Authority Builder Podcast | Client-Winning Strategies for Coaches, Consultants, and Creatives Who Want to Lead With Authority

Charlotte Ellis Maldari

If you’re ready to stop being the industry’s best-kept secret, The Authority Builder Podcast is for you.   Hosted by Charlotte Ellis Maldari, founder of Kaffeen, this show is packed with client-attracting strategies for service-based business owners who want to lead with expertise and grow with ease. Whether you’re refining your message, launching a lead magnet, or finally writing that book—this podcast will help you turn your brilliance into booked-out business, one smart move at a time.

  1. 2d ago

    Turn Client Results Into Confident Pricing With Violet Lange

    Violet Lange, Harvard MBA and former management consultant, shares how she transitioned from executive coaching into love, dating and intimacy coaching, and what it really takes to build a credible, results-driven business in a “soft skills” niche. We talk client outcomes and measurement, why trust in online marketing has shifted since 2017, and how Violet is rebuilding with a more resilient ecosystem of offers rather than relying on one paid ads channel. You’ll hear how she balances ambition with motherhood, why scalability became non-negotiable after family health challenges, and the practical thinking behind pricing, funnels, and “people paying to become a lead” through low-ticket offers. Expect a thoughtful conversation on relationships, ROI, authenticity in marketing, and designing a business that supports real life. Key topics covered - From corporate consulting to love coaching: the pivot and timing  - Quantifying results in relationships and intimacy coaching  - Ads, webinars, sales calls, pricing strategy, and offer suites  - Erosion of trust post-Covid and longer buyer journeys  - Scalability, parenting, and choosing the right “glass ball” Links and resources - Free private podcast series: https://violetlange.com/saturdaynight  - IG: https://www.instagram.com/violetlovelange  - FB: https://www.facebook.com/violetlange1  - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/violetlange/  - Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bold-love-soulful-sex-on-dating-relationships-lineage/id1439037845 Entering the DBA Design Effectiveness Awards? I’ve written DEA entries for 16 years, with a 95%+ win rate. Not sure your project is a contender? Tell me about it and get a free verdict Got a serious contender, or re-entering? Book a call

  2. Oct 15

    Prove Design Value to Win Better Clients with Clive Grinyer

    Prove Design Value to Win Better Clients with Clive Grinyer Clive Grinyer joins the Authority Builder podcast to unpack why design must prove its value, not just claim it, and how the DBA Design Effectiveness Awards help agencies and in-house teams do exactly that. We explore what judges really look for, how to link outcomes back to the original brief, and why “effectiveness” beats subjective taste when you want credibility with decision makers. Clive also shares why anonymity and declaring other influencing factors strengthens the process, plus how long-term results can matter more than a short sales spike. We also zoom out into service design and the future of design leadership, including how AI may increase the need for design evidence, ambition, and customer-centred strategy. Key topics covered: - Proving design value through clear objectives and metrics  - What makes a strong DBA effectiveness entry (and common pitfalls)  - Service design, UX, and research as a combined force  - AI, design intelligence, and earning a seat at the board table  Resources: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Redesigning-Thinking-Service-Solving-Challenges/dp/3111392821  https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Redesigning-Thinking-Audiobook/B0G6GM7NMQ Entering the DBA Design Effectiveness Awards? Good to know: DBA members get their first entry free, and it can’t be carried over to next year.Pay your entry fee by 23 October to save £100+VAT, even if you submit later.Entries close 1 DecI’ve written DEA entries for 16 years, with a 95%+ win rate. Not sure if your project is a contender? Get a free verdict. Tell me about your project in a short form. Within 24 hours, I’ll send you a personal  verdict covering: whether it’s a contenderwhat evidence you’d needwhether 1 December is realistic👉 Submit your project: https://airtable.com/app8LMAyKzDMkh7mZ/pagvVTcsBugtWN7Eu/form  Already have a strong contender in mind? If you know you’ve got a serious project, or you want to re-enter something that didn’t win last time, skip the form and book a quick call with me. 👉 Book a call: https://calendly.com/kaffeen/quick-collab-call Entering the DBA Design Effectiveness Awards? I’ve written DEA entries for 16 years, with a 95%+ win rate. Not sure your project is a contender? Tell me about it and get a free verdict Got a serious contender, or re-entering? Book a call

  3. Oct 12

    Win DEA series 🏆 "We're time-poor and not exactly cash-rich. What will this really cost us?"

    Wondering what entering the DBA Design Effectiveness Awards really takes? This episode breaks it down with real numbers and realistic time commitments, so you can decide without guesswork. Key topics covered 2027 entry fees, member free entry, and early bird payment saving (pay by 23 Oct, submit by 1 Dec)Why time, not money, is usually the real barrierWhat you actually need from the client (a top 10 results list, plus a short call)The three priority proof points: objectives, sales data, marketing spendEvidence you can gather without the client (trade press, Grocer category reports, Euromonitor and Mintel summaries, other agencies’ case studies, reviews and social comments)Handling confidentiality: judge-only version vs publication version with redactionsWhy to run the entry like a project, not a side task Entering the DBA Design Effectiveness Awards? Good to know: DBA members get their first entry free, and it can’t be carried over to next year.Pay your entry fee by 23 October to save £100+VAT, even if you submit later.Entries close 1 DecI’ve written DEA entries for 16 years, with a 95%+ win rate. Not sure if your project is a contender? Get a free verdict. Tell me about your project in a short form. Within 24 hours, I’ll send you a personal  verdict covering: whether it’s a contenderwhat evidence you’d needwhether 1 December is realistic👉 Submit your project: https://airtable.com/app8LMAyKzDMkh7mZ/pagvVTcsBugtWN7Eu/form  Already have a strong contender in mind? If you know you’ve got a serious project, or you want to re-enter something that didn’t win last time, skip the form and book a quick call with me. 👉 Book a call: https://calendly.com/kaffeen/quick-collab-call Entering the DBA Design Effectiveness Awards? I’ve written DEA entries for 16 years, with a 95%+ win rate. Not sure your project is a contender? Tell me about it and get a free verdict Got a serious contender, or re-entering? Book a call

  4. Oct 7

    Leveraging Design Effectiveness Awards for Growth

    Win Better Clients Using Effectiveness Awards Every autumn, Charlotte gets the same question: should you enter the DBA Design Effectiveness Awards, and what do you actually get out of it? The honest truth: if you win and then wait for new clients to appear, very little happens. The real value is in using an effectiveness award as independently verified proof that your work delivered commercial results. In this episode, Charlotte explains why the DBA awards are different (judged against your objectives, by client-side decision makers) and how a strong entry can help you speak your buyer’s language, get through procurement, open warmer outreach conversations, and strengthen client relationships. You’ll also learn how to handle a common stumbling block: proving impact when there are no “before” metrics. Key topics covered - Why “win and they will come” is a myth  - Proof in client language: growth, savings, market share, risk reduction  - Procurement credibility and enterprise buying  - Turning a case study into repeatable marketing assets  - Lessons from an entry that didn’t win  - Practical entry tips, deadlines, and confidential vs publication versions  Entering the DBA Design Effectiveness Awards? Good to know: DBA members get their first entry free, and it can’t be carried over to next year.Pay your entry fee by 23 October to save £100+VAT, even if you submit later.Entries close 1 DecI’ve written DEA entries for 16 years, with a 95%+ win rate. Not sure if your project is a contender? Get a free verdict. Tell me about your project in a short form. Within 24 hours, I’ll send you a personal  verdict covering: whether it’s a contenderwhat evidence you’d needwhether 1 December is realistic👉 Submit your project: https://airtable.com/app8LMAyKzDMkh7mZ/pagvVTcsBugtWN7Eu/form  Already have a strong contender in mind? If you know you’ve got a serious project, or you want to re-enter something that didn’t win last time, skip the form and book a quick call with me. 👉 Book a call: https://calendly.com/kaffeen/quick-collab-call Entering the DBA Design Effectiveness Awards? I’ve written DEA entries for 16 years, with a 95%+ win rate. Not sure your project is a contender? Tell me about it and get a free verdict Got a serious contender, or re-entering? Book a call

  5. Sep 28

    Turn Leads Into Loyal Customers with Nadine Nethery

    ## Nadine Nethery Customer experience and retention strategist Nadine Nethery shares how she evolved from copywriting into connecting the full customer journey, so business owners stop chasing leads and start maximising ROI from the customers they already have. We dig into what a strategic audience survey really uncovers (beyond guesswork), why feedback feels uncomfortable but is essential, and how to use AI for speed without losing the human insight that makes messaging convert. Nadine also breaks down what “behaviour-driven evergreen” looks like in practice, including using email engagement signals to route people into the right nurture path, plus why some unscalable personal touches still matter. Finally, she explains her interactive Retention Games Summit format and what made it stand out in a sea of samey online events. **Key topics covered** - Retention strategy and customer-first growth  - Strategic audience surveys and message mining  - Human-first marketing in an AI-heavy world  - Behaviour-based email funnels and intent signals  - Interactive events and speaking as lead generation  **Resources** - 10 tailored-to-you survey questions: https://candocontent.com/survey-questions  - State of the customer report: https://candocontent.com/state-of-the-customer-report Entering the DBA Design Effectiveness Awards? I’ve written DEA entries for 16 years, with a 95%+ win rate. Not sure your project is a contender? Tell me about it and get a free verdict Got a serious contender, or re-entering? Book a call

About

If you’re ready to stop being the industry’s best-kept secret, The Authority Builder Podcast is for you.   Hosted by Charlotte Ellis Maldari, founder of Kaffeen, this show is packed with client-attracting strategies for service-based business owners who want to lead with expertise and grow with ease. Whether you’re refining your message, launching a lead magnet, or finally writing that book—this podcast will help you turn your brilliance into booked-out business, one smart move at a time.