’s authentic business owners, who share their story of building a successful business, their strategies behind their success and leading the way.
RAW. Honest. Unedited.
The Real Biz Life Chronicles
#097 Darren Bowles on Leading with Humility
He moved his young family across the world with nothing but a suitcase and a gut instinct that life could be different.
Darren Bowles didn’t set out to build a business. He started as an apprentice in a cereal factory. Today, he leads billion-dollar projects in autonomous mining and carries that responsibility with a calm most people never see.
This conversation isn’t about status, titles or scale. It’s about what leadership really looks like behind the scenes. When the deadlines pile up, the sacrifices hit home, and you're the one people are counting on.
Darren talks about the power of empathy in technical environments, the mental cost of hard work, and why remembering people’s birthdays might be the most important thing a leader can do.
He doesn't speak in slogans. He shares his story to help others. And it shows.
If you're trying to lead, build, or simply stay grounded under pressure, this episode is for you.
In This Episode:
(03:38) From Cornflakes to Control Systems. Darren’s engineering roots
(06:23) Being a “natural born worrier” and using it as a leadership strength
(09:38) Why he left the UK for Perth and never looked back
(13:23) The truth about hard work (and the toll it can take)
(16:38) What most people get wrong about project management
(22:11) The “wish list” vs “will-do” method for managing overwhelm
(23:01) How GTE Group began, a story of three mates, Dome café, and a plan
(31:01) Navigating high-pressure moments and asking for help
(34:20) Why he still encourages young engineers to talk to him
(42:04) Darren’s mentorship offer
(51:00) What he’d say in a TED Talk: resilience, reality, and the work-life “juggle”
About Darren Bowles
Darren is a Chartered Electrical Engineer and Project Manager with extensive experience in mining, automation, and control systems. He is a co-founder of GTE Group, where he leads with quiet strength and a deep commitment to people and progress.
Connect: LinkedIn | GTE Group
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About Tracy:
Tracy Fryer is a branding powerhouse, speaker, and founder of Design Studio Perth and Trace Designs Bespoke. She’s dedicated to helping business owners and creatives build brands that truly reflect their values, passions, and long-term vision. As the host of The Real Biz Life Chronicles, Tracy brings raw, insightful conversations that push entrepreneurs to embrace bold growth, develop strategic branding, and lead with unapologetic confidence. Her approach is refreshingly real—blending deep expertise with a passion for authenticity, creative excellence, and business success.
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