The Aligned Entrepreneur with Jenni Petersen

Jenni Petersen

The Aligned Entrepreneur is a business podcast for purpose-led leaders who want to build successful businesses without losing their values, their peace, or their sense of purpose. Hosted by Jenni Petersen, founder of Skivvy Virtual Assistants, this podcast explores the real side of entrepreneurship — the leadership lessons, challenges, decisions, and growth that happen behind the scenes of building a business. After more than a decade of growing a virtual assistant agency from a one-woman operation into a global team supporting clients around the world, Jenni shares honest insights about business leadership, delegation, resilience, and building companies that are aligned with your values. Each episode blends practical business wisdom with thoughtful reflection on leadership, service, and purpose. Whether you are scaling a business, leading a team, or simply trying to build something meaningful, this podcast will help you move forward with clarity, wisdom, and alignment.

Episodes

  1. Jul 17

    Ep 04: The Many Faces of a Client (And Why There's Space for Every One)

    In this episode of The Aligned Entrepreneur with Jenni Petersen, after more than a decade of running a virtual assistant business, Jenni has worked with every type of client imaginable. From the last-minute launcher making changes hours before a launch, to the calm planner who always seems one step ahead, every client has taught her something valuable about leadership, support, and the realities of running a business. In this episode, Jenni takes a light-hearted but deeply compassionate look at five common business owner personalities and reminds listeners that there is no "perfect" way to lead a business. Whether you're highly organised, constantly overwhelmed, a visionary who forgets passwords, or someone who simply struggles to ask for help, this conversation is an invitation to embrace who you are and build the support you need around you. Because aligned businesses aren't built by perfect entrepreneurs. They're built by supported ones. What You'll Learn: • The Five Client Personalities Every Service Provider Encounters: Discover the common traits behind the last-minute launcher, the calm operator, the disappearing email responder, the visionary, and the high-powered executive, and what each teaches us about leadership and business. • Why Support Isn't Reserved for People Who Have It All Together: Learn why asking for help isn't a sign of weakness but one of the wisest decisions a business owner can make, regardless of where they are in their journey. • How Partnership Creates Sustainable Growth: Understand why the best client relationships aren't built on perfection but on trust, honesty, communication, and allowing others to operate in their strengths alongside you. Connect with Jenni: LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennipetersen/ Skivvy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/10290303/admin/dashboard/ Instagram: Skivvy Virtual Assistants (@skivvy_va) Facebook: Skivvy Email: jenni@skivvy.co.za Support the show

  2. Jun 30

    Ep 03: From Servant to Partner - The Evolution of Skivvy

    In this episode of The Aligned Entrepreneur with Jenni Petersen, Jenni answers one of the questions she has been asked countless times over the last decade: Why Skivvy? What began as a name inspired by a South African term for someone who quietly takes care of the behind-the-scenes work, has grown into something far more meaningful. In this episode, Jenni shares how Skivvy evolved from offering administrative support, to becoming a trusted strategic partner for business owners around the world. She reflects on the power of humble beginnings, the importance of serving with excellence, and why leadership often starts by faithfully doing the work that nobody else notices. Through personal stories and lessons learned over more than ten years in business, Jenni reminds us that true partnership is built on trust, integrity, and a genuine desire to help others thrive. Whether you're a business owner, a virtual assistant, or someone building a service-based business, this episode will encourage you to see the deeper purpose behind the work you do every day. What You'll Learn: • The Real Story Behind the Name "Skivvy": Discover the South African meaning behind the name and why Jenni chose it to represent the heart of her business from the very beginning. • How Service Becomes Strategic Partnership: Learn how consistently showing up with excellence transforms you from someone who simply completes tasks, into a trusted advisor clients rely on for insight and leadership. • Why No Work Is Ever "Small": Understand how approaching every responsibility with humility, integrity, and purpose creates opportunities for greater influence and long-term business growth. Connect with Jenni: LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennipetersen/Skivvy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/10290303/admin/dashboard/Instagram: Skivvy Virtual Assistants (@skivvy_va)Facebook: SkivvyEmail: jenni@skivvy.co.za Support the show

  3. Jun 11

    Ep 02: The Story Behind Skivvy: Part 2

    In this episode of The Aligned Entrepreneur with Jenni Petersen, Jenni continues the story of Skivvy's growth from a small virtual assistant business in South Africa to a thriving global team serving clients around the world. She shares how the business evolved beyond simply providing administrative support and became a platform for empowering women, creating opportunities, and building a values-driven culture rooted in excellence and integrity.  Jenni also opens up about the challenges that came with growth, including relocating her family to the United States, navigating uncertainty, and facing moments when she questioned whether she should continue. Through each season, she reflects on how faith, perseverance, and surrender have shaped her leadership journey and strengthened her trust in God's provision. This episode is a powerful reminder that true success is not measured by milestones alone, but by remaining aligned with your purpose through every stage of the journey.  What You'll Learn:  • How Purpose Attracts the Right People Discover how building a business around clear values and purpose helped Jenni attract team members who shared her commitment to excellence, integrity, and service.  • Why Growth Often Requires Surrender Learn how international expansion, relocating countries, and navigating uncertainty required faith, trust, and a willingness to let go of control.  • The Transition from Doer to Leader Understand the mindset shift required to move from doing all the work yourself to leading a team, casting vision, and empowering others to step into their gifts.  Connect with Jenni:  LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennipetersen/ Skivvy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/10290303/admin/dashboard/ Instagram: Skivvy Virtual Assistants (@skivvy_va) Facebook: Skivvy Email: jenni@skivvy.co.za Support the show

About

The Aligned Entrepreneur is a business podcast for purpose-led leaders who want to build successful businesses without losing their values, their peace, or their sense of purpose. Hosted by Jenni Petersen, founder of Skivvy Virtual Assistants, this podcast explores the real side of entrepreneurship — the leadership lessons, challenges, decisions, and growth that happen behind the scenes of building a business. After more than a decade of growing a virtual assistant agency from a one-woman operation into a global team supporting clients around the world, Jenni shares honest insights about business leadership, delegation, resilience, and building companies that are aligned with your values. Each episode blends practical business wisdom with thoughtful reflection on leadership, service, and purpose. Whether you are scaling a business, leading a team, or simply trying to build something meaningful, this podcast will help you move forward with clarity, wisdom, and alignment.