Anna Samios In-House Program:
Scaling Up the 'A' Team at Hansen Yuncken

“Anna is a champion. You don’t often come across people with her enthusiasm and genuine interest in helping people. This is more than a job to her… it’s her passion.”

Peter Salveson | CEO Hansen Yuncken | Scaling Up In-House Program

Stepping in and scaling up


Hansen Yuncken is an Australian construction business with more than 100 years of history behind it. It’s a mature business with an annual turnover in excess of $1.2 billion.

Even CEO Peter Salveson admits that the business isn’t your typical Scaling Up candidate.

But when Peter stepped into the CEO role 2016, he engaged a coach who recommended he read Scaling Up. Peter was quickly engrossed in the book and the methodology.

When I first read the book, I was quite impressed with some of the concepts. It was the first management book I had read that had a structured process and guidelines in terms of what to do.

The great thing about Scaling Up is that no matter whether you are a small or large business, you can meld the concepts to suit your business.”

A strong connection


After Peter read Scaling Up, he was hooked. And he wanted to know more.

He started by visiting the Scaling Up website where he came across Anna Samios’s details as an accredited Scaling Up coach.

Once Peter and Anna first met, it was very clear to him that he had made the right choice.

The connection we had was strong from the very beginning. I started working with Anna on how to apply some of the Scaling Up methodology in our organisation.

One thing we decided to do early on was a bit of self-education for our senior leaders on some of the Scaling Up concepts. We then built a strategic council, and Anna came to each of our quarterly meetings to give us a detailed rundown of how the concepts work in practice.”

AS - Construction sites

The nuances of the construction industry


Peter had worked at Hansen Yuncken for more than two decades before stepping into the CEO role. He knew the business and the industry inside out. But it’s not often that you find a coach or business advisor who can dive into the business and quickly develop a deep understanding of the business and the environment it operates in.

There’s a lot of risk factors in the construction industry that impact on our success,” explains Peter.

There are a number of external factors that we don’t control. Our projects are multimillion dollar projects that run over multiple years, rather than figures we can track daily.

At every turn, Anna has picked up the nuances of the construction industry. She has developed a strong fundamental understanding of the challenges from a strategy angle to give a view of what we might achieve in a competitive environment.”

Daylight bulb

Clarity of thought processes


Like every Anna Samios In-House Program, Anna created a tailored program to suit Hansen Yuncken and its requirements. For Peter, the benefit was in the clear path that Anna laid for the team.

The work we do with Anna is very tailored to our organisation, with very specific exercises.

The process has given me clarity of thought, particularly in terms of the development of the strategy process. The focus on people has been very important and we have done a lot of work around that. Anna has been a great help to me and has a significant effect on the organisation.”

A team of A-players


One of the conversations that Peter had with Anna was about issues in the business that might affect its ability to win work and deliver profitability.

That conversation was a springboard to implement one of the Scaling Up concepts – having a team of ‘A’ players.

Since that time, we have started on a whole new culture piece. We have worked through a program of top grade coaching, including coaching on hiring staff.

We’ve taken a very serious look at our talent mapping and an ‘A’ player review. This resulted in a significant amount of change to the leaders in our business, to make sure that we have the right people in our business for the future.”

Are you ready to Scale Up?


Anna Samios will get you there. Anna has helped hundreds of Australian companies achieve their most ambitious goals. And she can help you too. Find out more about working with Anna.

Read more Success Stories

Anna Samios’s Success Stories

Right now, over 280 Australian companies are reaching their goals and enjoying sustained growth, thanks to certified Scaling Up coach, Anna Samios. From established family businesses through to tech industry start-ups, Anna’s passion and proven process drive real results.
It's a promise that’s 100% backed by her personal guarantee.
Scaling Up - Icebergs Dining Room and Bar
Learn More
Scaling Up - Alcidion
Learn More
Scaling Up - ACS Engineers
Learn More
Scaling Up - Danrae Group
Learn More