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. 3d ago

    Can you actually build a great company by prioritizing people w/ Andy Gallion, Co-founder of InCheck

    This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for founders who want to build great companies without putting people, culture or trust second. My guest is Andy Gallion, Co-founder of InCheck, a background screening company built around service, relationships and a personal approach to client support. Andy and I talk about what it really looks like to build a company around people for the long game. He shares how InCheck started with lifelong friends on a Little League field, why going into business with friends has worked for them and how they’ve stayed committed to service, trust and doing things the right way over 24 years in business. We also get into the leadership lessons Andy has learned through both entrepreneurship and 35 years as a referee. He shares why consistency matters when not everyone agrees with your decisions, how InCheck’s people-first culture impacts the client experience and why honest feedback, servant leadership and reinvention are essential when you’re building something meant to last. One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation: knowing who you are as a company also means knowing who you are not for. Andy talks about why InCheck is clear about being a human-first company, and how that clarity helps them attract clients who value partnership over a transaction. Tune in if you’re building for the long game and want to lead with more trust, consistency and humanity. About Andy GallionAndy Gallion is the co-founder and Chief Development Officer of InCheck, Inc.. He has spent more than two decades building a business rooted in trust and long-term relationships. A former athlete, coach, and longtime high school basketball referee, he brings a team-first mindset and a strong sense of accountability to his leadership. He is passionate about building great people and culture, helping InCheck earn recognition as one of the industry’s top providers and best places to work. Website: https://www.inchecksolutions.com/ LinkedIn – InCheck: https://www.linkedin.com/company/incheck-inc-/ LinkedIn – Andy Gallion:https://www.linkedin.com/in/andygallion/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@incheckinc.1627 If you like this episode, here are some others you'll enjoy.Episode 312. Building trust instead of chasing attention — Trust as a long-term strategy: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/build-trust-not-attentionEpisode 267. Driven or drained? Scaling a company without burnout — Growth without burning people out: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/driven-or-drainedEpisode 308. Who you need to be at each stage of building a business — Leadership changes as you grow: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/who-you-need-to-be-at-each-stage-of-building-a-business ✨ 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

    26 min

  2. May 12

    How to scale without losing yourself w/ Stephen Scoggins, Founder of Unstoppable Solutions

    This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for founders who are realizing hustle can build success, but it can’t create alignment, fulfillment or peace. My guest is Stephen Scoggins, entrepreneur, speaker and coach who helps leaders move from performance-driven success to alignment, authenticity and purpose. Stephen and I talk about what happens when you achieve the things you thought would make you happy and realize you still feel disconnected from yourself. He shares how hustle helped him overcome difficult circumstances, but eventually became a form of performance rooted in validation and self-worth. We get into the difference between being needed and actually feeling worthy, and why so many founders unknowingly build businesses around proving themselves. Stephen also explains his “one part lion, one part lamb” framework and why real leadership requires both strength and surrender. One of the most impactful parts of the conversation is Stephen’s perspective on ego—not as something evil, but as something trying to protect you. He explains how awareness, presence and emotional regulation help leaders move from reaction into alignment, integration and ultimately expansion. Tune in if you’re ready to stop scaling dysfunction and start building from a place of alignment and authenticity. About Stephen ScogginsStephen Scoggins is a life and business strategist, bestselling author and founder of Unstoppable Solutions by Scoggins International Inc. After going from homelessness to building and exiting multiple nine-figure companies, Stephen now helps entrepreneurs create success rooted in alignment, purpose and authenticity. Named by USA Today and The Wall Street Times as one of the fastest-growing entrepreneurs in 2023, he has mentored thousands of leaders through his I.A.M. Integrated Method focused on sustainable success. Stephen is also the host of Build, a podcast with more than 48 million views focused on helping purpose-driven leaders scale without losing themselves in the process. Website: https://stephenscoggins.com/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenscoggins/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@stephen_scoggins Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephenscoggins/ If you like this episode, here are some others you'll enjoy.Episode 300. 300 episodes: What I’ve learned about building, growing and showing up — Success without constant validation: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/300-episodesEpisode 298. Credibility isn’t about age, it’s about how you show up — Authenticity creates trust and confidence: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/credibility-isnt-about-ageEpisode 32. How to be a better leader — Internal growth shapes leadership: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/episode-32-how-to-be-a-better-leader ✨ 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

    32 min

  3. May 5

    Why feeling behind usually means you're about to level up

    This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for founders and leaders who feel behind, stretched and deep in the middle of a storm, but aren't panicking (or trying not to!). Most people talk about lessons after things settle down. I'm recording this from inside a time where everything feels heavy—client work is intense, life is moving fast and things are slipping in places they normally wouldn't. After 13 years of building, I've learned something important: it almost always feels like this right before you level up. That pressure, that chaos, that feeling of being stretched too thin isn't a coincidence. It's the price of admission for growth. If everything feels easy and predictable, you're probably not growing. I also talk about the myth of the founder who has it all together and why performing calm instead of actually leading through the mess costs you more than you think. Honesty, not perfection, is what builds trust with your team and within yourself. This episode is also a reflection on leadership in real time. I share why I'm so proud of my team right now—not because things are easy, but because they're showing up when they're not. They're communicating, supporting each other and staying grounded. That's culture. And culture only works when leaders live inside the same expectations they set. Finally, I walk through the reframes that are keeping me steady: behind isn't failing, stretched isn't broken and stormy doesn't mean you're off course. The hardest part is that the feeling right before things fall apart looks almost identical to the feeling right before things expand. The difference is direction, and you often can't see that in the moment. Tune in if you're in your own version of a heavy time and need a reminder that you're probably not falling behind—you're probably on the edge of something bigger. If you like this episode, here are some others you'll enjoy.Episode 170. Breaking through your upper limits—the discomfort of growth — Why the squeeze usually comes right before the breakthrough: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/breaking-through-your-upper-limitsEpisode 279. On being a straightforward and kind leader — Why honesty beats performing calm when things get hard: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/on-being-a-straightforward-and-kind-leaderEpisode 155. Turning your worst moments into opportunities — How heavy seasons can become the thing that moves you forward: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/turning-your-worst-moments-into-opportunities ✨ 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

  4. Apr 28

    Building with instinct while scaling with best practices w/ Yoni Tserruya, Co-founder and CEO of Lusha

    This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for founders who feel caught between following best practices and trusting their instincts as they scale. My guest is Yoni Tserruya, co-founder and CEO of Lusha, an AI-powered sales intelligence platform used by millions of sales and RevOps professionals worldwide. Yoni built Lusha over more than a decade—from a simple Chrome extension to a global platform—and in that time, his role as a founder has had to evolve constantly. In this conversation, we get into what that actually looks like in practice. When instinct is an advantage, when it becomes a liability, and why many founders overcorrect by relying too heavily on playbooks that strip away what made them successful in the first place. We also talk about the challenge of scaling yourself as a leader. The shift from doing and deciding everything to creating clarity that other people can execute against. Yoni shares why a clear north star matters more than rigid systems, and how teams perform better when they understand the direction, not just the rules. We also dig into AI—how Lusha has embraced it across the organization, what that looks like in reality, and why keeping a human in the loop is still critical for creativity and judgment. One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation: if you only follow best practices, you’ll build an average company. The best founders learn when to use them—and when to trust themselves instead. Tune in if you’re ready to stop defaulting to playbooks and start building a company that actually reflects how you think and operate. About Yoni TserruyaYoni Tserruya is the co-founder and CEO of Lusha, an AI-powered sales intelligence platform used by millions of sales and RevOps professionals worldwide. A builder at heart, Yoni started Lusha with a simple belief: salespeople should spend their time talking to customers and building trust—not buried in research, admin work or bad data. That belief shaped Lusha into a product-led company focused on accuracy, simplicity and helping teams reach the right buyer at the right time. Outside of work, Yoni is a husband and a father of four. Website: https://www.lusha.com/ LinkedIn – Lusha: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lushadata/ LinkedIn – Yoni: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yonitserruya/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LushaData/ If you like this episode, here are some others you'll enjoy.Episode 301. Selling your product from day one w/ Safeer Qureshi, angel investor and CEO at SPG Media — Scaling leadership through company growth: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/safeer-qureshiEpisode 251. Embracing intellectual humility w/ Dave Hersh, Founder & CEO of In Tandem — Lead without needing every answer: ​​https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/dave-hersh-ceo-of-in-tandemEpisode 292. Building a portfolio career w/ Ilana Golan, Founder & CEO of Leap Academy — Leadership growth starts with self-awareness: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/ilana-golan ✨ 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

  5. Apr 21

    The long middle of entrepreneurship

    This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for founders past the beginning but not at the finish line, learning how to grow in the long middle. There’s a phase of entrepreneurship that doesn’t get much attention. It’s not the early scrappy days or the big exit moments. It’s the long stretch in between where the business is real, people rely on it and the work becomes about consistency, responsibility and endurance. I talk about how progress looks different in this stage and why the adrenaline that fuels the beginning eventually fades. The work starts to change, from reacting to everything to choosing what actually deserves your attention, from proving yourself to building something that lasts. Over time, opportunities increase but focus becomes harder, which makes committing to a clear direction even more important. I also share why systems start to matter more than motivation and how the founders who last are the ones who learn how to operate without relying on constant energy. Ultimately, this phase isn’t about pushing through, it’s about evolving inside the business you’ve already built. Tune in if you’re ready to keep growing inside the company you’ve already created. If you like this episode, here are some others you'll enjoy.Episode 9. Why you must know how to sell — Selling is the job, not optional: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/why-you-must-know-how-to-sellEpisode 246. Why you should learn to love selling with Mark Cox — Selling gets easier when you enjoy it: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/why-you-should-learn-to-love-selling-with-mark-coxEpisode 248. It's not time to slow down: generating business at the end of the year — Momentum doesn’t pause 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

    15 min

  6. Apr 14

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

    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 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

    25 min

  7. Apr 7

    The difference between persuasion and pressure

    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-attentionEpisode 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-youEpisode 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

    12 min

  8. Mar 31

    Marketing has always been the strategy, it just looks different now w/ Rob Botts, Director of Sales at Dubb

    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/dubbapp About 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 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
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4.9
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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
    323
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Jackie Hermes
  • Show Website
    The Art Of Entrepreneurship

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