The Art of Becoming Podcast

In this episode of The Art of Becoming, I’m joined by Amanda Vargus — founder of Wave + Woven, a concierge personal styling service for busy entrepreneurs and high-profile professionals. After nearly two decades in digital advertising, Amanda used the unraveling of the pandemic to leap into a complete career reinvention. Now, four years into building Wave + Woven, she’s one of Boston’s most sought-after stylists and the producer of the city’s annual Runway Ball, a 500-person fashion event benefiting St. Jude.Amanda is one of the most fearless founders I know. We talk about the catalyst that pushed her out of corporate, the realities of building a service-based business with no safety net, and why she believes your wardrobe is the final, often-missing layer of your personal brand.Inside the episode, we discuss:* the three filters every wardrobe needs: your vibe, your shape, and your actual lifestyle* selling with conviction without the ick — and why “buck up, buttercup” might be the realest sales advice of the year* producing Boston’s Runway Ball — and how to take on projects you have no business taking on* her honest perspective on retail, AI, and what brands and stylists are actually doing right now to win* the mindset shift behind dressing for who you’re becoming, not who you’ve beenAmanda’s perspective on visibility, conviction, and refusing to shrink — in business or in your closet — is exactly the kind of conversation that gives ambitious women permission to take up more space. If your outer presence hasn’t caught up with the leader you’re becoming, this one is for you.Connect with Amanda* Website: waveandwoven.com* Instagram: @waveandwoven* LinkedIn: Amanda VargusConnect with Nicole* Website: thenicolehart.com* Substack: Built In Her Name* Instagram: @thenicolehartIf this conversation resonated, subscribe to The Art of Becoming, share it with a friend who needs to hear it, and leave a review to help other ambitious women find the show. Get full access to Built In Her Name at thenicolehart.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of The Art of Becoming, I’m joined by Meghan Houle — globally recognized hiring expert, accredited Career and Business Coach, and the founder and CEO of CONCÉ, a next-generation concierge-style hiring platform. After more than two decades placing executives at brands like LVMH, Victoria Beckham, Veronica Beard, and Christian Louboutin, Meghan is reimagining recruitment for the way the industry actually works now.Meghan is one of the most determined founders I know. We talk about what it actually looks like to leap from service-based business owner to tech founder, the financial and emotional reality of building a platform from scratch, and why she stopped people-pleasing in business relationships.Inside the episode, we discuss:* the multi-year evolution from luxury recruiter to tech founder — and the Napa mastermind where CONCÉ finally clicked* what it really costs to build a tech platform from scratch — and her advice on how to avoid burning through cash* the difference between strategic alignment and soul alignment — and why your gut knows the difference* navigating fundraising as a female founder when women receive less than 2% of VC capital* why “people-pleasing in business” always costs you — and the specific moments she’s learned to push back* her advice for entering a job search at the top of your career, not the bottom — and why energy at the start of a new chapter determines how that chapter goesMeghan’s perspective on building boldly, asking for what you’re worth, and refusing to wait for permission to claim your next chapter is the kind of conversation that puts a fire under you. If you’ve been sitting on an idea for too long or quietly waiting for the “right time” to leap, this is your sign.Connect with Meghan* Website: hirewithconce.com + meghanhoule.com* Instagram: @allthingsmeghoule* CONCÉ Instagram: @hirewithconceConnect with Nicole* Website: thenicolehart.com* Substack: Built In Her Name* Instagram: @thenicolehartIf this conversation resonated, subscribe to The Art of Becoming, share it with a friend who needs to hear it, and leave a review to help other ambitious women find the show. Get full access to Built In Her Name at thenicolehart.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of The Art of Becoming, I’m joined by Scout Driscoll — Founder and CEO of DesignScout, a 22-year-old Chicago-based branding agency, and its beverage-alcohol division, VINT.In an industry rich with heritage of hustle, burnout, and 60-hour weeks, Scout has built something genuinely counter-cultural: a thriving agency with a team whose average tenure is nine years, a company culture rooted in what she calls “rest ethic,” and a leadership philosophy that puts her people first — period.We talk about what it actually takes to build a successful business that gives back to you, and how the counter to the rise-and-grind playbook isn’t slower work — it’s clearer boundaries. Inside the episode, we discuss:* the difference between work ethic and rest ethic — and why most business owners have the equation backwards* the priorities that inspired her team’s nine-year average tenure in an industry known for chronic turnover* the COVID lesson that pushed her to diversify DesignScout into VINT — and why niching down made everything stronger* how to identify the right “key offering” to stake your reputation on (and why she wishes she’d done it sooner)Scout is the kind of leader who proves that you can build something significant — for 22 years and counting — without sacrificing your evenings, your weekends, or yourself. If you’ve been told you have to grind your way to success and quietly wondered if there’s another way, this conversation is the proof there is.Connect with Scout* Website: designscout.com* VINT: vint.studio* LinkedIn: Scout Driscoll* Instagram: @designscout and @vintstudioConnect with Nicole* Website: thenicolehart.com* Substack: Built In Her Name* Instagram: @thenicolehartIf this conversation resonated, subscribe to The Art of Becoming, share it with a friend who needs to hear it, and leave a review to help other ambitious women find the show. Get full access to Built In Her Name at thenicolehart.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of The Art of Becoming, I’m joined by Amalia Bussard — founder of East Pine Plant Shop and a nature artist who has spent the last five years building a sanctuary in Maine.We talk about what it actually looks like to channel a vision into reality, how to know when something in your business needs to be pruned, and why slow living isn’t a vibe — it’s a survival skill for ambitious women.She opens up about leaving the corporate playbook behind, recognizing the projects that look good on the outside but deplete you on the inside, and learning to trust the visions that have been guiding her since childhood. We get into the importance of pockets — small intentional moments of joy, presence, and quiet — and why the people you surround yourself with either help you trust your intuition or quietly erode it.Inside the episode, we discuss:* the visions Amalia has been receiving since she was a kid — and how she’s learning to channel them into reality through East Pine Plant Shop* her plant-as-life metaphor for knowing what to prune and when (and why “let go to let grow” might be the only mantra you need)* what slow living actually looks like in a fast-moving business, and why pockets of joy matter more than perfect days* how to spot the people who push your growth versus the ones projecting their own fear onto you* navigating change like the seasons — and why your nervous system needs the transition, not just the pivot* her advice for trusting your intuition when the world is making you doubt itAmalia’s perspective on building with intention, honoring your pace, and creating a world worth coming home to is the kind of conversation that changes how you see your own work. If you’ve been feeling pulled toward something bigger but haven’t given yourself permission to claim it — this one is for you.Connect with Amalia* Website: eastpineme.com* Instagram: @eastpine.plantshopConnect with Nicole* Website: thenicolehart.com* Substack: Built In Her Name* Instagram: @thenicolehartIf this conversation resonated, subscribe to The Art of Becoming, share it with a friend who needs to hear it, and leave a review to help other ambitious women find the show. Get full access to Built In Her Name at thenicolehart.substack.com/subscribe

In this very first episode of The Art of Becoming, I’m joined by Kaitlyn Parker — copywriter, brand strategist, and founder of Copy Uncorked, who has written for over 250 brands worldwide and is the woman behind much of my own brand messaging. We’re talking about what it actually looks like to evolve a creative business in real time — through industry shifts, AI’s arrival, and the personal seasons that change what success even means.Kaitlyn opens up about the year that changed everything: scaling her agency back to a more solopreneur model, becoming a mom, watching the creative industry recalibrate, and learning to use AI without losing the soul of her work.We talk about why pivots show up in the body before the brain, how to know when to tear something down versus tweak it, and what it means to “cheat time” by building a business that actually gives you more of it.Inside the episode, we discuss:* how 2025 became her most transformational year — and the signals that told her it was time to refine* the 4 D’s of productivity (do, delay, delegate, delete) and why most founders are operating with the wrong list* the rule of thirds — and why good days, bad days, and meh days are all part of the work* how building a personal brand changed how Kaitlyn sees her entire business ecosystem* her advice for using AI with integrity (and why most people are doing it wrong)Kaitlyn’s perspective on building with integrity, trusting your voice, and not getting lost in the pursuit of money over time is the perfect kickoff to this show. If you’ve ever felt the pull to scale back, change direction, or build something on your own terms — this conversation is for you.Resources & Mentions* Copy Uncorked — copyuncorked.com* The Essential Copy Course* Trust Yourself PodcastConnect with Kaitlyn* Website: copyuncorked.com* Substack: bykaitlynparker.substack.com* Instagram: @copyuncorkedConnect with Nicole* Website: thenicolehart.com* Substack: Built In Her Name* Instagram: @thenicolehart Get full access to Built In Her Name at thenicolehart.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to The Art of Becoming podcast — a show for ambitious women leading at the edge of their own evolution. Hosted by Nicole Hart, personal brand advisor and agency founder.Each episode features conversations with female leaders, CEOs, and industry innovators who have built something remarkable while continuing to welcome what’s next.Together, they explore ambition, reinvention, self-compassion, and how staying present in your own evolution creates space for who you’re becoming next.Explore more at www.thenicolehart.com Get full access to Built In Her Name at thenicolehart.substack.com/subscribe