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

In this inspiring episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Michael Black, founder and CEO of Success Tutoring, one of the fastest-growing education franchises in Australia with a rapidly expanding global footprint.

Michael shares how he started a small tutoring business in his parents’ spare bedroom at just seventeen years old and grew it into a purpose-driven franchise operating across Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and beyond. What began as a way to earn money while studying quickly became a lifelong mission rooted in belief, impact, and helping people escape unfulfilling career paths.

Carly and Michael explore the powerful connection between mindset and scale, why vision must come before systems, and how failure shaped Michael’s resilience as a leader. They also unpack how franchising became a vehicle for creating meaningful opportunities for entrepreneurs while transforming how students experience learning. This episode is a reminder that businesses do not grow faster than their leaders, and that belief, humility, and purpose are often the true drivers of sustainable success.

Key Themes:

• Businesses Grow Only as Fast as Their Leaders: Why personal development, self-awareness, and humility set the ceiling for scale.

• Vision Comes Before Evidence: How operating from belief long before results appear shapes decisions and long-term outcomes.

• Purpose Fuels Sustainable Growth: Why focusing on genuinely helping students and franchise partners created trust, loyalty, and momentum.

Memorable Quotes:

“A business will never grow more than the founder or CEO. The more you grow, the more the business grows.” “You have to believe in what you are building before there is any evidence that it works.” “When you are genuinely trying to help people, they feel it. And when that happens, the money follows.”

About Michael Black: Michael Black is the founder and CEO of Success Tutoring, Australia’s fastest-growing education franchise, and the author of the bestselling book Millionaire Tutor: Escape Your Soul-Crushing 9-to-5 by Building an Outrageously Profitable Tutoring Business. A self-made entrepreneur who opened his first tutoring centre at seventeen, Michael has grown Success Tutoring into a global franchise spanning Australia, New Zealand, and the United States, with additional countries launching in late 2025 and beyond. Known for his student-first philosophy and people-first leadership, Michael is widely respected for blending purpose, innovation, and education to create meaningful impact at scale.

Connect with Michael Black: 🌐 https://www.successtutoring.com 📘 https://millionairetutorbook.com/free/short

In this candid and eye-opening episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Chantelle-Shakila Tiagi, founder of TIAGI, a global creative production agency with offices in London, Los Angeles, and Mumbai.

Chantelle pulls back the curtain on what production in fashion, beauty, and lifestyle really looks like. Beyond the glamour, she explains the reality of coordinating dozens of moving parts on every shoot, managing crises before they escalate, and taking responsibility for problems that are often outside a producer’s control. From missed flights and shifting talent to weather chaos and last-minute client changes, production is equal parts foresight, leadership, and emotional intelligence.

The conversation goes far beyond logistics. Carly and Chantelle explore leadership without ego, hiring for attitude over résumés, and building culture through trust and kindness. Chantelle also shares why she has intentionally kept TIAGI lean and bootstrapped, how motherhood reshaped her leadership style, and why modern consumers are shifting from excess toward experiences. This episode is a grounded look at creative entrepreneurship, sustainable growth, and building a business that supports life rather than consuming it.

Key Themes:

• Producers Hold the Entire System Together: Why production is about human coordination, accountability, and crisis management, not just schedules and checklists.

• Hire for Attitude, Train for Skill: How curiosity, enthusiasm, and emotional intelligence outperform impressive CVs every time.

• Lean Businesses Create Freedom: Why staying bootstrapped allows flexibility, financial stability, and healthier relationships with both teams and clients.

Memorable Quotes:

“Producers are in charge of all the mistakes that are not their fault.” “I can’t teach your attitude, but I can teach you everything else.” “If you’re unhappy at work, you’re unhappy eighty percent of your life.”

About Chantelle-Shakila Tiagi: Chantelle-Shakila Tiagi is a London-born, South Asian entrepreneur and the founder of TIAGI, an international creative production agency and artist consultancy operating across London, Los Angeles, and Mumbai. With more than seventeen years of experience, she has produced global campaigns and editorials for leading fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands and publications.

She began her career at MTV while still at university, later working with Liberty, REP, Net-a-Porter, and other major industry players before launching TIAGI in 2018 as a fully self-funded venture. Alongside building a global business, Chantelle-Shakila is deeply committed to mentorship, representation, and supporting women and South Asian talent in creative leadership, while openly navigating the realities of entrepreneurship and motherhood.

Connect with Chantelle-Shakila: https://www.instagram.com/notoriouscst https://www.instagram.com/tiagi

In this episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Matt Dorman, co-founder and president of Endeavor, a digital solutions agency that helps manufacturers and enterprise organizations modernize outdated websites, CMS platforms, and digital infrastructure.

With more than 30 years of experience building enterprise platforms for companies like Time Inc. and Fox News, Matt brings a grounded perspective that blends deep technical expertise with practical leadership. Rather than trying to be everything to everyone, Endeavor made a deliberate decision to focus exclusively on technology, integrations, and implementation. That choice allowed the company to become best-in-class instead of broadly average.

Matt shares how a developer-first culture became a strategic advantage, improving retention, quality, and long-term client trust. He explains why protecting teams from unrealistic timelines leads to better outcomes, how remote work reshaped Endeavor well before it became the norm, and why strong boundaries with clients actually strengthen relationships. The conversation also explores enterprise cash flow realities, navigating AI disruption without panic, and how Matt’s vision evolved from eventually shutting the company down to building something worth passing on. This episode offers an honest, steady look at how to build a resilient tech business without burning people out.

Key Themes:

• Focus Creates Leverage: How narrowing Endeavor’s scope to pure technology reduced complexity, built trust, and improved results for clients and team members alike.

• Culture Is Built by Protecting People: Why realistic timelines, clear communication, and added support under pressure drive retention and long-term success.

• Cash Flow Discipline Creates Stability: How reserves, owner involvement in billable work, and controlled costs allowed Endeavor to stay calm while serving enterprise clients.

Memorable Quotes:

“If you say yes to everything, you end up letting everyone down.” “Structure doesn’t limit creativity. It protects it.” “The moment we focused on what we’re best at, everything got easier.”

About Matt Dorman: Matt Dorman is the co-founder and president of Ndevr, a digital solutions agency helping manufacturers modernize websites and CMS platforms to drive growth and efficiency. With three decades of experience, including building enterprise platforms for Time Inc. and Fox News, Matt specializes in bridging technology and business strategy. At Ndevr, he helps leaders streamline workflows, align teams, and future-proof digital infrastructure with clarity and discipline.

Connect with Matt Dorman: 🌐 https://www.ndevr.io/ 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewdorman

In this thoughtful and deeply grounded episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Armen Alajian, co-owner of ARTO Brick & Tile, a California-based, family-founded company known for its handcrafted architectural surfaces and timeless design.

Armen shares how growing up surrounded by raw materials, craftsmanship, and hands-on creation shaped not only the products ARTO makes, but the philosophy behind the business itself. What began as a necessity born from limited capital evolved into the company’s greatest strength, allowing ARTO to remain tactile, human, and distinct in an industry dominated by mass production and synthetic materials.

Carly and Armen explore what it truly takes to scale an artisan business without losing its soul. From navigating intense cash flow pressure and learning the importance of financial leadership, to hiring a strong CFO and building a people-first culture rooted in respect, Armen offers a rare, honest look at long-term leadership. The conversation also touches on family business dynamics, succession, and using commerce as a vehicle for connection, legacy, and meaning. This episode is both a masterclass in values-driven growth and a reflection on identity, craftsmanship, and what truly endures over time.

Key Themes:

• Scarcity as a Source of Differentiation: How necessity, not strategy, led ARTO to handcrafted production and created an advantage that cannot be replicated at scale.

• Cash Flow Protects Creativity: Why strong financial leadership is essential to sustain growth, support people, and preserve quality.

• Culture Is Lived, Not Engineered: How humility, respect, and consistency created loyalty without relying on perks or performative culture.

Memorable Quotes:

“We didn’t stay handcrafted because we were smart. We stayed handcrafted because we were poor.” “Commerce is culture. You can’t pay people enough for their time, and they can’t give you enough of themselves for the money.” “If you can be the same person at work, at home, and with your friends, that’s real work-life balance.”

About Armen Alajian: Armen Alajian is the co-owner of ARTO Brick & Tile, a family-founded company producing handcrafted tiles and architectural surfaces in California. A son, brother, husband, and father, Armen leads with a deep respect for design, craftsmanship, and people, bridging artistry and utility to create materials that bring enduring beauty to built spaces.

Connect with Armen Alajian: 🌐 https://www.arto.com 📸 https://www.instagram.com/artobrick/

In this meaningful episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Brian and Sally Krichbaum, the owners and stewards of Gilbert Chocolates, a historic chocolate company founded in 1893 and deeply rooted in the community of Jackson, Michigan.

Brian and Sally share the honest story of acquiring a once-thriving business that had dwindled to just five employees, and the intentional, disciplined path they chose to rebuild it. Without taking on debt or compromising quality, they focused on honoring the company’s legacy while modernizing the systems needed for sustainable growth. Drawing on Brian’s background in engineering and consulting and Sally’s leadership across retail, finance, and community engagement, they reveal how patience and clarity shaped every decision.

Carly, Brian, and Sally explore what it means to preserve history without becoming trapped by it. From protecting original recipes and century-old equipment to documenting processes, improving inventory systems, and empowering employees with trust and autonomy, this conversation highlights how craftsmanship, reserves, and long-term thinking create businesses that last. It is a powerful reminder that real success is built through intention, discipline, and respect for people — not shortcuts or hype.

Key Themes:

• Disciplined Growth Creates Stability: Why financial restraint, reinvestment, and doing the work yourself allowed the business to triple without overextending.

• Legacy Is a Strategic Advantage: How honoring history, recipes, and reputation became a source of trust and differentiation.

• Systems Enable Freedom: Why clear documentation and standardized processes reduced stress, improved quality, and supported creativity.

Memorable Quotes:

“If you’re not growing, you’re dying.” “We weren’t just buying a business — we were buying a legacy.” “If you want to be an overnight success, work 80 hours a week for 40 years.”

About Brian and Sally Krichbaum: Brian Krichbaum is a seasoned leader with engineering and management degrees and a background as an executive with an automotive supplier. He now applies his expertise to managing and modernizing Gilbert Chocolates. Sally Krichbaum is a published writer who has chaired numerous clubs and charities, organized community fundraisers, and brought her passion for people and storytelling into the heart of the business. And above all, she loves chocolate. Under the Krichbaums’ leadership, Gilbert Chocolates has tripled in size, introducing new chocolate creations while preserving the classics that have defined the brand for generations.

Connect with Brian and Sally Krichbaum: 🌐 https://www.gilbertchocolates.com