This week on the CEOs Off the Record Podcast, I'm interviewing Dr. Raquel Dailey, CEO of Growth Compass and Best Life Abroad, to discuss intention, strengths-based work, and how to avoid burnout and not work on autopilot.

Dr. Dailey explains she created Growth Compass after seeing talented high performers operating from exhaustion in workplaces that reward output while ignoring energy, leading to disengagement and turnover.

During our interview, Dr. Daley defines intentional living as choosing direction proactively, aligning calendars with values, and auditing “yes” decisions; she distinguishes being good at something from being energized by it and suggests small, strategic shifts to integrate strengths.

This is a can't miss episode!

02:33 Why Strengths Matter

06:03 Finding Your Strengths

12:28 Leading Across Generations

16:13 What Is Intentional Living

19:24 Quiet Entrepreneurship Mindset

21:25 Launch Formula24:17 Good At vs Energized

27:18 Outgrowing Old Roles

30:26 Loving Craft Not Clients

36:57 Audit Your Yes

39:33 Strengths Drive Revenue

42:30 Autopilot Warning Signs

47:34 Schedule Reflection Time

50:25 Reject Grind Culture

Contact Dr. Raquel Dailey:

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raquel-dailey/

- Website: https://www.raqueldailey.com/

Register for the upcoming Launch Formula Cohort: https://jessicamariedavis.com/launch-formula/

On this episode of the CEO’s Off the Record podcast, I'm interviewing Nora Schlesinger, CEO of Nora Schlesinger Consulting, about empathy in leadership and operations as companies scale and adjust to market fluctuations.

Nora shares her non-linear path from running and selling an SEO-focused content marketing agency, staying on to manage the acquisition transition, then leaving when the role shifted away from operations, and building a consulting business supporting female founders with operations, systems, and leadership.

Nora discusses patterns she sees in women leaders and offers insightful advice for messy career transitions in these new times we find ourselves in.

Time Stamps:

02:14 Nora’s Corporate Exit

05:50 Leading Through Layoffs

10:06 Finding the Right Fit

12:24 Building High-Trust Teams

21:11 Owning Your Experience

25:33 Empathetic Operations

30:55 Women Leaders Patterns

33:14 Delegation Over Burnout

36:51 Perfectionism Reality Check

38:24 People Pleasing Spectrum

46:22 Risk Plans And Mantras

Nora's Contact Details:

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noraschlesinger/

- Website: https://www.noraschlesinger.com/

Feeling overwhelmed by all the shiny objects you're being told are necessary for your business to run. Yet you're unsure how any of it will actually solve your business problems?

This episode is your answer. Join Jess as she dives into a conversation with Ema Roloff, co-founder of Roloff Consulting.

Emma brings refreshing clarity to the hype around technology and the shiny object syndrome within the tech industry. She focuses on trust and intentionality over chasing trends.

Discover why true digital leadership requires more than just adopting new tools, and how being authentic can revolutionize your approach to growth and innovation.

Here's the quote Ema mentioned during the interview at 22:48, from John Chambers, CEO, Cisco:

“40% of businesses in this room, unfortunately will not exist in a meaningful way in 10 years… If I’m not making you sweat, I should be” John Chambers, Cisco CEO.

Watch media coverage of his remarks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lR2IYvlVY8s

Contact & Follow Ema:

Ema Roloff, Co-Founder, Roloff Consulting

Website: https://www.roloffconsulting.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emaroloff/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@emaroloff7690

Instagram Handle: @transformationprincess

02:00 The Power of Content and Authenticity

05:17 Rethinking Sales Strategies

09:30 The Importance of Relationship Building

13:08 Ema's Journey: From Teaching to Sales

20:17 Navigating Shiny Object Syndrome

22:22 The FOMO Cycle in Technology Adoption

27:24 The Cycle of Ineffective Software Adoption

28:37 The Cost of Integration and Implementation

30:07 The Importance of Starting with 'Why'

32:29 The Shift in Digital Leadership

35:12 Authenticity in Leadership and Content Creation

42:14 Experimentation and Continuous Learning

In this episode of the CEO's Off the Record podcast, Jess sits down with Amazon sales expert Vicki Weinberg to uncover the secrets to successfully selling on Amazon. With over a decade of experience, Vicki shares actionable insights on preparing your product and systems for the platform, understanding the costs involved, and crafting effective launch strategies. Whether you’re on the fence about Amazon or ready to dive in, this episode is packed with invaluable advice to help you treat Amazon as a serious revenue channel from day one. Tune in for a clear roadmap to Amazon success, including tips on listing optimization, advertising, and gaining those crucial first reviews.

Download Vicki's Free Checklist: https://mailchi.mp/72c24952cf50/amazon_checklist

Check out the Amazon FBA Fee Calculator: https://sellercentral.amazon.com/hz/fba/profitabilitycalculator/index?lang=en_US

Contact Vicki:

Website - www.vickiweinberg.comInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/vickiweinberguk/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/VickiWeinbergProductCreation

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/vicki-weinberg-amazon-seller-support/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@VickiWeinberg

01:04 Preparing Your Product for Amazon

03:13 Understanding Amazon's Selling Requirements

07:34 Evaluating Product Viability on Amazon

14:52 Amazon Advertising and Marketing Strategies

18:09 Building an Audience Before Selling on Amazon

21:01 Balancing Amazon and Your Own Website

23:14 Leveraging Amazon for Customer Acquisition

24:50 Pricing Strategies for Amazon and Your Website

28:05 Managing Sales and Discounts on Amazon

29:37 Preparing Backend Systems for Amazon

31:27 Effective Launch Strategies for Amazon

34:19 Driving Traffic and Getting Reviews

38:17 Common Expectations and Misconceptions

41:21 Consistency and Long-Term Success on Amazon

43:21 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Ever wonder why some people seem to get attention effortlessly but struggle to sell, while others quietly build profitable businesses with a much smaller audience?

That disconnect is not random. It is strategic.

In this solo episode, Jess breaks down how business challenges change based on what you sell and who you sell it to. She walks through why B2C creators often win at visibility and struggle with conversions, while B2B business owners fight harder for attention and convert more easily once trust is established.

This conversation reframes a lot of the frustration business owners carry around content, growth, and sales. It brings clarity to why your experience feels harder or slower and what to do about it without chasing the wrong metrics or copying strategies that were never designed for your business.

You will walk away with a clearer understanding of whether you actually have a visibility problem or a credibility problem and how to fix the right one.

00:00 Understanding the Visibility Struggle

00:55 The Difference Between B2C and B2B

02:12 Challenges of High Visibility Content

03:20 Navigating B2B Visibility and Conversion

04:53 Strategic Solutions for Visibility and Conversion

06:03 The Importance of Credibility

07:03 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Are you sitting on a goldmine of expertise but stuck in the corporate grind? In this episode, I sit down with Aly Sanders, founder of The Breadwinner Club and one of Seattle's top fractional CMOs, to reveal how you can turn your skills into a high-income fractional business.

We dive deep into Aly's journey from entrepreneurial burnout to thriving as a fractional executive. If you've ever wondered how to monetize your mind without selling your soul to a 9-5, this is the strategy session you need.

What we cover:

• The real definition of "Fractional Work" (and how it differs from freelancing)
• How to structure your contracts to get paid what you're worth
• Practical tips for overcoming imposter syndrome
• Building a business model that protects your time

CHAPTERS:

00:00 - Intro: Why Your Expertise is Worth More

02:14 - Aly's Pivot: From Burnout to Fractional CMO

04:36 - Fractional vs. Freelance: What's the Difference?

07:10 - The Hidden Benefits of Fractional Work

08:46 - How to Structure Contracts & Get Paid

21:50 - Stop Feeling Like a Fraud (Imposter Syndrome)

32:52 - Empowering Women to Lead

37:40 - Connect with Aly & Conclusion

Contact Aly:

Website URL: https://breadwinnerclub.com/
LinkedIn Profile URL: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyssajean/

Happy New Year Y'all!

This first episode of the new year is a reset to get everyone out of holiday brain and back into work mode. I'm doing a quick reset for all the new listeners, talking about what I've got going on and what you can expect from the podcast this year.

Cheers to a productive and profitable 2026!

In this podcast episode, Jessica interviews Dr. Kerry Graham to discuss the importance of training and development for small business owners. Dr. Graham emphasizes the need to document processes and provide thorough training, regardless of company size or existing staff. She explores the differences between adult and child learning, the cost-saving benefits of well-trained employees, and how to utilize technology ethically and effectively. Dr. Graham also shares practical steps for those unsure where to start, emphasizing the importance of a solid foundational process for sustainable business success.

Blog: https://www.drcarriegraham.com/calm-blog

Website: https://www.drcarriegraham.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drcarriegraham/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drcarriegraham/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carrie.graham.779/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drcarriegraham

00:18 The Importance of Training and Development

02:05 Dr. Graham's Journey into Training

05:21 Understanding Adult Learning

07:43 The Financial Benefits of Employee Training

10:04 Consistency in Service and Training

13:09 Documenting Processes for Consistency

17:41 Adapting to Technological Changes

19:27 The Next Wave of AI Adopters

19:49 Ethical Concerns and Infrastructure

20:26 AI as a Support Tool, Not a Solution

21:36 The Importance of a Solid Foundation

22:05 Using AI Ethically in Learning

23:15 Historical Context of AI

25:18 Guidance for Entrepreneurs

26:51 Practical Resources and Cautions

28:09 Investing in Your Business and Employees

31:02 Final Thoughts and Reflections