Geoff Tarrant describes himself as the “reluctant CEO”. Unlike those entrepreneurs who seem destined to run their own companies, having hustled since they were toddlers running lemonade stands, Tarrant was a sporty, sensible kid. He only studied commerce after his father persuaded him to try something other than playing AFL for his beloved Richmond Tigers.

Tarrant didn’t set out to be a co-founder of construction payments company Payapps, much less lead it to a $600 million sale early last year. When he stepped in to run the business in 2020 after six years as an investor, he was plagued by self-doubt.