Episodes

  • Why founders need healthy delusion to succeed w/ Joan Nguyen, Co-founder and CEO of Bumo

    Why founders need healthy delusion to succeed w/ Joan Nguyen, Co-founder and CEO of Bumo
    Apr 14 2026
    This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for founders navigating hard decisions, learning when to let go and building the belief required to keep going.My guest is Joan Nguyen, co-founder and CEO of Bumo, a platform revolutionizing childcare with flexible, on-demand options for families and setting a new standard for trust in the space.Joan and I talk about what it actually looked like to run two companies at the same time while raising young kids, and what that season required from her mentally and emotionally. She shares how she knew it was time to let go of one business, even when she still cared deeply about it, and how she reframed that decision as growth instead of failure.We also talk about the idea of healthy delusion and why it’s often what keeps founders going when everything around them says to stop. We unpack how your belief system has to evolve as you grow, what it looks like to check whether it’s still serving you and how to build real trust when your product involves something as high-stakes as childcare.Tune in for an honest look at what it takes to make clearer decisions, trust your instincts and keep building even when it’s hard.About Joan NguyenJoan Nguyen is the co-founder and CEO of Bumo, a platform revolutionizing childcare with flexible, on-demand options for families. Raised by Vietnamese refugee parents who emphasized education as a pathway, she founded MeriEducation at 20 years old with $3,000 in savings and grew it into an Inc. 5000 company before launching Bumo alongside Chriselle Lim.As a founder and working parent, Joan has navigated everything from pitching over 200 investors to rapidly pivoting the business into a virtual school in just 11 days during the pandemic. Today, Bumo has raised over $10 million and connects families with thousands of licensed childcare providers across the country.Website: https://bumo.com/LinkedIn – Bumo: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bumoparent/LinkedIn – Joan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannguyen/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bumoparent/If you like this episode, here are some others you'll enjoy.Episode 308. Who you need to be at each stage of building a business — Outgrowing your current version of yourself: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/who-you-need-to-be-at-each-stage-of-building-a-businessEpisode 291. The problem with chasing the “visionary founder” myth — When belief turns into a liability: ​​https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/the-visionary-founder-mythEpisode 150. Become a better leader by learning how to change your mind — Letting go is part of leadership: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/learning-to-change-your-mind✨ This podcast is produced in partnership with Accelity, a full-service marketing agency for bold people growing bold companies. If you're ready to level up your B2B marketing, check us out.→ accelitymarketing.com 🎧 Catch up on past episodes, submit topic ideas, and learn morejackiehermes.com/podcast⭐ Love what you hear? Please leave a 5-star rating on Spotify and on Apple Podcasts to help more entrepreneurs find the show.📲 Let’s connect!LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/thejackiehermes/ Instagram: @thejackiehermesTikTok: @jackie.hermesWebsite: jackiehermes.com
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    25 mins
  • The difference between persuasion and pressure

    The difference between persuasion and pressure
    Apr 7 2026

    This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for anyone who leans on urgency to get people to move… and is starting to wonder if it might be hurting trust.

    In this episode, I talk about a phrase I hear all the time in sales and marketing: “If you don’t create urgency, people won’t move.” Sometimes that’s true. But more often, what people call urgency is actually pressure, and those two things are not the same.

    I break down how pressure shows up in subtle ways through language, timelines and sales processes, and why it works in the short term but creates long-term problems. I’ve seen that persuasion, rather than pressure, takes a very different approach, one rooted in patience, clarity and respect for the buyer’s process. Persuasion creates alignment while pressure tries to create control.

    Tune in if you’re ready to stop forcing decisions and start building trust that actually lasts.

    If you like this episode, here are some others you'll enjoy.
    • Episode 312. Building trust instead of chasing attention — Why trust outperforms short-term tactics: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/build-trust-not-attention
    • Episode 244. Dear companies everywhere, sales and marketing are not about you — Stop making sales about yourself: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/companies-sales-and-marketing-are-not-about-you
    • Episode 283. 6 ways to persuade your prospects to buy (revisited) — Persuasion without pressure or manipulation: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/persuade-your-prospects-to-buy-revisited

    ✨ This podcast is produced in partnership with Accelity, a full-service marketing agency for bold people growing bold companies.

    If you're ready to level up your B2B marketing, check us out.

    → accelitymarketing.com

    🎧 Catch up on past episodes, submit topic ideas, and learn more

    jackiehermes.com/podcast

    ⭐ Love what you hear? Please leave a 5-star rating on Spotify and on Apple Podcasts to help more entrepreneurs find the show.

    📲 Let’s connect!

    LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/thejackiehermes/

    Instagram: @thejackiehermes

    TikTok: @jackie.hermes

    Website: jackiehermes.com
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    12 mins
  • Marketing has always been the strategy, it just looks different now w/ Rob Botts, Director of Sales at Dubb

    Marketing has always been the strategy, it just looks different now w/ Rob Botts, Director of Sales at Dubb
    Mar 31 2026
    This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for founders who are realizing that marketing is its own movement and that building trust through authentic communication drives growth.This episode is a little different because, well, I’m the guest. I joined Rob Botts, Director of Sales at Dubb, on his company’s podcast, Connection Loop, to discuss what real authenticity looks like in modern marketing.We talk about how marketing and sales are no longer separate, and how communication itself has become the strategy. I share my perspective on why authenticity isn’t a buzzword, but a real advantage when it comes to connecting with buyers.Rob brings a practical lens from his work helping sales teams rethink how they follow up and stay relevant in a noisy digital environment. We also get into how video is changing the way teams show up and why it can fast-track trust when it’s done right.Tune in if you’re ready to shift away from transactional selling toward conversations that actually feel human.Website: https://dubb.com/Podcast: https://dubb.com/blog/category/interviews/connection-loop/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-botts-676064224/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/dubbappAbout Rob BottsRob Botts is the Director of Sales at Dubb, a video communication platform that helps sales professionals build trust, increase engagement, and grow revenue. With a background in consultative selling and partnerships, he works with businesses to use video to accelerate their sales pipeline. Rob is passionate about authentic communication in the digital sales process and brings deep insight into modern outreach strategies.If you like this episode, here are some others you'll enjoy.Episode 246. Why you should learn to love selling w/ Mark Cox, author of Learn to Love Selling — Sales and marketing work better together: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/why-you-should-learn-to-love-selling-with-mark-cox?Episode 244. Dear companies everywhere, sales and marketing are not about you — A better way to connect with buyers: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/companies-sales-and-marketing-are-not-about-you?Episode 312. Building trust instead of chasing attention — Why trust matters more than attention: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/build-trust-not-attention?✨ This podcast is produced in partnership with Accelity, a full-service marketing agency for bold people growing bold companies. If you're ready to level up your B2B marketing, check us out.→ accelitymarketing.com 🎧 Catch up on past episodes, submit topic ideas, and learn morejackiehermes.com/podcast⭐ Love what you hear? Please leave a 5-star rating on Spotify and on Apple Podcasts to help more entrepreneurs find the show.📲 Let’s connect!LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/thejackiehermes/ Instagram: @thejackiehermesTikTok: @jackie.hermesWebsite: jackiehermes.com
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    24 mins
  • Life doesn’t happen to you, it happens FOR you (revisited)

    Life doesn’t happen to you, it happens FOR you (revisited)
    Mar 24 2026

    This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for founders and leaders who feel like everything is hitting at once, and are starting to wonder why it all feels so personal.

    Life feels heavy right now, and I’m hearing it everywhere: in conversations with founders, leaders and friends. There’s pressure, uncertainty and personal challenges stacking on top of business challenges, and when it all piles up, it can start to feel personal.

    In this rebroadcast, I’m revisiting one of the most important mindset shifts I’ve learned: life doesn’t happen to you, it happens for you. This isn’t about pretending things aren’t hard or forcing a silver lining. It’s about choosing a perspective that actually helps you move forward.

    I share the stories and experiences that helped me build this muscle so I can show up more grounded in hard seasons. Because I don’t get to control when challenges show up, but I do get to decide what they mean. And that meaning shapes how I lead, how I respond and what I do next.

    Tune in if you’re ready to stop feeling like everything is happening to you and start using it to move forward.

    If you like this episode, here are some others you'll enjoy.
    1. Episode 134. What to do when nothing goes as planned — How to respond when things don’t go as expected: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/when-nothing-goes-as-planned
    2. Episode 137. Healing yourself is a radical act — Why change is hard—and why it matters: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/make-time-for-wellness-not-illness
    3. Episode 61. "If you don’t make time for wellness, you’ll be forced to make time for illness” — Why taking care of yourself can’t wait: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/make-time-for-wellness-not-illness

    ✨ This podcast is produced in partnership with Accelity, a full-service marketing agency for bold people growing bold companies.

    If you're ready to level up your B2B marketing, check us out.

    → accelitymarketing.com

    🎧 Catch up on past episodes, submit topic ideas, and learn more

    jackiehermes.com/podcast

    ⭐ Love what you hear? Please leave a 5-star rating on Spotify and on Apple Podcasts to help more entrepreneurs find the show.

    📲 Let’s connect!

    LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/thejackiehermes/

    Instagram: @thejackiehermes

    TikTok: @jackie.hermes

    Website: jackiehermes.com
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    16 mins
  • Executive branding isn’t optional anymore w/ Jess Jensen, founder of Co-pilot Communications

    Executive branding isn’t optional anymore w/ Jess Jensen, founder of Co-pilot Communications
    Mar 17 2026
    This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for founders and executives who know visibility matters, but still hesitate to show up online and share their perspective.My guest is Jess Jensen, founder of Co-pilot Communications and an executive brand strategist who helps leaders build a digital presence that is clear, confident, and unmistakably human.Jess and I talk about why leaders can’t afford to stay invisible online and how the expectations around executive visibility have changed. We unpack the difference between self-promotion and thoughtful executive branding, and why telling your own story is an important part of modern leadership.Jess shares how her experience inside companies shaped the framework she now uses to help executives develop a clear and authentic presence online. We also discuss how leaders can start showing up digitally without feeling like they need to become full-time content creators. Jess explains why consistency matters more than perfection and how executives can communicate ideas in a way that feels human rather than corporate.→ You can join the waitlist for Jess’s upcoming Altitude cohort here: https://www.copilotcommunications.com/altitudeTune in if you’re ready to stop hiding behind the brand and start showing up with clarity and confidence as a leader.About Jess JensenJess Jensen is the founder of Co-pilot Communications and an executive brand strategist who helps leaders build a digital presence that is clear, confident, and unmistakably human. After 20 years inside Fortune 100 companies, including Microsoft and Qualcomm, she now works with executives who want to take control of their narrative online. Jess believes executive branding helps leaders take the mic—and tell their own story before someone else does.Website: https://www.copilotcommunications.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicakjensen/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/copilotcommunications/If you like this episode, here are some others you'll enjoy.Episode 100. Unlock major business growth w/ LinkedIn coach Lea Turner — How to be authentic on a “professional” platform: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/linkedin-with-lea-turner Episode 125. Growing your personal brand: A nitty-gritty how-to — Practical steps to build your brand: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/growing-your-personal-brandEpisode 51. Do I need a personal brand? — Why founders should build visibility: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/do-i-need-a-personal-brand?✨ This podcast is produced in partnership with Accelity, a full-service marketing agency for bold people growing bold companies. If you're ready to level up your B2B marketing, check us out.→ accelitymarketing.com 🎧 Catch up on past episodes, submit topic ideas, and learn morejackiehermes.com/podcast⭐ Love what you hear? Please leave a 5-star rating on Spotify and on Apple Podcasts to help more entrepreneurs find the show.📲 Let’s connect!LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/thejackiehermes/ Instagram: @thejackiehermesTikTok: @jackie.hermesWebsite: jackiehermes.com
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    28 mins
  • Building trust instead of chasing attention

    Building trust instead of chasing attention
    Mar 10 2026

    This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for founders who feel pressure to monetize every bit of attention they earn online. The internet often treats attention like something you’re supposed to squeeze for every possible dollar. But just because you’re collecting impressions and likes doesn’t mean you’re actually building trust.

    In this episode, I talk about why protecting trust has mattered more to me than short-term revenue. I share what I’ve learned from watching how incentives shape content online and how quickly audiences disengage when everything becomes a play. Over time, I’ve realized that trust compounds quietly while algorithms, reach and platforms constantly shift. And once that line gets crossed too often, people usually don’t leave loudly. They just drift away quietly.

    The decisions you make early about monetization and visibility don’t just affect revenue. They affect who you’re allowed to become later as a leader and entrepreneur.

    Tune in if you’re ready to think differently about attention, restraint and the long-term power of trust.

    If you like this episode, here are some others you'll enjoy.
    1. Episode 96. How do you build trust in business relationships? — How trust develops in business relationships https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/build-trust-in-business-relationships
    2. Episode 295. Disarming stakeholders to get to the truth — Using vulnerability to uncover real insights https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/disarming-stakeholders
    3. Episode 300. 300 episodes: What I’ve learned about building, growing, and showing up — Lessons from showing up for 300 episodes https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/300-episodes

    ✨ This podcast is produced in partnership with Accelity, a full-service marketing agency for bold people growing bold companies.

    If you're ready to level up your B2B marketing, check us out.

    → accelitymarketing.com

    🎧 Catch up on past episodes, submit topic ideas, and learn more

    jackiehermes.com/podcast

    ⭐ Love what you hear? Please leave a 5-star rating on Spotify and on Apple Podcasts to help more entrepreneurs find the show.

    📲 Let’s connect!

    LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/thejackiehermes/

    Instagram: @thejackiehermes

    TikTok: @jackie.hermes

    Website: jackiehermes.com
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    11 mins
  • Responsibility over ego: leading through uncertainty w/ Dilip Rao, Co-Founder and CEO of Sharebite

    Responsibility over ego: leading through uncertainty w/ Dilip Rao, Co-Founder and CEO of Sharebite
    Mar 3 2026
    This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for founders who feel the weight of responsibility, not just for growth, but for the people whose livelihoods depend on their decisions. When things get hard, leadership isn’t about optics or ego—it’s about who you’re willing to become.My guest is Dilip Rao, founder and CEO of Sharebite, who shares what it really means to lead through crisis. We talk about the moment COVID brought Sharebite’s revenue to zero, why Dilip quietly took his salary to zero and moved into his in-laws’ basement, and how that season reshaped his view of leadership.Dilip explains his inverted leadership model, why leaders work for their teams, not the other way around, and how responsibility, not ideas, becomes the defining factor as a company grows. We also explore the parallel journey every founder is on: building a business while confronting fear, ego, endurance, and self-identity.Tune in if you’re ready to lead with responsibility, clarity, and purpose—even when the answers aren’t obvious.About Dilip RaoDilip Rao is the Founder and CEO of Sharebite, the leading enterprise meal-benefits platform built exclusively for companies. Under his leadership, Sharebite has become one of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S., earning recognition from Inc. Magazine, Deloitte, and Fast Company. Backed by Prosus, Sharebite partners with top employers to ensure every worker has access to meals while advancing its mission to help solve hunger.Website: https://sharebite.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dilipnrao/Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sharebite/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharebite/If you like this episode, here are some others you'll enjoy.Episode 134. When nothing goes as planned — Staying steady when plans blow up: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/when-nothing-goes-as-plannedEpisode 141. Founder’s syndrome w/ Erica Rankin — The leadership traps founders have to outgrow: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/founders-syndrome-with-erica-rankinEpisode 55. “That’s impossible” or “I can’t” — Reframing the mindset that limits your next level: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/thats-impossible-or-i-cant✨ This podcast is produced in partnership with Accelity, a full-service marketing agency for bold people growing bold companies. If you're ready to level up your B2B marketing, check us out.→ accelitymarketing.com 🎧 Catch up on past episodes, submit topic ideas, and learn morejackiehermes.com/podcast⭐ Love what you hear? Please leave a 5-star rating on Spotify and on Apple Podcasts to help more entrepreneurs find the show.📲 Let’s connect!LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/thejackiehermes/ Instagram: @thejackiehermesTikTok: @jackie.hermesWebsite: jackiehermes.com
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    24 mins
  • On turning 40: why every year is earned

    On turning 40: why every year is earned
    Feb 24 2026

    This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for founders who are quietly wondering if they’re behind, if they’ve done enough or if they still have something to prove. Turning 40 isn’t about getting older for me. It’s about recognizing that every year is earned and deciding what energy I want to carry forward.

    In this episode, I share what it actually feels like to hit a milestone birthday and why I believe my 40s will be the best decade of my life. I talk about why I choose to celebrate myself (instead of waiting for someone else to do it), and why aging is something to be proud of. I open up about trauma, resilience and how our brains help us move forward even after difficult seasons. I also explore what changed when I stopped chasing approval and started trusting myself instead.

    This is a reminder that I don’t have to prove myself to anyone, and neither do you. We get to choose who and what we bring into our lives. We get to choose our mindset. And we get to decide that every challenge we’ve faced has prepared us for what’s next.

    Tune in if you’re ready to stop proving yourself and start trusting yourself.

    If you like this episode, here are some others you'll enjoy.
    1. Episode 64. Getting older sucks. (But does it really?) https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/getting-older-sucks-not-really
    2. Episode 82. What I would tell my younger self https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/what-i-would-tell-my-younger-self
    3. Episode 123. It is not too late. You are right on time. https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/it-is-not-too-late

    ✨ This podcast is produced in partnership with Accelity, a full-service marketing agency for bold people growing bold companies.

    If you're ready to level up your B2B marketing, check us out.

    → accelitymarketing.com

    🎧 Catch up on past episodes, submit topic ideas, and learn more

    jackiehermes.com/podcast

    ⭐ Love what you hear? Please leave a 5-star rating on Spotify and on Apple Podcasts to help more entrepreneurs find the show.

    📲 Let’s connect!

    LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/thejackiehermes/

    Instagram: @thejackiehermes

    TikTok: @jackie.hermes

    Website: jackiehermes.com
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    10 mins