106: From Immigrant to 7-Figure Solopreneur: Building Power, Purpose, and Homes on Her Terms w/ Danilda Polanco

In this powerful episode, Sean sits down with Danilda Polanco, architect, developer, and founder of Dope Architecture, to unpack what it really takes to build a life and business on your own terms.

Danilda shares her journey from immigrating to the U.S. at 19 with no English, to becoming a 7-figure solopreneur leading a respected design-build firm in Denver. Together, they explore identity, leadership, motherhood, and what it means to stop chasing balance and start designing your life with intention.

This conversation is a masterclass in resilience, self-trust, and redefining leadership — especially for women, immigrants, and anyone who’s ever felt boxed in by expectations.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• How limiting beliefs shape our reality — and how to break them
• Why representation matters, but preparation matters more
• What leadership looks like in male-dominated industries
• How motherhood and entrepreneurship can coexist without guilt
• Why setting boundaries actually earns respect
• How to build a business that reflects your values, not industry norms

Chapters

00:00 – Danilda’s immigrant journey and early ambition
04:30 – Learning English, finding mentors, and building confidence
08:45 – Identity, mindset, and rewriting the story in your head
12:40 – Motherhood, sacrifice, and redefining success
17:00 – Why she stopped chasing balance
20:45 – Leading crews and building respect in construction
26:30 – Setting boundaries and owning leadership
30:10 – The vision behind Dope Architecture
34:00 – Representation, women in construction, and legacy
38:00 – Designing a business — and life — with intention
41:30 – Final leadership lessons and mic-drop moment

About the Guest

Danilda Polanco is an architect, developer, and founder of Dope Architecture, a Denver-based residential design-build firm known for excellence, integrity, and transformational spaces. With nearly two decades in the industry, Danilda is on a mission to open doors for women and minorities in construction — and to prove that you don’t need permission to build something extraordinary.

Connect With Danilda

🌐 Website: https://dopearch.com/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dope.arch/

No Limit Leadership is the go-to podcast for growth-minded executives, middle managers, and team leaders who want more than surface-level leadership advice. Hosted by executive coach and former Special Forces commander Sean Patton, this show dives deep into modern leadership, self-leadership, and the real-world strategies that build high-performing teams. Whether you're focused on leadership development, building a coaching culture, improving leadership communication, or strengthening team accountability, each episode equips you with actionable insights to unlock leadership potential across your organization. From designing onboarding systems that retain talent to asking better questions that drive clarity and impact, No Limit Leadership helps you lead yourself first so you can lead others better. If you're ready to create a culture of ownership, resilience, and results, this leadership podcast is for you.