Built for This

Buddy Teaster on Why the Best Charity Models Create Entrepreneurs

In this episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Buddy Teaster, President and CEO of Soles4Souls, to explore how business principles can create sustainable social impact around the world.
Buddy shares how Soles4Souls evolved from a disaster-relief nonprofit into a global organization focused on creating economic opportunity through entrepreneurship. Rather than relying solely on traditional charity models, Soles4Souls helps people, especially women in developing countries, build businesses using donated shoes and clothing as inventory. The result is not just aid, but ownership, dignity, and long-term transformation for families and communities.
The conversation dives into the difference between handouts and empowerment, why entrepreneurship restores hope, and how even small economic opportunities can completely change the trajectory of future generations. Buddy also opens up about the major organizational turnaround he led after joining Soles4Souls in 2012, including rebuilding company culture, implementing operational discipline, strengthening leadership systems, and scaling global logistics operations.
Carly and Buddy explore the realities of leading a mission-driven organization, the complexity of sustainable nonprofit growth, and why emotional storytelling must be paired with strong systems and accountability to create lasting impact.
This episode is a powerful look at leadership, purpose, operational excellence, and how entrepreneurship can become one of the most effective tools for fighting poverty.
 
Key Themes:
Empowerment Over Dependency: Why creating entrepreneurs leads to more sustainable impact than traditional aid alone.
Purpose Requires Systems: How operational discipline, leadership alignment, and accountability helped transform Soles4Souls into a global movement.
Culture Drives Mission: Why intentional communication, shared values, and leadership consistency are essential for long-term impact.
 
Memorable Quotes:
“When a woman is a customer and not a recipient, it is a big deal.”“Most of it is not the mission that you’re thinking. It’s work.”“If we can be a small part of helping create something that allows her to stay in her community where she is respected and participates, that is amazing.”
 
About Buddy Teaster:Buddy Teaster is the President and CEO of Soles4Souls, a global nonprofit dedicated to creating opportunities through shoes and clothing. Under his leadership, the organization has distributed more than 103 million pairs of shoes and garments across 137 countries through both relief efforts and sustainable micro-enterprise programs.
Known for blending philanthropy with entrepreneurship and operational excellence, Buddy has helped transform Soles4Souls into one of the most respected nonprofit organizations in the world, earning recognition as one of The Nonprofit Times’ Best Nonprofits to Work For multiple years in a row. He is also the host of the re:Purpose podcast and author of Shoestrings and From Tailspin to Tailwind.
 
Connect with Buddy Teaster:https://soles4souls.org/https://amzn.to/49KXkAyhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/buddyteaster/https://www.linkedin.com/company/soles4souls-inc-/posts/?feedView=allhttps://www.instagram.com/soles4souls/https://www.facebook.com/Soles4Souls

How to Build Marketing for an Industry That Hates Change with Mark Kenigsberg

In this episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Mark Kenigsberg, VP at Azami, to explore what it really takes to transform a traditional sales-led organization into a scalable, product-led growth business.
Mark shares how he joined Azami, a legal tech company specializing in intellectual property and patent software, during a period of major organizational change. Instead of focusing solely on short-term marketing campaigns, the company invested heavily in rebuilding systems, aligning teams, and deeply understanding customer behavior before aggressively scaling growth efforts.
Carly and Mark unpack how marketing can become a catalyst for company-wide transformation, not just lead generation. From rebuilding CRM and revenue systems to aligning departments around shared customer outcomes rather than isolated KPIs, Mark explains how sustainable growth requires operational alignment and cultural change.
The conversation also dives into the challenge of marketing innovation to a naturally risk-averse audience. Through webinars, education, thought leadership, and direct customer conversations, Azami introduced new technology in a way that felt collaborative rather than disruptive. Along the way, they explore broader themes around product-led culture, customer-centric growth, AI in legal tech, and why businesses often lose sight of the humans behind the metrics they measure.
This episode is a thoughtful look at systems thinking, leadership, and how companies create sustainable growth by aligning around genuine customer value.
 
Key Themes:
Systems Before Scale: Why rebuilding operational foundations and customer journeys is essential before pursuing aggressive growth.
Product-Led Growth Is Cultural: How shifting from sales-led to product-led requires changes in mindset, onboarding, retention, and customer success.
Customer Outcomes Drive Growth: Why businesses scale faster when incentives align around helping customers succeed.
 
Memorable Quotes:
“Revenue is an ecosystem rather than four departments.”“When incentives align, growth happens naturally.”“KPIs are meant to be a measure of how well we serve customers.”
 
About Mark Kenigsberg:Mark Kenigsberg is a marketing and growth leader focused on aligning systems, incentives, and teams around long-term value creation. He has led go-to-market and transformation initiatives across health, legal tech, and global digital businesses, helping organizations balance innovation, trust, and scalable growth.
His work specializes in integrating sales-led and product-led growth models without disrupting the systems already working inside organizations. Mark also publishes the Product Marketing Weekly newsletter and regularly speaks internationally on growth strategy, marketing transformation, and organizational alignment.
 
Connect with Mark Kenigsberg:https://www.linkedin.com/in/marckenigsberg/https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7211059272065941504/

The Future of IT with Chris Farr: Cybersecurity, AI, and Human Connection

In this episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Chris Farr, VP of Operations at Envision Technologies, to explore how the IT industry has evolved from reactive “break-fix” support into a strategic partnership that directly impacts business growth, cybersecurity, and operational efficiency.
Chris shares his journey from hands-on network engineer to operational leader, reflecting on what it has taken to help scale Envision from a single-location managed service provider into a growing multi-location technology integrator serving businesses across Georgia.
The conversation dives into leadership, accountability, and operational clarity inside a scaling organization. Chris explains how adopting EOS principles helped improve delegation, ownership, and internal communication while maintaining a strong service culture. Carly and Chris also unpack the rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape, including phishing attacks, ransomware, employee training, cyber insurance requirements, and why businesses of every size are now potential targets.
They also discuss the power of a white-glove, concierge-style approach to IT, where the goal is not simply fixing technical issues, but becoming a trusted strategic partner that helps businesses operate more efficiently, securely, and with less friction. This episode is a practical look at leadership, scaling operations, cybersecurity, customer experience, and the systems that support long-term business growth.
 
Key Themes:
IT as Strategic Partnership: Why the best technology providers go beyond support and become trusted business advisors.
Scaling Through Systems: How EOS and accountability structures helped create clarity and operational efficiency during growth.
Cybersecurity Is Everyone’s Responsibility: Why employee education, proactive monitoring, and cloud security are now critical for every business.
 
Memorable Quotes:
“If the clients aren’t happy, we don’t have a job.”“We take the white-glove concierge approach.”“You go out and do what you do best. Let us do what we do best.”
 
About Chris Farr:Chris Farr has more than 20 years of experience in IT and over a decade of leadership within the Managed Service Provider (MSP) industry. Throughout his career, he has helped businesses leverage technology to operate more securely, efficiently, and strategically.
Having worked through the rapid evolution of IT, from early infrastructure environments to today’s cloud-driven and cybersecurity-focused landscape, Chris brings a practical, real-world perspective to technology leadership. He is passionate about guiding organizations through IT challenges, building strong teams, and helping businesses understand the strategic role technology plays in growth and risk management.
 
Connect with Chris Farr:https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-farr-409b3585/https://amzn.to/4dIsKdg

From TV Producer to CEO: Building a Business That Actually Matters with Shari Cedar

In this episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Shari Cedar, CEO and co-owner of AK Building Services, to explore what it really takes to build and scale a people-driven business over the long term.
Shari shares her unconventional journey from a successful career in television production to co-building a commercial cleaning company alongside her husband. What began as a gradual transition evolved into a 25-year leadership journey, growing a company that now supports a team of hundreds in a demanding and highly regulated industry.
The conversation unpacks the realities of scaling beyond the early stages of business. Shari explains how the discipline of production, preparation, execution, and continuous refinement, became the foundation for building strong operational systems and sustainable growth. Carly and Shari also explore the challenges of maintaining culture across a distributed, night-shift workforce, and why connection must be created intentionally through communication, leadership presence, and consistent human interaction.
This episode offers a grounded perspective on leadership, showing that real growth is not just about expanding revenue or headcount. It is about building systems that support scale, developing people who can lead independently, and creating a business that can thrive beyond its founders.
 
Key Themes:
Systems Before Scale: Why strong processes and infrastructure are essential for sustainable growth.
Intentional Culture: How to build connection and belonging across dispersed teams.
Leadership Through Trust: Why letting go and empowering others is critical to long-term success.
 
Memorable Quotes:
“If you have your hands on everything, then you’re doing nothing.”“We are a partner, not a vendor.”“Growth is great, but it’s a double-edged sword.”
 
About Shari Cedar:Shari Cedar is the CEO and Co-Owner of AK Building Services, a leading family-owned commercial janitorial company based in Florida. With more than 25 years of experience, she has built her career around leadership, operational excellence, and creating opportunities for her team.
Before entering the commercial cleaning industry, Shari worked in television production, an experience that shaped her approach to leadership and execution. Today, she is actively involved in industry and community organizations, including BOMA, CREW Network, and the Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, while also serving on multiple nonprofit and advisory boards.
A dedicated leader and working mother of two, Shari is passionate about building businesses that create meaningful impact for both people and the communities they serve.
 
Connect with Shari Cedar:http://www.akbuildingservices.com

From Awareness to Action: The Science of Behavior Change Marketing with Tim Berney

In this insightful episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Tim Berney, founder and CEO of VI Marketing and Branding, to explore how marketing can go beyond visibility and actually influence real human behavior.
With more than three decades of experience, Tim shares how his work has shifted from traditional awareness campaigns to behavior-driven strategies that shape decisions, habits, and even societal norms. From early recycling initiatives to large-scale water conservation campaigns that saved billions of gallons, he explains how small, consistent actions, when scaled, can create extraordinary impact.
Carly and Tim break down the science behind behavior change marketing, including the role of data, modeling behavior, and crafting messaging that resonates both individually and collectively. They also explore how creative execution plays a critical role in driving results, and why even the best strategy falls flat without ideas that connect emotionally.
Beyond marketing, the conversation expands into leadership, culture, and the future of the industry. Tim shares how he built a company grounded in continuous learning, intentional communication, and long-term thinking, while also offering his perspective on how AI is reshaping the marketing landscape. This episode is a thoughtful look at how marketing, when done well, becomes a powerful force for meaningful change.
 
Key Themes:
Marketing That Changes Behavior: Why true impact comes from influencing decisions and actions, not just awareness.
Small Actions, Big Results: How incremental behavior shifts can scale into significant societal impact.
Creative Drives Results: Why emotionally resonant messaging is essential for long-term engagement and action.
 
Memorable Quotes:
“We’re not just trying to get people to buy something… we’re trying to change behaviors.”“If we’re not driving results for our clients, then we shouldn’t have a job.”“There’s no substitute for creative that actually resonates and motivates people to act.”
 
About Tim Berney:Tim Berney is the Founder and CEO of VI Marketing and Branding, a nationally recognized agency focused on marketing that drives real behavior change. Over more than 30 years, he has grown the company from a $1,300 startup into a multi-million-dollar firm serving clients across healthcare, public health, travel, and commercial sectors.
His work centers on helping organizations move beyond awareness to influence real decisions, with a strong focus on trust, credibility, and human-centered strategy. Tim is also a frequent contributor to leading business and marketing publications and is widely recognized for his insights on leadership, brand credibility, and the evolving role of AI in marketing.
 
Connect with Tim Berney:https://www.vimarketingandbranding.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/timberney/https://www.instagram.com/thevibrand/

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

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/

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.comhttps://www.firstclassbusiness.io

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/picklejuicesportshttps://www.instagram.com/picklejuice

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.comhttps://klipboard.io/https://www.linkedin.com/in/draven-mcconville-79a93320/