#091 The Good Riddance List: Carolyn Lowe on Eliminating What's Holding You Back

Built For This Podcast, with Carly Pepin

October 19, 2026 by

Carly Pepin

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In this episode of Built For This, Carly Pepin sits down with Carolyn Lowe, CEO and co-founder of ROI Swift, to explore what it really takes to build a profitable, sustainable business and why sometimes the biggest opportunities for growth come from what you're willing to let go of.

After leading a $2 billion division at Dell, Carolyn became what she calls an accidental entrepreneur, eventually building an agency that has helped more than 150 consumer brands grow their businesses on Amazon.

Carly and Carolyn explore why increasing revenue isn't always the answer, how eliminating wasted spending can create more profitable growth, and the power of Carolyn's "good riddance list," an exercise designed to identify unnecessary tasks, inefficient processes, and anything else holding a business back.

They also discuss the human side of leadership, including the damage one toxic employee can cause, why protecting company culture sometimes requires difficult decisions, and how transparency, accountability, and empowering employees can help create a stronger, more adaptable organization.

Key Takeaways

Profitable Growth Matters More Than Revenue Alone

Carolyn believes businesses need to look beyond sales figures and understand where they're actually making money. By identifying wasted spending, improving margins, and focusing on the products and services that deliver real value, companies can create healthier, more sustainable growth.

Stop Tolerating What's Holding Your Business Back

From outdated processes to toxic employees, Carolyn challenges leaders to ask themselves what they're tolerating. Her "good riddance list" encourages teams to identify what no longer serves the business and make room for better ways of working, stronger performance, and a healthier culture.

Great Leadership Requires Transparency and Accountability

Carolyn emphasizes the importance of helping employees understand how their work contributes to the company's success. Through financial transparency, clear performance metrics, and regular feedback, leaders can give people greater ownership of results while building trust and accountability across the organization.

About Carolyn Lowe

Carolyn Lowe is the CEO and co-founder of ROI Swift, an Austin-based agency helping consumer brands with annual revenues between $3 million and $50 million grow profitably on Amazon.

Before becoming an entrepreneur, Carolyn built a successful career at Dell, where she led a $2 billion division. Drawing on her extensive experience in eCommerce, marketing, and business leadership, she founded ROI Swift to help growing consumer brands improve performance and unlock their potential.

To date, ROI Swift has helped more than 150 companies optimize their operations, increase profitability, and build more sustainable businesses.

Memorable Quotes
"What are you tolerating?"
"Just because we did it that way in the past doesn't mean it should be done."
"A strategy for sustainable long-term growth is profitable growth."

Carolyn Lowe