The Art Of Entrepreneurship

Jackie Hermes
  • 4.9 (161)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Let's be honest: building a company from nothing is freaking hard. It has been for me. I grew my company Accelity from 0 to 7 figures with no partners and no funding. I'm also a startup mentor, a speaker, and a dedicated mother of three. Welcome to The Art of Entrepreneurship podcast—I’m your host, Jackie Hermes. Listen in as I share all the mistakes I’ve made and, more importantly, what I’ve learned from them, with no fluff, and no rose-colored glasses. The Art of Entrepreneurship is a show where we cut through the BS and dig into what it actually takes to start and grow a business. I’ll be giving unfiltered advice 1 episode per week, up to 20 minute per episode. I want you to walk away from this podcast with the mindset and tools you need to be successful. This podcast is for entrepreneurs, side hustlers, and busy professionals with a short attention span (like me)—you’ll get quick-hitting, actionable information in every single episode. If you give me your time, I promise it won't be wasted. Now let's get to work!

  1. 2D AGO

    Executive branding isn’t optional anymore w/ Jess Jensen, founder of Co-pilot Communications

    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/altitude Tune 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 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

    28 min

  2. MAR 10

    Building trust instead of chasing attention

    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.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-relationshipsEpisode 295. Disarming stakeholders to get to the truth — Using vulnerability to uncover real insights https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/disarming-stakeholdersEpisode 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

    11 min

  3. MAR 3

    Responsibility over ego: leading through uncertainty w/ Dilip Rao, Co-Founder and CEO of Sharebite

    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.com LinkedIn: 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 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

    24 min

  4. FEB 24

    On turning 40: why every year is earned

    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.Episode 64. Getting older sucks. (But does it really?) https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/getting-older-sucks-not-really Episode 82. What I would tell my younger self https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/what-i-would-tell-my-younger-self 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

    10 min

  5. FEB 17

    The post-2025 entrepreneur: speed, ideas and AI w/ Dr. Alex Mehr

    This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for founders who have ideas they believe in but feel blocked by execution. As AI removes traditional barriers, entrepreneurship is entering a new phase where speed and clarity matter more than resources or technical skill. My guest is Dr. Alex Mehr, a former NASA scientist and serial entrepreneur turned Co-Founder and CEO of Famous.ai. Alex explains why execution is no longer the bottleneck and why ideas have become more valuable than ever. We talk about how AI allows founders to focus on higher-value thinking, why traditional MVP models no longer apply and how quickly testing ideas creates momentum. Alex also shares why fear, not lack of skill or capital, is now the biggest thing holding people back. Tune in if you’re ready to stop waiting and start turning ideas into action. About Alex MehrDr. Alex Mehr is a former NASA scientist turned serial entrepreneur who has built and exited multiple companies serving millions of users worldwide. He is the Co-Founder and CEO of Famous.ai, a platform that allows anyone to turn plain-English ideas into production-ready apps in minutes. Alex’s mission is to help non-technical founders move faster and build without relying on engineers, large teams or massive funding. Website: https://famous.ai LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexmehr/ If you like this episode, here are some others you'll enjoy.Episode 199. Ideas are nothing without execution — Turning learning into action: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/ideas-are-nothing-without-execution-revisitedEpisode 176. Indecision is a decision — Getting out of analysis paralysis: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/indecision-is-a-decisionEpisode 81. Rapidly validating & testing new ideas w/ Author & investor John Zeratsky — A faster way to test ideas: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/new-ideas-with-john-zeratsky ✨ 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

    29 min

  6. FEB 10

    Who you need to be at each stage of building a business

    This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for founders who feel stuck, disengaged or exhausted as their business grows—even though nothing is “wrong” on paper. You may be doing the right strategic things, but still feel misaligned. Often, the problem isn’t revenue, hiring or systems. It’s that the version of you that built the business isn’t the one required to lead it now. In this episode, I walk through the different stages of building a business and the internal shifts each stage demands. We talk about what it looks like to move from founder to delegator, from expert to leader, and eventually from control to clarity. I explain why staying in survival mode too long can stall growth, why letting go feels so uncomfortable and how leadership often stretches your confidence more than your skillset. This episode is about recognizing when personal evolution—not another tactic—is the next unlock for your business. Tune in if you’re ready to stop leading your business with an old version of yourself and step into the role this next stage actually requires. If you like this episode, here are some others you'll enjoy.Episode 285. What I learned from my first (vegan cookie) company: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/my-first-company-revisitedEpisode 267. Driven or drained: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/driven-or-drainedEpisode 142. Prioritizing, delegating & asking for help: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/prioritizing-delegating ✨ 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

    12 min

  7. FEB 3

    Why deep work is the real competitive advantage w/ Steven Puri, founder of The Sukha Company

    This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for founders and leaders who want to reclaim focus and build sustainable high performance in a world filled with distraction. Many entrepreneurs confuse busy work with meaningful output, but the real edge comes from deep work, clarity and intentional attention. My guest is Steven Puri, founder and CEO of The Sukha Company, whose background includes producing Oscar-winning visual effects and building venture-backed startups. We explore why remote work often feels chaotic, how blurred boundaries erode productivity and why deep work is becoming increasingly rare and valuable. Steven breaks down what flow states really are, why they drive your best creative work and how your environment and systems can help you enter them more consistently. We also unpack practical habits founders can adopt to protect focus, reduce overwhelm and move their business forward without burning out. Tune in if you’re ready to stop reacting all day and start creating space for the deep, focused work that actually moves your business forward. About Steven PuriSteven Puri has been a senior executive at two major motion picture studios and has raised over $20M in venture capital. He produced digital effects for Independence Day, which won the Academy Award for Visual Effects, and later founded multiple startups—including one successful exit. Steven now leads The Sukha Company, a focus and flow platform designed to help people achieve sustainable high performance. He lives in Austin, TX. Website: thesukhacompany.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stevenpuri/ If you like this episode, here are some others you'll enjoy.Episode 281. Remote work isn’t the problem—your leadership might be — Rethink how remote work and leadership intersect. https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/remote-work-isnt-the-problemEpisode 262. Stress management — Why managing stress is a leadership and productivity decision. https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/stress-managementEpisode 94. 5 ways to maximize productivity from my favorite book: Make Time — Practical strategies for reclaiming your time and attention. https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/5-ways-to-maximize-productivity ✨ 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

    34 min

  8. JAN 27

    How I would build a company from scratch today

    This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for founders who want to build a company that actually makes money from the start. If you’re thinking about what to prioritize early, or how to refocus a business that isn’t generating consistent revenue yet, this episode will help you reset. If I had to build a company from scratch today—with no audience, no awareness and no momentum—I’d start with revenue. In this episode, I walk through exactly how I’d rebuild a company with the goal of getting paying customers as quickly and intentionally as possible. I break down how to identify a problem people are already paying to solve, how early sales shape smarter decisions and why focus makes everything, from messaging to growth, easier. This episode is about building from reality, not assumptions, and letting revenue guide what you build next. Tune in if you’re building something new, rethinking your priorities or ready to stop guessing and start selling with more clarity. If you like this episode, here are some others you'll enjoy.Why you must know how to sell: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/why-you-must-know-how-to-sellWhy you should learn to love selling w/ Mark Cox: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/why-you-should-learn-to-love-selling-with-mark-coxIt’s not time to slow down: generating business at the end of the year: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/generating-business-at-the-end-of-the-year ✨ 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

    8 min
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4.9
out of 5
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About

Let's be honest: building a company from nothing is freaking hard. It has been for me. I grew my company Accelity from 0 to 7 figures with no partners and no funding. I'm also a startup mentor, a speaker, and a dedicated mother of three. Welcome to The Art of Entrepreneurship podcast—I’m your host, Jackie Hermes. Listen in as I share all the mistakes I’ve made and, more importantly, what I’ve learned from them, with no fluff, and no rose-colored glasses. The Art of Entrepreneurship is a show where we cut through the BS and dig into what it actually takes to start and grow a business. I’ll be giving unfiltered advice 1 episode per week, up to 20 minute per episode. I want you to walk away from this podcast with the mindset and tools you need to be successful. This podcast is for entrepreneurs, side hustlers, and busy professionals with a short attention span (like me)—you’ll get quick-hitting, actionable information in every single episode. If you give me your time, I promise it won't be wasted. Now let's get to work!

Information

  • Creator
    Jackie Hermes
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    314
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Jackie Hermes
  • Show Website
    The Art Of Entrepreneurship

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