How Early Entrepreneurship Shapes Confidence with Build-A-Biz Kids Co-Founder, Leah Coss - Episode 332
Feb 10, 2026
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In this episode of the Dominate Your Day podcast, I speak with speaker, identity strategist, and co-founder and CEO of Build-A-Biz Kids, Leah Coss, to explore how early identity formation shapes the trajectory of our lives. Leah shares her personal journey—from growing up in a chaotic and unsafe environment, to making destructive choices as a teenager, to experiencing a pivotal moment of self-awareness that changed everything.
We also discuss the powerful mission behind her nonprofit organization, Build-A-Biz Kids. While the programs teach business, public speaking, and digital literacy to kids, the real impact lies in experiential learning that develops confidence, decision-making, resilience, and self-awareness. Leah explains why soft skills—not technical skills—are now the most critical for the next generation, and how giving kids real responsibility and ownership allows them to see feedback as data rather than rejection. By partnering with schools, libraries, and nonprofits, Build-A-Biz Kids is scaling this impact in a sustainable way—reaching kids early, before the world defines who they are for them.
Top 3 Takeaways:
- Identity drives behavior. When kids (and adults) see themselves as capable, their decisions—and outcomes—change.
- Confidence is built through experience, not instruction. Real ownership and real-world feedback create lasting growth.
- Soft skills are future-proof skills. Resilience, decision-making, communication, and self-awareness are essential for both mental health and career success.
Episode Minutes:
- Minute 1: A Journey of Transformation
- Minute 8: Building a Charity: The Birth of Build-A-Biz Kids
- Minute 18: Empowering the Next Generation: Skills for the Future
Links + Resources from This Episode:
- Learn more about Build-A-Biz Kids at buildabizkids.com
- Connect with Leah Coss on LinkedIn
- Take the free 3-minute Authentic Imprint™ Assessment
- Get a copy of Dana’s book, The Internal Revolution: Lead Authentically and Build Your Personal Brand from Within
- Learn more about The Strengths Journal
About Leah Coss
Leah Coss is a speaker, identity strategist, and the Co-Founder & CEO of Build a Biz Kids — a national charity that helps thousands of youth build emotional resilience, self-worth, and future-ready skills through real-world learning.
But before that, she was the teenager most people gave up on. By 16, she’d left home, wasn’t graduating on time, and was making decisions that didn’t reflect who she truly was. What saved her wasn’t discipline or opportunity — it was an early anchor in her identity that reminded her who she could be.
Now, Leah speaks globally on identity-building, helping individuals of all ages shift how they see themselves so they can stop sabotaging, start leading, and live with purpose. Her message is simple but powerful: You can’t grow into your potential while holding onto a version of yourself built for survival.
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