This is the story of Brad, Chad, Thad and Dad … four men who impacted the life of one woman.

As we move through the world, we share words to hundreds and thousands of people. But, are we conscious of the effects those words have on the people who receive them? You never really know how something you say can affect the recipient. Something you may find casual might be wildly inappropriate or even harmful to someone else … and how they choose react to your words or internalize them shapes who they become.

In today’s Who Built Me series, we talk to Meredith Dean, CEO and Founder of The Dean’s List, about four men in her life whose words shaped who she became. The words of the first three men were not well-intentioned, and Meredith talks about how she used these words have fueled her desire to grow strong and build her business. The fourth man is her father. His words were much more uplifting and they’ve fueled her desire to build others.