Spotcap Australia and New Zealand managing director Lachlan Heussler knows a thing or two about expanding a business in the fast lane
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Spotcap Australia and New Zealand managing director Lachlan Heussler knows a thing or two about expanding a business in the fast lane. MPA take's a look at how his career has tracked out so far.
1996 WORK LIFE BEGINS
Lachlan Heussler began his career in Sydney as a junior spot FX trader at Citibank. This was his first introduction to work life and financial markets and services, which would become his area of expertise over the next 15 years, until his long-held interest in technology changed his career path.
2000 TRAVELS THE WORLD
At the turn of the millennium, Heussler took 12 months off to travel the world, from Asia to South America. “For me, that was not only fun but eye-opening in terms of spending time doing a bit of temping in London and seeing what it was like in a big city.” Upon returning home he sought out employment in equities and joined UBS Investment Bank.
“It allowed me to come back as a 25-year-old with a little bit more of a rounded, worldly education.”
2004 MOVES TO NEW YORK
Feeling it was time to see new cities once again, Heussler took up a position in New York at Deutsche Bank as vice president – equities trading. After two years he transferred back to Sydney to spend another year at the bank. “I worked in New York for two years on Wall Street, which again helped shape my world view on financial markets – this was all pre-GFC, so it was a pretty bubbly market and time over there.”
2008 TAKES REDUNDANCY
After the GFC hit, Heussler took a redundancy from Deutsche Bank, which he describes as “definitely the hardest point in my career”. He explains that it was the first time in his career when “you’re feeling a little bit less than bulletproof”. But as father of a young daughter, he took time out to focus on raising her over the next few years until a business idea struck him.
“Career hiccups can be a little bit difficult at the time, but they absolutely make you as a person”
2011 CO-FOUNDS A START-UP
Heussler co-founded Investable, a social network for investment ideas, marking his first venture outside of financial services (banking). Although the start-up didn’t take off, he took what he learnt with him to managerial roles at Lonsec Fiscal and Stockspot.
“It didn’t work but I learnt a hell of a lot about how to start a business.”
2015 JOINS SPOTCAP
After discovering Spotcap on the internet, Heussler contacted the founders to see if they had an interest in expanding their product to Australia. He then joined the company and starting building its Australian operations from his bedroom. Now, nearly two years later, he manages a team of almost 20 people in Sydney and New Zealand that is growing fast.
“A lot of the time you make your own luck, and it’s very important to go out of your own way to make that luck happen for you.”
2017 NAMED AMONG TOP 25 FINTECH INFLUENCERS
Heussler was recently named among the top 25 fintech influencers in Australia by Finder.com.au, a clear indicator that he is in his element as he looks to grow Spotcap locally and globally. “Managing a fast-growth business is definitely a career challenge that I’m enjoying at the moment and something that I’m looking forward to completing over the many years to come.”
1996 WORK LIFE BEGINS
Lachlan Heussler began his career in Sydney as a junior spot FX trader at Citibank. This was his first introduction to work life and financial markets and services, which would become his area of expertise over the next 15 years, until his long-held interest in technology changed his career path.
2000 TRAVELS THE WORLD
At the turn of the millennium, Heussler took 12 months off to travel the world, from Asia to South America. “For me, that was not only fun but eye-opening in terms of spending time doing a bit of temping in London and seeing what it was like in a big city.” Upon returning home he sought out employment in equities and joined UBS Investment Bank.
“It allowed me to come back as a 25-year-old with a little bit more of a rounded, worldly education.”
2004 MOVES TO NEW YORK
Feeling it was time to see new cities once again, Heussler took up a position in New York at Deutsche Bank as vice president – equities trading. After two years he transferred back to Sydney to spend another year at the bank. “I worked in New York for two years on Wall Street, which again helped shape my world view on financial markets – this was all pre-GFC, so it was a pretty bubbly market and time over there.”
2008 TAKES REDUNDANCY
After the GFC hit, Heussler took a redundancy from Deutsche Bank, which he describes as “definitely the hardest point in my career”. He explains that it was the first time in his career when “you’re feeling a little bit less than bulletproof”. But as father of a young daughter, he took time out to focus on raising her over the next few years until a business idea struck him.
“Career hiccups can be a little bit difficult at the time, but they absolutely make you as a person”
2011 CO-FOUNDS A START-UP
Heussler co-founded Investable, a social network for investment ideas, marking his first venture outside of financial services (banking). Although the start-up didn’t take off, he took what he learnt with him to managerial roles at Lonsec Fiscal and Stockspot.
“It didn’t work but I learnt a hell of a lot about how to start a business.”
2015 JOINS SPOTCAP
After discovering Spotcap on the internet, Heussler contacted the founders to see if they had an interest in expanding their product to Australia. He then joined the company and starting building its Australian operations from his bedroom. Now, nearly two years later, he manages a team of almost 20 people in Sydney and New Zealand that is growing fast.
“A lot of the time you make your own luck, and it’s very important to go out of your own way to make that luck happen for you.”
2017 NAMED AMONG TOP 25 FINTECH INFLUENCERS
Heussler was recently named among the top 25 fintech influencers in Australia by Finder.com.au, a clear indicator that he is in his element as he looks to grow Spotcap locally and globally. “Managing a fast-growth business is definitely a career challenge that I’m enjoying at the moment and something that I’m looking forward to completing over the many years to come.”
