This exec left banking to buy a caravan park. Now he runs an empire

This exec left banking to buy a caravan park. Now he runs an empire

August 10, 2026 · 17 min · Season 4 · Episode 28

About this episode

Grant Wilckens shares his journey from investment banking to building a successful holiday parks empire amidst the global financial crisis.

"I had everything on the wire, on the line," says Grant Wilckens, remembering when the global financial crisis hit. The chief executive and founder of G'Day Group had started his holiday parks business in 2004 when Lehman Brothers collapsed. "It was probably the hardest I've ever worked, the most stressed I've ever been." On this week's episode, BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with the former investment banker to find out how he survived the GFC, the lessons it taught him and how it fundamentally changed his business. This podcast was sponsored by Aussie Broadband . Further reading: The key trait private equity looks for when hiring a CEO Thomson Reuters president Steve Hasker shares HR tips and why the soaring cost of AI tokens might just save your job. Fasting, coffee and no chores: A Young Rich Lister’s success formula Oscar Ledlin reveals the secrets of his success, including where his best ideas come from, his morning routine and the advice he almost always ignores. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People in this episode

Host: Sally Patten

Guest: Grant Wilckens

Topics covered

Keywords

Sponsors

Aussie Broadband

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: G'Day Group, Thomson Reuters

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