Built Leadership

di James Onyks

Stagione 1

Product Transparency Marketing: Using Manufacturing Visibility to Stand Out with Ben Kander

In this episode of Built Leadership host James Onyks interviews Ben Kander, founder and CEO of Welly Bottle. They explore how transparency in manufacturing and authentic storytelling can become powerful differentiators in a crowded consumer goods market. Benjamin shares how showcasing the full production process—from raw steel to finished bottle—helps build deeper trust with customers while highlighting the value of domestic manufacturing and skilled local workers. The conversation also dives into the strategic advantage of connecting customers emotionally to the people who make their products, turning everyday items into meaningful brand experiences and creating loyalty through authenticity. Welly Bottle website: https://www.wellybottle.com

S1 · E100

2 lug 2026

31:35

Artist-First Record Labels: Disrupting Music Industry Norms with Peter James

In this episode of Built Leadership, host James Onyks interviews Peter James, Founder and CEO of Manic Kat Records. Peter shares the journey of building an independent, artist-first record label that began as a passion project for his own band and evolved into an internationally recognized music company challenging traditional label models. The conversation explores how frustration with the conventional music industry inspired Peter to create a more transparent and relationship-driven approach to artist development, why credibility and reputation became the foundation of the company’s growth, and how he scaled from a one-person operation to a global team. Peter also discusses lessons learned from leaving the corporate world, overcoming imposter syndrome, developing a leadership style centered on people, and expanding the business into international markets, including the launch of a UK division. Manic Kat Records website: https://www.manickatrecords.com/

S1 · E38

9 giu 2026

37:09

Leadership in Construction: Transitioning from Sales to Company Ownership Systems with Grant Crowden

In this episode of Built Leadership, host James Onyks interviews Grant Crowden, Owner of Deep South Construction Pros. They explore the journey of building a high-performance home services business rooted in reputation, leadership, and community trust. Grant shares how he walked away from a $10M operation he helped build to start over with a values-driven approach to construction, ultimately scaling Deep South Construction Pros into a growing regional company serving homeowners across Alabama. The conversation dives deep into the realities of scaling a service-based business, including the shift from sales-driven execution to leadership-focused operations, and what it takes to manage a growing team while maintaining culture and quality. Grant breaks down how hiring decisions, internal leadership development, and accountability directly impact customer experience and long-term brand reputation. He also discusses how home services companies can build predictable pipelines through a mix of digital marketing, referrals, and traditional media such as TV and radio—while still staying grounded in community relationships. Key insights include the importance of protecting company culture during rapid growth, why “revenue is vanity” without operational discipline, and how founders can avoid becoming bottlenecks as their teams expand. This episode is a practical blueprint for entrepreneurs navigating the tension between scaling aggressively and building a business that lasts. Deep South Construction Pros website: https://deepsouthconstructionpros.com/

S1 · E37

2 giu 2026

1:00:23

Veteran Community Building: Preventing Isolation Through Online Gaming with Stephen Machuga

In this episode of Built Leadership, host James Onyks interviews Stephen Machuga, founder of StackUp, a veteran-focused nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting military veterans through gaming and suicide prevention initiatives. Stephen shares the origin story behind StackUp, explaining how his military experience and lifelong relationship with video games shaped the idea of “recreational therapy” as a practical way to help veterans maintain connection, stability, and mental well-being after service. The conversation explores how gaming serves as a critical lifeline for many post-9/11 veterans, helping them stay connected to their “battle buddies” and avoid isolation during difficult transitions back into civilian life. Stephen also discusses the operational realities of running a mission-driven nonprofit for over a decade, including the ongoing challenges of fundraising, donor fatigue, and sustaining impact in an increasingly uncertain economic environment. StackUp website: https://stackup.org

S1 · E36

17 mag 2026

39:32

Therapy Practice Growth: Outsourcing, HR Systems, and Hiring for Scalable Operations with Andrea Battiola

In this episode of Built Leadership, host James Onyks interviews Andrea Battiola, Founder and CEO of Peak Couples & Sex Therapy, a multi-state virtual psychotherapy practice specializing in couples and sex therapy across Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington State. Andrea shares the real story behind building a highly sensitive, regulated healthcare business from the ground up—starting as a solo practitioner and evolving into a CEO managing a growing clinical team and structured organization. She unpacks the operational and emotional realities of scaling a therapy practice, including the shift from working independently to leading employees, and the responsibility that comes with managing both client care and team livelihood. Peak Couples & Sex Therapy website: https://thepeaktherapy.com

S1 · E35

16 mag 2026

46:23

Bootstrap Business Growth: Scaling Ventures Without Outside Funding with James Burns

In this episode of Built Leadership, host James Onyks interviews James Burns, entrepreneur and operator in the veterinary endoscopy and medical device industry and founder of Endoscopy Support Services, Inc. They explore how Burns built a career spanning multiple ventures by applying systems thinking, operational efficiency, and long-term infrastructure building across industries including healthcare, restaurants, and print services. He shares how modernizing legacy processes—such as replacing pen-and-paper workflows with integrated software systems and cloud-based tools—helped scale his core business and improve profitability. A second major theme is his “incubator” approach to entrepreneurship, where he builds self-sustaining businesses alongside partners by trading knowledge for execution, empowering operators, and prioritizing lean, repeatable systems over hands-on management. Endoscopy Support Services, Inc. website: https://endoscopy.com

S1 · E34

15 mag 2026

57:59

Counseling Center Growth: Growing a Mission-Driven Counseling Organization with Thad Cardine

In this episode of Built Leadership, host James Onyks interviews Thad Cardine, Executive Director of Shield Bearer Counseling Centers. Thad shares his journey from teaching and nonprofit leadership into scaling one of Texas’ growing faith-based mental health organizations. He discusses how Shield Bearer Counseling Centers expanded from roughly 9,000 to more than 20,000 annual counseling services by transitioning from a contractor-heavy model to an in-house clinical team, improving operational systems, and increasing community partnerships through churches, networking groups, SEO, and Google Ad Grants. The conversation also explores the realities of affordable mental health access, including insurance limitations, counselor-client matching, and removing barriers to care through flexible scheduling and sliding-scale pricing. Shield Bearer Counseling Centers website: https://shieldbearer.org/

S1 · E33

15 mag 2026

42:32

Community-Led Brand Growth: Scaling Womaness Through Education with Sally Mueller

In this episode of Built Leadership, host James Onyks interviews Sally Mueller, co-founder and CEO of Womaness. Sally shares how her personal experience with menopause led her to identify a major gap in the women’s wellness industry and build a modern brand focused on midlife health. The conversation explores how Womaness transformed menopause from an overlooked and stigmatized category into a fast-growing wellness movement through education, community-building, and consumer trust. Sally discusses the lessons she learned from her decades at Target, the challenges of creating an entirely new retail category, and why understanding the customer through constant feedback became central to the company’s growth strategy. Womaness website: womaness.com

S1 · E32

10 mag 2026

50:31

Bootstrap Startup Strategy: Scaling Without Venture Capital with Tarun Aleti

In this episode of Built Leadership, host James Onyks interviews Tarun Aleti, co-founder of PartRunner, a B2B AI logistics marketplace operating primarily in Mexico that has scaled to approximately $10M in gross revenue with a lean, profit-focused approach. The conversation explores how the company was built without heavy venture capital reliance, instead prioritizing operational discipline, early cashflow generation, and organic growth through referrals and enterprise relationships. Tarun shares how the business validated demand by focusing on real service execution in the early days rather than aggressive marketing spend, and how this foundation helped sustain long-term growth. Business website: https://dev.partrunner.com/en/partners/drivers

S1 · E31

10 mag 2026

36:39

Sports Ministry Innovation: Scaling a Mission-Driven Soccer Club with Aaron DeLoach

In this episode of Built Leadership, host James Onyks interviews Aaron DeLoach, founder of Impact City Football Club (ICFC), a faith-based soccer organization operating across multiple locations in the United States and Haiti. They explore how Impact City FC was built from the ground up through a mission-driven approach that blends sports, faith, and community development, and how leadership decisions are shaped by purpose rather than pure scale. Aaron shares insights on building a multi-location organization while staying rooted in values, including the importance of developing systems that support sustainable growth and maintaining alignment between vision and execution. Impact City Football Club website: https://impactcityfc.com

S1 · E30

10 mag 2026

56:42

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