Podcast
Brand Builders Lab with Suz Chadwick
Hosted by Suz Chadwick · EN
If you want to be bolder to stand out in the crowd, then this podcast is for you!!
Every week I’ll share all things building a bold Business & Brand, learning to nail your Marketing & Sales and getting out of your own way - yep we talk mindset too. I’m your host Suz Chadwick, business & mindset coach to female lead small business owners, author, speaker and your new business bestie!
If you want more help to build your business then check out our freebies at www.suzchadwick.com/freebies or signature group coaching program the Bold Business Academy at www.suzchadwick.com/bba
26episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
444 - Why you shouldn't quit, even when things feels hard & awkward
3w ago00:08:20Tap to summarizeWhat this episode is about I'm doing something a little different today. I started a Substack a while ago and I've not been completely consistent with it (more on that in the episode). One thing I've been doing with some of my Substack articles is recording the voiceover, so I figured why not share it here on the podcast too. This is the audio from a recent article called "I've been a bit crap. And that's the whole point." and it's about the messy middle of getting good at anything new. If you've started a podcast, a newsletter, a Substack, a YouTube channel, a sales process, or any new skill in your business and quit because it felt awkward, this episode is for you. What you'll learn Why I started Substack even though writing isn't my flow (and the workaround I'm using to stay consistent) What Anna Mackenzie taught me about the long game on Substack (7 hours per article, 16K subscribers, and where most of her clients now come from) The Fitts and Posner three-stage model of learning (1967 research that still holds today) and why stage one is supposed to feel like trash The driving metaphor that makes all of this click The Dunning-Kruger effect and why your confidence crashes right when you start to actually get good Why most people quit at the exact moment they're about to break through The challenge for you this week: pick one thing you've been avoiding because you're not good at it yet, and do it badly on purpose If you're a female founder and service-based business owner who's ready to turn your invisible expertise into bold, profitable brand through identity-led positioning, content and sales strategy then let's connect! https://www.suzchadwick.com/amplify
Transcribe →443. The portfolio career & shooting your shot with Anna MacKenzie
Apr 1000:48:32Tap to summarizeAnna Mac built multiple income streams from scratch - fractional work, digital products, mentoring, writing - and turned a simple cold outreach ritual into a strategy that's gone viral. In this episode, we dig into what a portfolio career actually looks like, how to validate offers before you build them, and why shooting your shot every week might be the best business habit you're not doing. In this episode: Anna and I talk about What a portfolio career actually is and why more women are building one The personal inventory exercise Anna uses with her mentoring clients to identify your skill stack How Anna generated over $50,000 on her first digital product launch with a 5,000-person email list Shoot Your Shot Wednesday - the weekly cold outreach ritual that changed Anna's business Why being high agency is the most important characteristic you can have right now Resources mentioned: Anna Mac's Substack: Anna Mac Stack Portfolio Career Operating System (Anna's Notion-based digital product) Instagram + TikTok: @annacmac Work with Suz: Ready to build a personal brand that actually converts? Amplify is Suz's high-touch group coaching programme for expert women ready to scale. - AMPLIFY ACCELERATOR
Transcribe →442. 4 Simple way to start using AI in your small business (non technie edition)
Mar 2500:23:55Tap to summarizeFeeling excited about AI but also kind of overwhelmed? Same. In this episode I'm taking the hysteria down a notch and sharing exactly how I'm using AI in my business right now — in the most non-techy way I can manage. I walk you through four practical pillars: Insights, Efficiencies, Automations, and Innovation — with real examples from my own business, including how a two-week SEO project started bringing in more organic leads and what I'm building inside Amplify that could change how clients get results. This one's for you if you've been wanting to start with AI but don't know where to begin. In this episode: Why Claude is winning over ChatGPT for me right now How I used AI to find the biggest gaps in my business across all my platforms The grunt work that used to weigh on me that AI is now handling The automation I'm building to turn one video into a full content suite What innovation actually looks like in a coaching business Links + Resources: Grab the free Claude Brand Builders Guide Ready to amplify your personal brand and get seen as the expert you are? Learn more about working with me inside Amplify → https://www.suzchadwick.com/amplify
Transcribe →441. The Power of Storytelling with Mackenzie Heflin
Mar 1600:37:27Tap to summarizeWhat does it actually mean to tell your story — not just post content and hope the right people find you? In this episode, I'm joined by my long-time friend and storytelling expert Mackenzie Heflin for one of my favourite conversations on the podcast. Mackenzie works with entrepreneurs and content creators to help them find their voice, shape their stories, and build real communities — not just follower counts. We get into the honest, practical, and deeply personal side of storytelling for business, and why it's the missing piece for so many founders who are creating content but still feel like they're shouting into the void. In this episode: Why treating your social media feed like a private Facebook group changes everything How Mackenzie built a business from 400 followers — and what happened when it was all deleted overnight The simple before-and-after framework that works for any niche (yes, even sourdough) Why your story doesn't have to be dramatic to be powerful How to tell your story when you can't share your own — or your clients' The difference between authority-based content and trust-building content (and when to use each) Why conversion storytelling isn't about chasing engagement — it's about being ready when your audience is How to stop talking at your audience and start making them feel seen Why shame-free, desire-free marketing might actually convert better Mackenzie's storytelling framework Start with your before. End with your after. Everything in between is connection. Write down your struggles and your transformations — those two lists are the foundation of every piece of content you'll ever need to create. About Mackenzie Mackenzie Heflin is a storytelling strategist and content coach who helps entrepreneurs build engaged communities through purposeful, authentic storytelling. She got her start building a 400-person Facebook group while working in a nursing home during COVID — and has since grown a following of 70,000 by showing up consistently and telling her story with honesty and intention. She's now focused on long-form writing, Threads, and helping her clients find the stories that actually convert. 🔗 Website | Threads
Transcribe →440. Your Cash Flow Isn’t Broken. Your Strategy Is – With Karen Woller
Mar 200:41:55Tap to summarizeWhat does it actually mean to manage your money in a way that supports the life you want - not just survive month to month and hope for the best? In this episode, I'm joined by accountant and financial strategist Karen Woller (founder of Thrive NZ) for a refreshingly practical and no-nonsense conversation about money, business growth, and what it really takes to build financial clarity as a business owner. Karen works with SMEs and service-based businesses to help them understand their numbers, manage cash flow, and make smarter decisions — so their business actually funds the life they want to live. We get into the real, sometimes uncomfortable, and deeply important side of business finance, and why so many entrepreneurs are working hard but still feel financially stuck. In this episode: Why cash flow problems aren't always what you think — and the two main culprits behind them The difference between profit and cash in the bank (and why confusing them is costing you) How to set payment terms that actually work for your business — and enforce them Good debt vs. bad debt, and when borrowing to grow actually makes sense Why fear around financial decisions is usually a data problem, not a confidence problem How to break down a scary hiring decision into a number you can actually work with The CEO mindset shift that founders resist — and why it's holding them back Contractors vs. employees: how to build capacity without overcommitting Why reconciling your Xero regularly is the single most important habit you can build How to use 90-day sprints to stay focused on the right financial levers Karen's framework for financial clarity: Understand your baseline (what you need) vs. your thriving number (what you want). Know where you are now. Map what needs to change to get there. Review it every 12 months — because every business and life has seasons. About Karen Karen Woller is the founder of Thrive NZ, an accounting and financial strategy firm working with small to medium businesses across New Zealand. She helps business owners cut through the fear and confusion around their finances, understand what their numbers are actually telling them, and build businesses that work — for their goals and their life. Karen is direct, practical, and deeply invested in making sure her clients aren't just profitable on paper, but genuinely thriving. 🔗 LinkedIn | Instagram | https://www.thrive.nz/
Transcribe →439. You've Got the Business. So Why Does It Still Feel Hollow? with Viren Thakar
Feb 2700:49:33Tap to summarizeWhat does it actually mean to live your values — not just list them in your brand strategy and forget about them? In this episode, I'm joined by my long-time friend and values expert Viren Thakar (founder of In The Game) for one of my favourite conversations on the podcast. Viren works with organisations and individuals to help them identify their values and build real systems to live them — day to day, week to week. We get into the messy, practical, and deeply personal side of values alignment, and why it's the missing piece for so many entrepreneurs who are doing "all the right things" but still feel hollow. In this episode: Why your values aren't just for your About page — and how to actually use them The difference between values, morals, and purpose (and why we conflate them) How to identify your real values (hint: look at your irrational reactions) Designing your working week around what you actually value Why senior leaders tick every "success" box and still feel empty How to use a simple 1–5 check-in to stay values aligned Why being unfiltered and spiky attracts the right clients — and repels the wrong ones The danger of doing profitable work that isn't values aligned (and when it's okay to do it anyway) Why your business is just a mechanism for expressing your values Viren's 5 Values: Freedom | Fun | Creativity | Achievement | Growth When weighing options, ask — does this align with my values? Score each option across your values and add in the business factors (revenue, market appetite, ease of delivery). The combination is your guide. About Viren Viren is the founder of In The Game and Values Map. He works with organisations and individuals to define their values and design strategies to bring them to life. All done in a psychology-backed, playful and collaborative way. Outside of all this work, he loves playing games, DJing house music, diving into sci-fi, watching soccer, and running. https://www.linkedin.com/in/virenthakrar/
Transcribe →438. 3 shifts my 40+ business owners need to make fast
Feb 2000:17:37Tap to summarizeYou've got decades of experience, a tonne of knowledge, and you know your stuff inside out — so why does showing up online feel so bloody hard? In this episode, I'm getting into the three shifts that I see 40+ expert women in business needing to make right now to build a personal brand that actually works. This isn't about doing more — it's about doing the right things, with the right mindset, in the right way. In this episode: Why "I don't have time" is keeping you stuck — and what to do instead The strategy + belief combination that determines whether you actually show up Why storytelling feels cringe (and how to do it anyway) The HALO framework for telling stories that connect and convert How to make complex expertise feel simple and magnetic Why being the person who makes things easy is your biggest competitive advantage The HALO Storytelling Framework: H — Hook | A — Action | L — Lesson | O — Opportunity Ready to build your personal brand with the right strategy, frameworks, and support? Join me in Amplify - the programme for expert women who are done playing small online.
Transcribe →437. Feeling Stuck in Your Business? Here's What's Really Going On
Feb 1300:19:04Tap to summarizeIf you've been feeling stuck in your business lately, this episode is for you. I'm getting real about what's actually causing the stuckness (spoiler: it's probably not a strategy problem) and walking you through 6 practical steps to break through it - from auditing your business and killing offers that aren't working, to building your support network and diversifying your revenue. We're also talking about the state of the business landscape in 2026, the growing divide between those thriving and those struggling, and why the portfolio career might be the move you didn't know you needed. If something lands for you in this episode, I want you to take one action in the next 24–48 hours. No more sitting in the stuck. Let's go. If you need help and want to work together then apply at https://www.suzchadwick.com/amplify
Transcribe →436. Why Smart Experienced women are staying invisible (and what it's costing you)
Feb 600:20:53Tap to summarizeIf you're an experienced expert but you're not showing up online, you're leaving serious money on the table. In this episode, I'm breaking down the four key reasons why smart, experienced women stay invisible - and what it's actually costing you. From the curse of knowledge to the fear of being a beginner again, I'm calling out the real blocks that keep you from building a personal brand that converts. If you've been thinking visibility is optional, this one's for you. How to Work with Me: ✅ Work with me to scale - https://www.suzchadwick.com/amplify ✅ 1:1 Coaching - https://www.suzchadwick.com/bc ✅ Get access to the 7-day free email training on the 5 elements you need to build your personal brand https://www.suzchadwick.com/7days
Transcribe →435. How to Tell Stories That Attract Clients (Not Just Likes)
Jan 2900:22:23Tap to summarizeHow to Use Storytelling to Attract Clients (Without the Sales Pitch) If you want people binging your content and actually connecting with you, there's one skill you need to master: storytelling. In this episode, I'm breaking down exactly why stories matter for your business, the three types of stories every business owner needs, and how to structure your stories so they're memorable and magnetic. In this episode: Why storytelling is the secret to building a personal brand people remember The psychology behind why stories convert better than tips The 3 story types you need: origin, client transformation, and everyday identity How to structure your stories for maximum impact Real examples of how my story attracts ideal clients Links: Apply for the Amplify Accelerator Follow me on Instagram Need to get the foundations in place? Join Brand Builders Academy
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