Earn Your Seat

CJ Williams

Your seat at the table is not given to you. You have to earn your seat. These are high-level conversations with Charlotte's top performers across various industries.

Episodes

  1. Jul 30

    The Future of Small Business: AI, Operations & the New Workforce

    WATCH A SEGMENT Takeaways: Dameon Proctors and his esteemed guests explore the profound impact of artificial intelligence on small and medium-sized businesses during this insightful podcast episode.The discussion emphasizes the necessity of establishing operational efficiencies through AI to facilitate growth and streamline business processes.Taja Graham elucidates her experience in creating OPS IQ, which aims to enhance the operational capabilities of small businesses by leveraging automation and AI technologies.Marcela Shine introduces the concept of combining marketing and operational efficiencies, asserting that they are inextricably linked for the success of small businesses.The conversation highlights the importance of utilizing AI not only to reduce costs but also to empower human capital by allowing employees to focus on higher-value activities.Listeners are urged to recognize that AI is a tool to augment human capabilities rather than replace them, promoting a collaborative approach to innovation and efficiency. WATCH A SEGMENT Taja M. Graham is an executive strategist, founder, and trusted advisor with more than two decades of leadership experience spanning executive sales, operations, and organizational leadership. Throughout her corporate career, she led high-performing teams, managed multimillion-dollar business units, and helped organizations navigate growth, transformation, and operational excellence. Taja founded TMG Solutions Advisors to bring that executive experience directly to founders and leadership teams seeking strategic and operational guidance without the commitment of a full-time executive. She later launched OpsIQ, a digital operations platform designed to give growing businesses access to proven frameworks, executive-level insights, and practical tools that help them scale with greater clarity, consistency, and confidence. Today, Taja is recognized for helping organizations build stronger operational foundations, reduce founder dependency, and create businesses that are positioned for sustainable, long-term growth. https://opsiq.biz/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/opsiq-coo-in-a-box https://www.linkedin.com/in/tajagraham/

    The Future of Small Business: AI, Operations & the New Workforce
  2. May 25

    The Rise of the 50+ Female Entrepreneur: Purpose, Power & Reinvention

    Watch more and/or request a seat In this powerful first installment of Earn Your Seat, moderator Amy Watts sits down with Tamika Porter, fractional CFO and founder of Porter Financial Services, and Jennifer Ramirez, real estate entrepreneur and relocation specialist, for a raw, insightful conversation on the explosive rise of women over 50 entering entrepreneurship. Together, they unpack the fears, the freedom, the identity shifts, and the purpose-driven clarity that define this new era of female leadership. From corporate ceilings to personal reinvention, this episode reveals why women in their 50s are uniquely positioned to build thriving businesses — and why this season of life is becoming a superpower. Key ThemesThe 50+ entrepreneurship boom — and why nearly half of new businesses are now started by womenFreedom vs. fear — navigating layoffs, life transitions, and the loss of corporate identityPurpose as a catalyst — how aligning with passion creates confidence and momentumBreaking generational scripts — moving beyond “perfect attendance” conditioning and corporate obedienceThe power of lived experience — why decades of life, leadership, and resilience become business assetsImposter syndrome at 50+ — why it still shows up and how these women move through itLegacy, control, and financial independence — redefining what success looks like in midlife Featured GuestsTamika Porter — Fractional CFO, financial strategist, and founder of Porter Financial Services. After decades in corporate finance, Tamika stepped into entrepreneurship to claim freedom, purpose, and generational wealth. Jennifer Ramirez — Founder of Pro Homes and Lake Wylie relocation specialist. After a 25-year corporate career and a sudden layoff, Jennifer rebuilt her identity and launched a thriving real estate business rooted in service and leadership. About the ModeratorAmy Watts — Founder of Amy Watts Coaching & Consulting and The Reinvention Collective. Amy helps women over 40 redesign their lives, careers, and identities with clarity, purpose, and confidence. Why This Episode MattersWomen over 50 are not slowing down — they’re accelerating. They’re rewriting the rules, reclaiming their time, and building businesses that align with their values, purpose, and lived experience. This episode is a testament to resilience, reinvention, and the power of stepping into your next chapter with courage. Watch more and/or request a seat Listen & SubscribeWatch the full roundtable on YouTube and subscribe to the QC Amplified network for more curated conversations with credible voices. Companies mentioned in this episode: Amy Watts Coaching and ConsultingReinvention CollectivePorter Financial ServicesRelo Pro Homes

    The Rise of the 50+ Female Entrepreneur: Purpose, Power & Reinvention

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Your seat at the table is not given to you. You have to earn your seat. These are high-level conversations with Charlotte's top performers across various industries.