The Entrepreneurial Edge with Dawn Gagye

Dawn Gagye
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Welcome to The Entrepreneurial Edge—where marketing meets meaning and strategy gets personal. Hosted by Dawn Gagye, Founder of Tracer Strategic Marketing and Creator of Blueprint PRO AI, this podcast features raw conversations with founders and leaders building businesses with integrity. Each episode reveals actionable marketing strategies, personal brand stories, and real talk about entrepreneurship. Whether you're launching your first venture or scaling an established brand, you'll gain clarity and practical insights you can use immediately. Subscribe now.

  1. Sep 20

    Hiring a Fractional CMO? Ask This First

    Before you hire a fractional CMO, can you explain the problem you're asking them to solve? In Part 3 of CMO Talk's first conversation on The Entrepreneurial Edge, Dawn Gagye of Tracer Strategic Marketing and Jessica Martin of Velocitor Concepts examine what fractional marketing leadership involves when the business needs growth but the next move is unclear. Dawn shares a client engagement in which hiring and operations needed attention before marketing could move forward. She also describes building the marketing infrastructure at an established financial services firm, work that supported growth and acquisition readiness. Jessica explains how a defined scope of work makes the cost of added responsibilities visible. Together, they discuss choosing useful marketing metrics, holding vendors accountable, and connecting the work across the business. The conversation also turns to storytelling in hiring and leadership. Dawn shares a recruiter's advice for getting beyond rehearsed interview answers, then explains how a story about her dog helped an audience understand responsibility with AI. Jessica closes with a reminder to check the sources behind AI-assisted research. This episode is for founders considering a fractional CMO, business owners trying to understand their agency's reports, and marketers preparing to explain the value of their work. How to distinguish a marketing problem from an operational obstacle. What a connected marketing system needs before demand increases. Why role boundaries and meaningful metrics matter. How specific stories reveal experience in interviews and presentations. Jessica Martin: velocitorconcepts.com Dawn Gagye: Ready to decide where AI belongs in your business? Schedule a complimentary 20-minute AI strategy conversation with Dawn. Connect with Dawn on LinkedIn CMO Talk | Episode 1, Part 3 of 3. Catch up with Part 1, You Hired a Marketer. Who's Teaching Them Strategy?, and Part 2, AI in Marketing: Who's Checking the Work? In the next CMO Talk conversation, Dawn and Jessica hear from a junior marketer about working with leadership and using AI in everyday workflows. Follow The Entrepreneurial Edge for that conversation. EPISODE 1 | PART 3 OF 3 00:00  Welcome and Part 3 introduction 02:10  Which kind of strategy do you need? 04:47  Clarifying the problem and timeline 06:38  When operations comes before marketing 11:24  Why quick fixes can backfire 14:16  Marketing as a connected system 16:05  The BLT marketing analogy 16:43  Building a marketing system for scale 19:35  Marketing systems and acquisition readiness 20:48  Which comes first: sales or marketing? 21:28  Building the foundation before adding AI 22:27  Choosing metrics that answer the question 24:03  Holding marketing vendors accountable 26:19  Behind-the-scenes strategy for agencies 28:27  Fractional CMO scope and hidden costs 31:47  What the job description really means 33:20  Tell a story in your next interview 38:43  Dawn's dog story and the AI lesson 43:56  Making your message memorable 46:10  Connecting marketing with the business 47:35  Checking AI research and sources Sources: ⁠Fractional Jobs — The Fractional Work Report 2026⁠ ⁠Heidrick & Struggles — On-Demand Talent⁠ ⁠MIT NANDA — primary PDF⁠ ⁠PR Newswire — U.S. Marketing Hiring Remains Strong in Q2 2026⁠

    Hiring a Fractional CMO? Ask This First

  2. Sep 20

    AI in Marketing: Who's Checking the Work?

    Your marketing team has access to AI. Who's checking the work before it reaches a client? In Part 2 of CMO Talk's first conversation on The Entrepreneurial Edge, fractional CMOs Dawn Gagye of Tracer Strategic Marketing and Jessica Martin of Velocitor Concepts discuss responsible AI adoption, the judgment behind AI-assisted marketing, and the support junior marketers need to use these tools well. Dawn, a WSI Certified AI Consultant, shares what she's learned from building an AI-enabled strategy tool. She also explains how a carefully planned Thanksgiving dinner went off schedule despite an AI-generated spreadsheet. Someone still needed to catch the mistake. From there, Dawn and Jessica explore what leaders should clarify before asking a team to use AI, including how information is handled and who reviews the results. They bring different perspectives to the experiences of younger marketers, then return to a question Jessica wants leaders to ask: why is this particular person afraid? This conversation keeps empathy alongside accountability. It's for business owners deciding where AI belongs, marketing leaders developing their teams, and anyone expected to use AI while still learning how to judge its output. Where AI-assisted strategy needs human judgment and review. How training and mentorship support responsible use. Why governance and guardrails belong in the adoption conversation. How leaders can ask better questions about hesitation and fear. Jessica Martin: velocitorconcepts.com Dawn Gagye: Ready to decide where AI belongs in your business? Schedule a complimentary 20-minute AI strategy conversation with Dawn. Connect with Dawn on LinkedIn CMO Talk | Episode 1, Part 2 of 3. Begin with You Hired a Marketer. Who's Teaching Them Strategy? Next in this conversation: Hiring a Fractional CMO? Ask This First. EPISODE 1 | PART 2 OF 3 00:00  Welcome and Part 2 introduction 01:37  AI pressure and strategic thinking 03:51  AI mistakes and why the operator matters 08:08  Double-checking AI outputs 10:00  AI guardrails and mentorship 11:26  Understanding younger marketers 13:09  Tactical empathy in leadership 18:14  Asking why someone is afraid 21:03  Leadership and human accountability Sources:⁠Fractional Jobs — The Fractional Work Report 2026⁠⁠Heidrick & Struggles — On-Demand Talent⁠⁠MIT NANDA — primary PDF⁠⁠PR Newswire — U.S. Marketing Hiring Remains Strong in Q2 2026⁠

    AI in Marketing: Who's Checking the Work?

  3. Sep 20

    You Hired a Marketer. Who's Teaching Them Strategy?

    You hired someone to handle the marketing. Who's helping them learn how to make the decisions behind it? In Part 1 of CMO Talk's first conversation on The Entrepreneurial Edge, fractional CMOs Dawn Gagye of Tracer Strategic Marketing and Jessica Martin of Velocitor Concepts examine the gap between completing marketing tasks and learning to think strategically. Jessica shares an experience many managers will recognize: she assumed a new hire already knew how to do the work, while the new hire felt she was being handed tasks without enough guidance. Dawn describes mentoring a company's sole junior marketer through competing priorities and the pressure to do everything at once. The conversation also follows strategy from research to a guiding policy and sequenced actions. Dawn and Jessica compare their paths into marketing leadership, discuss the infrastructure a plan needs to work, and revisit a CMO job listing that seemed to require counterintelligence training. Apparently, leading the marketing department wasn't quite enough. This episode is for business owners hiring marketing talent, leaders responsible for developing a team, and early-career marketers trying to understand the decisions behind the work. The difference between a revenue goal and a marketing strategy. How overloaded job descriptions blur the responsibilities of a CMO. Why missing systems can hold up implementation. What junior marketers need from the people leading them. Jessica Martin: velocitorconcepts.com Dawn Gagye: Ready to decide where AI belongs in your business? Schedule a complimentary 20-minute AI strategy conversation with Dawn. Connect with Dawn on LinkedIn CMO Talk | Episode 1, Part 1 of 3. Next in this conversation: AI in Marketing: Who's Checking the Work? Follow The Entrepreneurial Edge to continue the series. EPISODE 1 | PART 1 OF 3 00:00  Welcome to CMO Talk 01:29  Strategy meets execution 02:32  The junior marketer training gap 04:09  When strategy needs to pivot 06:04  Marketing hiring and role expectations 09:21  What good strategy looks like 10:54  A CMO job listing that raised questions 15:22  How Dawn and Jessica connected 16:12  Dawn's path into marketing leadership 18:33  Jessica's path into fractional leadership 23:52  Leadership lessons beyond marketing 27:18  The marketing leader as a conductor 32:33  The infrastructure your strategy needs 38:49  Mentoring without burning people out 40:53  Closing and Part 2 preview Sources  Fractional Jobs — The Fractional Work Report 2026 Heidrick & Struggles — On-Demand Talent MIT NANDA — primary PDF PR Newswire — U.S. Marketing Hiring Remains Strong in Q2 2026

    You Hired a Marketer. Who's Teaching Them Strategy?

  4. Apr 7

    More Than a Pressure Wash: How Purifico Is Restoring Birmingham One Clean at a Time

    What if your pressure washing company was also a youth development engine? That's exactly what Jason Williams and Will "Willy" Walters built with Purifico Pressure Washing Solutions — and in this episode, they pull back thecurtain on all of it. Dawn Gagye is your host for this episode of The Entrepreneurial Edge Podcast.  Jason spent two decades in nonprofit youth work before realizing he needed revenue that didn't depend on donors. Pressure washing became his platform. Willy —once Jason's mentee, now his Co-CEO — is the proof of concept. Together, they're building a business with three non-negotiables: Speed, Efficiency, and Excellence — values they teach to the young people they bring on every jobsite. They use a soft-washing detergent approach that kills organic material at the source (not just on the surface), delivering results that last 4-6x longer.And through a nonprofit partnership, they're funding pro bono cleanings at schools, rec centers, and community sites — training youth in real skills and paying $20-25/hour. This episode covers: •      Why Jason chose pressure washing as a mission-funding vehicle •      How Willy went from mentee to Co-CEO — and what that partnership actually looks like on a job site •      The difference between power washing, pressure washing, and soft washing (and why it matters for your property) •      Why hidden needs — like roof mold that causes health problems — often go undetected until Purifico shows up •      The pro bono school projects funded through nonprofit grants •      Their vision: a 10-person team, multiple trucks, and a million-dollar company •      Jason's take on entrepreneurial failure: "I invested $400 into my education as the result of a marketing mistake." •      Why Jason built an AI advisory board with Bezos, Buffett, and Jesus at the table  Whether you need your driveway cleaned or your perspective shifted — this one's for you.   Connect with Purifico Website: www.purificoclean.com Instagram: @purificoclean | Facebook: @purificopws | YouTube: @Purifico-q9p YouTube: youtube.com/@Purifico-q9p Email: jw@purificoclean.com | Phone: 205-568-7575 Address: 222 6th Avenue SW,Building One, Suite 100, Birmingham, AL   Connect with Dawn Gagye & The Entrepreneurial Edge   Website: www.tracerstrategicmarketing.com     Podcast: The Entrepreneurial Edge on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music     Learn about The Evergreen Advantage™: www.tracerstrategicmarketing.com/fit-chat Start your AI education here by connecting with Dawn Gagye on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawngagye/

    More Than a Pressure Wash: How Purifico Is Restoring Birmingham One Clean at a Time

  5. Mar 31

    Your Body Is Your Résumé: How Successful Men Stop Drifting & Start Leading | Kyle Brookes of Excalibur

    Your Body Is Your Résumé: How Successful Men Stop Drifting & Start Leading | Kyle Brookes of Excalibur DESCRIPTION Kyle Brookes is the founder of Excalibur — a hybrid body-and-mind performance coaching program for successful men in their 30s to 50s who are drifting: in their bodies, their relationships, and their leadership. Kyle’s belief is direct: your body is your résumé. How you walk into a room speaks before you do.In this episode, Kyle and Dawn Gagye go beyond surface-level fitness talk to unpack why the “I don’t have time” story is almost never true — and what is actually holding high-achieving men back. Kyle shares his 6F Framework (Fitness, Faith, Family, Fellowship, Finance, and Follow/Purpose), the role of NLP and identity-level change in lasting results, and why his goal isn’t transformation — it’s transcendence. IN THIS EPISODE Why ‘no time’ is really about prioritization and identity The 6F Framework: a structured path from drifting to purpose-driven living How NLP reshapes the beliefs and identity beneath the behavior Transformation vs. Transcendence — and why the difference matters The crab bucket: how your fellowship can hold you back or pull you up Why Kyle’s goal is to produce clients who don’t need him anymore “Your body is your résumé” — and what yours might be saying right now The 400 trillion to one odds of being born — and what that means for purpose Host: Dawn Gagye | Tracer Strategic Marketing | Certified AI Strategy Consultant I Marketing Strategist Connect with Dawn Dawn's Email: dawn@tracerstrategicmarketing.com LinkedIn Profile for Dawn Gagye Dawn's Website: www.tracerstrategicmarketing.com CONNECT WITH KYLE Website: www.excaliburr.net  KYLE’S ACTIVE SOCIAL CHANNELS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excaliburrcoaching  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ExcaliburrCoaching/about  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExcaliburrCoaching  Spotify (Kyle’s Podcast): https://open.spotify.com/show/3WKNDN891FkJfNuxJKBgCb  KYLE’S BOOKS (Reference in all content) “The Art of No”: amazon.com — “Reclaim. Protect. Purpose.” https://a.co/d/05Vbpdgz  “Reforging The Modern Man”: amazon.com — “The Standard for the drifting man.” https://a.co/d/07IwgwOS  If this episode spoke to you, please leave a review and share it with a man who is ready to stop drifting. 00:00 Success Burnout Signs01:28 Meet Kyle Brooks02:09 Who He Helps03:07 Client Pain Points04:19 Kyle Origin Story06:49 Mentors And Excalibur08:11 Hero Guide Framework09:51 Why Men Wait11:16 Body As Resume13:22 Six Fs Framework16:21 Habits And Tracking18:12 Autonomy Over Dependence21:37 Grief And Positivity23:25 Tools For Emotional Flow27:43 NLP Rewiring Example33:00 Client Types And Timelines35:52 Gym Intimidation First Steps37:20 Outward Bound Story38:52 Guide and Hero Mindset40:00 Fear Reframes and Client Reach41:21 Luxury Coaching and Custom Plans44:52 Day in the Life of Clients46:18 Frictionless Dopamine and Hard Things50:52 Update Your Operating System56:59 Harmony Over Balance01:02:07 Why a Gym Isnt Enough01:06:56 First Move This Week01:09:24 Books and Final Takeaway

    Your Body Is Your Résumé: How Successful Men Stop Drifting & Start Leading | Kyle Brookes of Excalibur

  6. Feb 16

    Integrative Medicine: A New Approach to Total Health Care

    Filmed at Davis Orthopedics in Birmingham, Alabama. Dawn Gagye - host of The Entrepreneurial Edge - interviews orthopedic surgeon Matt Davis, MD and functional nutritionist/RBTI specialist Mari Handley about their integrated approach to patient care that goes beyond isolated specialty treatment.  Mari explains her path into functional nutrition through caring for four children with PKU and her focus on natural, personalized health plans using RBTI urine/saliva testing and DUTCH hormone testing to assess digestion, detoxification, hydration/minerals, and hormone metabolism.  Dr. Matt Davis describes how modern ultra-specialization can miss root causes, and how he began emphasizing sleep, nutrition, supplements, and other “granola strategies” after observing athletes and younger patients recover more predictably than older patients, often due to better overall health.  Together, they discuss common patient profiles: women in their 40s with fatigue, brain fog, and perimenopause-like symptoms despite “normal” labs, and men in their 40s who were previously fit but hit a wall with stress, low energy, focus issues, or poorly monitored testosterone. Matt also shares how IV infusion therapy is used to prepare surgical patients, reduce anesthesia after-effects, support recovery, and expand into immunity support for non-surgical patients; they also explain DEXA scans for bone density and body composition tracking.  Using a fictional Carrie Bradshaw hip case study, they highlight how congenital or degenerative issues can be treated while optimizing hormones, stress, diet, supplements, and recovery support. The episode emphasizes individualized, relationship-driven care, clear communication, and options to start via consultation, in-office visits, Telehealth, and Mari’s house calls, with referrals and partnerships for services like DEXA scans and external labs. 00:00 Welcome to Davis Orthopedics + Meet Dr. Matt Davis & Functional Nutritionist Mari Handley 01:08 Why This MD + Functional Nutrition Partnership Exists 02:20 The Problem with Ultra-Specialization: Healing, Nutrition, and the “Granola Strategies” 04:34 Who This Integrated Care Is For: ‘My Labs Are Normal, But I Don’t Feel Right’ 05:50 How Patients Get Help: From Injury Visits to Real Implementation (Diet, Exercise, Sleep) 06:55 How Matt & Mari Work Together: Referrals vs Side-by-Side Care Plans 08:57 The Ideal Female Patient ‘Sophia’: Fatigue, Brain Fog, Perimenopause Signals 10:57 Testing Explained: RBTI Urine/Saliva + DUTCH Hormone Metabolism in Plain English 13:27 The Ideal Male Patient ‘Asher’: Energy, Stress, Testosterone, and Goal-Based Plans 15:33 Infusion Therapy for Surgery Prep, Recovery, and Immunity Boosting 17:40 All Under One Roof + DEXA Scans: Bone Density vs Full Body Composition 20:59 DEXA Scans vs Insurance Rules: Getting Real Bone-Health Data 21:42 Why Tracking Numbers Matters (Marketing Analogy to Health Metrics) 22:46 Carrie Bradshaw Case Study: Hip Pain, Heels, and “Am I Just Getting Old?” 24:17 Reframing Aging: Staying Active, Fighting the “Inevitable Decline” Narrative 26:59 Menopause + Surgery Recovery: Where Integrative Support Fits In 29:24 Mari’s Toolkit: DUTCH Testing, Nutrition Plans, Stress Support & IV Therapy 32:13 What Great Care Feels Like: Patient Experience, Communication, and Solo Practice 37:21 How to Work With Them: Consults, House Calls, Telehealth, Labs & Social Links 42:18 Final Takeaway: Don’t Accept “Normal Labs” If You Still Don’t Feel Right Mari Handley Elev8 Your Health Instagram LinkedIn Facebook Website YouTube Dr. Matt Davis - Davis Orthopedics Website IG - @davisorthopedics Facebook Davis Orthopedics 7500 Hugh Daniel Drive Suite 250 Hoover, AL 35242 (205) 533-6644 Dawn Gagye - Marketing Strategist and Podcast Host Founders and Business Owners Apply to be on the Podcast https://tracerstrategicmarketing.com/evergreen Spotify LinkedIn   Facebook TikTok Instagram @tsmbluprintpro YouTube Website

    Integrative Medicine: A New Approach to Total Health Care

  7. 11/27/2025

    Mastering Financial Success: Fiduciary Insights with Jeffrey Florio on The Entrepreneurial Edge Podcast

    In this episode of The Entrepreneurial Edge, host Dawn Gagye interviews Jeffrey Florio, founder of Old Oak Advisors. They discuss the importance of working with a fee-only fiduciary and how it can transform your financial future. Jeffrey explains what sets fiduciaries apart from other financial advisors and highlights crucial factors such as risk tolerance, portfolio management, and the personal touch required in financial planning. They also discuss how technology and AI can aid but never replace the human element in financial advisory. If you're curious about ensuring your financial advisor works in your best interest or if you're a business owner looking to achieve your financial goals, this conversation is a must-listen. 00:00 Introduction to The Entrepreneurial Edge 01:38 Meet Jeffrey Florio: The Fiduciary Advantage 02:45 Understanding the Perfect Client 05:46 The Fiduciary Difference Explained 10:13 The Client Onboarding Process 13:40 Navigating Financial Goals and Risks 23:50 The Entrepreneurial Journey of Old Oak Advisors 25:40 The Human Touch in Technology 26:38 Efficiency and Accuracy in Account Management 27:23 Embracing Technology with Caution 28:06 Leveraging AI for Business Growth 28:59 The Importance of Human Oversight 31:00 Client Education and Personalized Service 33:58 Future Vision for Old Oak Advisors 40:06 Connecting with Old Oak Advisors 43:22 The Entrepreneurial Edge: Final Thoughts Jeffrey Florio Contact: Website: www.oldoakadvisors.com  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreyflorio/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OldOakAdvisors Dawn Gagye Contact: Website www.tracerstrategicmarketing.com Apply to be on the Podcast https://tracerstrategicmarketing.com/evergreen  Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawngagye/  TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@tracerstrategicmarketing  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/tracerstrategicmarketing  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tsmblueprintpro/

    Mastering Financial Success: Fiduciary Insights with Jeffrey Florio on The Entrepreneurial Edge Podcast

  8. Season 2, Episode 3 Trailer

    Highlights from Season 2 Episode 2 with Rashel Post: Peddling Post

    The most incredible sale story you'll ever hear! Estate sale expert Rashel Post shares the jaw-dropping story of selling a 1950s World's Fair train prototype - literally the ONLY one left in existence after 249 others were deliberately sunk in the ocean for a coral reef project. But here's what makes this story even more amazing: this wasn't just luck. It was six months of strategic planning, global marketing, and finding that one collector willing to pay top dollar for a piece of history. In this highlight, you'll discover:• How Rashel identified this wasn't just any old train• The pressure of selling a true one-of-a-kind item• Why some collectibles are literally "needles in haystacks"• The strategy behind finding buyers for ultra-rare items This is why Rashel Post has earned her reputation as Birmingham's estate sale superhero - she doesn't just sell stuff, she uncovers hidden treasures and connects them with the right people. From the full episode: "The Art of Selling Anything: Estate Sale Secrets with Rashel Post" - available now on The Entrepreneurial Edge podcast. Want to hear more incredible stories like this? Follow The Entrepreneurial Edge for weekly episodes featuring Birmingham's most inspiring business owners. #EstateSales #Collectibles #Entrepreneur #Birmingham #Vintage #BusinessStories Full Episode click here

    Highlights from Season 2 Episode 2 with Rashel Post: Peddling Post
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Welcome to The Entrepreneurial Edge—where marketing meets meaning and strategy gets personal. Hosted by Dawn Gagye, Founder of Tracer Strategic Marketing and Creator of Blueprint PRO AI, this podcast features raw conversations with founders and leaders building businesses with integrity. Each episode reveals actionable marketing strategies, personal brand stories, and real talk about entrepreneurship. Whether you're launching your first venture or scaling an established brand, you'll gain clarity and practical insights you can use immediately. Subscribe now.

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