The Quest for Success

Welcome! Thanks for joining us on this journey. We are a father and son duo on the quest to find the formula to success, and understand what success means to different people. Our goal is to take a deep dive into people's stories and interview people from a range of backgrounds in this quest for success. About us: Jam is an experienced founder with over 18 years of experience. He is passionate about helping businesses overcome their supply-chain challenges and achieve success. He is in his final year of the Harvard OPM program where he is deepening his knowledge and network. Dylan is a renewable energy engineer turned entrepreneur, currently working on building a community based equipment rental platform. He recently completed the Stanford ignite program, a business and entrepreneurship course where he found his love for the startup hustle. Together, we are on the quest, the quest for success!

The Quest for Success is a business podcast hosted by Dylan Pathirana and Jamitha Pathirana, with 123 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Dylan Pathirana and Jamitha Pathirana hosts The Quest for Success, a business show with 123 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #123

  Why Compassion Beats Passion - Scott Chapman AM

  Aug 26, 20261 hourS1

  He turned a $2 million fundraising auxiliary into a $62 million healthcare provider, without being a doctor or a pilot. In this episode of The Quest for Success Podcast, Jam and Dylan Pathirana sit down with Scott Chapman AM, former CEO of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Victorian Section), for an honest conversation on leadership, impact, and what it actually takes to lead one of Australia's most trusted organisations through crisis after crisis. Scott shares his early life and influences, his unexpected path from teaching into leadership, and the moment he joined the Royal Flying Doctor Service in a role far removed from medicine or aviation. He walks us through how he built genuine conviction around fundraising, the discipline required to grow an organisation responsibly, and the leadership principles that carried him through some of the most difficult periods imaginable, including devastating bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic. The conversation explores the hardest part of leading a resource-limited organisation: deciding what not to do. Scott reflects on impact-driven leadership, the long-term thinking required even when it demands short-term sacrifice, and why authenticity and trust are the real foundations of any lasting relationship, with donors, staff, or communities. He also opens up about legacy, recognition, retirement, and what success actually means to him after a career spent in service of others. This episode is a powerful reminder that some of the most important leadership lessons come not from titles or credentials, but from a genuine commitment to impact. What we cover: Scott Chapman's early life and influences Defining success and career beginnings The unexpected path from teaching to leadership Joining the Royal Flying Doctor Service Building conviction in fundraising Leading through bushfires and COVID-19 Deciding what not to do with limited resources Legacy and long-term impact in nonprofit work Recognition, retirement, and evaluating new opportunities Final reflections on success and leadership Some of our favourite quotes: "Impact-driven leadership is about action and results." "Curiosity fuels innovation and cross-pollination." "Authenticity and trust build strong relationships." Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Guest Background 02:46 Defining Success and Early Influences 04:43 Career Path from Teaching to Leadership 08:52 Joining the Royal Flying Doctors Service 12:49 Building Conviction in Fundraising 18:06 Leading Through Crises: Bushfires and COVID-19 26:28 Deciding What Not to Do 40:43 Legacy and Impact 45:16 Recognition and Retirement 47:18 Evaluating Opportunities 51:35 Defining Success and Legacy 54:36 Final Reflections and Key Traits #QuestForSuccess #ScottChapman #RoyalFlyingDoctorService #Leadership #CrisisManagement #Nonprofit #Fundraising #Legacy #ImpactDrivenLeadership #LongTermThinking #Authenticity #AustralianCharity #BusinessPodcast #Inspiration Follow us on all your favourite platforms: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheQuestforSuccessPod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Quest-For-Success-Podcast/61560418629272/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thequestforsuccesspod/ Twitter: https://x.com/quest4success_ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-quest-for-success TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thequestforsuccesspod Website : www.thequestforsuccesspodcast.com Please share this around to anyone you think will get value from it : )

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  Episode #122

  Why This Olympian Chose Purpose Over Prize Money | Rhydian Cowley

  Aug 19, 20261h 11mS1

  He collapsed with heatstroke at the World Championships. A year later, he won an Olympic bronze medal. In this episode of The Quest for Success Podcast, Jam and Dylan Pathirana sit down with Rhydian Cowley, a three-time Australian Olympic race walker, for an honest conversation about resilience, reinvention, and building a life around a sport most people barely understand. Rhydian shares his journey from his early upbringing and the influence of his parents, through years of steady, largely unrewarded training, to the mental breakthrough that finally unlocked his potential. He walks us through his experience across three Olympic Games, including his performance at Rio 2016, the lessons learned from setbacks, and the moment everything clicked at Tokyo. He also opens up about the pressure of competing in an entirely new Olympic event, the mixed relay at Paris 2024, and what it actually felt like to win bronze alongside teammate Jemima Montag. The conversation goes well beyond the track. Rhydian talks candidly about balancing elite sport with a full-time career, the mental strategies that kept him grounded through pressure and setbacks, and why he believes success is a mindset that changes with circumstances rather than a fixed destination. He also shares how he's used his platform for climate advocacy, winning the BBC Green Sport Athlete of the Year award, and his ongoing work in conservation with Bush Heritage Australia. This episode is a powerful reminder that consistency, not flashiness, is what actually carries people through the long game, whether that's an Olympic career or anything else worth building. What we cover: Rhydian Cowley's early upbringing and his parents' influence What success means to Rhydian and how that definition has evolved Balancing elite sport with study and a professional career The road to Rio 2016 and lessons from his first Olympics The differences between the 20K and 50K race walk events Breaking through at Tokyo after years of plateauing Winning Olympic bronze in the mixed relay at Paris 2024 Mental strategies for handling pressure and staying grounded Transitioning into a mentoring role for younger athletes Using his platform for climate advocacy and sustainability His work at Bush Heritage Australia Missing the Commonwealth Games and reframing setbacks Knowing when to retire and what comes next "Success is a mindset that changes with circumstances." "Consistency in training is more valuable than flashiness." "Supporting teammates can be a huge motivator." Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to the episode and guest, Rhydian Cowley 00:29 What success means to Rhydian 03:15 Early upbringing and how his parents shaped him 05:14 When he realised race walking was his sport 07:45 Balancing elite sport with study and work 14:02 First Olympic qualifier and the road to Rio 2016 17:54 Learning from the Rio Olympics experience 19:35 Differences between the 20K and 50K race walk events 21:18 Mindset when results don't go your way 22:58 Breaking through in Tokyo and realising untapped capacity 24:59 What race walking training looks like 26:04 How his approach changed over time as a veteran athlete 28:43 Paris 2024 mixed relay bronze with Jemima 33:05 Pressure of competing in a new Olympic event 34:22 How winning an Olympic medal felt 36:11 Transitioning into a mentoring role for younger athletes 38:10 Mental strategies for handling pressure and staying grounded 40:39 The team behind an individual sport 42:21 Family and friends supporting races in person 44:12 How long race walkers can stay competitive 45:08 Winning the BBC Green Sport Athlete of the Year award 50:07 Work at Bush Heritage Australia and conservation efforts 53:45 A normal week balancing training, work, and life 55:31 Missing the Commonwealth Games and reframing setbacks 59:53 Advice for young athletes aspiring to become Olympians 61:32 Knowing when to retire 64:30 What's next in his athletic and personal life 65:50 Final question: does he feel successful? 66:30 Host reflection on Rhydian's core traits 68:35 Closing remarks and farewell #QuestForSuccess #RhydianCowley #Olympian #RaceWalking #MentalResilience #SportsPsychology #ClimateAdvocacy #Mindfulness #Leadership #Sustainability #SuccessMindset #Podcast #Inspiration #TeamAustralia #Paris2024 Follow us on all your favourite platforms: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheQuestforSuccessPod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Quest-For-Success-Podcast/61560418629272/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thequestforsuccesspod/ Twitter: https://x.com/quest4success_ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-quest-for-success TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thequestforsuccesspod Website : www.thequestforsuccesspodcast.com Please share this around to anyone you think will get value from it : )

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  Episode #121

  The Accidental Cricketer - The Untold Story of Dimuth Karunaratne

  Aug 12, 20261h 17mS1

  He never wanted to play cricket. He became Sri Lanka's most successful Test opener. In this episode of The Quest for Success Podcast, Jam and Dylan Pathirana sit down with Dimuth Karunaratne, former Sri Lanka Test captain and one of the country's most respected cricketers, for an honest conversation on humble beginnings, resilience, and what it actually takes to lead a national team. Dimuth shares how cricket wasn't even his plan, starting the sport almost by chance before moving to St. Joseph's College and slowly earning his place through hard work, rejection, and persistence. He opens up about his mother's advice during the hardest years, the breakthrough innings that changed everything, and the pressure of proving himself at every level, from school cricket to Sri Lanka's youth teams to the international stage. The conversation explores what it took to become an opener, the mindset that carried him through setbacks, injuries and being overlooked, and the lessons he picked up from senior players who shaped his hunger for the game. Dimuth also reflects on his path to the Sri Lanka captaincy, what leadership actually looked like under pressure, and how he knew it was time to retire. This episode is a powerful reminder that the biggest careers are rarely planned. They're built one decision, one setback, and one opportunity at a time. What we cover: Dimuth's early life and family influence Starting cricket almost by chance The importance of environment and a positive mindset The breakthrough innings that changed everything Rejection, hard work, and his mother's advice Learning from senior players and building hunger His first Sri Lanka call-up and overcoming injury Proving himself on tour in Australia Becoming Sri Lanka's Test captain Leadership lessons from captaincy Knowing when to retire Life after cricket and coaching aspirations "Surround yourself with positive people." Dimuth Karunaratne "Trust your journey and keep targets in mind." Dimuth Karunaratne "Live in the moment and enjoy the game." Dimuth Karunaratne Chapters : 0:00 Welcome and introducing Dimuth Karunaratne 0:58 What success means to Dimuth 1:59 Early life and family background 3:11 Starting cricket by chance 5:02 Moving to St. Joseph's and growing as a player 8:36 The breakthrough innings that changed everything 11:28 Pressure, expectations, and earning his place 13:05 Path from school cricket to Sri Lanka youth teams 15:46 Becoming an opener 19:08 Early dreams and chasing the Sri Lanka jersey 23:05 Hard work, rejection, and his mother's advice 26:08 Learning from senior players and building hunger 32:27 Why environment matters 35:24 First Sri Lanka call-up and the England tour injury 39:43 Debut ODI and first test opportunities 41:46 Proving himself in Australia 44:37 Learning from overseas experiences 50:38 Favourite batting partners 51:44 Becoming Sri Lanka captain 59:34 Captaining through performance and leadership 61:58 Retirement and knowing when to stop 66:42 Life after cricket 68:13 The biggest lesson from his career 70:18 Looking back on success 74:13 Closing thoughts #QuestForSuccess #DimuthKarunaratne #Cricket #SriLanka #TestCricket #Leadership #Resilience #Captaincy #Motivation #PersonalDevelopment #SuccessMindset #SportsPodcast #Inspiration #CricketLegend #SriLankaCricket Follow us on all your favourite platforms: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheQuestforSuccessPod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Quest-For-Success-Podcast/61560418629272/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thequestforsuccesspod/ Twitter: https://x.com/quest4success_ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-quest-for-success TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thequestforsuccesspod Website : www.thequestforsuccesspodcast.com Please share this around to anyone you think will get value from it : )

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  Episode #120

  What It Really Takes to Build a Business Across Continents | Ben Evans

  Aug 5, 20261h 25mS1

  "Purpose is about building better lives." That philosophy has guided Ben Evans from his early years in Tasmania all the way to becoming CEO of COVA Group. In this episode of The Quest for Success Podcast, Jam and Dylan Pathirana sit down with Ben Evans for a conversation on leadership, purpose, and what it actually takes to build a business that spans continents. Ben shares his journey from an engineer working in the trades to leading COVA Group through some of the most turbulent periods in recent business history, including the Global Financial Crisis and COVID-19. He reflects on how his early years in Tasmania shaped his values, how his personal definition of success has evolved over time, and the pivotal decision to expand the business into Asia, a move that reshaped the company and taught him hard lessons about managing multicultural teams and building a truly global culture. The conversation explores what it takes to lead through crisis, why communication becomes even more critical during turbulent times, and how Ben has balanced honouring the legacy of a long-standing business while still pushing for innovation. He also shares his perspective on the qualities that make a high-performance team, the role of authenticity and relationships in doing business across cultures, and where he sees engineering and digital transformation heading in the years ahead. This episode is a genuine look at what leadership actually requires when the stakes are high, the markets are unfamiliar, and the pressure to hold onto what matters most has never been greater. What we cover: Ben Evans' early years and influences growing up in Tasmania How his personal definition of success has shifted over time The transition from trades and engineering into leadership Leadership lessons from the GFC and COVID-19 The decision to expand into Asia and what it taught him Managing multicultural teams and building a global culture Balancing legacy and innovation in a long-standing business The role of purpose in guiding major business decisions Lessons learned from major projects and negotiations What it takes to build a high-performance team The future of engineering and digital transformation Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Ben Evans' background 02:34 What does success mean to Ben Evans? 04:18 The shift in Ben Evans' personal definition of success 07:59 Early years and influences from Tasmania 12:04 Transition from trades to engineering and leadership 16:50 Deciding to expand into Asia 22:20 Leadership lessons from navigating turbulent times 35:42 The journey of Asia expansion and key lessons learned 50:40 Building a global culture and managing cross-cultural teams 01:08:12 The future of engineering and digital transformation 01:20:53 Reflections on success and legacy Connect with Ben Evans: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benevanscova/ #QuestForSuccess #BenEvans #Leadership #Engineering #BusinessGrowth #AsiaExpansion #Purpose #Success #Mentorship #Innovation #Culture #PersonalDevelopment #COVAGroup #BusinessPodcast #Inspiration Follow us on all your favourite platforms: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheQuestforSuccessPod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Quest-For-Success-Podcast/61560418629272/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thequestforsuccesspod/ Twitter: https://x.com/quest4success_ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-quest-for-success TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thequestforsuccesspod Website : www.thequestforsuccesspodcast.com Please share this around to anyone you think will get value from it : )

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  Episode #119

  From Paralympian to PhD: Hannah Macdougall's Journey of Resilience

  Jul 29, 20261h 12mS1

  In this episode of The Quest for Success Podcast, Jam and Dylan Pathirana sit down with Dr Hannah Macdougall, a dual Paralympian turned researcher, for a deeply thoughtful conversation on mindset, resilience, and what it really takes to build a well life, not just a well-performing one. Hannah shares her journey from her early influences and family, through to her Paralympic debut at the Athens 2004 Games, and the years of training, setbacks, and self-discovery that followed. She opens up about the neuroscience behind obsessive versus harmonious passion, the role gratitude and self-talk played in her own resilience, and how she navigated grief, perfectionism, and the pressure of elite competition. The conversation moves beyond sport into Hannah's PhD research on athlete well-being, her work bringing mindfulness and mental health support into Melbourne Football Club, and her advocacy for inclusive language and systemic change in how we talk about and support athletes. She also shares practical, evidence-based tools for resilience and self-compassion that apply far beyond the world of elite sport. This episode is a powerful reminder that success isn't only measured in medals. It's measured in how well you know yourself, how you treat yourself when things go wrong, and how deliberately you choose to keep growing. What we cover: The neuroscience of obsessive versus harmonious passion Early influences and overcoming challenges as a young athlete The journey to the Paralympics and the Athens 2004 experience Redefining success in sport and in life The role of gratitude and self-talk in resilience Transitioning out of elite sport and into new chapters Navigating grief and holding onto joy Early awareness of being different and self-acceptance Training the brain to focus on the positive Managing perfectionism and the drive for excellence Handling setbacks and being benched Inclusive language and systemic change in sport "Success in sport and life requires both." "You need to temper your drive with harmony." "Bring kindness into your self-talk." Resources mentioned: The Resilience Project by Hugh van Cuylenburg Melbourne Football Club: https://www.melbournefc.com.au/ Dr Rory Darkins' work on breath and well-being: https://rorydarkins.com Lee Rath's Pain Play Lab: https://painplaylab.com Connect with Dr Hannah Macdougall: LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/hannahmacdougall Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hanmacdougall06/ Website: https://hannahmacdougall.com.au/ Chapters: 00:00 The brain science behind passion and mindset 00:28 Hannah's early influences and overcoming challenges 01:36 Her journey to the Paralympics and Olympic debut 02:19 Redefining success in sport and life 03:05 The influence of gratitude and self-talk 04:22 Transitioning out of elite sport and new passions 06:36 The impact of grief and resilience 12:46 Early awareness of being different and acceptance 15:40 Training the brain to focus on the positive 22:06 Setting goals as a young athlete 24:47 The experience of competing in Athens 2004 30:56 The drive for excellence and managing perfectionism 39:45 The realities of training and sport life 42:31 Handling setbacks and being benched 47:45 The importance of grief, joy, and living in the moment 01:01:15 Practical advice for inclusion and systemic change 01:02:27 Supporting athletes' mental health at Melbourne Football Club 01:07:34 Reflections on success and future plans #QuestForSuccess #HannahMacdougall #Paralympian #AthleteWellbeing #Resilience #MentalHealth #Mindset #Inclusion #SportsScience #SuccessMindset #Podcast #Wellbeing #Inspiration #DisabilityInclusion #WomenInSport Follow us on all your favourite platforms: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheQuestforSuccessPod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Quest-For-Success-Podcast/61560418629272/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thequestforsuccesspod/ Twitter: https://x.com/quest4success_ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-quest-for-success TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thequestforsuccesspod Website : www.thequestforsuccesspodcast.com Please share this around to anyone you think will get value from it : )

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