Brand Builders Lab with Suz Chadwick

442. 4 Simple way to start using AI in your small business (non technie edition)

Feeling 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 

441. The Power of Storytelling with Mackenzie Heflin

What 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

440. Your Cash Flow Isn’t Broken. Your Strategy Is – With Karen Woller

What 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/

439. You've Got the Business. So Why Does It Still Feel Hollow? with Viren Thakar

What 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/

438. 3 shifts my 40+ business owners need to make fast

You'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.
 

437. Feeling Stuck in Your Business? Here's What's Really Going On

If 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

436. Why Smart Experienced women are staying invisible (and what it's costing you)

If 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

435. How to Tell Stories That Attract Clients (Not Just Likes)

How 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
 

434. Stepping into your "UN Era" to create a standout Personal Brand in 2026

Welcome to another episode of the Brand Builders Lab podcast! Today I'm diving deep into what I'm calling the "UN Era" – six powerful mindset shifts that will transform how you build your personal brand.
If you've been filtering yourself, playing it safe, or trying to be "professional" instead of being YOU, this episode is your wake-up call. I'm sharing the exact mindset shifts that help my clients build magnetic personal brands that attract dream clients and incredible opportunities.
In This Episode, You'll Discover:
Why personal branding for women starts with mindset, not strategy
The six UN shifts: unfiltered, unapologetic, unrealistic, unbothered, uncommon, and unabsorbed
How to position your brand instead of worrying about being professional
My five rejections quest and why going after nos gets you more yeses
Why being "delulu" might be exactly what your business needs
How to create from a place of authenticity instead of consumption
Resources Mentioned:
My Spicy Opinions GPT
Unfiltered Event – Melbourne, March 19th
Previous episodes with Liz Mosley and Zara Jarvis
Connect With Me:
Instagram: @suzchadwick Website: www.suzchadwick.com

433. Taking your strategy from Boring to Bold - 3 things I'm focusing on

Your strategy is boring—and I say that with love. You're showing up, creating content, doing what everyone's telling you to do... and it's not getting you the results you want. Sound familiar?
In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on the three non-boring strategies I'm implementing in 2026 to amp up my personal brand and business. These are the exact things that will help you stand out, build genuine connection, and finally become memorable in your industry.
In this episode, you'll discover:
Why "going pro" with your content isn't about perfection—it's about strategic testing and staying in your zone of genius
How to build a content ecosystem that works as a business asset (even while you sleep)
The power of "spicy messaging" and why playing it safe is keeping you invisible
My biggest challenge this past year and how I'm fixing it in 2026
The one metric that matters most for building trust with your audience
If you're ready to take your strategy from boring and beige to bold and spicy, this episode is your permission slip to do more, be more, and create the impact you know you're capable of.
LINKS:
Bold Opinions GPT
Brand Builders Academy
Follow Suz on Instagram