CEOs Off The Record Podcast

Jessica Marie Davis
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

Every founder has a version of herself before the business, the one nobody interviews. CEOs Off The Record is a weekly audio conversation with small and medium business owners about who they were before the title, and how the relationships around them are still doing work today. Put away the pitch decks and turn off the highlight reels. We're getting to the real story and the real network behind it. thequietentrepreneur.substack.com

  1. May 13

    Running a U.S. Business from France Without Burning Out

    Jess welcomes back Krista Anderson, CEO of Healthy on the Go, to talk about building a business for the long haul without burning out. Krista and Jess discuss filtering advice, trusting intuition, asking for help, and how failures can reroute strategy into something stronger and more profitable. Krista also explains how moving to France reshaped her approach to work, balance, and hustle culture, and how she runs a U.S.-based business abroad by relying on her team, LinkedIn, and periodic travel back for key accounts. 01:47 Origin Story Trade Show 04:27 Ignoring Naysayers 08:03 Early Decisions and Help 10:44 Burnout and Balance 15:32 Quiet Entrepreneurship 17:10 Work Culture in France 21:27 Mistakes and Letting Go 24:48 Building Abroad and Community 30:00 Running a U.S. Business Remotely 32:07 Longevity and Storytelling This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thequietentrepreneur.substack.com

    Running a U.S. Business from France Without Burning Out

  2. Apr 27

    Intentional Living, Strengths, and Leading Without Burnout with Dr. Raquel Dailey

    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/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thequietentrepreneur.substack.com

    Intentional Living, Strengths, and Leading Without Burnout with Dr. Raquel Dailey

  3. Apr 22

    Empathy Isn’t Soft: Building People-First Operations with Nora Schlesinger

    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/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thequietentrepreneur.substack.com

    Empathy Isn’t Soft: Building People-First Operations with Nora Schlesinger

  4. Feb 4

    The Shiny Object Trap Most Leaders Fall Into (And How to Escape It) with Ema Roloff

    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 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thequietentrepreneur.substack.com

    The Shiny Object Trap Most Leaders Fall Into (And How to Escape It) with Ema Roloff

  5. Jan 28

    Master Selling on Amazon with Expert Vicki Weinberg

    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 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thequietentrepreneur.substack.com

    Master Selling on Amazon with Expert Vicki Weinberg

  6. Jan 21

    Visibility vs. Conversions: Why What You Sell Changes Everything

    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 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thequietentrepreneur.substack.com

    Visibility vs. Conversions: Why What You Sell Changes Everything

  7. Jan 14

    Monetize Your Mind: Building a Fractional Business with Aly Sanders

    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 worthPractical tips for overcoming imposter syndromeBuilding 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/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thequietentrepreneur.substack.com

    Monetize Your Mind: Building a Fractional Business with Aly Sanders

  8. Jan 7

    New Year Reset

    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! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thequietentrepreneur.substack.com

    New Year Reset
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Every founder has a version of herself before the business, the one nobody interviews. CEOs Off The Record is a weekly audio conversation with small and medium business owners about who they were before the title, and how the relationships around them are still doing work today. Put away the pitch decks and turn off the highlight reels. We're getting to the real story and the real network behind it. thequietentrepreneur.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Jessica Marie Davis
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    36
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jessica Marie Davis
  • Show Website
    CEOs Off The Record Podcast