Built for This

In this episode of Built For This, Carly Pepin sits down with Matthew Celia, co-founder and Chief Creative Director of LightSail VR, to explore what it takes to build a sustainable creative business around technology that never stops changing.
Matthew's journey into immersive storytelling began the first time he experienced virtual reality. He could immediately see its potential, but he could also see what was missing. Much of the early VR content felt like a demonstration of the technology rather than a story worth staying for. You could visit Mars or explore an incredible environment, but once the novelty disappeared, what kept you watching?
Matthew believed the answer was the same thing that had kept audiences captivated for generations: characters, conflict, emotion, and great storytelling.
So he and his business partner Robert started experimenting. Matthew bought 10 GoPros using a zero-interest credit card offer, and the pair began figuring out how to tell stories in 360 degrees. Then came a call that changed everything.
A friend needed someone to create a 360-degree experience for Paranormal Activity. Matthew and Robert shot it in Matthew's garage, Matthew stayed up through the night stitching the footage together, and the finished experience went on to generate 10 million views. That early project helped put LightSail on the map, eventually leading to work with some of the world's biggest companies, including Meta, Apple, Amazon MGM, and Google.
But this conversation isn't really about VR. It's about what happens when you build a company at the edge of an industry that hasn't finished inventing itself yet.
Matthew shares how LightSail survived wave after wave of technology hype by refusing to build the company around any single trend. While other businesses raised significant capital and rapidly expanded during the VR boom, LightSail deliberately stayed lean. Matthew developed what he calls an "accordion structure," bringing in specialist talent as projects require it rather than carrying the overhead of a huge permanent team.
That same philosophy extends to hiring. Matthew explains why he would rather find someone with exceptional creative taste, curiosity, passion, and tenacity and teach them the technology than hire someone who knows every piece of software but lacks creative instinct.
Carly and Matthew also explore the reality behind creative success. The finished project might look polished, but getting there requires constant experimentation, wrong turns, failed ideas, and collaboration. Matthew believes that if you're not failing regularly, you're probably not pushing yourself far enough to grow.
They also dive into AI and the role it could play in the future of creative production. LightSail is already experimenting with agentic coding, internal software, production automation, and AI-assisted tools that can analyze documentary transcripts and help teams identify potential story arcs. But Matthew doesn't see AI replacing filmmakers. He sees its greatest potential in helping creative teams communicate, collaborate, and spend more of their time doing the work that humans do best.
From a garage filled with GoPros to Emmy-winning productions for global brands, this episode is a fascinating conversation about creativity, entrepreneurship, emerging technology, failure, patience, and why the fundamentals of great storytelling matter even when everything around them changes.
 
Key Themes
Build Around Something More Durable Than the TechnologyLightSail has lived through VR, AR, blockchain, virtual production, AI, and countless technology hype cycles. Rather than betting the company on one platform becoming the future, Matthew kept the focus on immersive storytelling. Technologies and distribution platforms will change, but audiences will continue caring about characters, conflict, emotion, and stories that make them feel something.
Hire for What You Can't TeachMatthew can teach someone which software, button, plugin, or workflow to use. What is much harder to teach is creative taste. That's why he prioritizes qualities such as instinct, curiosity, passion, tenacity, and willingness to learn, then gives people opportunities where their natural interests can become an advantage.
Failure and Collaboration Are Part of the Creative ProcessFor Matthew, failure isn't something that happens on the way to creative success. It's part of how creative success is produced. Emerging technologies rarely come with established playbooks, so teams have to experiment and get things wrong. And despite the mythology of the lone creative genius, Matthew believes filmmaking will always be a team sport. Great work comes from talented people bringing different perspectives and skills together.
 
Memorable Quotes
"I can teach you what button and plugin to use. I can't teach you taste."
"If you're not failing 80% of the time, then I think you're not growing."
"There's no such thing as an auteur... I'm nothing without the team of people that we've built around me."
 
About Matthew Celia
Matthew Celia is the co-founder and Chief Creative Director of LightSail VR, an Emmy-winning immersive cinema studio based in Los Angeles.
Since launching the company in 2015, Matthew has helped grow LightSail from a two-person startup experimenting with early VR cameras into a multimillion-dollar production company delivering immersive projects for organizations including Meta, Apple, Amazon MGM, and Google.
The studio has produced more than 200 projects spanning immersive film, live music, and branded entertainment, including work featuring Sabrina Carpenter and Shawn Mendes. Early in the company's history, its Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension VR experience reached 10 million views and helped establish LightSail as an early leader in immersive storytelling.
In 2025, the company earned a Primetime Creative Arts Emmy for its work on the Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special.
Today, Matthew continues exploring the intersection of creativity and emerging technology while sharing his experience building sustainable creative businesses, navigating technology hype cycles, and developing teams capable of producing exceptional work in industries that are constantly changing.
 
Connect with Matthew
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewcelia
LightSail VR on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/light-sail-vr
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lightsailvr
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/lightsailvr
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightsailvr
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lightsailvr

In this episode of Built For This, Carly Pepin sits down with Bryan Clayton, co-founder and CEO of GreenPal, to explore how the lessons learned building a landscaping business became the foundation for creating a $30 million technology platform.
Bryan's entrepreneurial journey started as a teenager mowing lawns with a push mower. Over the next 15 years, he grew that hustle into one of Tennessee's largest landscaping companies, generating more than $10 million annually before eventually selling the business. But those years also gave him an intimate understanding of an industry still heavily reliant on phone calls, paperwork, checks, and unpredictable service.
Inspired by the transformation Uber was bringing to transportation, Bryan saw an opportunity to create a better way for homeowners to find and manage lawn care. There was one significant obstacle: neither Bryan nor his co-founders knew how to build software. Instead of letting that stop them, they learned what they needed to know and began building GreenPal.
Throughout the conversation, Bryan shares some of the mistakes and discoveries that shaped the platform, including one that completely changed their understanding of their customers. GreenPal was initially built around the assumption that homeowners wanted cheaper lawn care. When Bryan actually sat down with early customers, he discovered that price wasn't their biggest frustration. They wanted reliability. They wanted someone who would simply show up when they said they would.
Carly and Bryan also explore his philosophy of learning a function before delegating it, using negative customer feedback as free R&D, hiring fractional experts, choosing the right co-founders, and focusing on meaningful business metrics rather than vanity numbers.
Bryan also explains the difference between the landscaping company he built, which could barely operate without him for two days, and the "anti-fragile" company he's building today. His goal isn't simply to create a business that survives when the founder steps away. It's to build one capable of continuing to learn, improve, and grow without him constantly holding everything together.
From old-school work ethic to AI, automation, and customer psychology, this episode is a fascinating look at what happens when deep industry experience meets a willingness to continually experiment and adapt.
 
Key Themes
Learn It Before You Delegate ItBryan believes founders should understand critical functions before handing them to someone else. Whether it was software development, SEO, or another part of GreenPal's growth, he and his co-founders first learned enough to understand what good looked like. Otherwise, delegation can quickly become what Bryan calls "abdication," where responsibility is handed away without clear expectations, processes, or accountability.
Listen to What Customers Actually WantGreenPal's founders assumed price would be their biggest competitive advantage. Their customers told them otherwise. Reliability mattered far more than saving another few dollars. That insight helped reshape the product and is a powerful reminder that knowing an industry doesn't automatically mean you understand the psychology of the customer.
Build a Business That Gets Stronger Without YouBryan's first company depended heavily on him. GreenPal is being built differently. Through systems, automation, data, feedback loops, accountability, and the right people, his goal is to create an "anti-fragile" organization capable of operating and continuing to improve even when he isn't there.
 
Memorable Quotes
"GreenPal is about a 10-year overnight success."
"There is a meaningful percentage of the detractors that are just trying to help you. They are like free R&D."
"Everything is your fault all the time. And you have to just embrace that."
 
About Bryan Clayton
Bryan Clayton is the co-founder and CEO of GreenPal, a technology platform connecting more than 300,000 homeowners with lawn care professionals across the United States.
His entrepreneurial journey began as a teenager mowing lawns with a push mower. Over the following two decades, Bryan built one of Tennessee's largest landscaping companies, growing it to more than $10 million in annual revenue before selling the business.
He then turned his attention to technology, co-founding GreenPal to bring greater convenience, reliability, and transparency to the lawn care industry. Today, the platform handles thousands of jobs every day and has grown into a business valued at approximately $30 million.
Bryan is now focused on bringing AI, data, and automation into one of America's oldest service industries, helping independent lawn care professionals operate more efficiently and compete with much larger businesses. His journey from pushing a mower to building a national technology platform is a story of persistence, customer obsession, continual learning, and adapting old-school entrepreneurship for a high-tech world.
 
Connect with Bryan
GreenPal: https://www.yourgreenpal.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-clayton-a96b33214
X: https://x.com/bryanMclayton
Instagram: https://instagram.com/bryanmclayton
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BryanClayton1
Wikipedia: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryan_M._Clayton

In this episode of Built For This, Carly Pepin sits down with Jessica Yarmey, President of Squeeze Massage, to explore what it really takes to prepare a franchise for sustainable, long-term growth.
With more than 25 years of experience across brands including Burger King, Gold's Gym, Club Pilates, and KickHouse, Jessica has seen franchise growth from almost every angle. Now, following Squeeze's acquisition by wellness conglomerate GoSaga, she's bringing those lessons into a new chapter, with ambitions to grow the brand from a relatively small footprint into hundreds of locations.
But Jessica isn't interested in chasing location numbers for the sake of growth. She shares why her immediate priority has been strengthening the foundation first, from changing pricing and evolving the service offering to replacing the CRM, reshaping elements of the culture, and creating much closer communication with franchise owners and general managers. Her goal is to make sure the business can genuinely support its next stage before accelerating expansion.
Throughout the conversation, Carly and Jessica also explore the personal side of leadership. Jessica shares how feedback from hundreds of franchisees during her time at Club Pilates became an unexpected form of personal development, forcing her to challenge her thinking, communicate decisions more clearly, and become comfortable making difficult calls.
She also reflects on leaving a successful CMO role to launch KickHouse during COVID, navigating an earlier-than-expected exit, and why she continues to deliberately choose opportunities where she has something new to learn.
Whether you're scaling a franchise, acquiring a business, leading an organization through change, or preparing for your next stage of growth, this episode is a candid reminder that sustainable scale doesn't begin with moving faster. It begins with building something strong enough to support where you want to go.
 
Key Themes
Build the Foundation Before Accelerating GrowthJessica has ambitious plans for Squeeze, but her focus is first on getting the model right at 25 locations, then 50. The systems, customer experience, franchisee relationships, services, and operations all need to become repeatable before the business can sustainably support hundreds of locations.
Culture Is Defined by How Values Are LivedValues on paper aren't enough. Jessica explains how transforming culture sometimes means changing how existing values show up inside the organization, rewarding people who embody them positively, and being willing to make difficult decisions when behaviors consistently undermine the culture you're trying to create.
Leadership Should Keep Developing YouJessica sees each stage of her career as an opportunity for personal development. From receiving constant feedback from franchise owners to deliberately stepping into unfamiliar leadership roles, she believes growth happens when you're willing to keep testing yourself, learning, and evolving.
Memorable Quotes
"The game is just personal development and getting as much out of the opportunity for your own growth as you're putting into the opportunity for company growth."
"We don't want to grow faster than what we're ready for, and we don't want to grow faster than what the business can support and hold."
"You dig in, you make changes, you learn, you grow."
 
About Jessica Yarmey
Jessica Yarmey is the President of Squeeze Massage, taking on the role following the brand's acquisition by wellness conglomerate GoSaga. With more than 25 years of experience building and growing major brands, Jessica has worked across organizations including Gold's Gym, Burger King, and Club Pilates, where she served as CMO during its rise to become the world's largest Pilates franchise.
She later founded KickHouse Fitness, growing the concept from zero to 30 locations before its acquisition by Mayweather Boxing + Fitness in 2022. Today, Jessica is focused on strengthening Squeeze's foundations, supporting its franchise network, and preparing the brand for significant national expansion while making its tech-enabled approach to self-care accessible to more people.
 
Connect with Jessica
Squeeze Massage
Jessica Yarmey on LinkedIn
Squeeze on Instagram
Jessica Yarmey on Instagram

In this episode of Built For This, Carly Pepin sits down with Jordan Levine, President and Chief Operating Officer of Stretch Zone, to explore what it really takes to build a franchise brand that scales without losing the personal touch that makes it successful.
Drawing on more than 25 years of franchise leadership across brands including Cold Stone Creamery, Massage Envy, Amazing Lash Studio, Sola Salons, and now Stretch Zone, Jordan shares the lessons he's learned about sustainable growth, leadership, and creating opportunities for entrepreneurs. From helping expand franchise systems to supporting thousands of business owners, he explains why the strength of a franchise is ultimately determined by the people behind it.
Throughout the conversation, Jordan reflects on his journey from working behind the counter at Cold Stone Creamery as a teenager to leading some of the country's fastest-growing franchise organizations. He discusses how successful franchise systems balance consistency with local ownership, why selecting the right franchisees matters more than finding the perfect location, and how strong leadership and operational support create lasting success.
Carly and Jordan also explore customer experience, recurring revenue models, scaling company culture, leadership development, and the importance of making decisions that serve both franchise owners and the customers they support. They also discuss Stretch Zone's mission to bring assisted stretching into the mainstream through education, research, and measurable health outcomes.
Whether you're building a franchise, growing a business, or leading a team through expansion, this episode offers practical insights into scaling with intention while keeping people at the center of every decision.
 
Key Themes
Great Franchise Systems Are Built Around Great PeopleJordan believes the biggest predictor of franchise success isn't the territory or the brand. It's the quality of the franchisee. By selecting owners who share the company's values and are committed to serving their communities, businesses create stronger long-term outcomes for everyone involved.
Customer Experience Must Grow Alongside the BusinessAs organizations scale, it's easy to focus on systems and efficiency. Jordan explains that the strongest brands never lose sight of the customer, ensuring every decision enhances the experience rather than simply improving operations.
Culture Is a Competitive AdvantageRapid growth only succeeds when culture grows with it. Jordan shares how investing in leadership, communication, collaboration, and franchisee support helps preserve the values and relationships that made the business successful in the first place.
 
Memorable Quotes
"The franchisee matters more than the location."
"When sales is done right, it feels really good because you're matching a real problem with a real solution."
"You can make decisions that are good for the business but bad for the customer. In the long run, those are actually bad decisions for the business."
 
About Jordan Levine
Jordan Levine is the President and Chief Operating Officer of Stretch Zone and a franchise executive with more than 25 years of experience building and scaling some of the most successful franchise brands in the United States. Throughout his career, he has helped grow organizations including Cold Stone Creamery, Massage Envy, Amazing Lash Studio, and Sola Salons, where he played a key role in expanding the brand to more than 720 locations while empowering thousands of independent business owners.
Known for his people-first leadership style, Jordan focuses on creating systems that support franchisees, strengthen customer experiences, and drive sustainable long-term growth. His passion for developing entrepreneurs and building high-performing franchise organizations continues to shape the next chapter of Stretch Zone's expansion.
 
Connect with Jordan
https://www.stretchzone.com/the-stretch-zone-effect
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanaustinlevine/

In this episode of Built For This, Carly Pepin sits down with Chad Bauer, President and Owner of SR&B Advertising, to explore why the greatest barrier to business growth is often the leader behind it.
After acquiring the family business from his father, Chad faced the challenge of preserving a 60-year legacy while transforming SR&B into a modern, performance-driven marketing agency. What he discovered was that sustainable growth wasn't simply about implementing better systems or refining strategy. It required a fundamental shift in his own leadership.
Throughout the conversation, Chad shares how developing greater self-awareness, learning to delegate, and trusting his team became the catalyst for transforming both the business and its culture. He explains how SR&B built an environment rooted in ownership, transparency, continuous learning, and genuine human connection, resulting in an extraordinary 94% client retention rate and a business that has grown entirely through referrals.
Carly and Chad also explore succession planning, healthy workplace conflict, leadership development, documenting scalable systems, and creating meeting rhythms that encourage accountability without unnecessary bureaucracy. At the heart of the discussion is the belief that great cultures aren't created through mission statements alone. They're built through leaders who are willing to grow themselves first.
Whether you're leading a family business, preparing for succession, or simply looking to become a more effective leader, this episode offers practical insights into creating an organization where both people and performance can thrive.
 
Key Themes
Leadership Growth Begins with Self-AwarenessChad explains that his business couldn't grow until he was willing to change. By becoming more self-aware, learning to let go of control, and empowering others to lead, he created the conditions for sustainable growth.
Culture Is Built Through Trust and OwnershipRather than managing through control, Chad focuses on creating an environment where people feel trusted, supported, and accountable. When employees have ownership over their work and room to grow, stronger teams and better results naturally follow.
Systems Create Clarity, Not BureaucracyFrom documenting processes to redesigning meetings and removing operational bottlenecks, Chad shares how thoughtful systems provide consistency and freedom, allowing people to spend less time fighting chaos and more time creating value.
 
Memorable Quotes
"The business was stuck because I was stuck."
"This business shouldn't just be about what we do. It should be about who we are."
"Growth is messy. But that's where the learning happens."
 
About Chad Bauer
Chad Bauer is the President and Owner of SR&B Advertising, a performance-driven growth marketing agency based in Baltimore with more than 60 years of history. After acquiring the business from his father, Chad led its transformation from a traditional advertising agency into a modern, data-driven organization focused on measurable results and long-term client partnerships.
His leadership journey has been shaped by a commitment to personal growth, operational excellence, and building a culture where trust, accountability, and continuous learning thrive. Today, SR&B boasts a remarkable 94% client retention rate, with every client coming through referrals, a testament to the strength of its relationships and reputation. Chad believes that lasting business success begins with self-aware leadership and that strategy is only effective when it's grounded in genuine insight.
 
Connect with Chad
https://www.srbadv.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadgbauer/

In this episode of Built For This, Carly Pepin sits down with Thomas Gaffney, Chief Operating Officer of OFA Group, to explore why great businesses aren't built on ideas alone, but on the systems, discipline, and execution that turn vision into reality.
With a background as an attorney, startup advisor, and technology strategist, Thomas has helped lead OFA Group's evolution from a traditional architecture firm into an integrated technology company operating across artificial intelligence, digital assets, finance, and emerging technologies. He shares how strong operational leadership has enabled the company to scale multiple business divisions while continuing to innovate in rapidly changing markets.
Throughout the conversation, Thomas explains how clear operating systems, structured communication, and empowered teams allow complex organizations to move quickly without losing focus. He discusses the importance of building scalable workflows, mentoring future leaders, and creating an environment where innovation can flourish because the fundamentals of execution are already in place.
Carly and Thomas also dive into the future of AI in construction, blockchain technology, digital asset strategies, and the challenges of leading multiple high-growth initiatives simultaneously. At the heart of the discussion is a simple but powerful principle: even the most brilliant idea has little value unless it's backed by consistent execution.
Whether you're launching your first venture, leading a growing company, or looking to improve the way your business operates, this episode offers practical lessons in leadership, operational excellence, and building organizations that can sustain long-term growth.
Key Themes
Execution Is What Creates Real ValueIdeas may spark innovation, but Thomas believes execution is what determines success. Building repeatable systems, establishing clear processes, and consistently delivering results are what transform ambitious concepts into thriving businesses.
Strong Operating Systems Enable Sustainable GrowthAs organizations become more complex, leaders need visibility without creating unnecessary bureaucracy. Thomas explains how structured communication, accountability, and operational discipline allow multiple teams and projects to move forward while maintaining alignment.
Leadership Is About Growing PeopleBeyond managing projects, Thomas is passionate about developing people. By mentoring team members, encouraging personal growth, and creating opportunities for others to lead, he believes organizations build stronger cultures and greater long-term resilience.
 
Memorable Quotes
"You can have the coolest, best tech in the world, but if no one uses it, no one cares."
"My objective when I hire someone is not only to make them good at their job, but a good person in life."
"One of my main skill sets is getting things done."
 
About Thomas Gaffney
Thomas Gaffney is the Chief Operating Officer of OFA Group, an integrated architecture and technology company operating at the intersection of artificial intelligence, blockchain, digital assets, finance, and emerging technologies. With a background in law and more than a decade of experience advising startups and venture capital firms, Thomas brings a unique combination of legal expertise, operational leadership, and technology strategy to every venture he helps build.
At OFA Group, he oversees operations across multiple business divisions while helping drive the development of AI-powered platforms, including QikBIM, alongside innovative solutions in blockchain and real-world asset technology. Thomas is passionate about creating scalable systems, building exceptional teams, and turning ambitious ideas into businesses that deliver lasting impact.
 
Connect with Thomas
http://www.ofacorp.com
Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-gaffney-gafftm14/
OFA Group: https://www.linkedin.com/company/office-for-fine-architecture/posts/?feedView=all

In this episode of Built For This, Carly Pepin sits down with Kaitlyn Albertoli, co-founder and CEO of Buzz Solutions, to explore how artificial intelligence is helping modernize one of the world's most essential but often overlooked industries: electric utility infrastructure.
Inspired by growing up in Southern California, where wildfires and power outages were a constant reality, Kaitlyn set out to solve a problem that affects millions of people. What began as a Stanford University class project has grown into Buzz Solutions, an award-winning AI company that helps utility providers inspect, monitor, and maintain critical infrastructure more efficiently, improving the safety, reliability, and resilience of the power grid.
Kaitlyn explains how Buzz Solutions uses artificial intelligence to analyze millions of infrastructure images, dramatically reducing the time required to detect potential defects while allowing engineers and field teams to focus on the highest-priority decisions. She also shares the realities of building technology for a highly regulated industry, the importance of earning customer trust, and why years of developing proprietary datasets laid the foundation for the company's success.
Throughout the conversation, Carly and Kaitlyn discuss scaling a remote-first business, building products in close partnership with customers, leading through rapid growth, and why successful AI adoption depends just as much on people, processes, and change management as it does on technology itself.
Whether you're an entrepreneur, technology leader, or simply fascinated by the practical applications of AI, this episode offers valuable insights into building customer-driven innovation that delivers meaningful real-world impact.
 
Key Themes
The Best Innovations Begin With Customer ProblemsBuzz Solutions wasn't created because AI was exciting. It was built after extensive conversations with utility companies that all faced the same operational challenges. By deeply understanding customer needs before developing technology, Kaitlyn and her team created solutions that delivered immediate value.
AI Should Empower Experts, Not Replace ThemKaitlyn believes artificial intelligence is most powerful when it complements human expertise. By automating repetitive image analysis, Buzz Solutions enables engineers and inspectors to spend more time making informed decisions rather than searching for issues manually.
Successful Innovation Fits Into Existing WorkflowsRather than forcing customers to overhaul their operations, Buzz Solutions focuses on integrating seamlessly with existing utility processes. Kaitlyn explains that reducing friction and meeting customers where they are often leads to faster adoption and greater long-term success.
 
Memorable Quotes
"We want to meet you where you're at."
"All of our innovation today is customer-driven."
"We know today that we're just scratching the surface of what's possible."
 
About Kaitlyn Albertoli
Kaitlyn Albertoli is the co-founder and CEO of Buzz Solutions, an AI company helping electric utilities modernize infrastructure inspections to improve grid safety, reliability, and resilience. Since launching the company in 2017, she has led its growth and product strategy, overseeing the deployment of AI-powered visual inspection technology across transmission, distribution, and substation assets.
Recognized on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list and the San Francisco Business Times 40 Under 40, Kaitlyn is a respected leader at the intersection of artificial intelligence, sustainability, and critical infrastructure. She is a frequent speaker and author on the future of AI and its role in building smarter, safer, and more resilient energy systems.
 
Connect with Kaitlyn
https://www.buzzsolutions.co/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/buzzsolutionsinc./

In this episode of Built For This, Carly Pepin sits down with Mike Kron, a seasoned real estate executive whose career spans more than three decades of disciplined growth, strategic investing, and people-first leadership. From helping grow a family-owned portfolio from 2,500 multifamily units to more than 14,000 apartments, Mike has built a reputation for making thoughtful decisions that stand the test of time.
Now leading the launch of Guardian Net Lease Fund, Mike shares how his experience managing a successful family office has shaped his approach to private equity investing. Rather than chasing rapid expansion or reacting to market headlines, he explains why long-term thinking, operational excellence, and understanding economic cycles have been the true drivers of sustainable growth.
Throughout the conversation, Mike reflects on the leadership lessons learned while scaling the business over 33 years, including transitioning company culture from fear-based management to one built on trust, accountability, and employee ownership. He also discusses succession planning, embracing technology in property management, and why successful investors focus on where the market is heading rather than where it stands today.
Carly and Mike explore the evolving real estate landscape, the opportunities created during periods of uncertainty, and how patient, disciplined leadership can produce exceptional results over decades.
Whether you're an entrepreneur, investor, business owner, or aspiring leader, this episode offers valuable insights into building lasting success through thoughtful decision-making, strong leadership, and a commitment to continuous growth.
 
Key Themes
Sustainable Growth Is Built One Decision at a TimeMike's success wasn't the result of one bold move, but thousands of thoughtful ones. By reinvesting strategically, expanding into the right markets, and consistently planning for the long term, he helped transform a regional portfolio into a thriving real estate business that has weathered multiple economic cycles.
Trust Creates Stronger OrganizationsOne of Mike's earliest leadership priorities was changing the company's culture from one driven by fear to one grounded in ownership and accountability. By empowering employees to make decisions, learn from mistakes, and think like business owners, the organization became stronger at every level.
The Best Investors Focus on What's NextRather than making decisions based solely on today's conditions, Mike believes successful investors constantly look six to twelve months ahead. Understanding demographic trends, economic shifts, and long-term fundamentals allows leaders to position themselves for opportunities before they become obvious to everyone else.
 
Memorable Quotes
"You can't look at how things look today and make your decision based on how they look today. You always have to be looking out into the future."
"We just went from point A to B, then B to C, then C to D. You put one foot in front of the other and just keep going."
"It's okay to make mistakes. I want you to own your process and think like an owner."
 
About Mike Kron
Mike Kron has spent more than 33 years leading and growing a successful family-owned real estate business, helping expand its multifamily portfolio from 2,500 apartments to more than 14,000 units, including the development of over 4,000 new apartments. His career has been built on disciplined investing, operational excellence, and a long-term approach to creating sustainable value.
Today, Mike is applying that experience to the institutional investment space as the founder of Guardian Net Lease Fund, a $100 million real estate investment fund focused on single-tenant net lease retail properties. His practical leadership style, deep market knowledge, and commitment to building strong teams have made him a respected voice in real estate investing and business leadership.
 
Connect with Mike
http://www.guardiannetlease.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikekron

In this episode of Built For This, Carly Pepin sits down with John Sampogna, co-founder and CEO of Wondersauce, to explore what it takes to build a high-growth creative agency without sacrificing the culture that made it successful in the first place.
Over the past 15 years, John has helped grow Wondersauce from a two-person startup into an award-winning business acceleration agency with more than 100 employees, partnering with global brands including Nike, L'Oréal, Grubhub, Golf.com, and many others before its acquisition by Project Worldwide.
John shares the realities of scaling a service business without outside investment, navigating rapid growth, and continually evolving leadership as the company expanded. He explains why operational bottlenecks should be viewed as valuable signals rather than frustrations, how transparency builds stronger teams, and why employee retention is one of the clearest indicators of a healthy organization.
Throughout the conversation, Carly and John also explore the future of AI in marketing, the changing role of agencies as strategic business partners, and why curiosity remains one of the most important qualities a leader can cultivate. From studying customer experiences in completely different industries to rethinking established processes with emerging technology, John shares how continuous learning has helped Wondersauce stay ahead in a constantly changing market.
This episode is packed with practical insights for entrepreneurs, agency leaders, and anyone looking to build a business that can grow without losing the values, culture, and people that made it successful in the first place.
 
Key Themes
Bottlenecks Are Opportunities for GrowthRather than seeing operational friction as a setback, John views bottlenecks as one of the most valuable forms of business feedback. They reveal where systems need to improve, responsibilities need to shift, and new capabilities need to be developed before growth stalls.
Strong Culture Is Built Through Trust and DevelopmentJohn believes great workplaces are created through transparency, open communication, and giving people room to grow. By creating an environment where employees feel supported, challenged, and trusted, businesses build stronger teams and achieve higher long-term retention.
Curiosity Is a Leadership SuperpowerSome of John's most valuable business insights have come from outside the marketing industry. Whether observing retail experiences, hospitality, or customer service, he believes leaders who remain curious about the world are far more likely to discover innovative ideas that set their businesses apart.
 
Memorable Quotes
"Bottlenecks are one of the best feedback loops your business can have."
"Employment is always a two-way street."
"We're not putting AI into the process. We're rethinking the process entirely."
 
About John Sampogna
John Sampogna is the co-founder and CEO of Wondersauce, an award-winning business acceleration agency that helps brands grow through strategy, technology, creative, and digital innovation. Since launching the company more than 15 years ago, John has led Wondersauce's growth into a team of more than 100 strategists, creatives, and technologists, working with global brands including Nike, L'Oréal, Grubhub, Golf.com, and many others.
Recognized as one of Business Insider's "30 Most Creative People in Advertising Under 30," John has built a reputation for combining creativity with operational excellence. Under his leadership, Wondersauce earned a place on the Inc. 5000 list before being acquired by Project Worldwide, while continuing to focus on helping businesses accelerate growth through innovation and strategic thinking.
 
Connect with John
http://wondersauce.com
Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnsampogna/
Wondersauce: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wondersauce

In this episode of Built For This, Carly Pepin sits down with Chia-Lin Simmons, CEO of LogicMark, to explore what it really takes to lead a company through crisis and transform it into a business built for long-term growth.
When Chia-Lin stepped into the CEO role, LogicMark was facing significant challenges, including the risk of Nasdaq delisting, financial instability, aging products, supply chain disruption, and legal hurdles. Rather than simply stabilizing the business, she used the opportunity to completely rethink its future, rebuilding both the company's strategy and its culture from the ground up.
Drawing on executive leadership experience at Google, Audible, Samsung, Amazon, Time Warner, and multiple technology startups, Chia-Lin shares how she approached one of the most demanding turnaround situations in business. She discusses the realities of leading a public company, raising capital under regulatory constraints, modernizing legacy technology, and creating an ownership mindset that empowered employees to drive meaningful change.
Throughout the conversation, Carly and Chia-Lin explore product innovation, AI-powered healthcare, leadership during uncertainty, company culture, and why some of the greatest business opportunities come from solving problems that have been overlooked for years.
Whether you're leading a startup, managing an established organization, or navigating significant change, this episode offers practical lessons in resilience, strategic leadership, and building confidence through action.
 
Key Themes
Successful Turnarounds Begin with Clear PrioritiesWhen every problem feels urgent, leaders must focus on what matters most. Chia-Lin explains how stabilizing finances, protecting the company's public listing, modernizing products, and rebuilding culture required disciplined decision-making and a relentless focus on the highest-impact priorities.
Constraints Can Become a Competitive AdvantageOperating with limited resources forced LogicMark to make smarter decisions, allocate capital carefully, and innovate with intention. Chia-Lin shares why resource constraints often create stronger businesses by encouraging focus, creativity, and sustainable growth rather than unchecked expansion.
Never Be Your First NoOne of Chia-Lin's most powerful leadership philosophies is refusing to eliminate opportunities before others have the chance to evaluate them. Whether pursuing a new role, raising investment, or launching a business, success often begins by giving yourself permission to try before deciding something isn't possible.
 
Memorable Quotes
"Never be your first no."
"Constraints don't stop innovation. They force you to become more intentional."
"Everyone in the company should own a piece of the success they're helping create."
 
About Chia-Lin Simmons
Chia-Lin Simmons is the CEO of LogicMark, where she has led the company's transformation into a modern technology business combining hardware, software, and recurring revenue solutions focused on personal safety and healthcare innovation.
Prior to joining LogicMark, Chia-Lin served as CEO and co-founder of LookyLoo, an AI-powered social commerce platform, and held senior leadership positions at some of the world's leading technology companies, including Google, Audible, Samsung, Amazon, Time Warner, and AOL. Throughout her career, she has built a reputation for leading complex transformations, driving innovation, and helping organizations navigate periods of significant change while creating sustainable long-term growth.
 
Connect with Chia-Lin
https://www.logicmark.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/csimmons/
https://x.com/chialinsimmons
https://www.instagram.com/chialinsimmons/
 LogicMark: https://www.linkedin.com/company/logicmark/