Built for This

Carly Pepin
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 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. The Truth About AI, SEO, and What Actually Drives Growth with Laurent Cohen

    -1 ДН.

    The Truth About AI, SEO, and What Actually Drives Growth with Laurent Cohen

    In this forward-thinking episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Laurent Cohen, a serial entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience building and scaling businesses across multiple industries, to explore what truly drives growth in the age of AI. Laurent shares a candid perspective on entrepreneurship as a mindset rooted in creativity, risk-taking, and constant reinvention. At the center of the conversation is his latest venture, a voice-first AI platform, and a key realization that shifted his entire approach: the real value of the business is not the technology itself, but the trust it creates between companies and their customers. Carly and Laurent dive into how AI is reshaping business, while also reinforcing a fundamental truth: AI is just a tool. The real advantage comes from understanding customer behavior, leveraging data effectively, and creating meaningful interactions at scale. The conversation expands into SEO, product development, and growth strategy, with a strong emphasis on validating ideas through real customer conversations rather than building in isolation. Laurent also introduces the concept of playing the “infinite game” in business, focusing on long-term value instead of short-term wins. This episode offers a grounded yet strategic perspective on navigating a rapidly evolving landscape, showing that even as technology advances, the fundamentals remain unchanged: understand your customer, build trust, and execute with clarity.   Key Themes: Trust Over Technology: Why the real product behind AI solutions is the trust they create with customers. Data as the Advantage: How capturing and learning from user behavior drives better performance than technology alone. Validate Before You Build: Why real conversations with customers outperform assumptions and over-engineering.   Memorable Quotes: “The more you work with AI, the less you focus on AI.” “At the end of the day, you need to have customers. AI is not buying your service.” “We thought we were building voice AI… but what we’re really building is trust.”   About Laurent Cohen: Laurent Cohen is a serial entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience building and scaling companies across industries including environment, cosmetics, e-commerce, SaaS, and AI. He has founded and led multiple multi-million-dollar businesses in both France and the United States, managing international operations, complex regulatory environments, and global distribution across more than ten countries. Today, Laurent is the founder of GetOblic, a voice-first AI platform for local businesses, which he is building as a bootstrapped venture. His approach centers on leverage over capital, validating ideas before investment, designing profitable systems early, and building companies grounded in clarity, execution, and long-term value.   Connect with Laurent Cohen: https://getoblic.com/?ref=ilkvvwxqtyghnvwpthre

    59 мин.
  2. From Two Employees to 75: Building a True Dream Team with Sarah Boyd

    -5 ДН.

    From Two Employees to 75: Building a True Dream Team with Sarah Boyd

    In this candid episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Sarah Boyd, Co-CEO and CRO of The Digital Dept., to explore what it really takes to scale a business beyond your own capacity and build a high-performing team. Sarah shares her early journey founding Simply with a small team, handling every aspect of the business herself, until she reached a turning point. Realizing she could not grow further alone, she made a bold move, reaching out to potential acquirers, which ultimately led to the next stage of expansion. Carly and Sarah dive into the emotional and strategic shifts that come with scaling, including stepping out of day-to-day operations, overcoming imposter syndrome, and learning to trust others as the business grows. They also unpack the complexities of merging companies, aligning cultures, and building a unified team that feels true ownership in the business. From hiring for grit and accountability to prioritizing culture and retention, Sarah shares the leadership mindset required to grow from a small startup into a company of 75 and beyond. This episode is an honest look at leadership evolution, team building, and what it takes to create a business that thrives beyond the founder.   Key Themes: Letting Go to Grow: Why scaling requires stepping out of execution and into leadership. Culture Through Inclusion: How involving teams in decisions creates alignment and ownership. Hire for Mindset: Why grit, accountability, and problem-solving matter more than experience.   Memorable Quotes: “I didn’t want to feel like an island anymore.” “You just have to jump in and take the lead. That’s what your team is looking for.” “Once you have something good, you don’t want to lose people.”   About Sarah Boyd: Sarah Boyd is the Co-CEO and CRO of The Digital Dept., a full-service influencer marketing and talent management firm that provides brand strategy and creator representation. The company was formed in 2023 through the merger of Socialyte, where Sarah served as President, and Be Social. Prior to this, Sarah founded Simply, a creative collective built around connection and collaboration. Today, she leads a growing team representing top creators such as Lauren Lane, Jana Kramer, and Becca Tilley, while working with major brand clients including Crocs, H&M, Molson Coors, and Function Health.   Connect with Sarah Boyd: https://thedigitaldept.com/ https://www.instagram.com/sarahpboyd/ https://www.instagram.com/thedigitaldpt/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahpboyd/

    55 мин.
  3. From Chaos to Clarity with Jackson Calame: The 6 Avatars Every Business Must Build For

    20 АПР.

    From Chaos to Clarity with Jackson Calame: The 6 Avatars Every Business Must Build For

    In this strategic episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Jackson Calame, entrepreneur and growth strategist, to unpack why so many businesses struggle to scale despite having strong vision and relentless effort. Drawing from years of experience across startups, SaaS, and operational leadership, Jackson introduces a powerful framework built on real-world lessons: the six critical “avatars” every business must serve effectively. From prospects and customers to team members, vendors, media, and investors, he explains that sustainable growth depends on building systems that support each of these relationships. Carly and Jackson explore the deeper realities of entrepreneurship, including the myth of the solopreneur, the importance of building strong teams early, and the need for clear processes and operational infrastructure. The conversation also highlights leadership blind spots, the role of feedback, and how personal growth directly influences business outcomes. This episode is a grounded look at what it really takes to build a scalable, resilient business, one that is driven by systems, people, and intentional leadership rather than hustle alone.   Key Themes: Structure Drives Scale: Why most businesses fail due to weak systems and unclear processes, not lack of effort. Teams Over Individuals: How sustainable growth depends on building and empowering the right people. Systems Create Freedom: Why clear frameworks enable consistency, creativity, and long-term scalability.   Memorable Quotes: “That’s why they’re called blind spots. If I’m not willing to ask about them, my business is going to fail.” “If everything’s on your shoulders right now, you’re going to burn out and your team will too.” “We don’t delegate to people. We delegate to systems.”   About Jackson Calame: Jackson Calame helps visionary entrepreneurs unlock sustainable revenue growth and build lasting legacies by becoming power brands in their markets. With deep experience launching and scaling B2B and SaaS startups serving thousands of small and mid-sized businesses, he has seen firsthand why many companies fail due to poorly managed growth and weak foundations. Jackson and his team partner with business owners and executives through critical growth phases, often stepping into strategic leadership roles across operations, marketing, and executive management. His approach focuses on leadership evolution, strong culture, operational clarity, and a customer-centric vision. He equips leaders to make high-stakes decisions with confidence, enabling them to scale intentionally and lead their markets.   Connect with Jackson Calame: https://www.visionproslive.com https://www.firstclassbusiness.io

    59 мин.
  4. From Culture Repair to Category Creation: Filip Keuppens on Leading Pickle Juice Company

    16 АПР.

    From Culture Repair to Category Creation: Filip Keuppens on Leading Pickle Juice Company

    In this insightful episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Filip Keuppens, CEO of The Pickle Juice Company, to explore what it takes to transform a company from the inside out while building a brand that defines an entirely new category. Filip shares how stepping into the business, and later navigating a private equity acquisition, became a pivotal moment that forced a complete rethink of leadership, culture, and direction. Rather than chasing growth metrics alone, he made a deliberate shift toward building a values-driven organization grounded in collaboration, accountability, integrity, and a champion mindset. Carly and Filip dive into the realities of culture transformation, from overcoming internal skepticism to creating psychological safety and reinforcing behaviors through systems, feedback, and accountability. He explains why culture is not something that happens by accident. It must be built intentionally and reinforced every day. Beyond leadership, the conversation explores how The Pickle Juice Company is creating a new “hyper-functional” food and beverage category. By combining science, curiosity, and real-world application, Filip and his team are developing products that solve tangible problems for consumers, moving beyond trends into true functionality. This episode is a powerful blend of leadership insight and innovation strategy, showing how strong culture and clear purpose drive both people and product forward.   Key Themes: Culture Is Built, Not Assumed: Why values, systems, and leadership accountability are essential to creating high-performing teams. Leadership Enables Growth: How great leaders create environments where people can succeed rather than trying to control outcomes. Innovation Starts with Curiosity: Why solving real problems through exploration leads to category-defining products.   Memorable Quotes: “We’re only as good as the systems that evaluate us.” “There’s no such thing as a bad employee, just a bad leader.” “Leadership is more about facilitating leadership in others.”   About Filip Keuppens: Filip Keuppens is the CEO of The Pickle Juice Company, a brand known for its scientifically backed beverage designed to help prevent muscle cramps by blocking the nerve signals that trigger them. The product is widely used by elite athletes and performance-driven consumers. Filip’s background spans sales and operations across e-commerce, grocery, club, and specialty channels, with a strong focus on innovative, solution-based products. He previously held roles with 20th Century Fox and Warner Home Video, where he developed a deep understanding of storytelling, messaging, and consumer engagement. Beyond business, Filip is deeply connected to the world of sport, serving in leadership roles within rugby organizations, including as a coach and director with the Dallas Rugby Football Club and as a competition commissioner with the Red River Rugby Conference.   Connect with Filip Keuppens: https://picklepower.com/ https://www.facebook.com/picklejuicesports https://www.instagram.com/picklejuice

    1 ч. 1 мин.
  5. From Homeless at 18 to SaaS Exit: Draven McConville’s Journey

    13 АПР.

    From Homeless at 18 to SaaS Exit: Draven McConville’s Journey

    In this powerful episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Draven McConville, a technology entrepreneur who built and exited a global SaaS company after overcoming homelessness at just 18 years old. Draven shares the full arc of his journey, from survival and uncertainty to founding Clipboard, a field service management platform designed to digitize and streamline operations for trade and service businesses. By focusing on a sector many tech founders overlooked, he built a product rooted in real-world problems, creating strong demand and long-term value. Carly and Draven explore the realities of building and scaling a SaaS business, including navigating the “SaaS slump,” securing the right type of investment, and making intentional decisions around growth, pricing, and product direction. The conversation also goes beyond the build phase into what most founders are unprepared for: the exit itself. Draven shares candid insights into choosing the right buyer, understanding the long-term implications of a deal, and managing life after liquidity, from handling sudden wealth to navigating personal relationships and purpose. This episode is a grounded and honest look at entrepreneurship from start to exit and beyond, offering both strategic insight and real-world perspective.   Key Themes: Opportunity Lives in Overlooked Markets: Why solving real problems in ignored industries can create powerful businesses. Scaling Requires Discipline: How patience, capital management, and intentional decision-making drive long-term SaaS growth. Exit Is a Transition, Not an Endpoint: Why selling a business is both a strategic and personal shift that requires preparation.   Memorable Quotes: “The strategy probably changed every two minutes in the early days.” “You have to be intentional in every aspect of the business that you do.” “If you can’t understand what they’re doing with your money, that’s a sign for you not to do it.”   About Draven McConville: Draven McConville is a British technology entrepreneur from Northern Ireland and the founder of Klipboard, a field service management SaaS platform acquired by Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS) in July 2024. His journey from overcoming homelessness at age 18 to building a globally successful software company serving enterprise clients reflects resilience, strategic thinking, and a commitment to solving real-world problems.   Connect with Draven McConville: https://www.dravenmcconville.com https://klipboard.io/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/draven-mcconville-79a93320/

    56 мин.
  6. Raising Leaders in a Distracted World: Krissy Webb’s Mission

    9 АПР.

    Raising Leaders in a Distracted World: Krissy Webb’s Mission

    In this impactful episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Krissy Webb, co-founder and executive director of Student ACES, a nonprofit dedicated to developing young leaders through character, accountability, and real-world life skills. Krissy shares how a simple but powerful question about the future of leadership sparked the creation of Student ACES and grew into a multi-million-dollar organization transforming student athletes across schools. What began as a passion project quickly became a mission to fill a critical gap in traditional education, where character and leadership development are often overlooked. Carly and Krissy dive into the realities of building a nonprofit from the ground up, from early failures and working without pay to learning how to fundraise and measure impact through meaningful data. They also explore the challenges facing today’s youth, including the effects of constant digital distraction, reduced critical thinking, and the need for practical life skills like resilience, decision-making, and time management. This episode is a powerful reminder that real leadership is built through character, not titles, and that lasting impact starts with investing in people.   Key Themes: Character Over Titles: Why true leadership is built on accountability, respect, and consistent action, not position or status. Growth Through Failure: How persistence, learning, and resilience shape meaningful success over time. Preparing the Next Generation: Why critical thinking and real-world skills are essential in a distracted, fast-changing world.   Memorable Quotes: “A lot of trial and error, a lot of failure… to have anything successful, you did fail a lot.” “You literally get paid for data now.” “If you talk to them like they’re adults, they’ll talk to you like an adult.”   About Krissy Webb: Krissy Webb is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Student ACES, a nonprofit organization committed to inspiring and developing young men and women of character, honor, and integrity. The organization’s mission is to create champions through its core values: Command Respect, Honor Your Word, Aspire to Greatness, Maintain Courage, Possess a Work Ethic Second to None, Inspire Others, Own a Winning Attitude, Never Settle, and Sacrifice for Self and Team. Beyond her work with Student ACES, Krissy is deeply involved in youth development through sports, serving as the head coach of the ACES Elite softball team and mentoring the next generation both on and off the field. Her passion for empowering young people is unwavering, making her a true advocate and champion for youth leadership.   Connect with Krissy Webb: http://www.studentaces.org

    59 мин.
  7. Starting Over at 40: Glenn Poulos on Rebuilding After Losing It All

    6 АПР.

    Starting Over at 40: Glenn Poulos on Rebuilding After Losing It All

    In this powerful episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Glenn Poulos, a seasoned entrepreneur who has built, scaled, and exited multiple companies across industries, only to lose it all and start again. Glenn shares the story of what looked like a life-changing exit, until the acquiring company went bankrupt and wiped out the value of his shares. Faced with starting over in his mid-40s, he chose action over hesitation, rebuilding from scratch and eventually growing his next company to more than $80 million in revenue. Carly and Glenn unpack the realities behind business exits, including the risks of stock-based deals, the complexity of private equity, and how deal structure can make or break the outcome. Glenn also outlines the three essential ingredients for starting a business and explains why momentum after failure is often more important than the setback itself. This episode is a candid and practical look at resilience, smart decision-making, and playing the long game in business.   Key Themes: Not All Exits Are Wins: Why liquidity matters and how stock-based deals can carry hidden risks. Momentum Beats Setbacks: How taking action quickly after failure can change the trajectory of your next chapter. The Real Requirements to Start: Why runway, a viable product, and a willing customer are the true foundations of any business.   Memorable Quotes: “Don’t sell your company for all shares. Make sure you get cash.” “One of the three things you need to start a company is a customer you don’t deserve.” “It doesn’t matter what change you make, you will piss off somebody.”   About Glenn Poulos: Glenn Poulos is an entrepreneur and strategist currently building his third company, ProgUSA, which supplies tools and equipment that help test and strengthen the modern power grid. His work supports utilities, contractors, and the growing demand driven by data centers and AI infrastructure. Glenn founded his first company at twenty-nine and grew it over fifteen years before a successful exit. He later co-founded Gap Wireless, helping scale it to more than $80 million in revenue before another eight-figure exit. After these successes, he moved from Toronto to Orlando to lead ProgUSA, stepping into a new industry, new customers, and a new country. He is also an award-winning author of Never Sit in the Lobby, runs AI training initiatives, and performs as a voice-over artist and charity DJ under the name Phossl, supporting non-profits through events and fundraising.   Connect with Glenn Poulos: https://a.co/d/2D6b0iV https://progusa.net/

    1 ч. 2 мин.
  8. Build Systems Early: Lessons from Scaling to $40M ARR with Sean Griffith

    2 АПР.

    Build Systems Early: Lessons from Scaling to $40M ARR with Sean Griffith

    In this practical and insight-packed episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Sean Griffith, founder of Truffle, an AI-powered hiring platform built to solve one of the biggest bottlenecks in modern business: screening candidates at scale. Sean shares his journey from joining SimpleTexting as the seventh employee to helping scale the company to $40M ARR, and later leading hundreds of employees as COO at Sinch. Through hiring more than 1,000 people, he developed a deep understanding of what breaks first as companies grow and why hiring is often the earliest and most painful constraint. Carly and Sean explore the realities of scaling, from the moment leadership becomes complex to the need for structure, systems, and communication cadence as teams expand. Sean also shares how Truffle was born from personal frustration, sorting through overwhelming volumes of applications and struggling to identify the right candidates efficiently. The conversation dives into how AI can enhance hiring decisions without replacing human judgment, and why protecting time for deep work is essential for leaders. This episode is a clear and grounded look at building systems early to create scalable, resilient companies.   Key Themes: Hiring Breaks First: Why talent acquisition becomes the earliest bottleneck and how better systems outperform manual effort. Structure Enables Scale: Why companies need clear frameworks, leadership cadence, and communication systems as they approach 70–100 employees. AI as an Amplifier, Not a Replacement: How technology improves efficiency and signal detection while human judgment remains essential.   Memorable Quotes: “There’s got to be a better way to do this.” “If you’ve set the business up well, it sort of handles itself.” “It’s incredible what you can accomplish when you protect a few hours for deep work.”   About Sean Griffith: Sean Griffith is the founder of Truffle, an AI-powered hiring platform designed to streamline candidate screening through asynchronous interviews and intelligent filtering. With more than 15 years of experience in hiring, Sean scaled SimpleTexting from $1M to $40M ARR and later served as COO at Sinch, leading a team of over 750 people. Having personally hired around 1,000 employees, he built Truffle to address the inefficiencies and overwhelm in modern hiring, helping companies focus on the candidates who truly matter.   Connect with Sean Griffith: http://www.hiretruffle.com https://www.linkedin.com/company/hiretruffle/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/griffithsean

    53 мин.
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 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.

Информация

  • Автор
    Carly Pepin
  • Годы выхода
    2025 - 2026
  • Выпуски
    42
  • Ограничения
    С ненормативной лексикой
  • Авторские права
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
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    Built for This