Built for This

Carly Pepin

 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. From MTV to Global Production: The Reality Behind Fashion Campaigns with Chantelle‑Shakila Tiagi

    1D AGO

    From MTV to Global Production: The Reality Behind Fashion Campaigns with Chantelle‑Shakila Tiagi

    In this candid and eye-opening episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Chantelle-Shakila Tiagi, founder of TIAGI, a global creative production agency with offices in London, Los Angeles, and Mumbai. Chantelle pulls back the curtain on what production in fashion, beauty, and lifestyle really looks like. Beyond the glamour, she explains the reality of coordinating dozens of moving parts on every shoot, managing crises before they escalate, and taking responsibility for problems that are often outside a producer’s control. From missed flights and shifting talent to weather chaos and last-minute client changes, production is equal parts foresight, leadership, and emotional intelligence. The conversation goes far beyond logistics. Carly and Chantelle explore leadership without ego, hiring for attitude over résumés, and building culture through trust and kindness. Chantelle also shares why she has intentionally kept TIAGI lean and bootstrapped, how motherhood reshaped her leadership style, and why modern consumers are shifting from excess toward experiences. This episode is a grounded look at creative entrepreneurship, sustainable growth, and building a business that supports life rather than consuming it.   Key Themes: Producers Hold the Entire System Together: Why production is about human coordination, accountability, and crisis management, not just schedules and checklists. Hire for Attitude, Train for Skill: How curiosity, enthusiasm, and emotional intelligence outperform impressive CVs every time. Lean Businesses Create Freedom: Why staying bootstrapped allows flexibility, financial stability, and healthier relationships with both teams and clients.   Memorable Quotes: “Producers are in charge of all the mistakes that are not their fault.” “I can’t teach your attitude, but I can teach you everything else.” “If you’re unhappy at work, you’re unhappy eighty percent of your life.”   About Chantelle-Shakila Tiagi: Chantelle-Shakila Tiagi is a London-born, South Asian entrepreneur and the founder of TIAGI, an international creative production agency and artist consultancy operating across London, Los Angeles, and Mumbai. With more than seventeen years of experience, she has produced global campaigns and editorials for leading fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands and publications. She began her career at MTV while still at university, later working with Liberty, REP, Net-a-Porter, and other major industry players before launching TIAGI in 2018 as a fully self-funded venture. Alongside building a global business, Chantelle-Shakila is deeply committed to mentorship, representation, and supporting women and South Asian talent in creative leadership, while openly navigating the realities of entrepreneurship and motherhood.   Connect with Chantelle-Shakila: https://www.instagram.com/notoriouscst https://www.instagram.com/tiagi

    1 hr
  2. Modernizing Without Burning Out: A Smarter Way to Build Tech Companies with Matt Dorman

    4D AGO

    Modernizing Without Burning Out: A Smarter Way to Build Tech Companies with Matt Dorman

    In this episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Matt Dorman, co-founder and president of Endeavor, a digital solutions agency that helps manufacturers and enterprise organizations modernize outdated websites, CMS platforms, and digital infrastructure. With more than 30 years of experience building enterprise platforms for companies like Time Inc. and Fox News, Matt brings a grounded perspective that blends deep technical expertise with practical leadership. Rather than trying to be everything to everyone, Endeavor made a deliberate decision to focus exclusively on technology, integrations, and implementation. That choice allowed the company to become best-in-class instead of broadly average. Matt shares how a developer-first culture became a strategic advantage, improving retention, quality, and long-term client trust. He explains why protecting teams from unrealistic timelines leads to better outcomes, how remote work reshaped Endeavor well before it became the norm, and why strong boundaries with clients actually strengthen relationships. The conversation also explores enterprise cash flow realities, navigating AI disruption without panic, and how Matt’s vision evolved from eventually shutting the company down to building something worth passing on. This episode offers an honest, steady look at how to build a resilient tech business without burning people out.   Key Themes: Focus Creates Leverage: How narrowing Endeavor’s scope to pure technology reduced complexity, built trust, and improved results for clients and team members alike. Culture Is Built by Protecting People: Why realistic timelines, clear communication, and added support under pressure drive retention and long-term success. Cash Flow Discipline Creates Stability: How reserves, owner involvement in billable work, and controlled costs allowed Endeavor to stay calm while serving enterprise clients.   Memorable Quotes: “If you say yes to everything, you end up letting everyone down.” “Structure doesn’t limit creativity. It protects it.” “The moment we focused on what we’re best at, everything got easier.”   About Matt Dorman: Matt Dorman is the co-founder and president of Ndevr, a digital solutions agency helping manufacturers modernize websites and CMS platforms to drive growth and efficiency. With three decades of experience, including building enterprise platforms for Time Inc. and Fox News, Matt specializes in bridging technology and business strategy. At Ndevr, he helps leaders streamline workflows, align teams, and future-proof digital infrastructure with clarity and discipline.   Connect with Matt Dorman: 🌐 https://www.ndevr.io/ 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewdorman

    54 min
  3. Commerce Is Culture: Inside a Family Business Built to Last with Armen Alajian

    JAN 29

    Commerce Is Culture: Inside a Family Business Built to Last with Armen Alajian

    In this thoughtful and deeply grounded episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Armen Alajian, co-owner of ARTO Brick & Tile, a California-based, family-founded company known for its handcrafted architectural surfaces and timeless design. Armen shares how growing up surrounded by raw materials, craftsmanship, and hands-on creation shaped not only the products ARTO makes, but the philosophy behind the business itself. What began as a necessity born from limited capital evolved into the company’s greatest strength, allowing ARTO to remain tactile, human, and distinct in an industry dominated by mass production and synthetic materials. Carly and Armen explore what it truly takes to scale an artisan business without losing its soul. From navigating intense cash flow pressure and learning the importance of financial leadership, to hiring a strong CFO and building a people-first culture rooted in respect, Armen offers a rare, honest look at long-term leadership. The conversation also touches on family business dynamics, succession, and using commerce as a vehicle for connection, legacy, and meaning. This episode is both a masterclass in values-driven growth and a reflection on identity, craftsmanship, and what truly endures over time.   Key Themes: Scarcity as a Source of Differentiation: How necessity, not strategy, led ARTO to handcrafted production and created an advantage that cannot be replicated at scale. Cash Flow Protects Creativity: Why strong financial leadership is essential to sustain growth, support people, and preserve quality. Culture Is Lived, Not Engineered: How humility, respect, and consistency created loyalty without relying on perks or performative culture.   Memorable Quotes: “We didn’t stay handcrafted because we were smart. We stayed handcrafted because we were poor.” “Commerce is culture. You can’t pay people enough for their time, and they can’t give you enough of themselves for the money.” “If you can be the same person at work, at home, and with your friends, that’s real work-life balance.”   About Armen Alajian: Armen Alajian is the co-owner of ARTO Brick & Tile, a family-founded company producing handcrafted tiles and architectural surfaces in California. A son, brother, husband, and father, Armen leads with a deep respect for design, craftsmanship, and people, bridging artistry and utility to create materials that bring enduring beauty to built spaces.   Connect with Armen Alajian: 🌐 https://www.arto.com 📸 https://www.instagram.com/artobrick/

    1h 11m
  4. What It Really Takes to Bring a Historic Business Back to Life with Brian and Sally Krichbaum

    JAN 26

    What It Really Takes to Bring a Historic Business Back to Life with Brian and Sally Krichbaum

    In this meaningful episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Brian and Sally Krichbaum, the owners and stewards of Gilbert Chocolates, a historic chocolate company founded in 1893 and deeply rooted in the community of Jackson, Michigan. Brian and Sally share the honest story of acquiring a once-thriving business that had dwindled to just five employees, and the intentional, disciplined path they chose to rebuild it. Without taking on debt or compromising quality, they focused on honoring the company’s legacy while modernizing the systems needed for sustainable growth. Drawing on Brian’s background in engineering and consulting and Sally’s leadership across retail, finance, and community engagement, they reveal how patience and clarity shaped every decision. Carly, Brian, and Sally explore what it means to preserve history without becoming trapped by it. From protecting original recipes and century-old equipment to documenting processes, improving inventory systems, and empowering employees with trust and autonomy, this conversation highlights how craftsmanship, reserves, and long-term thinking create businesses that last. It is a powerful reminder that real success is built through intention, discipline, and respect for people — not shortcuts or hype.   Key Themes: Disciplined Growth Creates Stability: Why financial restraint, reinvestment, and doing the work yourself allowed the business to triple without overextending. Legacy Is a Strategic Advantage: How honoring history, recipes, and reputation became a source of trust and differentiation. Systems Enable Freedom: Why clear documentation and standardized processes reduced stress, improved quality, and supported creativity.   Memorable Quotes: “If you’re not growing, you’re dying.” “We weren’t just buying a business — we were buying a legacy.” “If you want to be an overnight success, work 80 hours a week for 40 years.”   About Brian and Sally Krichbaum: Brian Krichbaum is a seasoned leader with engineering and management degrees and a background as an executive with an automotive supplier. He now applies his expertise to managing and modernizing Gilbert Chocolates. Sally Krichbaum is a published writer who has chaired numerous clubs and charities, organized community fundraisers, and brought her passion for people and storytelling into the heart of the business. And above all, she loves chocolate. Under the Krichbaums’ leadership, Gilbert Chocolates has tripled in size, introducing new chocolate creations while preserving the classics that have defined the brand for generations.   Connect with Brian and Sally Krichbaum: 🌐 https://www.gilbertchocolates.com

    59 min
  5. Angelo D’Amico on Building Companies Where People Actually Want to Show Up

    JAN 19

    Angelo D’Amico on Building Companies Where People Actually Want to Show Up

    In this thoughtful and grounding episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Angelo D’Amico, President and CEO of a global manufacturing company based in Ontario, Canada, generating more than $25 million in annual sales. Angelo brings a rare blend of economics, management consulting, and philosophy into the conversation, offering a deeply human perspective on what leadership actually looks like in practice. He shares how stepping into an established organization required restraint rather than force, choosing observation, listening, and humility before making change. Together, Carly and Angelo explore why values alignment matters more than technical skill, how trust is earned through service rather than authority, and why burnout is often a symptom of misalignment, not workload. They unpack generational differences in motivation, the hidden costs of ego-driven leadership, and the responsibility leaders carry in shaping cultures where people feel seen as humans, not treated as resources. This conversation reframes leadership as stewardship and challenges listeners to consider a powerful question: can the culture inside your company be better than the world outside it?   Key Themes: Leadership Is Granted, Not Assigned: Why real influence comes from trust, consistency, and acting in the collective’s best interest. Values Alignment Prevents Burnout: How meaning, not effort, determines whether work feels energizing or exhausting. Culture Mirrors the Leader: Why the behaviors leaders model and tolerate define the entire organization.   Memorable Quotes: “A leader is someone people trust to make decisions with everyone’s best interests at heart.” “Burnout isn’t about effort. It’s about misalignment.” “My challenge is to build a place where the society inside the walls is better than the society outside.”   About Angelo D’Amico: Angelo D’Amico is the President and CEO of a global manufacturing company based in Ontario, Canada with more than $25 million in annual sales. With a background in economics, management consulting, and philosophy, he is known for applying rigorous strategy and timeless ideas to modern leadership, culture, and community challenges. Angelo serves on multiple non-profit boards, supports initiatives across the arts and healthcare sectors, and is passionate about bridging business success with philosophical insight. Connect with Angelo D’Amico: Website: https://www.angelodamicocanada.com  Instagram: https://instagram.com/angelodamicocanada

    1h 4m
  6. Mastery Over Ego: How Don “The Dragon” Wilson Built Two Legendary Careers

    JAN 12

    Mastery Over Ego: How Don “The Dragon” Wilson Built Two Legendary Careers

    In this powerful episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Don “The Dragon” Wilson, one of the most accomplished kickboxers in history and a prolific action film star whose career spans more than four decades. Don shares how the same principles that made him an eleven-time world champion also allowed him to build a successful second career in Hollywood. From setting clear goals and ignoring naysayers, to mastering fundamentals and refusing to let ego sabotage preparation, Don breaks down the repeatable formula behind sustained excellence. The conversation moves seamlessly between elite athletics, filmmaking, leadership, and personal growth. Don explains why ego can be useful in controlled doses but destructive when left unchecked. He reveals why humility, preparation, and respect for every role on the team were non-negotiable in both the ring and on set, and why longevity depends on never believing your own hype. This episode is a masterclass in discipline, mastery, and staying grounded while performing at the highest levels.   Key Themes: Success Follows a Formula, Not Luck: Why preparation, research, and learning from experts determine whether opportunity becomes achievement. Ego as a Tool, Not an Identity: How confidence fuels performance, but unchecked ego leads to complacency and decline. Longevity Through Mastery and Humility: Why fundamentals, continuous improvement, and respect for the team create careers that last decades.   Memorable Quotes: “Don’t believe your own press.” “Ego becomes a problem when it makes you work less hard.” “The same principles that made me a champion worked in every other part of my life.”   About Don “The Dragon” Wilson: Don “The Dragon” Wilson is an eleven-time world kickboxing champion with a four-decade career that includes seventy-two wins and forty-seven knockouts. He was named “the greatest kickboxer in American history” by STAR System Ratings and inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame in 2015. After dominating the ring, Don built a second career in film, starring in Bloodfist, Ring of Fire, and dozens of action movies worldwide. He also served as a commentator during the early UFC era, helping introduce martial arts to mainstream audiences. Today, Don is known not only for his titles, but for the discipline, mastery, and humility that defined both of his legendary careers.   Image Credit: Leo Medvedev (CC BY-SA 4.0)

    1h 26m
  7. Saving Cinema One Disc at a Time: Inside the World of Film Collectors with Claudio Ulrich

    JAN 5

    Saving Cinema One Disc at a Time: Inside the World of Film Collectors with Claudio Ulrich

    In this thoughtful and nostalgic episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Claudio Ulrich, a veteran film licensing and distribution expert with more than 30 years in the industry and the founder of Focus Media. Claudio pulls back the curtain on the world of film distribution, revealing the immense amount of unseen work required to bring a movie from original film reels to a finished home release. From licensing rights and restoring 35mm film to creating artwork, subtitles, packaging, and bonus content, he explains why a finished disc represents craftsmanship, history, and care far beyond what most people ever see. After experiencing burnout during the peak of the VHS and DVD boom, Claudio made a defining decision. Instead of chasing scale and volume, he chose collectors, quality, and meaning. That shift led to the creation of premium “media books” that transform restored films into collectible experiences. At its heart, this conversation is about choosing passion over pressure, redefining success, and building a life where work becomes a mission rather than a grind. Key Themes: Passion Outlasts Markets: Why industries do not truly disappear, and how following what you love can create sustainable niches even as markets change. The Invisible Work Matters: A behind-the-scenes look at the complexity, cost, and care involved in preserving and distributing films properly. Freedom Is Real Success: How Claudio designed a life centered on joy, creativity, and choice instead of constant scale and stress. Memorable Quotes: “I don’t see myself as a distributor. I see myself as a film lover who wants to share movies with other people.” “When you do what you love, it doesn’t feel like work. It becomes a mission.” “People don’t see what’s behind a movie. They only see the end product.” Connect with Claudio Ulrich: Website: https://www.mm-u.ch  Website: https://fokus-media.ch/

    58 min
  8. Teaching Potential, Not Standards: How Carlos Lauchu Reimagined Education

    12/29/2025

    Teaching Potential, Not Standards: How Carlos Lauchu Reimagined Education

    In this inspiring episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Carlos Lauchu, a nationally recognized STEM education leader with more than 25 years of experience reshaping how students learn science and technology. Carlos shares how a moment of deep frustration early in his teaching career became the catalyst for creating Science Academy STEM Magnet, now one of the top-ranked schools in the United States. Rather than accepting an education system that underestimated students, he challenged it by raising expectations, increasing rigor, and teaching students how to learn instead of what to memorize. Carly and Carlos explore how high standards paired with genuine support unlock extraordinary outcomes. From middle school students passing Advanced Placement exams to teens earning college degrees before high school graduation, this conversation reveals what becomes possible when education is built around human potential. The lessons extend far beyond classrooms, offering powerful insights for parents, educators, and business leaders alike. Key Themes: Students Rise to the Expectations Set for Them: Why removing artificial limits and raising the bar leads to performance, not burnout. Learning How to Learn Changes Everything: How teaching study skills, critical thinking, and ownership creates long-term success. Failure as Feedback: Why reframing mistakes as progress builds resilience, confidence, and curiosity. Memorable Quotes: “Maybe it’s not the kids. Maybe it’s the system that’s holding them back.” “Teaching more has never been the problem — teaching less is.” “If you give students the opportunity and believe in them, they will show you what’s possible.” Connect with Carlos Lauchu: Website: https://stem4education.com

    1h 11m
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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
    19
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Built for This