We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Brittany Lauzon. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Brittany below.

Brittany, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

For years, my work revolved around audio engineering, communications, and networking. I built a business specializing in voiceover marketing and customer experience solutions for IVR, PBX, and VoIP phone systems, helping high-call-volume businesses create the most efficient customer experience.

Along the way, I built hundreds of connections with leaders and creators across small, medium, and large-scale companies. This gave me a unique opportunity to explore a wide range of industries and connect with the people behind the businesses—the visionaries, the risk-takers, the ones bringing ideas to life.

But I wanted to do more than just create polished audio for companies. I wanted to tell stories, real, raw, and impactful stories. That’s when I took a risk and dove into podcasting for fellow creators and leaders, giving them a platform to share their journeys, challenges, and successes, not just to highlight their work, but so we can all learn from each other as a community.

When I get an idea, I get super pumped up about it. I jump in headfirst, learning everything I need to, taking courses, reading books. And this time was no different. I even invested in professional equipment—if I was going to do this, I wanted to do it right. Honestly, I felt the most ready I’d ever been to do something I was absolutely not ready for at all.

I had moments where I’d sit there thinking, What the hell am I doing? This is crazy. Sharing my idea with friends and family just made it worse. They had so many questions—most of which I didn’t have answers to. My response? “Uhm, I don’t know.” That’s when it hit me: I wasn’t the expert this time. I was faking it until I made it.

Then—I booked my first podcast.

The day of my first recording was the most nerve-racking day I’d had in years. My guest was driving in, my co-producers were coming by train, and I was testing my equipment over and over, making sure everything was perfect. I had my questions ready.

I pressed record. I’d never done this before. This was uncharted territory. But, just like everything else, I dove in, figured it out, and again. It went well. Everything came together, and I DID IT. The production of the podcast was smooth as well – but being in audio so long, I knew that was going to be the easy part.

Were there things I learned and would do better next time? Absolutely. Every time I did an episode, my team got better and better, fine-tuning everything from the flow of the conversation to the technical setup. And now? We’re rocking it.

At first, we thought we’d just be doing podcasts—simple, straightforward. But it quickly evolved into something much bigger. Now, we’re recording podcasts, diving into video production, and creating marketing content that businesses can use for months.

Then, another opportunity started to take shape. We realized the potential in going to events, setting up gear for public speaking, recording entire events, and delivering polished content that individuals could use to promote themselves. It wasn’t just about audio anymore. It was about capturing and shaping stories in a way that had a lasting impact.

Looking ahead, I see myself getting deeper into media and working with journalists, bringing even more voices to the forefront. Do I know how to do this? Nope. But I’ll dive right in – head first and see where it goes.

And to think—if I hadn’t taken the risk to step into this, none of it would have been possible.

The truth is, if you talk to the average person, they will talk you out of taking the risk. Most people like security, and being an entrepreneur is anything but secure. It’s all about risk-taking and believing in yourself, because nobody else will believe in you at first. It’s a lonely journey, no doubt—always patting yourself on the back, never having that mentor to help you figure out what an idea is worth or what tomorrow will bring.

So here’s my advice to anyone wanting to create something and turn it into a business:

Do it, but do it responsibly. Create action without recklessness. So many people either never start or go all in without a plan. Find the balance.

Don’t spend a pile of money—spend a little money. Many entrepreneurs either overspend upfront or hesitate because they think they need massive capital. Test the waters first.

Don’t talk to everyone about it—talk to one or two people who will encourage you. Too much feedback can kill a good idea. Encouragement from the right people is what actually matters.

Don’t spend years on one idea. Spend a little time on a couple of ideas.
Know when to move on, and know when to dig deeper. Too many people cling to a failing idea for too long, when sometimes shifting gears is what leads to success.

Read books, take courses, build your skills constantly, and most importantly—NETWORK. Lifelong learning and networking are game changers. Skills and knowledge keep you ahead, and the right connections open doors you never even knew existed.

Looking back, every risk I took led me to where I am today. I could have played it safe, stuck to what I knew, and never ventured into podcasting, video production, or live event recording. But then, I wouldn’t have discovered how much impact storytelling can have, how powerful real conversations can be, and how deeply people connect when you give them a platform to be heard.

Entrepreneurship isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about figuring it out as you go, trusting yourself, and knowing when to pivot. It’s about taking calculated risks, learning from mistakes, and pushing forward even when you’re unsure. And honestly? It’s about believing in yourself long before anyone else does.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that the biggest risk isn’t failing—it’s never trying at all. So if you’re sitting on an idea, wondering if you should take the leap, here’s my advice: Start. Start small, start messy, start imperfect—but start. Because the only way to know where something can take you is to take the first step.

And now, as I continue to push forward, I’m stepping into another challenge—leading the way into AI voiceover while protecting talent from being exploited. The voiceover industry is changing fast, and while AI brings new opportunities, it also brings risks. My mission is to find a way to integrate AI ethically, ensuring that voice actors remain in control of their own work.

That’s a story for another day, one I’ll tell when my next adventure unfolds into the unknown. Because if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that the risks never stop but neither does the growth.

Brittany, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

The story of my career is anything but simple. It’s been a journey of resilience, reinvention, and constantly evolving not because I had a clear path laid out for me, but because I refused to stay stuck in environments that didn’t serve me.

I started in my family business, where you’d think being part of the family would give me an easy ride—but it was the opposite. No one respected me, and despite my efforts to earn it, I felt like I was either seen as a threat or useless. There was no in-between. The toxicity was unbearable, so I left.

With no clear direction, I took a job in landscaping, learning maintenance, interlock, and hands-on skills. But being the only woman on the crew came with its challenges, and between the harsh work environment and developing back problems, I had to move on.

I tried going back to school, pursuing psychology and social sciences, but sitting in a classroom with my ADHD was brutal. Halfway through, I realized it wasn’t for me, so I took what I had learned and moved forward.

I even gave the family business a second shot—but nothing had changed. So, I left again.

That’s when I found something that finally felt right—I went to school for hair and makeup. It was fun, creative, and rewarding, and I excelled, even winning awards. The most meaningful one? “Most Employable.” That award helped me shed the insecurities my family business had instilled in me, proving that I was capable, valuable, and more than enough.

From there, I moved to England and worked in hair and makeup, while also landing a job with a well-known software company in the UK. Life was exciting. It felt like I was finally carving out my own path—until I got a call.

My family’s business was in trouble. Staff were quitting, the business was failing, and they needed me.

I didn’t hesitate. I returned home and took over. But this time, there was no dark cloud over me. I took everything I had learned from my previous experiences and turned the business around—transforming it from the edge of failure to success within two years.

With that accomplishment under my belt, I kept pushing forward. I launched an automation company, installing smart home technology before it was mainstream. For six years, I built a strong presence in the construction industry, proving myself in yet another male-dominated field.

But success doesn’t always mean happiness.

The constant grind, the lack of rest, and the time away from my kids made me realize something—I was done. In 2021, I closed the doors of my company with zero regrets.

Now, I own and run my family business outright, turning it into something that truly reflects my vision. But that’s not where my story ends—I continue to diversify my portfolio, seek out new opportunities, and embrace industries that excite me.

I’ve stepped into podcasting, media production, and voiceover work, helping businesses tell their stories in creative and powerful ways. I’ve also taken on AI voiceover innovation, working to ensure that voice talent is protected rather than exploited in this rapidly evolving space.

I don’t put limits on myself. I will never say no to a new opportunity. My career has been built on taking risks, trusting my instincts, and learning from every experience—even the ones that didn’t work out.

If my journey has taught me anything, it’s that success doesn’t come from comfort—it comes from stepping into the unknown, over and over again.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

My reputation in the market is really solid, and I think that comes down to one thing—I don’t look at clients as piggy banks. I see them as fellow warriors trying to survive a really hard economy. Every business is dealing with its own struggles, and I’ve always approached my work with fairness, transparency, and a genuine desire to help.

I don’t overcharge my clients—I price things fairly and take a good portion of what they pay me and invest it right back into them. I want my clients to grow and succeed, because if they thrive, we thrive. I’ve had some clients for over 20 years—I think that speaks for itself. They know that we won’t hit them with price hikes if we can help it, and we will always be fair. They also know they’re never stuck with us—we don’t force people into anything, and they can rely on us to do the job right, every single time.

Another thing that has helped build my reputation is that we don’t just stick to what’s in the contract—if a client needs help with something outside our usual work, we do what we can. This is especially true for small businesses since their resources are usually stretched thin. I know what it’s like to run a business with limited support, so if we can help, we do.

We also give back to the community whenever we can. We support charities by offering free services when possible, and we make it a point to help out where it actually makes a difference. I think this shows people that we’re not just in it for profit—we actually care.

At the end of the day, I think my reputation has been built on simple things: fairness, honesty, reliability, and genuinely giving a damn. That’s why people stick with us, trust us, and refer us to others.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

During my time in automation, my company landed a huge contract—big money, life-changing even. Looking back, it was too good to be true.

We did the job, delivered everything as agreed, but the client—a massive construction company—decided not to pay us. At the time, I wasn’t well-versed in handling a situation like this. The amount they owed was so huge that it could have bankrupted me.

To make matters worse, my firstborn was only seven months old, my husband was deployed (we’re a military family), and I was stuck in the middle of this brutal fight with a company that played the worst game imaginable.

They strong-armed me with their lawyers, trying to intimidate me into walking away from what I was rightfully owed. I leaned heavily on my own lawyer, who is also a dear friend, and drove him crazy with my tears, stress, and endless worries. Meanwhile, this company would call me at ridiculous hours, harassing me about the very money they owed me, telling me they weren’t going to pay. It was mental warfare. It almost broke me.

But I never gave up.

They strung me along for months, promising payment if I finished a few minor, incomplete jobs. I sent my crew, got the work done—and of course, they still never paid.

From what I later learned, I wasn’t the only one they did this to. But I was the only one who refused to give up.

Long story short? I fought. I knew I couldn’t afford a full court battle, so I took them to mediation—and won. I got pennies on the dollar, but it was enough to pay my vendors and avoid bankruptcy.

It took me two years to recover, but I did.

That experience changed me. It made me realize just how strong I am. It empowered me to keep going, and it taught me what to look for in big-money clients.

Now, I know better. Big contracts aren’t always a good idea. They might look great on paper, but if something feels off—trust your gut. Do your research. Say no when you need to.

I’ve turned down clients since then to protect myself, my business, and my sanity. I also developed thick skin—it takes a lot to stress me out now.

At the end of the day, that experience taught me one of the most valuable lessons in business: know what to sweat and what to leave behind.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cohm.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-lauzon-9a334347/
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/2vuZHSNWKtYiwjup6hsCd3?si=e657e13e6d7c4755