Built With Purpose

Built With Purpose

By The Radcast NetworkBusinessEntrepreneurshipManagement
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Built With Purpose episodes

  • From Immigrating with $1,000 to Building Enduring Brands: The Mindset That Built It All | Raj Alva
    Raj Alva’s story is one of resilience, perspective, and purpose. After immigrating to the U.S. with his family, Raj quickly learned the value of opportunity—and made a decision early on that he wouldn’t waste it.
    In this episode, Raj shares his journey through Wall Street, private equity, and entrepreneurship, including building brands like Grayson and Whiskey Gypsy. Along the way, he breaks down the lessons that shaped his approach to leadership, investing, and long-term success.
    This conversation highlights what it really means to build something meaningful—and why the best businesses aren’t just profitable, they’re purposeful.
    🔑 Topics Covered
    Immigration and early life lessons
    Building a success-driven mindset
    Private equity and M&A experience
    Entrepreneurship and brand building
    Leadership, culture, and team building
    Creating businesses with long-term purpose
    🤝 Connect with Raj Alva
    Whiskey Gypsy: https://whiskeygypsy.com
    Grayson Clothing: https://greysonclothiers.com
    🤝 Connect with Chris Fay
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-fay/
    🎙️ Built With Purpose
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/built-with-purpose-podcast
    1 hr 5 min
  • Embracing Fear & Change in the World of AI: Why Growth Requires Getting Uncomfortable | Between the
    In this episode of Built With Purpose: Between the Builds, Chris Fay reflects on his recent experience integrating AI into his workflow—and what it reveals about fear, change, and personal growth.
    As technology continues to evolve, the real challenge isn’t stopping innovation—it’s how we respond to it. Chris shares a powerful analogy of the buffalo versus the cow, explaining why those who run toward discomfort grow faster than those who avoid it.
    From leadership lessons to personal development, this episode explores how fear shows up in our lives—and how reframing it can unlock progress. The takeaway is simple but powerful: growth only happens when you get comfortable being uncomfortable.
    Topics Covered
    AI as a disruptor and opportunity
    The balance between legacy and innovation
    Fear as a barrier to growth
    The buffalo vs cow analogy explained
    Building habits through discomfort
    Leadership mindset during times of change
    Connect with Chris Fay
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-fay
    Built With Purpose Podcast
    14 min
  • Working With AI: The Skill That Will Define the Next Decade of Leaders
    In this episode of Built With Purpose, Chris Fay takes a different approach—bringing his AI assistant “Abby” into the conversation to explore how artificial intelligence is actually being used inside real businesses today. From brainstorming and decision-making to challenging assumptions, this episode breaks down how leaders can start working with AI instead of fearing it.
    Chris and Abby dig into one of the biggest questions right now: is AI really replacing jobs—or just reshaping how work gets done? The conversation explores everything from layoffs and market hype to the real impact AI is having on productivity, leadership, and decision-making across industries.
    They also unpack how employees at every stage—early career, mid-career, and experienced leaders—should be thinking about AI, and why curiosity may be the single most important skill moving forward.
    If you’re trying to figure out how to actually use AI in your business—or your career—this episode gives you a real, unfiltered starting point.
    🎯 Topics Covered
    How Chris Fay actually uses AI day-to-day in business
    Why most people overthink AI (and how to start using it immediately)
    AI vs jobs: what’s real vs what’s hype
    The rise of AI-assisted decision-making and leadership
    How to ask better questions (and get better answers from AI)
    Why curiosity is the most valuable skill in the AI era
    What AI means for early, mid, and late career professionals
    Where AI will impact industries like construction, engineering, and manufacturing most
    The future of AI tools and competing platforms
    🤝 Connect with Host & Guest
    Chris Fay (Host)
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisfay
    Follow BuiltWithPurposePodcast on all social media platforms
    41 min
  • Scaling Without Sacrifice: The Leadership Lesson Most CEOs Miss | Between the Builds
    In this episode of Built With Purpose: Between the Builds, Chris Fay reflects on one of the biggest questions leaders face: Can you build something big without sacrificing what matters most? After a powerful conversation with Novolex CEO Stan Bikulege, Chris breaks down the key lessons that challenged his own thinking around growth, leadership, and family.
    Drawing from personal experiences—like revisiting his childhood roots in South Florida—Chris explores how the values and lessons we grow up with shape the way we lead, build, and make decisions. For many entrepreneurs and operators, the fear isn’t failure—it’s success at the cost of the people and priorities that matter most.
    This episode unpacks four core principles that make it possible to scale a company while staying grounded: being rooted in your foundation, making an unwavering commitment to what matters, building the right support system, and living your values daily. These aren’t just ideas—they’re the blueprint for sustainable success.
    If you’re thinking bigger, pushing boundaries, or feeling the tension between growth and personal life, this episode is your reminder: you don’t have to choose one or the other—you just have to lead with intention.
    🎯 Topics Covered
    Why “thinking bigger” often creates fear around losing what matters most
    How childhood roots and experiences shape leadership style
    The real fear behind scaling a business (and it’s not failure)
    The 4 key principles to balancing growth and family:
    Rooted foundation
    Unwavering commitment
    Building a support system
    Living your values
    Why great leaders treat employees like “families,” not headcount
    The importance of intentional leadership vs reactive growth
    How to build a business without sacrificing relationships
    Creating alignment between personal values and company culture
    🤝 Connect with Chris
    Chris Fay
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisfay/
    11 min
  • From Bankrupt Company to $9B Business: The Growth Story of Novolex with Stan Bikulege
    Stan Bikulege joins Chris Fay to share the leadership philosophy behind building one of the largest packaging manufacturers in the world. Stan reflects on how family values, humility, and discipline shaped his journey from a blue-collar upbringing to leading a global organization with 23,000 employees.
    Throughout the conversation, he explains how leadership isn’t about titles but about responsibility for the people and families behind the business. Stan also shares the lessons learned while scaling Novolex from a bankrupt company with just a handful of facilities into a global enterprise with more than 100 factories and billions in annual revenue.
    Chris and Stan discuss the balance between speed and discipline in decision-making, the importance of strong partnerships, and how leaders must constantly think years ahead while acting in the present.
    At its core, the conversation centers on a simple but powerful idea: great companies are built when leaders stay focused on people, integrity, and purpose.
    What We Covered
    Leading with family values – Why leadership begins at home and extends into company culture.
    Scaling from 1,100 employees to 23,000 – The journey of growing Novolex into a global manufacturing leader.
    Building culture during acquisitions – How integrating multiple acquisitions requires humility and clarity.
    Decision-making at scale – Why timing, discipline, and integrity matter when leading large organizations.
    Balancing leadership and family life – How Stan stayed present for his family while running a global company.
    The future of leadership – Why data, technology, and strong values will shape the next generation of companies.
    Connect with the Guest
    Stan Bikulege
    Chairman & CEO — Novolex
    Connect with the Host
    Chris Fay
    Host — Built With Purpose
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-fay/
    45 min
  • Why Fundamentals Still Win in Leadership, Sales, and Business | Between the Builds
    In this episode of Built With Purpose — Between the Builds, Chris Fay reflects on a simple but powerful idea: success in business almost always comes back to the fundamentals.
    Using a conversation about lacrosse as a starting point, Chris explains how the same principle applies in leadership, sales, and organizational growth. Just like athletes who master basic skills before attempting advanced plays, professionals and leaders must focus on the foundational activities that actually drive results.
    Chris breaks down the difference between the art and science of selling, explaining how communication and rapport matter, but the real difference between top performers and struggling salespeople often comes down to activity and execution. The same idea applies to leadership—clear vision, consistent communication, measurable goals, and accountability are the fundamentals that drive successful organizations.
    The episode challenges leaders to step back and evaluate where progress may be slipping—not because of strategy or talent, but because the core fundamentals are not being consistently executed.
    Topics Covered
    • Why fundamentals separate great performers from average ones
    • The connection between sports fundamentals and business success
    • The art vs. science of selling and where most salespeople fall short
    • Why activity and opportunity creation drive sales performance
    • The fundamentals of effective leadership and organizational execution
    • Communicating vision and aligning teams around clear priorities
    • Using KPIs, milestones, and accountability to drive results
    • Why leaders often fail during the execution phase
    • How consistent habits build strong leadership over time
    • Developing discipline and improving one core fundamental each week
    Connect With Host
    Chris Fay
    Host — Built With Purpose
    LinkedIn
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-fay
    12 min
  • Why Certainty of Outcome Is the Real Competitive Advantage with Steve Dell’Orto
    In this episode of Built With Purpose, host Chris Fay sits down with Steve Dell’Orto, Founder and CEO of ConCntric, to unpack what it really takes to build certainty in complex, high-stakes environments.
    After spending 26 years rising through the ranks of a top construction firm—helping deliver iconic projects like Salesforce Tower and the Golden State Warriors arena—Steve saw firsthand how outdated processes, disconnected data, and fear-driven decision-making were holding the industry back. That realization led him to leave construction operations and build a software company focused on one thing: certainty of outcome.
    Steve explains why fundamentals matter more than hype, how leaders should run toward problems instead of away from them, and why AI isn’t replacing people—it’s becoming a force multiplier for teams already under pressure. From leadership lessons learned on job sites to building an agentic AI platform for pre-construction, this conversation bridges execution, culture, and long-term impact.
    If you’re a founder, operator, or leader navigating complexity—whether in construction, tech, or beyond—this episode offers a blueprint for building with confidence instead of chaos
    Key Topics Covered
    Why “certainty of outcome” is the real competitive advantage
    The hidden cost of fear-based budgeting and over-contingency
    How construction project management trains elite leaders
    Transitioning from construction operations to SaaS entrepreneurship
    Why Excel spreadsheets are holding modern companies back
    Agentic AI as a force multiplier—not a replacement—for talent
    Leading teams through complexity with clarity and purpose
    Why great leaders run toward problems, not away from them
    Guest & Host Links
    Steve Dell’Orto
    Company: ConCntric 
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevedellorto
    Website: https://concntric.com
    Chris Fay
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjfay/
    Show: Built With Purpose
    1 hr 2 min
  • Why Waiting for Clarity Is Holding You Back | Between the Builds
    Leadership isn’t built in the spotlight — it’s built in the in-between moments.
    In this Between the Builds episode of Built With Purpose, Chris Fay reflects on key leadership lessons inspired by a past conversation with Brad Hansen and expands on what it really means to grow before you feel ready.
    This episode explores the idea that belief often comes before clarity, and that waiting until everything is perfectly mapped out can actually stall growth. Chris breaks down how our beliefs shape our thoughts, thoughts drive our actions, actions form habits, and habits ultimately determine direction and destiny.
    Throughout the episode, Chris touches on the importance of:
    Giving yourself permission to move forward without all the answers
    Putting yourself in position to be “lucky” through preparation, consistency, and proximity to the right people
    Understanding that leadership is developed over time, not granted by a title
    Surrounding yourself with people who challenge, support, and sharpen you
    Embracing lifelong learning and staying open to growth
    Offering yourself grace during seasons of uncertainty and transition
    Rather than focusing on outcomes, this conversation centers on the process — the moments of learning, doubt, and perseverance that shape effective leaders long before success becomes visible.
    If you’re in a season of transition, building something new, or questioning whether you’re ready for what’s next, this episode serves as a reminder that the journey itself is doing the work.
    🔗 Host & Guest References
    Chris Fay
    Host, Built With Purpose
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisfay
    10 min
  • You Don’t Need a Career Plan, You Need Better Mentors | Brad Hansen
    In this episode of Built With Purpose, Chris Fay sits down with leadership consultant and former CEO Brad Hansen to explore what actually shapes great leaders—and why having everything figured out is overrated.
    Brad shares personal stories about mentors who opened doors, lessons learned leading a 200-person organization, and why ownership, humility, and trust matter more than titles or perfect plans.
    This episode is for founders, executives, and emerging leaders who want to build careers and companies with purpose.
    Key Takeaways
    Why career clarity often comes after action
    How mentors quietly shape leadership trajectories
    The real meaning of extreme ownership
    Leading without authority or titles
    Creating cultures where people feel safe to speak up
    Why great leaders stay curious and humble
    Connect with the Host & Guest
    Chris Fay
    Host of Built With Purpose
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisfay
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisfay
    Podcast Social Media: BuiltWithPurposePodcast
    Brad Hansen 
    Leadership Coach & Consultant
    Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/people/?keywords=Brad%20Hansen
    About Built With Purpose
    Built With Purpose explores the stories, strategies, and leadership principles behind the people building meaningful companies, cultures, and legacies.
    👍 Like, Subscribe & Share to help more leaders build with intention.
    38 min
  • Think Bigger: The Open Arena Mindset for Scaling Teams, Culture, and Vision | Between the Builds
    Most leaders don’t fail because of talent — they fail because they think too small.
    In this episode of Built With Purpose: Between the Builds, host Chris Fay reflects on a powerful leadership lesson inspired by hosting a company kickoff inside a professional hockey arena.
    The question that changed everything:
    What if you treated your business — and your life — like an open arena?
    Chris unpacks how artificial constraints around money, role, location, and fear quietly limit growth, and how leaders can unlock scale without sacrificing family, health, or culture. Drawing from conversations with Kirk Zambetti and lessons from elite operating systems, this episode breaks down what it really takes to scale through vision, people, and systems.
    In this episode, you’ll learn:
    Why leaders underestimate what’s possibl
    How artificial constraints quietly cap growth
    The “open arena” mindset for leadership and life
    Why scaling doesn’t require burnout
    How systems turn vision into execution
    What great companies protect as they grow
    If you’re building a team, a company, or a legacy — this episode will reframe how you think about scale.
    👇 Stick around for Chris’s reflections on culture, accountability systems, and why less is often more.
    🔗 Connect & Learn More
    🎙️ Host
    Chris Fay
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisfay
    Show & Resources: https://builtwithpurpose.com
    🎧 Guest
    Kirk Zambetti
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirkzambetti
    14 min

About Built With Purpose

From the publisher's feed

Built With Purpose shares thoughtful conversations with the people who design, build, and improve the world around us.

Hosted by Chris Fay, the show blends experience from commercial construction and tech leadership to explore how values, systems, and steady execution create enduring companies.