268: From Corporate to Construction Queen: Andrea Seymour

Stop waiting for permission to do the work you’re already great at. We sit down with Andrea Seymour—co-founder and CEO of Springdale Custom Builders—to trace her path from small-town job sites and hospitality burnout to building one of Charlotte’s fastest-growing design-build firms with her husband. Along the way, we unpack how she turned a side passion into a serious business, priced creative work without resentment, and set boundaries that protect both marriage and momentum.

Andrea explains how friends became her first clients, why merging her design studio with her husband’s build firm smoothed the client experience, and how they navigated high stakes as co-founders with no corporate safety net. We dig into the nuts and bolts of pricing—hourly vs. project fees, scope clarity, and change orders—and the everyday systems that keep energy sane: a separate office, veto power on late-night work talks, and schedule-sent emails that respect rest. She also shares the rituals that refuel her—news podcasts in the morning, fiction in the evening—and why travel is the best classroom for their son and a powerful reset for their relationship.

The mindset shift is the heart of it. Andrea opens up about imposter syndrome and how the Tory Burch Foundation fellowship reshaped her confidence. Hearing Tory herself talk candidly about doubt made one truth impossible to ignore: if leaders at the top still feel it, waiting to “feel ready” is a dead end. Lead with passion and responsibility, build skills as you go, and let results prove your credibility. If you’re a woman juggling motherhood, ambition, and the myth of balance, this conversation offers a practical map: define your value, price it with boundaries, and claim the title of CEO on your own terms.

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