S2 Episode 15. BYOB with Andrew Ford - Carol Cooke

Written By Andrew Ford

In this episode of the BYOB Podcast, I sit down with the incredible Carol Cooke AM - a Paralympic gold medallist, author, keynote speaker, and all-around powerhouse - for a truly inspiring conversation about resilience, reinvention, and what it means to turn adversity into opportunity.

Carol shares her remarkable journey from being a competitive swimmer in Canada to becoming a decorated Australian Paralympian in cycling. But her story isn’t just about sport - it’s about strength in the face of life’s toughest curveballs. Diagnosed with MS at the age of 36, Carol was told she’d never compete again. Instead, she defied expectations, rebuilt her life, and ended up representing Australia at three Paralympic Games, taking home multiple gold medals. Talk about a comeback.

We talk about how it feels to have your entire identity shaken - and how Carol found new purpose by focusing on what she could do, rather than what she couldn’t. Her mindset is a masterclass in resilience. Carol speaks about embracing possibility, not limitation, and how that simple shift helped her rewrite her story.

Carol also takes us through her work outside of sport, including the 1,000+ kilometre charity ride she started to support others living with MS and her passion for public speaking. She’s a firm believer that we all have untapped strength within us - sometimes, we just need the right challenge to reveal it.

I reflect on how Carol’s story reinforces a powerful truth: success isn’t just about the wins - it’s about showing up, again and again, especially when things don’t go to plan. Her outlook is both grounding and uplifting, reminding us that no matter what life throws our way, we always have a choice in how we respond.

Carol also shares the process behind writing her books and how storytelling has become another way for her to connect, empower, and inspire others. We also touch on how sport and business both demand discipline, structure, and a deep understanding of your “why”.

Whether you’re chasing a dream, navigating a setback, or just in need of a mindset reset, this episode is a must-listen. Carol’s energy, humour, and unstoppable spirit will leave you rethinking what’s possible.

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Andrew Ford
Marketing expert Andrew Ford, the founder of Social Star, has discovered the secret of ‘Powerful Branding’. With a fire for unleashing people’s inner brand and developing business models to generate profit from an individual’s passions, Andrew leverages ground-breaking digital and social media marketing techniques to create digital strategies for clients to attract maximum opportunities. Having established a strong name for himself in the field, Andrew blends traditional business techniques with now-necessary tools for entrepreneurs to achieve scale, quality, and influence in their niche. Andrew’s comprehensive business background and qualifications consist of a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) (RMIT 2003), a Graduate Certificate in Management (MBA Executive Program, University of Sydney 2005), and a Masters of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (Swinburne University 2011). Continually on the cutting edge of his own education, Andrew has tested his marketing theories in forums such as the BCG Business Strategy Competition, which he won in 2005 against all Victorian MBA schools, and the Venture Cup Business Plan Competition (Swinburne University 2003), which he won in the Masters category. With experience working at Hewlett-Packard, Sensis (Telstra) and IBM, Andrew also has mentored dozens of junior staffs to help them achieve their professional goals. Meeting and influencing high-profile public figures helped Andrew to realise just how many professionals require more understanding and control of their public brands or appearance, and need help with the skills to use the many amazing free tools at their disposal to generate success. At Social Star, Andrew consults with clients to uncover their personal brand – both where it is today and where it can be tomorrow – and refine and define how that should be displayed in social media in order to attract their perfect target audience. Andrew mentors his clients to rapidly grow their business’ audiences, resulting in larger potential client bases and higher revenue. Applying formulas that integrate over twenty years of Andrew’s business experience and fifteen years of formal business education, Social Star specialises in building clarity and velocity for clients’ brands using the ‘Understand, Build and Leverage’ methodology. ‘Having a Personal Business enables people to have an authentic, congruent connection with their valued clients and partners, using their brand as the bridge,’ says Andrew. ‘I’m highly driven to work with the new breed of entrepreneurs and small business owners – people who have a passion for making the world a better place. Traditional business models are stepping aside as people follow their innermost dreams and my role is to see them operate within their values while creating wealth. Some people think you have to sacrifice what you love to be successful in your business, yet it is actually the opposite. Follow your passion and success will come.’ Lecturing at Swinburne University from 2009 to 2011 on brand dynamics and digital marketing, presenting at numerous conferences, and consulting to hundreds of clients, Andrew has seen his philosophy work that if you follow your unique path, based on your skills, experience, values and goals, you will automatically attract the opportunities you desire and achieve the success you deserve. Living his mantra, Andrew has created a successful business and attracts high-profile clients including musicians, athletes, authors, models, entrepreneurs, professionals and small business owners, helping them find their ‘why’ in their business and fulfilment in their lives. Business for Andrew is more than work, it’s personal. Running a personal business means that he is able to fulfil all of his values rather than separating his life from work. It supports his two boys while providing social opportunities, educational development, fitness opportunities, spiritual fulfilment and many valuable friendships. Social Star has now become the vehicle for Andrew to crystallise his mission in the world, to help people love what they do, supporting his ‘why’, that if more people loved what they did, the world would be a better place.
http://www.andrewford.com.au/
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S2 Episode 14. BYOB with Andrew Ford - Darren Bourke