Built for This

Carly Pepin
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Business
  • Updated Weekly

 Where vision meets execution and legacy begins. Built For This is the podcast for founders, business owners, C-Suite Executives, and vision-driven leaders who know their business isn’t just what they do, it’s an extension of who they are. Hosted by business strategist and human behavior specialist Carly Pepin, each episode dives into candid, intelligent conversations with high-performing business owners and executives. These are the real stories behind growth: the pivotal moments, the internal shifts, the strategic moves, and the unseen pressure that comes with building something that lasts. With a sharp eye for strategy and a deep understanding of human behavior, Carly brings out the clarity, conviction, and contradictions that drive exceptional leadership. You’ll hear what’s working, what’s not, and what it actually takes to grow a business without losing yourself in the process. This is where business and personal development meet: honest, direct, and built to bring life to your vision. Whether you’re growing your next big thing or recalibrating to get back on track, Built For This is your space to think, build, and lead with purpose.

  1. 1d ago

    You Can't Control the Market: Jayson Hardie on Leading Through Uncertainty

    In this episode of Built For This, Carly Pepin sits down with Jayson Hardie, CEO of Homestead Financial Mortgage, to explore what it takes to build a resilient business in an industry where so much is outside your control. Since founding Homestead Financial Mortgage in 1998, Jayson has navigated financial crises, changing regulations, and dramatic interest rate increases. Along the way, he's learned that long-term success isn't about predicting every market shift but building a business that can adapt when circumstances change. Carly and Jayson explore how he transitioned from an advertising-driven business to one built around realtor relationships and referrals, why small improvements can make a significant difference, and how his philosophy of "when in doubt, split test" helps his team make better decisions. They also discuss the human side of leadership, including creating an environment where employees can speak openly, recognizing people's individual strengths, and why the best performers aren't always the best leaders. Throughout the conversation, Jayson shares how curiosity, experimentation, and strong relationships have helped him navigate uncertainty while staying focused on helping families achieve homeownership.   Key Takeaways Adaptability Is More Valuable Than Predictability Jayson believes businesses can't control external circumstances, but they can control how they respond. By rethinking his company's marketing approach, investing in technology, and continually improving processes, he's built a business better equipped to navigate changing market conditions. Replace Opinions With Experiments Jayson's philosophy is simple: "When in doubt, split test." Rather than spending time debating which idea is best, he encourages his team to test different approaches and let the results guide their decisions. It's a mindset that encourages curiosity, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Great Leaders Recognize and Develop People's Strengths Jayson understands that being exceptional at a job doesn't automatically make someone a great leader. He focuses on identifying individual strengths and developing people who can communicate, teach, organize, and help others succeed, creating stronger teams in the process.   Memorable Quotes "Don't argue, just split test." "Don't make perfection the enemy of action." "You just have to focus on being as good as you can all the time and you'll be able to adapt to the situations that present themselves."   About Jayson Hardie Jayson Hardie is the CEO of Homestead Financial Mortgage, a Midwest-based mortgage banking company with approximately 100 employees. Since founding the business in 1998, Jayson has guided the organization through some of the mortgage industry's most challenging periods, including the financial crisis and dramatic changes in interest rates. With decades of experience in business leadership, Jayson is passionate about strategy, continuous improvement, and understanding the human stories behind business decisions. He believes that learning from mistakes, staying adaptable, and building strong relationships are essential to long-term success.   Connect with Jayson https://homesteadfinancial.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayson-hardie-2423427/ https://www.facebook.com/homesteadfinancial https://www.linkedin.com/company/3106505/

    You Can't Control the Market: Jayson Hardie on Leading Through Uncertainty

  2. 5d ago

    The Referral Engine: Jay Wolfberg on Building a Business That Grows Through Trust

    In this episode of Built For This, Carly Pepin sits down with Jay Wolfberg, President of We Insure, to explore how relationships, consistency, and customer-focused leadership can turn a small business into a thriving organization. Jay shares his unconventional journey from managing Radio Shack stores and navigating the real estate industry to building one of We Insure's most successful franchises, generating more than $32 million in annual premiums before eventually becoming president of the company. Carly and Jay explore how he built a powerful referral-driven business through what he calls "hyper-responsiveness" and "relentless consistency." They also discuss the challenges of moving from franchise owner to corporate leader, rebuilding trust after an acquisition, and creating a culture built around his belief that happy people sell more. They also examine the importance of in-person collaboration, peer-to-peer learning, and how AI can help employees work more efficiently without replacing the human relationships that drive business success.   Key Takeaways Build Relationships That Turn Customers Into Advocates Jay believes referrals are one of the most valuable ways to grow a business. By responding quickly, delivering consistently excellent service, and actively asking satisfied customers for referrals, he built a business that attracted new clients without relying heavily on traditional marketing. Great Leadership Starts With Helping Others Succeed After becoming president of We Insure, Jay focused on rebuilding relationships, removing unnecessary obstacles, and giving franchisees the support they needed to succeed. His philosophy is simple: happy people sell more. When leaders create an environment where people feel supported and empowered, stronger business results follow. Technology Should Empower People, Not Replace Them Jay sees AI as an opportunity to simplify administrative tasks, make complex insurance information easier to understand, and free employees to focus on customers. For him, the goal isn't replacing insurance agents but giving them better tools to deliver a more personal and valuable experience.   Memorable Quotes "The most valuable way to acquire a customer is through a referral." "Happy people sell more." "We want the AI to augment the agent, not replace the agent."   About Jay Wolfberg Jay Wolfberg is the President of We Insure, one of the nation's fastest-growing insurance franchise networks, where he focuses on helping franchise owners build successful, sustainable businesses. Jay's career has taken him from retail management and real estate into insurance entrepreneurship. Following the 2008 financial crisis, he became a We Insure franchise owner in South Florida, eventually growing his agency into a multi-location operation generating more than $32 million in annual premiums. Today, Jay draws on his firsthand experience as a franchisee to strengthen relationships, support entrepreneurs, and create opportunities for others to achieve financial freedom through business ownership.   Connect with Jay http://www.weinsuregroup.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-wolfberg/

    The Referral Engine: Jay Wolfberg on Building a Business That Grows Through Trust

  3. Oct 19

    The Good Riddance List: Carolyn Lowe on Eliminating What's Holding You Back

    In this episode of Built For This, Carly Pepin sits down with Carolyn Lowe, CEO and co-founder of ROI Swift, to explore what it really takes to build a profitable, sustainable business and why sometimes the biggest opportunities for growth come from what you're willing to let go of. After leading a $2 billion division at Dell, Carolyn became what she calls an accidental entrepreneur, eventually building an agency that has helped more than 150 consumer brands grow their businesses on Amazon. Carly and Carolyn explore why increasing revenue isn't always the answer, how eliminating wasted spending can create more profitable growth, and the power of Carolyn's "good riddance list," an exercise designed to identify unnecessary tasks, inefficient processes, and anything else holding a business back. They also discuss the human side of leadership, including the damage one toxic employee can cause, why protecting company culture sometimes requires difficult decisions, and how transparency, accountability, and empowering employees can help create a stronger, more adaptable organization.   Key Takeaways Profitable Growth Matters More Than Revenue Alone Carolyn believes businesses need to look beyond sales figures and understand where they're actually making money. By identifying wasted spending, improving margins, and focusing on the products and services that deliver real value, companies can create healthier, more sustainable growth. Stop Tolerating What's Holding Your Business Back From outdated processes to toxic employees, Carolyn challenges leaders to ask themselves what they're tolerating. Her "good riddance list" encourages teams to identify what no longer serves the business and make room for better ways of working, stronger performance, and a healthier culture. Great Leadership Requires Transparency and Accountability Carolyn emphasizes the importance of helping employees understand how their work contributes to the company's success. Through financial transparency, clear performance metrics, and regular feedback, leaders can give people greater ownership of results while building trust and accountability across the organization.   Memorable Quotes "What are you tolerating?" "Just because we did it that way in the past doesn't mean it should be done." "A strategy for sustainable long-term growth is profitable growth."   About Carolyn Lowe Carolyn Lowe is the CEO and co-founder of ROI Swift, an Austin-based agency helping consumer brands with annual revenues between $3 million and $50 million grow profitably on Amazon. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Carolyn built a successful career at Dell, where she led a $2 billion division. Drawing on her extensive experience in eCommerce, marketing, and business leadership, she founded ROI Swift to help growing consumer brands improve performance and unlock their potential. To date, ROI Swift has helped more than 150 companies optimize their operations, increase profitability, and build more sustainable businesses.   Connect with Carolyn https://roiswift.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolynbyronlowe/

    The Good Riddance List: Carolyn Lowe on Eliminating What's Holding You Back

  4. Oct 15

    99 No's and One Yes: Ari Opsahl on Building a Brand That Defies the Odds

    In this episode of Built For This, Carly Pepin sits down with Benjamin Christie, founder and president of Gourmet Ads, to explore how a former chef turned an unexpected opportunity in digital advertising into a global business serving billions of advertisements every month. Benjamin shares how a challenge to find an online audience for a cooking show eventually led to the creation of Gourmet Ads. One particularly unusual request from a European butter company, which wanted to advertise alongside banana bread recipes, sparked an innovation that would transform the business. What began as a manual search evolved into technology capable of analyzing billions of URLs to identify highly targeted audiences. Carly and Benjamin explore why the best innovations often come from solving real customer problems, how curiosity and trust have helped him build a loyal team, and why businesses need to keep experimenting even after nearly two decades of success. They also discuss navigating unexpected disruption, developing contingency plans, embracing AI, and how Gourmet Ads is adapting to changes in online publishing, connected television, and retail media.   Key Takeaways The Best Innovations Start With a Problem Worth Solving Benjamin believes great technology starts with a genuine customer or operational challenge. Rather than building complicated solutions for the sake of innovation, his approach is to start small, test quickly, and refine based on real feedback. Gourmet Ads' banana bread campaign is a perfect example of how one unusual request can lead to an entirely new business capability. Build a Business That Can Survive When the Rules Change Overnight When a major technology partner gave Gourmet Ads just six weeks to move off its platform, Benjamin learned the importance of having alternatives ready. Today, contingency planning is a fundamental part of how he operates, helping the business respond quickly when circumstances change beyond its control. Curiosity and Trust Are More Valuable Than Constant Oversight Benjamin looks for curious people who enjoy solving unfamiliar problems. He also believes in treating employees like adults, trusting them to do their jobs, and supporting their lives outside work. That philosophy has helped Gourmet Ads retain key team members for more than 15 years.   Memorable Quotes "I find the best software decisions, like when you're making software, are backed by either customer problems or something you're trying to solve." "One thing I've learned in 18 years, you've got to have a redundancy plan in the pocket always." "I think that if you treat people like adults and you treat them like you want to be treated, that they end up working better for you."   About Benjamin Christie Benjamin Christie is the founder and president of Gourmet Ads, a global digital advertising company specializing in connecting food, wine, grocery, and consumer brands with relevant audiences. Since founding Gourmet Ads in 2008, Benjamin has become a recognized expert in programmatic advertising, curated advertising, and header bidding technology. Drawing on his background as a chef and his experience building a global technology business, he continues to develop innovative advertising solutions and regularly shares his expertise at industry events and conferences worldwide.   Connect with Benjamin http://gourmetads.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminchristie/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/gourmet-ads/ https://www.youtube.com/@GourmetAds

    99 No's and One Yes: Ari Opsahl on Building a Brand That Defies the Odds

  5. Oct 12

    The Power of Curiosity: Bryan Quinn on Building, Leading, and Innovating in the Age of AI

    In this episode of Built For This, Carly Pepin sits down with Bryan Quinn, CEO and co-founder of ShopSense AI and former Amazon executive, to explore how curiosity, innovation, and leadership are shaping the future of business. After spending 11 years at Amazon, Bryan recognized an opportunity to solve a common frustration: discovering a product on television but struggling to find and purchase it. That experience helped inspire ShopSense AI, a company using artificial intelligence to make shopping more intuitive and connect moments of inspiration with opportunities to buy. Carly and Bryan explore the realities of building a startup, including navigating disagreements between talented people, making difficult decisions, and creating a culture where healthy conflict leads to better outcomes. They also discuss why curiosity is essential for innovation, the importance of celebrating wins while moving quickly, and Bryan's vision for making AI-powered shopping experiences more accessible to businesses of all sizes.   Key Takeaways Healthy Conflict Creates Stronger Teams Bryan believes disagreement can be incredibly valuable when people are willing to understand different perspectives. By removing ego, encouraging open conversations, and being transparent about decisions, leaders can turn conflict into better collaboration and stronger outcomes. Curiosity Is the Foundation of Innovation The best opportunities often begin with asking better questions. Bryan emphasizes the importance of understanding customer frustrations, challenging assumptions, and remaining open to perspectives that might reveal solutions nobody has considered before. Great Cultures Balance Speed With Celebration Moving quickly matters, especially in a rapidly evolving industry like AI. But Bryan believes celebrating wins, empowering employees, and removing unnecessary processes are just as important for keeping teams motivated and creating an environment where innovation thrives.   Memorable Quotes "Smart people come to different conclusions all the time." "We have to obsess over our customers' problems." "If you're not a curious organization, your days are going to be numbered."   About Bryan Quinn Bryan Quinn is the CEO and co-founder of ShopSense AI, a technology company transforming how consumers discover and shop for products through AI-powered experiences. Before founding ShopSense AI, Bryan spent 11 years at Amazon building and scaling advertising businesses. He founded Amazon Publisher Services and helped launch advertising innovations across Fire TV, Prime Video Channels, Alexa, and connected television. Today, Bryan is focused on helping publishers, platforms, brands, and retailers create the next generation of personalized, seamless shopping experiences.   Connect with Bryan https://www.shopsense.ai/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryanquinn/

    The Power of Curiosity: Bryan Quinn on Building, Leading, and Innovating in the Age of AI

  6. Oct 8

    From Chef to AdTech Founder: Benjamin Christie's Unexpected Journey

    In this episode of Built For This, Carly Pepin sits down with Benjamin Christie, founder and president of Gourmet Ads, to explore how a former chef turned an unexpected opportunity in digital advertising into a global business serving billions of advertisements every month. Benjamin shares how a challenge to find an online audience for a cooking show eventually led to the creation of Gourmet Ads. One particularly unusual request from a European butter company, which wanted to advertise alongside banana bread recipes, sparked an innovation that would transform the business. What began as a manual search evolved into technology capable of analyzing billions of URLs to identify highly targeted audiences. Carly and Benjamin explore why the best innovations often come from solving real customer problems, how curiosity and trust have helped him build a loyal team, and why businesses need to keep experimenting even after nearly two decades of success. They also discuss navigating unexpected disruption, developing contingency plans, embracing AI, and how Gourmet Ads is adapting to changes in online publishing, connected television, and retail media.   Key Takeaways The Best Innovations Start With a Problem Worth Solving Benjamin believes great technology starts with a genuine customer or operational challenge. Rather than building complicated solutions for the sake of innovation, his approach is to start small, test quickly, and refine based on real feedback. Gourmet Ads' banana bread campaign is a perfect example of how one unusual request can lead to an entirely new business capability. Build a Business That Can Survive When the Rules Change Overnight When a major technology partner gave Gourmet Ads just six weeks to move off its platform, Benjamin learned the importance of having alternatives ready. Today, contingency planning is a fundamental part of how he operates, helping the business respond quickly when circumstances change beyond its control. Curiosity and Trust Are More Valuable Than Constant Oversight Benjamin looks for curious people who enjoy solving unfamiliar problems. He also believes in treating employees like adults, trusting them to do their jobs, and supporting their lives outside work. That philosophy has helped Gourmet Ads retain key team members for more than 15 years.   Memorable Quotes "I find the best software decisions, like when you're making software, are backed by either customer problems or something you're trying to solve." "One thing I've learned in 18 years, you've got to have a redundancy plan in the pocket always." "I think that if you treat people like adults and you treat them like you want to be treated, that they end up working better for you."   About Benjamin Christie Benjamin Christie is the founder and president of Gourmet Ads, a global digital advertising company specializing in connecting food, wine, grocery, and consumer brands with relevant audiences. Since founding Gourmet Ads in 2008, Benjamin has become a recognized expert in programmatic advertising, curated advertising, and header bidding technology. Drawing on his background as a chef and his experience building a global technology business, he continues to develop innovative advertising solutions and regularly shares his expertise at industry events and conferences worldwide.   Connect with Benjamin http://gourmetads.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminchristie/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/gourmet-ads/ https://www.youtube.com/@GourmetAds

    From Chef to AdTech Founder: Benjamin Christie's Unexpected Journey

  7. Oct 5

    High Performance, Highly Human: Anne Green on Building a Culture That Can Change

    In this episode of Built For This, Carly Pepin sits down with Anne Green, CEO and principal at G&S Integrated Marketing Communications Group, to explore what more than three decades in communications has taught her about leadership, culture, trust and navigating change. Anne describes herself as an "accidental business person" and "accidental CEO." Originally planning to become a literature professor, an internship in public relations changed her direction and eventually gave her a front-row seat to building and leading a business. Carly and Anne explore why leadership begins and ends with communication and trust, why mission and values need to mean something in people's everyday work, and how leaders can help teams navigate uncertainty without pretending to have every answer. They also discuss the anxiety surrounding AI and workforce change, the importance of maintaining a growth mindset, and Anne's belief that businesses have more power than they realize to shape a future where organizations can be both high performance and highly human.   Key Takeaways Communication Isn't About What You Said. It's About What Actually Landed. Anne believes "leaders are repeaters." Communicating something once doesn't mean people understand it. Leaders need to continually reinforce important messages while making sure employees understand what those messages actually mean for them. Culture Has to Be Lived, Not Simply Defined. Mission, vision and values shouldn't be static words on a page. Anne continually returns to what G&S's values mean in practice and how different people experience them, treating culture as something that evolves alongside the organization. Leaders Have More Agency Over the AI Future Than They Think. Rather than simply asking what AI will do to jobs and organizations, Anne believes leaders should be asking, "What do we want to happen?" Businesses have an opportunity to actively shape how people and technology work together instead of treating the future as something happening to them.   Memorable Quotes "I want to be high performance and highly human. I don't think those are in conflict. I think you can be both." "Well, if it wasn't for the humans, it'd be easy." "When you're feeling pressure, when your whole body is screaming no to something, when you feel immediately resistant, can you pause and say, maybe we can. Yes, we will try."   About Anne Green Anne Green is CEO and a principal at G&S Integrated Marketing Communications Group, bringing more than 30 years of experience in marketing communications. She oversees performance and operations across G&S Business Communications and MorganMyers, while helping cultivate a growth-oriented culture and leading key external relationships. Anne also serves as executive sponsor of the organization's DE&I Advisory Board and Generative AI team. Previously, Anne served as president and CEO of CooperKatz & Company, an award-winning communications agency she helped build for two decades before its acquisition by G&S. She is also a Trustee of Vassar College and has served on the boards of the PR Council and LifeWay Network.   Connect with Anne https://gsimcg.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@BuildingBrandGravity/videos https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/building-brand-gravity-attracting-people-into-your-orbit/id1625131980 https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-e-green

    High Performance, Highly Human: Anne Green on Building a Culture That Can Change

  8. Oct 1

    Connect. Engage. Support. Ron Robinson's Blueprint for Changing Education.

    In this episode of Built For This, Carly Pepin sits down with Ron Robinson, founder, president and CEO of Expanded Learning Academy, to explore how his experiences with martial arts, education and character development led him to rethink how children experience learning. Ron shares how volunteering at his children's school became the unexpected beginning of his journey into education. After taking activities outside the traditional classroom and incorporating martial arts and character development, demand quickly grew to more than 1,000 students. Educators also began noticing improvements in attendance, engagement and behavior. Carly and Ron explore the philosophy at the heart of Expanded Learning Academy: connect, engage, support. They also discuss ELA's unconventional approach to hiring, why Ron chose franchising as a way to scale the mission, and his larger vision for developing the expanded-learning profession. Underneath it all is a simple goal: to make education the best part of the day for students, families and the people supporting them.   Key Takeaways You Can't Support Someone Until You've Connected With Them Ron's philosophy begins with connection. Whether working with a child or an employee, he believes you first need to listen and understand the individual. Only then can you meaningfully engage with them and provide the support they actually need. Hire the Person, Not Just the Resume ELA's Discovery Day turns the traditional hiring process around. Candidates first learn about and interview the organization, while Ron focuses on discovering who they really are beyond their professional resume. Skills can be developed, but understanding the person entering the culture matters enormously. Growth Sometimes Requires Recognizing That You're the Bottleneck Ron chose franchising because he recognized that trying to control every aspect of growth himself would eventually limit the organization. For him, scaling means creating systems that allow other capable people to lead, build and expand the mission.   Memorable Quotes "Before we can provide support, we have to first connect. We have to listen. We have to understand." "I don't want to learn about the resume version of you. I don't care about that version. I want to know about the version why your friends and family love and adore you." "I want education to be the best part of the day."   About Ron Robinson Ronald Robinson is the Founder, President and CEO of Expanded Learning Academy, overseeing the organization's growth and its franchising division, Expanded Learning Franchise, LLC. Before ELA, Ron led STORM (Special Team of Role Models), a national K–12 initiative focused on character development, positive behavior reinforcement and student engagement. Earlier in his career, he also grew a martial arts school from one location into a five-location franchise. Today, Ron is focused on expanding ELA while helping create stronger professional development and career pathways for people working in expanded learning.   Connect with Ron https://www.expandedlearningacademy.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/expanded-learning-academy/posts/?feedView=all https://www.facebook.com/expandedlearningacademy

    Connect. Engage. Support. Ron Robinson's Blueprint for Changing Education.
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About

 Where vision meets execution and legacy begins. Built For This is the podcast for founders, business owners, C-Suite Executives, and vision-driven leaders who know their business isn’t just what they do, it’s an extension of who they are. Hosted by business strategist and human behavior specialist Carly Pepin, each episode dives into candid, intelligent conversations with high-performing business owners and executives. These are the real stories behind growth: the pivotal moments, the internal shifts, the strategic moves, and the unseen pressure that comes with building something that lasts. With a sharp eye for strategy and a deep understanding of human behavior, Carly brings out the clarity, conviction, and contradictions that drive exceptional leadership. You’ll hear what’s working, what’s not, and what it actually takes to grow a business without losing yourself in the process. This is where business and personal development meet: honest, direct, and built to bring life to your vision. Whether you’re growing your next big thing or recalibrating to get back on track, Built For This is your space to think, build, and lead with purpose.

Information

  • Creator
    Carly Pepin
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    95
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Built for This