From Builder to Brand with Theresa Contreras

This week on The BeDifferential Podcast, we sit down with Theresa Contreras — a builder, designer, and entrepreneur whose work sits at the intersection of craftsmanship, innovation, and cultural influence.From her early entry into the automotive world to leading boundary-pushing builds through Baja Forged, Theresa shares what it really looks like to evolve from participating in the industry to actively shaping it.We talk about the decisions behind the builds — what gets preserved, what gets reimagined, and how she approaches design in a space where tradition and innovation don’t always align. She also opens up about navigating the realities behind high-level custom work, and what people often misunderstand about what it takes to execute at this level.Beyond the builds, this conversation dives into brand — how Theresa transitioned from creating one-off projects into building a cohesive identity across products, media, and storytelling, and how supporting platforms have influenced both visibility and opportunity.We also explore leadership, representation, and the evolving definition of what it means to "BeDifferential"  today — especially for those entering the industry from non-traditional paths.This episode isn’t just about cars.It’s about vision, evolution, and building something that lasts.