You’ve heard the buzz about venture capital, but do you really know how it works? Or if it’s even right for your business?

In this episode of Build the Damn Thing, Kathryn Finney sits down with Brian Laung Aoaeh, co-founder of Refashioned Ventures, to break down the truth about venture capital—without the jargon. From understanding how VCs actually make money to knowing what “high growth” really means, Kathryn and Brian reveal what most entrepreneurs get wrong about raising money and why VC funding is not for everybody.

They also get real about:

• Why most businesses will never be a fit for venture capital

• The financial realities of venture funds (aka how VCs get paid)

• The #1 question every founder must answer before pitching investors

• Why press and popularity don’t translate into profit

• The tough but necessary truth about legacy-building vs. scaling

If you’ve ever wondered when (or if) you should raise VC money, or you’re tired of the hype and want the real deal on funding, this episode is your roadmap.

💡 Learn more about Kathryn Finney: kathrynfinney.com

👥 Join the Build the Damn Thing community: buildthedamnthing.com

🔗 Connect with Brian Aoaeh: Refashioned Ventures

In this episode of "Build a Damn Thing," host Kathryn Finney delves into the intersection of art and entrepreneurship with Natalie Osborne, founder of Natalie O. Decor. Born in the historic Greenwood district of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Natalie carries the legacy of Black Wall Street into her vibrant art. Discover how she transitioned from teaching to full-time artistry, leveraging platforms like Etsy and Shopify to sell her work. Natalie shares insights on pricing, market strategies, and breaking free from traditional art world constraints. Whether you're an artist or an entrepreneur, this episode offers valuable lessons on betting on yourself and thriving in a rapidly changing world.

Your network is more than who you know — it’s about who knows what you know.

In this episode of Build the Damn Thing, Kathryn Finney sits down with networking powerhouse ⁠Kelly Hoey⁠, author of ⁠Build Your Dream Network⁠, to unpack how building the right relationships can be the ultimate power move for entrepreneurs, career changers, and women in business.

From career pivots to personal branding, Kathryn and Kelly dive into the strategies that turn connections into catalysts. Learn how to engage your community authentically, how to identify your value in a crowded space, and why curiosity is the underrated superpower of successful networking.

Whether you’re launching a business or planning your next professional chapter, this episode will show you how to build and use your network with intention.

Listen in to discover:

• How to make your network work for you

• Why relationships unlock entrepreneurial opportunity

• What it means to build with community, not in isolation

• How to show up with value and bring others on the journey

This episode is for anyone serious about:

Networking, entrepreneurship, building connections, career transitions, women in business, personal branding, and leading with purpose.

Subscribe, share, and start building your damn thing with the people who want to see you win.

What does it really mean to own your power in business—and still be likeable?

In this powerful episode of Build the Damn Thing, Kathryn Finney sits down with Dr. Alison Fragale, negotiation expert, professor at the University of North Carolina, and author of "Likeable Badass: How Women Get the Success They Desrve", to unpack how underestimated entrepreneurs can navigate power, presence, and persuasion without losing themselves.

They explore what it means to be a “likeable badass,” why curiosity is one of the most underrated business tools, and how storytelling can be your secret weapon in negotiations. Alison shares practical strategies that you can use to confidently advocate for yourself, build authentic connections, and push back on the myth that assertiveness and likability are mutually exclusive.

Whether you’re walking into a pitch meeting, asking for what you’re worth, or trying to build strategic business relationships, this episode is packed with the tools you need to stand tall and get what you came for.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to self-promote without the cringe

• Why presence matters more than polish

• The truth about power (and how to use it effectively)

• Negotiation tips that actually work for women

• How to build influence through connection and storytelling

More from this episode:

• Learn more about Alison Fragale’s work and speaking at alisonfragale.com

• Check out her book Likeable Badass: How Women Get the Success They Deserve, here

• Discover more about Kathryn at kathrynfinney.com

• Join the movement at the Build the Damn Thing community

🎧 Available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

Tune in now and start showing up like the badass you already are.

🎧 Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

#BuildTheDamnThing #NegotiationTips #WomenInBusiness #PowerMoves #KathrynFinney #LikeableBadass #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #BusinessStrategies #AuthenticConnections #PodcastDrop

In a world where business often feels transactional, how do you build relationships that actually matter?

In this episode of Build the Damn Thing, Kathryn Finney sits down with renowned connector and corporate responsibility expert Susan McPherson to talk about the real power behind authentic connections. Together, they unpack what it means to lead with purpose, why curiosity is your greatest networking tool, and how entrepreneurs can thrive in a world transformed by AI and social uncertainty.

Susan shares her powerful Gather, Ask, Do framework—designed to help you create meaningful relationships that fuel both personal and professional growth. From building purpose-driven brands to navigating the shifting political and economic landscape, this conversation is a must-listen for entrepreneurs who want to do business with heart and impact.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to build a network rooted in authenticity and generosity

• Why curiosity is the key to long-term connection

• The role of kindness in modern entrepreneurship

• How the political climate is reshaping business relationships

• Tools to navigate AI, economic uncertainty, and subsistence entrepreneurship

Don’t miss this episode packed with wisdom, strategy, and a whole lot of heart.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify: The Power of Connection

🔗 Learn more about Susan at mcpstrategies.com

🌐 Discover Kathryn at kathrynfinney.com

👥 Join the Build the Damn Thing community and connect with bold entrepreneurs like you

#BuildTheDamnThing #PurposeDrivenBusiness #Entrepreneurship #AuthenticConnections #WomenInBusiness #KindnessInBusiness #KathrynFinney #SusanMcPherson #NetworkingWithPurpose #AIandEntrepreneurship

What if your burnout, breakup, and boldest idea all showed up in the same year—and led you to your biggest breakthrough?

In this powerful episode of Build the Damn Thing, Kathryn Finney sits down with Nekeia Boone, tech executive turned ice cream entrepreneur and founder of Tudy’s Kitchen. Named in honor of her grandmother, this Amsterdam-based, Black woman–led dessert brand is shaking up the frozen food aisle with flavors rooted in culture, legacy, and love.

After hitting a breaking point during the pandemic—divorce, corporate burnout, and a global shutdown—Nekeia leaned into an unplanned pivot. What started as late-night kitchen therapy became a booming ice cream brand now stocked in major European retailers like Albert Heijn.

In this episode, Nekeia shares how she went from managing product teams at Booking.com to managing churn (the good kind), why storytelling is her superpower, and how building with what you already have can unlock global opportunity.

🔗 Learn more:

• Tudy’s Kitchen 

• Follow on Instagram

🎧 Subscribe, share, and review—because your pivot could be your purpose

In this episode of Build the Damn Thing, Kathryn Finney sits down with Dana Hork — a powerhouse marketer, brand builder, and founder of the rapid-fire microagency Beers With Friends — to unpack what it really takes to go from startup scrappiness to billion-dollar success, and why speed, clarity, and creativity are the new marketing superpowers.

From being one of the first 100 employees at Jet.com to leading its explosive growth and $3.3 billion acquisition by Walmart, Dana has had a front-row seat to brand revolutions at scale. She’s revitalized corporate giants like Walmart with a bold new social strategy, launched food-tech innovations at Wonder, and stepped into the future with a Web3 podcast that cuts through the hype to explore real-world use cases.

But Dana doesn’t just lead with strategy — she leads with energy. As a certified spin instructor, NYC Marathon and Triathlon finisher, and all-around execution machine, she brings the same level of discipline and vision to her fitness goals as she does to her entrepreneurial ventures.

If you’ve ever felt the pressure to slow down or play small, this episode is your permission to go fast and build loud.

🔗 Learn more:

• https://www.bwfagency.com/

• Dana Hork on https://www.linkedin.com/in/danahork/

🎧 Subscribe and share — because speed is strategy, and legacy doesn’t wait.

What if the boldest thing you could do is build the space you’ve been told you don’t belong in?

In this powerful episode of Build the Damn Thing, Kathryn Finney sits down with Alex West Steinman, co-founder and CEO of The Coven—a trailblazing co-working space built by and for women, non-binary, and trans professionals. From confronting systemic inequities in the advertising industry to creating inclusive spaces where everyone feels seen, Alex’s journey is a blueprint for leading with purpose, equity, and unapologetic authenticity.

Together, Kathryn and Alex dive into how childhood lessons, supportive parents (especially #BlackDads), and bold leadership shaped her entrepreneurial path. They explore building community as a business model, the power of showing up as your full self, and what it means to scale without selling out your values.

Whether you’re launching a startup or rethinking your leadership style, this episode will inspire you to bet on yourself—and build something that centers belonging for all.

🔗 Follow Alex:

• The Coven Website

• Instagram @alexweststeinman

• LinkedIn
  

🎧 Don’t forget to rate, share, and subscribe—because you are a big deal.

What if building your business could also build a better world?In this episode of Build the Damn Thing, Kathryn Finney sits down with Teresa Chahine, Yale School of Management senior lecturer, social entrepreneurship pioneer, and author of Social Entrepreneurship: Building Impact Step-by-Step. Teresa shares how she’s blending academic insight with on-the-ground action to reshape the future of business—one purpose-driven venture at a time.From launching the first venture philanthropy organization in Lebanon to supporting immigrant-owned businesses in New Haven, Teresa offers a global perspective on how entrepreneurs—especially underestimated ones—can create companies that are both profitable and ethical. Together, she and Kathryn explore how to build sustainable ventures, work with imperfect allies, shift from scarcity to abundance mindsets, and fund your idea without waiting for VC validation.This episode is your playbook for socially responsible entrepreneurship—and a powerful reminder that building your damn thing doesn’t have to mean building alone.🔗 Learn more about Teresa’s work:Book: Social EntrepreneurshipImpact & Innovation PodcastLinkedIn🎧 Listen, subscribe, and share—because making money and making impact don’t have to be mutually exclusive.

How do you stay relevant, build community, and lead through massive industry change—without losing yourself in the process?

In this episode of Build the Damn Thing, Kathryn Finney sits down with powerhouse media executive and community builder Ann Shoket, former Editor-in-Chief of Seventeen Magazine and current CEO of TheLi.st. From the high-stakes world of legacy media to building a digital-first, purpose-driven network for women and non-binary leaders, Ann shares raw lessons on evolution, acquisition, and leadership in the face of disruption.

Together, they unpack:

• The collapse of the magazine industry and how Ann pivoted from editorial to entrepreneurship

• Why knowing what problem you’re solving is the most critical leadership skill

• How acquiring a brand (instead of starting from scratch) can accelerate your impact—and the pitfalls to avoid

• The business cost of loneliness in leadership, and how to build your personal advisory board

• The power of micro-habits to strengthen your professional support network
  

Whether you’re navigating a career shift, scaling a startup, or searching for your next bold move, this conversation delivers actionable insights for leading with clarity and building what matters.

🔗 Follow Ann Shoket:

• TheLi.st

• Instagram @annshoket

• LinkedIn
  

🎧 Don’t just dream—build smarter. Subscribe, share, and let us know what you’re building.