In this forward-thinking episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Jason Wong, award-winning packaging innovator and CEO of PackinDuck, to explore how technology, media, and manufacturing can combine to transform a traditional industry.

After building and scaling multiple consumer brands, Jason experienced the friction of unreliable overseas manufacturing firsthand. Rather than accepting the status quo, he invested directly into a factory in China and rebuilt operations from the inside. What emerged was not just a packaging company, but a three-pronged infrastructure built on manufacturing, media, and technology.

Jason explains how generating 40 million annual views in short-form content replaces the need for expensive trade shows, how AI-powered internal tools remove bottlenecks and increase accuracy, and why the manufacturers of the future must operate like technology companies. Carly and Jason also dive into hiring for integrity over résumé, managing capital-intensive growth without outside investors, consolidating supply chains for clients, and setting a clear long-term vision without overwhelming teams with unnecessary complexity. This episode is a masterclass in building systems first and creating leverage without burning capital.

Key Themes:

• Demand Beats Booths: How strategic content creation generates inbound demand more effectively than traditional industry marketing.

• AI Removes Friction, Not Humans: Why automation should eliminate repetitive tasks so teams can focus on strategy and creativity.

• People Are the True Infrastructure: How disciplined hiring and cultural alignment protect momentum and long-term scale.

Memorable Quotes:

“People really is everything in your business.” “Can I build this without spending a dime on marketing?” “Your job as a CEO is simple. Set a clear target and help your team get there.”

About Jason Wong: Jason Wong is an award-winning packaging manufacturing innovator and CEO of Paking Duck, specializing in custom packaging solutions across paper, plastic, glass, and metal for high-growth consumer brands. A serial entrepreneur, Jason previously built Doe Lashes to a $15 million valuation and served as CEO of Pughaus. By combining firsthand experience as a brand owner with deep East-West supply chain expertise, Jason is redefining how modern manufacturing companies operate and scale.

Connect with Jason Wong: 📸 https://www.instagram.com/pug 🐦 https://www.twitter.com/eggroli 🌐 https://pakingduck.com

In this soulful and expansive episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Sal Salcedo, renowned hair artist, educator, and founder of Nova Arts Salon.

What begins as a conversation about hair quickly unfolds into something far deeper: identity, magnetism, creativity, sustainability, and business as a vehicle for cultural impact. Sal shares how growing up in Mexico, immigrating to the United States, and navigating the ego-driven culture of the Los Angeles beauty industry led him to build something radically different. Nova Arts was never meant to be just a salon. It was designed as a sanctuary where artists and clients alike feel seen, empowered, and free to express their authentic selves.

Carly and Sal explore how business can be both artistic and philanthropic. From launching a “personal brand project” for his team each spring, to developing a green salon model in Mexico City, to reimagining the salon as a community art space, Sal demonstrates how entrepreneurship becomes powerful when it is built from inner alignment rather than imitation. This episode is a profound exploration of what happens when you stop copying industry archetypes and start creating from your own inner flame.

Key Themes:

• Business as Self-Expression: Why sustainable success begins when your heart, mind, and mission are aligned.

• Creativity as a Responsibility: How every person is an artist and why declaring yourself “not creative” limits your potential.

• Culture Through Presence: Why leadership begins with the energy you bring into a space and how intentional culture creates magnetism.

Memorable Quotes:

“What we call magic is just magnetism when we are fully ourselves.” “I can’t teach you to be great — you have to want that already.” “Everyone has a flashlight. We just have to remember we can turn it on.”

About Sal Salcedo: Salvador Salcedo, originally from Mexico, moved to the United States at thirteen and discovered his passion for barbering while cutting hair in his garage. He later refined his craft through Toni & Guy and built his reputation in top salons including Sally Hershberger, Ramirez Tran, and Salon Benjamin. With more than two decades of experience, Sal views hair as a medium for understanding people and helping them express their identity.

Driven by a vision of inclusivity and artistic freedom, he founded Nova Arts Salon as a space where creativity and self-expression thrive. Through his global #HAIRTOUR and his expansion into coaching and mentoring through Beyond Hair, Sal continues to elevate artistry, consciousness, and leadership within the beauty industry and beyond.

Connect with Sal Salcedo: 🌐 https://www.salsalcedo.com/about 📸 https://www.instagram.com/salsalhair 🌐 https://www.novaartssalon.com/

In this powerful episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Scott Neil, co-founder of Horse Soldier Bourbon and American Freedom Distillery, to explore what it truly takes to build a legacy brand designed to outlast its founders.

Scott shares his journey from serving in U.S. Army Special Forces, including being among the first teams inserted into Afghanistan after 9/11, to co-founding a bourbon company rooted in authenticity, discipline, and long-term vision. What makes this conversation unique is the strategic lens Scott brings to entrepreneurship. From day one, Horse Soldier was built on a 100-year plan. Every decision, from production to partnerships, is filtered through a generational mindset rather than short-term gains.

Carly and Scott dive into the realities of scaling a premium spirits brand, where aging inventory ties up capital for years and patience is non-negotiable. They discuss investor communication, cash flow discipline, hiring for culture, succession planning, and the importance of building systems before chaos sets in. This episode is a masterclass in leadership that prioritizes endurance over ego and legacy over liquidity.

Key Themes:

• Strategy Wins the War: Why long-term vision, not short-term wins, determines whether a company survives across generations.

• You Cannot Rush Time: How bourbon production mirrors legacy building, requiring patience, capital discipline, and trust.

• Culture Must Be Designed: Why structure, mentorship, communication rhythms, and shared purpose are essential as teams scale.

Memorable Quotes:

“Strategy wins the war, not the battle.” “There are only two ingredients in bourbon: Mother Nature and Father Time. And a third one… money.” “You can’t microwave bourbon. And you can’t microwave legacy.”

About Scott Neil: Scott Neil grew up on a cattle ranch in central Florida, developing a strong work ethic and deep respect for American tradition. After serving in the United States Army Special Forces, including deployments to some of the most demanding environments in the world and being among the first teams inserted into Afghanistan after 9/11, Scott set out to build a business that reflected his values.

In 2015, alongside close friends John and Elizabeth, he co-founded American Freedom Distillery and launched Horse Soldier Bourbon. Inspired by the story of the Green Berets who rode horseback into combat in Afghanistan, the brand honors courage, craftsmanship, and the American spirit. Drawing from both centuries-old distilling techniques and modern innovation, Scott and his team created a premium bourbon rooted in authenticity and legacy.

Connect with Scott Neil: 🌐 https://horsesoldierbourbon.com/ 📸 https://www.instagram.com/horsesoldierbourbon/ 📘 https://www.facebook.com/horsesoldierbourbon