Building With BuildHer

Everyone's either terrified of AI or shouting that you're behind. This episode is neither. Rebeka sits down with Rhiannon Lee - founder of Oleander and Finch and one of the design industry's clearest voices on AI - for the most honest conversation we've had about using these tools without losing yourself in them.
If you've ever opened ChatGPT to save half an hour and lost half a day, this one's for you.
In this episode:
Why nobody is the expert - and why that's good news, not bad
ChatGPT goes wide, Claude goes deep: how Rhiannon actually uses each one
The real reason some people get magic out of AI and others get bland mush (hint: it's your foundations, not your tool)
Where AI quietly becomes dangerous - the confident subdivision advice that could cost hundreds of thousands
Why a hallucination isn't a lie, it's a plausible answer that isn't real
Staying the creative director: the part of your work that never gets outsourced
The automation trap, and why two good posts beat twenty bland ones
Keeping your business off the tool - own your foundations in a platform that's yours
A line worth sitting with: "You're the creative director. Creativity sits under your role and it doesn't get outsourced." - Rhiannon Lee
Rough timestamps:
00:00 - Nobody's the expert: cutting the AI noise
03:44 - The tools Rhiannon actually uses (and how)
12:00 - Where AI gives dangerous answers
15:35 - Image generation: concept, not detail
21:27 - The pendulum swinging back to human voices
33:10 - You're the conductor, not the cast
43:36 - Keep it off the tool: own your foundations
53:00 - Where to find Rhiannon
About our guest: Rhiannon Lee is the founder and designer behind Oleander and Finch, and a sought-after mentor helping creatives build the systems behind their businesses. Her program Studio Build runs over six weeks, with the next round starting 7 July.
Instagram: @oleander_and_finch
Website: oleanderandfinch.com
Ready to back yourself? If this episode lit something up, come and see how BuildHer Collective helps women build, renovate and develop with confidence. Explore DevelopHer at buildhercollective.com.au.
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We spend so much time obsessing over layouts, floorplans, stone selections and budgets… but what if the thing that actually stops people in their tracks is something far less obvious?
In this episode of Building With BuildHer, Rebeka sits down with Cat Brown from Arch Melbourne to unpack the power of styling, colour and thoughtful finishes - and why creating emotional connection can help propel sales results.
Known for Arch Melbourne’s distinctive styling approach (think layered textures, statement furniture, unexpected colour moments and homes that feel anything but cookie-cutter), Cat shares why styling goes far beyond making things “look pretty”. It is about shaping perception, creating mood and helping buyers picture a better version of life within a home.
Rebeka and Cat dive into why developers often overcapitalise in some areas (hello built-in joinery everywhere) while overlooking the details that create real impact, how thoughtful styling can soften newer builds and make them feel warm and lived-in, and why neutral does not always need to mean safe—or worse… grey.
They also unpack why furniture planning should happen earlier than most people think, how styling influences photography and buyer engagement, why “scroll-stopping” moments matter in a world where buyers first meet your property online, and the role colour, texture and art play in making homes memorable.
Whether you renovate, build or develop property for profit, this episode is a reminder that beautiful homes are not built through finishes alone - they are built through feeling.
And buyers remember how a home made them feel.
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What happens when a highly organised project manager, three young kids, and a slightly terrifying leap-of-faith moment collide? You get one very impressive first property flip.
In this episode of Building With BuildHer, Rebeka sits down with DevelopHer Lauren McKenna to unpack her first renovation project - a full gut renovation of a dated unit in Ormond that she delivered in just eight weeks… while on maternity leave with three children underfoot.
But this conversation goes far deeper than paint colours and floorplans.
Lauren shares the very real transition from a demanding career in commercial project management into property development, the confidence shift that came from backing herself, and why she ultimately decided to walk away from the “safe” path to build something on her own terms.
You will also hear the behind-the-scenes reality of buying into a block opportunity with multiple owners, managing large-scale external renovations through body corporate politics, juggling competing personalities, and navigating the unexpected chaos of multiple investors renovating and selling at the same time. Think: part renovation project, part The Block antics.
There are so many valuable takeaways in this episode for anyone renovating, building or developing for profit, including:
why speed and decision-making matter just as much as design
the importance of running multiple renovation scenarios before committing to one approach
how to separate emotional attachment from commercial reality
what to know before buying into a block-style development opportunity
and why the best projects are not always the most expensive or dramatic ones
Lauren also speaks candidly about boundaries, burnout, confidence, and the surprising emotional side of stepping into development for yourself for the first time. And perhaps most importantly, this episode is a reminder that you do not need to “have it all figured out” before you start. Purchasing this project within just weeks of joining BuildHer Collective, Lauren proves that sometimes confidence is built by doing.
A great listen for anyone craving more flexibility, more ownership over their time, and proof that there is more than one way to build a life, and a business, in property.
Head to our website to take a look at photos of Lauren's brilliant Ormond project:
https://buildhercollective.com.au/podcast/ep11-the-flip-that-gave-lauren-the-confidence-to-quit-her-job/
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If you’ve ever wondered whether you can actually turn a profit in this market, this episode is your proof that you can.
We're joined by DevelopHer Zerin who has just wrapped up her second project in under 12 months, delivering a 54% ROI (yes, you read that right) - and she breaks down exactly how she’s doing it.
What’s really interesting about this conversation is the shift. Zerin didn’t start as a numbers person - she came in design-first, focused on creating beautiful homes. But what she’s learnt (and what this episode unpacks so well) is that real success comes from balancing beauty with discipline.
From walking away from projects that don’t stack up (even when they look so good on paper), to understanding where to spend and where no one will ever notice you didn’t - this is a masterclass in thinking like a developer, not just a renovator.
We also get into the magic of creating homes that feel right - the kind buyers connect with instantly - and why cohesion, simplicity, and a few well-placed “hero moments” can completely change your result.
Zerin’s approach is calm, clear, and becoming more and more confident - no overthinking, no overcomplicating with emotion… just smart decisions, made consistently.
If you’re serious about building or renovating for profit - this is one you’ll want to listen to all the way through.
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Think AI is the shortcut to smarter property development? It is… just not in the way you might expect.
In this episode, Rebeka walks through how she is using AI in real time across projects, from scanning markets and spotting opportunities, to testing ideas and streamlining day-to-day operations. It's powerful, no doubt, but it's not the whole picture. Because while AI can point you in the right direction, it cannot interpret the human side of property the emotion, the nuance, the “why this works here but not there.”
What unfolds is a practical, no-fluff conversation about using AI as a support act, not the lead. You will come away with a clearer understanding of where it genuinely adds value, where it falls short, and how to use it to move faster without losing your footing. It's also a good reminder that your understanding of the numbers, your instinct, and your ability to read people and place still matter more than any tool.
Because while AI can help you learn more and quicker, it's still your role to make sense of it and turn it into something that actually stacks up in the real world.
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