Built by Margin with Laurie Chen

In episode 34 of Built by Margin , Laurie Chen sits down with Jennie Lopez, Founder and CEO of Intentional Unicorn, to talk about what it really means to bet on yourself, build in alignment, and make decisions rooted in authenticity rather than fear. Jennie shares her journey from a 23-year corporate career spanning chemical engineering, operations, and global talent leadership into entrepreneursh...

In episode 33 of Built by Margin , Laurie Chen sits down with Jynafer Yanez to explore what it really takes to turn a book into a business. Jynafer shares how she built Archimedes Books by thinking beyond publishing and focusing on audience ownership, brand development, intellectual property, and long-term ecosystem building. From author platforms to film projects, this conversation highlights how...

In episode 32 of Built by Margin , Laurie Chen sits down with Won Choi to talk about burnout, alignment, entrepreneurship, and the kind of decision-making that blends both strategy and inner knowing. We unpack how burnout is often less about working hard and more about living out of alignment, how entrepreneurs can build trust in themselves while navigating uncertainty, and why some of the biggest...

In episode 31 of Built by Margin , Laurie Chen sits down with AI strategist and founder Andrea Palacio to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the way service-based businesses operate, grow, and make decisions. Andrea shares her entrepreneurial journey from e-commerce and business acquisition to building an AI company born out of operational overwhelm, and explains how founders can use...

In episode 30 of Built by Margin , Laurie Chen shares key insights from her upcoming book Risk Worthy - decisions compound. Most people think of compounding only in financial terms, but the same principle applies to the choices we make every day—how we spend our time, what we prioritize, the risks we take, and the future we build through repeated action. This episode unpacks why small decisions ar...

In episode 29 of Built By Margin , Laurie Chen shares key insights from her upcoming book Risk Worthy . — bold outcomes are rarely built through reckless leaps. Using startup failure data as the backdrop, Laurie breaks down why founders, angel investors, and venture capitalists still make asymmetric bets despite long odds and frequent losses. The deeper lesson is that risk becomes worth pursuing n...

In episode 28 of Built By Margin , Laurie Chen shares key insights from her upcoming book Risk Worthy . — Why Numbers Matter — numbers don’t drive the decision—but they absolutely protect it .   If Risk Worthy is about qualitative ROI, purpose, alignment, and growth, why do numbers still matter? Laurie walks through the four pillars—Best Self, Best Possible Future, Variance Engineering, and Start...

In episode 27 of Built By Margin , Laurie Chen interviews Dr. Greg Pursley, a business coach, author, and CEO, who discusses the pivotal moment that led him to transform his business into a sellable asset and how he now helps entrepreneurs break through mental barriers to achieve sustainable growth. Tune in for insights on gaining clarity, boosting income, and creating lasting impact in your busin...

In episode 26 of Built By Margin , Laurie Chen interviews Jaben Makings, the founder of Onnix Investments, as he shares his journey of disrupting the real estate investing world by redefining how agents and investors collaborate. Risk Worthy isn’t reckless — it’s calculated. In this episode, Jaben Makings breaks down how he evaluates off-market deals, builds a team, and makes decisions that compou...

In episode 25 of Built By Margin , Laurie Chen interviews Fahim Talukdar, VP of Finance at Praetorian, as he shares his unique career journey, starting from commercial and personal banking to his current role in a cutting-edge cybersecurity company.  Tune in to learn more about Fahim's experiences and the evolving landscape of finance in the corporate cybertechnology space. TIMESTAMPS [00:01:...

In episode 24 of Built By Margin , Laurie Chen shares key insights from her upcoming book Risk Worthy . — In this episode, Laurie breaks down one of the core ideas from Risk Worthy : your Best Possible Future — and why it’s the missing filter most people need when making high-stakes decisions. You’ll learn the difference between Best Self and Best Possible Future : Best Self is about the thoughts,...

In episode 23 of Built By Margin , Laurie Chen interviews Sean Travis, a former firefighter-paramedic turned entrepreneur and founder of Ecom for Heroes, based in Hermosa Beach, California, as he discusses the challenges he faced, including burnout and personal loss, that led him to take a leap of faith into entrepreneurship. Tune in to hear valuable insights on entrepreneurship and the intersecti...

In episode 22 of Built By Margin , Laurie Chen interviews Kelly Jedele, the owner of a multi-million dollar residential cleaning company based in Austin, Texas, as she discusses her company's growth, her financial A-team, the importance of community engagement, and her unique customer acquisition strategies, including the power of word-of-mouth referrals and goodwill advertising.  Tune in to...

 In episode 21 of Built By Margin , Laurie Chen interviews Fraser Bayley, the founder of Elite Nutrition, as he shares his incredible journey from struggling with mental health issues to becoming a sought-after performance strategist for high-achieving entrepreneurs, executives, and athletes.  Tune in for an engaging conversation that promises to bring value to your personal and professional life....

In episode 20 of Built By Margin , Laurie Chen interviews Jim Emerich, Founder of Backbone CFO, as he reflects on the invaluable lessons learned while helping others build their enterprises and emphasizes the importance of taking risks to achieve one's own entrepreneurial dreams. Tune in to learn about the challenges and rewards of starting a business and how Jim's experiences have shape...

In episode 19 of Built By Margin , Laurie Chen interviews Joseph Dunaway, Founder of VICI Financial, as he discusses how technology and AI are transforming the accounting landscape, allowing for more personalized and efficient services. Tune in to hear Joe’s insights on building a business with integrity and the importance of adapting to the future of accounting. TIMESTAMPS [00:01:04] Future of ac...

In episode 18 of Built By Margin , Laurie Chen shares key insights from her upcoming book Risk Worthy . — This episode shares a never-before-read excerpt on why “Fail Fast” is essential to growth. Laurie reframes failure as deliberate experimentation: define your hypothesis, read the signal, and plan the next iteration you’ll start by Monday.  QUOTES " Fail fast. It is better to experience fa...

In episode 17 of Built By Margin , Laurie Chen shares key insights from her upcoming book Risk Worthy . She discusses risk, regret minimization, and decisions that compound—covering practical risk tolerance (why many successful founders start as side hustles), lowering uncertainty through iteration, and using your “80-year-old self” as a filter, echoed by lessons from Jeff Bezos and Dharmesh Shah....

 In episode 16 of Built By Margin , Laurie Chen shares key insights from her upcoming book Risk Worthy . She explains how to define your best possible future, focus on meaningful returns—not just quantitative returns—and take intentional steps to make your vision inevitable. She also offers a simple action prompt and invites listeners to join her early reader list. Tune in for valuable strategies...

In episode 15 of Built By Margin , Laurie Chen interviews Nnamdi Oparanozie, a strategic CFO and purpose-driven entrepreneur, who shares how he integrates faith, fitness, and finance into both business and life, and why serving others is at the core of his mission. Tune in to discover how to build a profitable business while staying true to your core values. TIMESTAMPS [00:01:58] F5 core values fr...

In episode 14 of Built By Margin , Laurie Chen interviews Kelsey Daingerfield, a Powerhouse in Operations and a Fractional COO, as she shares her journey across industries—from aerospace to higher education—and how she discovered her passion for operations and change management. Tune in to discover insights on how to work smarter, not harder, and the value of operational excellence in driving busi...

In episode 13 of Built By Margin , Laurie Chen shares insights from her upcoming book, "Risk Worthy", emphasizing the importance of making choices that align with the best version of oneself and prioritizing qualitative returns on investment over purely quantitative measures. Tune in for valuable strategies on becoming your best self and making risk-worthy decisions. TIMESTAMPS [00:01:33...

In episode 12 of Built By Margin , Laurie Chen shares insights from her upcoming book, "Risk Worthy", exploring the concept of risk beyond just numbers. Discover how to evaluate risks in your life and business through a new framework that emphasizes qualitative outcomes. Tune in to discover how to navigate the complexities of risk and make smarter financial decisions. TIMESTAMPS [00:01:1...

In episode 11 of Built By Margin , Laurie Chen welcomes tax strategist Tony Hoong, the Founder and CEO of The CPA Dude, as he shares insights into the biggest misconceptions about taxes, emphasizing that they don’t have to be a dreaded obligation. Instead, he explains how taxes can be used strategically as a wealth-building tool. Tune in for valuable insights on how to navigate tax season and make...

In episode 10 of Built By Margin , Laurie Chen shares exciting updates about her journey, including her upcoming book titled "Risk Worthy," set to be published in 2026. Laurie dives into the complexities of decision-making in life and business, introducing her unique risk-worthy framework that goes beyond conventional wisdom. Tune in for insights that can help you make smarter financial...