
Empire Building
It’s no secret that business owners face a unique set of challenges, often juggling marriage, parenthood, and career aspirations. Empire Building brings together five influential women who are unapologetic in their goals to build big businesses and live big lives. Another common goal? Helping others do the same.Tune in for authentic, unfiltered conversations with Wendy Papasan, Seychelle Van Poole, Sarah Reynolds, Kymber Lovett-Menkiti, and Tiffany Fykes, as they invite you to be a part of their journey.
Latest episodes

Apr 17, 2023 • 30min
158. Take Advantage of a Shifting Economy
Picture this: the market shifts, and suddenly, your industry is down 40% year over year in the number of sales. Yikes, right? But don't panic just yet. In today's episode, we're going to discuss shift tactics - the key to weathering any change, big or small, in both business and life. Drawing inspiration from the book Shift by Gary Keller, Jay Papasan, and Dave Jenks, we'll be diving into the basic tactics you need to focus on when faced with a market shift. Trust us, the quicker you can lean into these tactics, the better equipped you'll be to thrive in the face of change. Whether you're in the real estate industry or not, these tips are applicable to anyone looking to stay ahead of the game. Don't miss out on this informative and practical episode that just might change the way you approach change.Resources:Shift by Gary Keller, Jay Papasan, and Dave JenksConnect on Instagram:Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevpSarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsojiWendy Papasan: @wendypapasan

Apr 10, 2023 • 32min
157. How We (Don't) Do It All
Are you a "do it all" person? As female empire builders, it's easy to get caught up in the idea of doing it all, but the truth is, we can't. We have to lean into the things we're good at and leverage out the rest. And that includes help at home. We'll be diving into the importance of help at home for female leaders, and how it's just as crucial as having help in our work and teams.Connect on Instagram:Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevpSarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsojiWendy Papasan: @wendypapasan

Apr 3, 2023 • 41min
156. 5 Truths You Can't Hack: Wisdom from Gary Keller
In this episode of Empire Building, we share valuable lessons we learned from Gary Keller, the founder of Keller Williams, at our Family Reunion event. We discuss five truths you cannot hack that can help people achieve success in life.We cover the importance of working based on a model, system, or proven approach, putting numbers on everything to reach goals, changing one's identity to change one's life, focusing on one thing, and prioritizing relationships. We also discuss the importance of blocking out others and being the first to market or program to have a successful business. Tune in to this episode for valuable insights and practical advice to help you succeed in your personal and professional life.Connect on Instagram:Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevpSarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsojiWendy Papasan: @wendypapasanProduced by Nova Media

Mar 27, 2023 • 32min
155. How to Do Hard Things Better
Are you looking to improve how you handle stress and crises? Then join us on this episode as we talk about the importance of grit, tenacity, perseverance, and resilience. We share how it is not about what happens to us but how we react to it that shapes our lives. Discover how to grow your grit over time and gain a bigger perspective that makes those minor setbacks feel like nothing. Don't miss out on this empowering discussion that will help you excel not only in your big business but also your bigger life.Resources:Read: Grit by Angela DuckworthRead: Resilience by Steven M. Southwick and Dennis S. CharneyWatch: Kara Lawson: Handle Hard BetterConnect on Instagram:Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevpSarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsojiWendy Papasan: @wendypapasan

Mar 20, 2023 • 29min
154. Celebrating Women's History Month
Welcome to this special Women's History Month episode of "Empire Building," where we celebrate the incredible women who have paved the way for our success. We'll be sharing inspiring stories of women who have made a significant impact on our lives and the world around us.We'll be highlighting some of the most powerful and influential women in history, as well as some who may not be as well-known but have made an incredible impact nonetheless. From trailblazing entrepreneurs to groundbreaking scientists, we'll be exploring the stories of these remarkable women and the lessons we can learn from their journeys. Join us as we celebrate the amazing women who have shaped our lives and our world.Resources:nyandcompany.comConnect on Instagram:Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevpSarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsojiWendy Papasan: @wendypapasan

Mar 13, 2023 • 40min
153. Family Reunion 2023 Recap
Are you ready to learn from some of the most successful business leaders in the real estate industry? Join us as we discuss our experience at the Keller Williams Family Reunion in 2023. From late-night networking to powerful quotes from industry icons like Mo Anderson, the first female CEO of Keller Williams, this episode is packed with valuable insights on resilience and well-being. Plus, we share tips on how to love on your database and build market share through consistency and execution. Tune in now to learn how to implement these strategies in your own business and take your success to the next level!Connect on Instagram:Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevpSarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsojiWendy Papasan: @wendypapasan

Mar 6, 2023 • 32min
152. Caring for Loved Ones as an Empire Builder
How can ambitious empire builders balance their ambition with being a caregiver? In this episode, host Sarah Reynolds interviews her co-host, Seychelle, on a topic that is often overlooked but essential for those in a caregiver role. Seychelle shares her personal experience of caring for her father, who passed away four months ago, and discusses the challenges she faced and how she navigated them. Listen in as she provides valuable insights and reflections on what she did well and what she could have done differently. If you're looking for inspiration and guidance on how to care for a loved one during a difficult time, this episode is a must-listen.Connect on Instagram:Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevpSarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsojiWendy Papasan: @wendypapasan

Feb 27, 2023 • 40min
151. Farewell to Vija: Lessons Learned from 2 Years of Empire Building
Join us for an emotional farewell to our co-host Vija Williams. After an incredible two and a half year run, she’s moving on to other adventures — but not without giving back to all of our listeners. We’re sharing Vija’s top twelve do’s and don’ts of launching a podcast.Focus on what your listener is going to get out of every episodeKnow your audienceDon’t feel pressure to keep it under 30 minutesKeep a consistent recording scheduleBe consistent with episode releasesBe willing to devote time to itHire help on the backendBe authentic and realBe willing to invest in some resourcesDo good content (Have a show framework)Don’t read from a scriptIf you’re going to do an interview podcast, get good at interviewingBonus: Ask yourself what the outcome you want is.Connect on Instagram:Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevpVija Williams: @viavijaSarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsojiWendy Papasan: @wendypapasan

Feb 20, 2023 • 37min
150. What Leaders Need to Know About Leading
Leadership is hard — it’s not something you can master overnight. You have to think about the process of becoming a better leader as a journey, one where you’re going to make mistakes. We're excited to dive into some of the biggest challenges we’ve faced in both daily life and in running a business. As leaders, we're often asked to share the lessons we've learned through our experiences. We believe that understanding these lessons, even the tough ones, is crucial for growth as a leader. With transparency and vulnerability, we're committed to sharing our experiences, both the successes and the hard lessons, to help our listeners grow and lead better. So get ready to join us as we discuss our leadership journey.Connect on Instagram:Sign up for Her Leadership Life at herbestlife.com/leadershipSeychelle Van Poole: @seychellevpVija Williams: @viavijaSarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsojiWendy Papasan: @wendypapasan

Feb 13, 2023 • 38min
149. How to Maximize Conferences & Retreats
We’re exploring the return of in-person events after the recent shift to online events. We’re excited to connect with attendees and listeners face-to-face, and we’re offering tips for navigating conference season and making the most out of in-person events. Join the discussion to learn how to dust yourself off and get back in the groove of attending live events as we share our five steps to maximize any event.Resources:Keller Williams Family Reunion Happy Hour: Sunday, February 19th, 6 PM - 9 PM at NOVA Kitchen & Bar in Anaheim, CaliforniaConnect on Instagram:Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevpVija Williams: @viavijaSarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsojiWendy Papasan: @wendypapasan