In this episode, we dive into the raw and unfiltered story of Mark Sowerby, founder of Blue Sky Alternative Investments, once one of Australia’s most ambitious investment firms, and the devastating collapse that followed a brutal short-seller attack.

Mark opens up about how that loss shattered his identity, left him sitting on a bench in Burleigh contemplating walking into the ocean, and what it took to rebuild from the ground up.

He shares how the Ocean Seven swims became his lifeline, teaching him how to master fear, accept uncertainty, and rebuild his courage one stroke at a time. We talk about survival, justice, and what it really means to rebuild when everything you’ve worked for has been taken from you.

If you’ve ever questioned whether you can come back from your lowest point, this episode is proof that you can — but only if you’re willing to do the work.

💡 In this episode, we cover:

• How Mark built Blue Sky from scratch into a billion-dollar fund
• The short-seller attack that brought the company down
• Surviving seven near-death business moments
• Hitting rock bottom and finding hope again through endurance
• How the Ocean Seven swims helped him rebuild mentally and physically
• The mindset shift from victim to fighter
• Why survival is entrepreneurship’s real skill
• Finding purpose through justice and accountability
• The lessons founders can learn about preparation and resilience
• How to rebuild your courage when all your fears come true

🕒 Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to The Leap
01:09 Meet Mark Sowerby
03:12 Building Blue Sky and early ambitions
07:10 The short-seller attack and collapse
10:24 Facing public scrutiny and burnout
13:48 The lowest point — sitting at Burleigh
16:42 Rebuilding through the Ocean Seven swims
20:30 Lessons on fear, resilience, and control
25:45 Standing up for what’s right — the class action
31:10 Redefining success and survival
36:24 Rebuilding courage and mental endurance
40:55 Preparation, judgment, and the founder’s mindset
45:03 What Mark wishes he knew earlier
49:40 The meaning behind “Don’t Be Pre-Film”
52:20 Closing thoughts and takeaways

Follow Mark's movie journey below;

🎥 Don't Be Prey: https://www.dontbeprey.film/

About Founders Collective

Founders Collective is a community built to connect like-minded founders, creators, and builders who believe in sharing the real stories behind the journey — not just the highlight reel. Our mission is to spark honest conversations, build meaningful connections, and help founders grow through collaboration, courage, and shared experience.

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