
What Happens After a $47M Exit? Phillip Di Bella on What Success Really Is
From Really Good Conversations by Amy Faulkner
March 23, 2026 · 39 min · Season 1 · Episode 68
About this episode
Phillip Di Bella discusses the emotional impact of selling his coffee business and his evolving definition of success.
Summary Phillip Di Bella built one of Australia's most successful coffee businesses, and sold it for $47 million. In this episode, we find what it actually felt like the day after he sold, how his definition of success has changed over the years, and what the next generation needs to hear about work and leadership. This isn't just a story about building and selling a business, it's about what success really costs, and what's actually worth chasing. Guest Phillip Di Bella is an Australian entrepreneur and founder of Di Bella Coffee and The Coffee Commune. He is also a mentor, speaker and advocate for innovation and collaboration in the hospitality industry. Overview Phillip Di Bella is the founder of Di Bella Coffee , which he launched in Brisbane in 2002 with just $5,000 and scaled into one of Australia's largest specialty coffee brands. After selling the business for $47 million, Phillip could have stepped away. Instead, he doubled down on building community, mentoring entrepreneurs, and reshaping what success looks like. In this episode of Really Good Conversations, Phillip shares the emotional impact of selling a business with your name on it, the cost of relentless growth…
People in this episode
Host: Amy Faulkner
Guest: Phillip Di Bella
Topics covered
- entrepreneurship
- success
- leadership
- burnout
- community building
Keywords
- coffee business
- startup exit
- entrepreneur
- leadership
- burnout
- success
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Di Bella Coffee, The Coffee Commune
Places: Australia, Brisbane
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