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

Charlotte Ellis Maldari
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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. 3d ago

    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

  2. 6d ago

    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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. Sep 14

    Get Better LinkedIn Leads by Asking Better Questions

    Why do so many LinkedIn outreach campaigns fail even when the brief sounds “perfect”? This episode breaks down a surprising pattern found after building seven prospect lists for seven very different businesses, and discovering none could be built from the initial description alone. The good news: each was usually fixable in under 10 minutes once the right questions were asked. Key topics covered: - Why job titles can be misleading, and how to use function and seniority instead  - When your ideal client description is real, but not searchable on LinkedIn  - The difference between who benefits and who signs it off (the real buyer)  - Hidden buyers beyond marketing: internal comms, L&D, employer brand, investor relations  - How to spot audiences that technically have LinkedIn, but do not use it  - When your list should be 200 people (referral networks) not 5,000  - Why one campaign must equal one buyer type, not multiple offers  - The core diagnostic questions that unlock a usable Sales Navigator search Link mentioned: https://kaffeen.thrivecart.com/llo-lite/ Thinking about entering the DBA Design Effectiveness Awards? Entries close at 5pm on Tuesday 1 December 2026, and the deadline is never extended. I've been writing Design Effectiveness entries for 16 years, with a win rate of over 95% and 8 Golds. Not sure if your project is a contender? Get a free video verdict. Tell me about your project in a short form. Within 24 hours, I'll send you a personal video verdict covering: wh

  6. Sep 7

    The Two AI Prompts That Build Your Campaign

    In this episode of the Authority Builder podcast, Charlotte breaks down the two AI prompts inside LinkedIn Lead Liftoff Lite that remove the biggest blockers in LinkedIn outreach: targeting the right people and knowing what to say. You will learn how one prompt creates a Sales Navigator “recipe” so you can build a high-quality prospect list without hours of trial and error. Then Charlotte explains the second prompt, which generates a three-message outreach sequence in your voice, plus a practical reply bank and a simple briefing for a VA or team member to manage responses. The core message: a great message sent to the wrong list fails, but decent messaging to the right list gets replies. These prompts are designed to make Lite finishable, not another abandoned course. Key topics covered - Why most LinkedIn outreach fails at targeting  - Sales Navigator filters that matter (and common mistakes)  - Building a 3 to 6 month lead list (100 invites per week)  - A 3-message sequence and follow-up timing  - Reply templates for common responses  Links and resources - https://kaffeen.thrivecart.com/llo-lite/ 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

  7. Aug 27

    Why I'm Building the DIY Version (And Who It's For)

    Over the past six months, Charlotte has been asked the same question again and again: can you teach the LinkedIn Lead Liftoff system, not just build it for people? This episode explains why she is finally saying yes, and what the new DIY option is designed to do. You will hear the thinking behind turning a fast, high-touch campaign build into a step-by-step programme that still captures the logic, targeting depth, and messaging decisions normally made live on a Zoom call. Charlotte also shares who should choose the Done With You version versus the DIY route, plus the real reason owning the skill can change how you handle quiet months. Key topics covered - What LinkedIn Lead Liftoff delivers, and why it works   - Why productising the live build is harder than it looks   - Who the DIY version is for (and who should not buy it)   - Time vs cash trade-offs, and running campaigns for multiple offers   - Using templates and AI prompts to speed up targeting and messaging   - Founding member pricing and the limited-time launch window   Links and resources https://kaffeen.thrivecart.com/llo-lite/  Thinking about entering the DBA Design Effectiveness Awards? Entries close at 5pm on Tuesday 1 December 2026, and the deadline is never extended. I've been writing Design Effectiveness entries for 16 years, with a win rate of over 95% and 8 Golds. Not sure if your project is a contender? Get a free video verdict. Tell me about your project in a short form. Within 24 hours, I'll send you a personal video verdict covering: wh

  8. Jul 28

    The Clients Who Were Never Going To Find You

    If your work arrives in unpredictable bursts, this episode shows why you may not have a visibility problem, but a pipeline problem. You will learn how a simple, consistent LinkedIn outreach system can create inbound enquiries from ideal-fit clients, without daily posting or chasing the algorithm. We break down the maths behind a steady 20-a-day connection habit, why pitching in the first message fails, and how to use a “connect, give, invite” sequence that starts real conversations. You will also hear why the real asset is capturing relationships on channels you own, not just growing your LinkedIn network. The episode also explains what’s inside the free, on-demand training that walks through the full system end to end. Key topics covered: - Content vs direct outreach and why “hoping” is not a strategy  - LinkedIn connection maths and realistic reply rates  - The biggest outreach mistake: pitching too early  - What to offer instead: a useful asset that earns follow-up  - Targeting, messaging sequences, and building an email-based pipeline  Free training: https://kaffeen.co/free-training Thinking about entering the DBA Design Effectiveness Awards? Entries close at 5pm on Tuesday 1 December 2026, and the deadline is never extended. I've been writing Design Effectiveness entries for 16 years, with a win rate of over 95% and 8 Golds. Not sure if your project is a contender? Get a free video verdict. Tell me about your project in a short form. Within 24 hours, I'll send you a personal video verdict covering: wh

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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.

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