Episode 26 – The Power of Saying No: Derya Horasan, Scientific Fire Services

What does it take to move to a new city with zero connections, build a thriving engineering consultancy, and eventually become a company director? In this compelling episode, Derya Horasan shares how he transformed Scientific Fire Services' Sydney office from a two-person operation to a respected team of nine professionals.


Rather than pursuing traditional networking, Derya built relationships with peers at his level who grew alongside him in their careers. His philosophy that "you're only as good as your last report" created a reputation that attracted clients without aggressive marketing.

When you listen, you will appreciate Derya's candid insights about learning to separate emotions from business decisions and the power of declining projects that don't align with company values. His creation of an engineering management structure demonstrates how leadership must evolve as companies grow.

From succession planning challenges to adapting relationship-building for younger generations, this episode offers practical insights for anyone building a sustainable industrial business based on quality, culture, and strategic relationships.