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.

What if the skills you used to launch your dream business were the same skills you need to launch a successful romantic partnership?

In this one-of-a-kind episode of Build the Damn Thing, host Kathryn Finney sits down with acclaimed love coach and entrepreneur Francesca Hogi to uncover the surprising parallels between building a business and building a relationship. Francesca—author of How to Find True Love and TED Talk veteran—dives deep into how intention, vision, and self-worth shape both our love lives and our entrepreneurial paths.

Together, they break down why so many high-achieving people struggle with dating, the toxic impact of the “fairy tale industrial complex,” and how your personal growth is the greatest asset in both business and love.

Whether you’re pitching investors or planning your next date, this episode will help you ditch the scarcity mindset, align with your true values, and open up to the partnership—and life—you actually deserve.

🔗 Learn more and connect with Francesca:

• Fran’s book:  How to Find True Love – Book

• Fran’s  TED Talk 

• Fran’s Website

• Follow her on  Instagram @dearfranny
  

🎧 Subscribe, rate, and share—because your best business move might just be opening your heart.

In this episode of Build the Damn Thing, Kathryn Finney sits down with Lisa Price, founder of Carol’s Daughter, to unpack how she transformed a $100 passion project into a powerhouse beauty brand—and what it really takes to grow without compromising your purpose.

From mixing body butters in her Brooklyn kitchen to landing shelf space at Sephora, Lisa shares the behind-the-scenes journey of building with limited capital, leveraging community instead of venture funding, and navigating the realities of acquisition—including public backlash.

This isn’t just a story about beauty products. It’s about betting on yourself, knowing your worth, and building a legacy business when the world tells you it’s impossible. If you’ve ever wondered how to go from homemade to high growth—and stay true to who you are—this episode is your blueprint.

🔗 Learn more:

• Carol’s Daughter

• Lisa Price on Instagram

• Carol’s Daughter on Instagram

🎧 Subscribe and share—because legacy isn’t given. It’s built.

What if building your business (and your life) wasn’t about “doing more”, but about “doing smarter”?

In this powerful season-opening episode of Build the Damn Thing, Kathryn Finney sits down with Christina Wallace—Harvard Business School senior lecturer, serial entrepreneur, and author of The Portfolio Life—to unpack how entrepreneurs can future-proof their careers and personal lives with intentional design.

Christina introduces the concept of living a “portfolio life,” where success isn’t defined by hustle or traditional job titles but by how well you allocate time, energy, and resources across work, creativity, health, and relationships. Drawing from her now-viral Harvard Business Review article Everyone Deserves a Season to Step Back, Christina explains how to avoid burnout, de-risk your entrepreneurial journey, and redefine success on your own terms.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone building a business, pivoting careers, or navigating uncertain times in the age of AI and economic disruption.

🔗 Get Christina’s free personal balance scorecard, Gantt chart templates, and more at christinawallace.com

📘 Check out her book The Portfolio Life

📲 Follow her on LinkedIn and Instagram

🎧 Subscribe, share, and let us know: what’s in your life portfolio?