Well Connected
Each month, we hack the minds of tech entrepreneurs and digital disruptors to find out what makes them tick.
The tech habits of Aussie startup success Cyan Ta’eed
THE LOWDOWN
Age 37
Founded Australian design startup Envato (2006) with husband Collis Ta’eed and ethical chocolate business Hey Tiger (2017)
Net worth The Ta’eeds have a combined wealth of $184 million
Favourite app for work
Slack, hands down, because it allows me to communicate easily with my team when people are working remotely or on the road. I can have rolling conversations wherever I am and make decisions whenever the team needs them. In the life of a startup, that’s priceless.
Favourite app for wellness
I listen to Calm to switch off, for getting to sleep and to meditate. I play the sleep stories to my boys if they’re a bit boisterous at bedtime.
Book I’ve learnt the most from
It’s hard to choose one but the nonfiction book I’ve gotten the most from is
The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F**k by Sarah Knight. I read it on a plane and spent the next few hours thinking critically about my life and what I was spending my time on. For those of us who are inclined to say yes too often, it’s an essential read.
Current phone
An iPhone 6. I’ve been an Apple person all my life and have never tried anything other than an iPhone since the first one came out. It seems like too much effort to switch, even though there might be better products out there.
Tech gadget that changed my life
I have an alarm light next to my bed that lights up over 20 minutes and replicates sunshine and birds singing when it’s time to wake up. It makes getting up in the Melbourne winter much more pleasant. If I have to get up in the dark, my body clock just screams at me to go back under the covers.
Tech gadget that didn’t change my life
Fitbit. I used one for a long time but I disliked being unable to disconnect from technology. I can put my phone away when I get home but I’m supposed to wear my Fitbit 24/7. It feels like too much pressure.
Favourite news source
I go to the ABC or The New York Times. I find if I can avoid sensationalist stories about freak events and focus on big-picture news, I feel good about what I’m consuming.
Startup to watch in 2018
i=Change is doing some interesting work making it easier for online businesses to find and team up with charity partners. The model it uses is well thought out and addresses the commercial and philanthropic considerations that ecommerce companies must face when approaching charitable giving.