Simon Feldman: The $16.7 Million Collapse — And the Life Rebuilt After Prison

About this episode

Simon Feldman shares his journey from embezzlement and prison to rebuilding his life and finding purpose through running.

Simon Feldman’s story is not a typical Execs Who Run conversation. A founding partner in one of Australia’s largest retail groups, his life imploded after he embezzled $16.7 million and was sentenced to six and a half years in prison. What followed was a brutal reckoning with consequences, identity, and the long, messy process of rebuilding. In this conversation, Simon opens up about how the collapse unfolded, what prison is really like beyond the clichés, and why the years after release were arguably harder than the sentence itself. We also explore how running — introduced through his partner KJ — became a pathway to stability, connection, and a new life anchored in purpose rather than pressure. This episode is raw, honest, and a reminder that reinvention rarely comes from comfort. Episode Highlights • Step inside the boardroom moment where Simon’s life collapsed in seconds • How a random accounting anomaly unravelled a $16.7 million fraud • What prison is actually like when you are not built for violence • The mental fight to survive four years inside and four harder years on the outside • Why the right partner, the right habits, and the right boundaries can change everything •…

People in this episode

Host: EXECS WHO RUN

Guest: Simon Feldman

Topics covered

• embezzlement
• prison experience
• reinvention
• leadership
• running
• personal growth

Keywords

• embezzlement
• prison
• reinvention
• leadership
• running
• personal growth
• Australia

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Australia’s largest retail groups

Books & works: When a Good Man Makes Ba