
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

Aug 2, 2021 • 26min
68. Guilty as Charged
Let’s be honest: when it comes to building big businesses, we can often fill ourselves with big guilt. It comes from everywhere. When you’re not working in your business, when you’re not with your family, when you really need a vacation, it’s always there. However you’re feeling right now, you’re not alone. We’re going to talk about our own struggles with guilt and how we’re (slowly) working through them.Connect on Instagram:Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevpVija Williams: @viavijaSarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsojiWendy Papasan: @wendypapasanEmpire Building is a production of Crate Media

Jul 26, 2021 • 32min
67. Balance is a Lie: Interview with Kymber Menkiti
Kymber Menkiti is one of the most impressive business leaders in the world. She has broken glass ceiling after glass ceiling while also managing to be a great wife and mother. She’s the perfect example of building a big business and an even bigger life. Her and her husband run a massive real estate empire in Washington, D.C. They started off as real estate agents, then became owners of brokerage, highly successful sales teams, and commercial and residential property. Now they’re involved in mixed use opportunities on development. She is the regional director and divisional director for Keller Williams in her region, one of Washington Business Journal’s “40 Under 40,” and raises four boys under 12. We discuss what her typical schedule looks like, the skills she’s had to master to accomplish all of this, and the beliefs that have led to her success.Resources:linkedin.com/in/kymberlovett-menkitimenkitigroup.comConnect on Instagram:Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevpVija Williams: @viavijaSarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsojiWendy Papasan: @wendypapasanEmpire Building is a production of Crate Media

Jul 19, 2021 • 28min
66. Strategic Giving: To Move Forward You Have to Give Back
How is giving away money good for my business?We hear about it all the time: corporate philanthropy, “doing well by doing good” – but why, specifically, is it great to give back to your community? We’re going to define strategic giving, talk about the six reasons generosity is actually good for your business, and some of the ways you can give back as a company.Why Giving Back Is Good for Your Business:Increases company moraleImprove brand awarenessAttract top talentAppeal to younger generationsIncrease salesTax deductionsWays to Give Back:Sponsor a charity eventGive employees time off to volunteerDo a give-back fundMake a donation for every sale or closingOffer pro-bono servicesPartner with a charity for ongoing eventsConnect on Instagram:Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevpVija Williams: @viavijaSarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsojiWendy Papasan: @wendypapasanEmpire Building is a production of Crate Media

Jul 12, 2021 • 26min
65. How to Train Effectively
Does this sound familiar? You really need to hire some help in your business, but there’s one annoying thing that’s causing you to pause: the thought of training. Let’s be honest, training is hard to do – especially when you’re already busy and you need help now. It can be hard to remember what we learned along the way, let alone how to pass our knowledge on to someone else. It requires you to step back and slow down. Let’s explore how to train successfully and as painlessly as possible.Connect on Instagram:Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevpVija Williams: @viavijaSarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsojiWendy Papasan: @wendypapasanEmpire Building is a production of Crate Media

Jul 5, 2021 • 29min
64. The Importance of Self-Promotion
As entrepreneurs, we often have our heads down. We grow because we are great at our craft, but rarely do we have a background in advertising, marketing, or self-promotion. When you start getting noticed in your field, many don’t know what to do with that attention. We’re going to talk about the importance of self-promotion, both as your business and as a person. It’s important to identify your superpowers, embrace them, and not be afraid to put them out there. We’re going to offer some tips for those struggling to promote themselves.Own your worthBe strategicFigure out your platformsHave a body of contentConnect on Instagram:Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevpVija Williams: @viavijaSarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsojiWendy Papasan: @wendypapasanEmpire Building is a production of Crate Media

Jun 28, 2021 • 31min
63. Self-Care for Leaders Part 2: You Can't Pour from an Empty Cup
Self-care is not what you think it is. It’s not just wine, massages, and pedicures. It’s about making the conscious choice to build a life you don’t need to regularly escape from. You need to establish simple habits that create balance and health in your life. We’re continuing our discussion of those habits, based on the seven circles from “The ONE Thing.” Last week, we talked about your spiritual, physical, and personal lives. Today, we’re going to dive into your key relationships, your job, your business, and your finances.Our spiritual lifeOur physical healthOur personal lifeOur key relationshipsOur jobOur businessOur financesResources:Read: “The ONE Thing”Connect on Instagram:Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevpVija Williams: @viavijaSarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsojiWendy Papasan: @wendypapasanEmpire Building is a production of Crate Media

Jun 21, 2021 • 36min
62. Self-Care for Leaders: An Empty Tank Will Take You Nowhere
As leaders, we are constantly pouring into others: our teams, our families, our clients, and even our communities. But rarely do we take the time to fill ourselves up. If you don’t take care of yourself, you’re not going to make it anywhere. In this two part series, we’re going to touch on seven ways to approach self-care.Our spiritual lifeOur physical healthOur personal lifeOur key relationshipsOur jobOur businessOur financesConnect on Instagram:Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevpVija Williams: @viavijaSarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsojiWendy Papasan: @wendypapasanEmpire Building is a production of Crate Media

Jun 11, 2021 • 27min
61. How Vija Took Control of Her Personal Finances
We all hit a point in life when we realize that we have to plan for our personal finances. It doesn’t matter how much you make; if you don’t have your spending under control, you’re going to run into problems. We’re going to talk about our wealth-building journeys and, whether you’re far along on your path or just at the beginning, we’re going to hit all aspects of the journey.Connect on Instagram:Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevpVija Williams: @viavijaSarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsojiWendy Papasan: @wendypapasanEmpire Building is a production of Crate Media

Jun 7, 2021 • 34min
60. Working Hard on Your Best Life: Diane Griffin Interview
Diane Griffin is an international businesswoman with an insurmountable work ethic. Her drive for building and leading businesses combined with her desire to create endless opportunities for everyone around her is incredible. Not only does she play a major role in leading organizational strategy across multiple businesses with Keller Williams Realty as both a business owner and a coach, Diane has a passion for amplifying the voices and lives of women around the world. We talk about her upbringing, how she got into real estate, and how she learned the power of saying “no.”Resources:griffinproperties.netConnect on Instagram:Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevpVija Williams: @viavijaSarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsojiWendy Papasan: @wendypapasanEmpire Building is a production of Crate Media

May 31, 2021 • 30min
59. How to Get People to Quit Without Firing Them
When a business relationship isn’t working out, it can be painful — both for the person who isn’t performing and for the business. Having someone, who may be right for your organization but in the wrong role, can be a liability for them as well as for the business. We want to create environments that support us and our teammates. So how do you ensure that everyone on your team is a good fit… and how do you get rid of someone who isn’t a good fit without firing them?Connect on Instagram:Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevpVija Williams: @viavijaSarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsojiWendy Papasan: @wendypapasanEmpire Building is a production of Crate Media