The Online Business Manager Show with Sarah Noked

Sarah Noked
  • 5.0 (11)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Biweekly

Welcome to The OBM Show — the go-to podcast and YouTube channel for Online Business Managers OBMs, ambitious service providers, and entrepreneurs ready to master the backend of online business. Whether you're a seasoned virtual assistant VA, project manager, or freelancer transitioning into the OBM role… a corporate escapee building a flexible, freedom-based career… or a CEO searching for strategic online business support to streamline operations—you’re in the right place. At The OBM Show, we dive deep into what it really takes to thrive behind the scenes of a growing online business. From team leadership and client management to systems, SOPs, tech, and scalable operations—you’ll get the tools, mindset, and strategies to step fully into your OBM expertise or learn how to hire and work with one effectively. Each episode delivers real-talk insights and actionable takeaways to help you: ✔️ Build a sustainable and scalable OBM business ✔️ Elevate your role from “doer” to strategic partner ✔️ Lead remote teams with confidence ✔️ Support high-level clients without burning out ✔️ Create a backend that works—so the business owner doesn’t have to 📚 ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Streamline your services with free trainings and toolkits: https://www.obmschool.com/resources 🎓 BECOME AN ACCREDITED OBM Learn more about our CPD-certified OBM Accreditation program: https://www.obmaccreditation.com

  1. Aug 18

    How AI is Changing the OBM Role (And What to Do About It)

    In this episode of The OBM Show, we're tackling the question almost every Online Business Manager has quietly asked themselves in the last year: "Is AI going to affect my job?" Here's the honest answer: yes, things are changing. But probably not in the way you fear. Because after more than a decade in the Online Business Management industry, here's what I'm seeing. AI is not coming for your OBM career. It's coming for the low-level execution work that was never where your value lived in the first place. The first-draft SOPs. The meeting summaries. The reporting. The project timelines. And the OBMs who learn to use AI as a strategic tool, rather than fear it as a threat, are stepping into an incredibly powerful position. Because the businesses they support need them more than ever. In this episode, we'll talk about: the three biggest ways AI is changing the OBM role right nowhow AI-integrated businesses become more complex, and more in need of an OBMthe categories of AI tools genuinely worth your attention (SOPs, project management, meeting summaries, reporting, and content)where over-relying on AI can actually backfirethe one thing AI will never be able to do, no matter how advanced it getswhat to do right now to position yourself as a strategic OBM in an AI-driven worldIf AI has felt exciting, overwhelming, or somewhere in between, this episode will help you cut through the noise and get clear on where you actually fit in all of it. Because the OBMs who thrive in this environment are the exact same OBMs who have always thrived. The only difference now is that the tools in their toolkit just got dramatically more powerful. Thanks for tuning in to The OBM Show - your go-to podcast for Online Business Managers and entrepreneurs who want to scale strategically and sustainably. If this episode resonated with you, be sure to follow the show and leave a review. It helps more aspiring and established Online Business Managers find this content and grow their businesses with confidence. ✨ Ready to take the next step?  Grab your free OBM Starter Kit → obmschool.com/starter Explore more tools and trainings → obmschool.com/resources Learn about becoming a CPD-certified Accredited Online Business Manager → obmaccreditation.com 🧭 Not sure where to start? Find out your OBM Archetype and get personalized next steps → obmschool.com/quiz 📺 Prefer to watch? Subscribe to our Youtube Channel and hit the bell icon to get notified when we drop a new video → youtube.com/@SarahNokedOBM Until next time, keep building the business behind the business.

  2. Aug 4

    How to be the Best Business Partner (According to a "Big-Wig" CEO)

    One of the most valuable things about having an Online Business Manager isn't just having someone who can keep projects moving or systems running. It's having a trusted partner who helps you become a better leader. In this episode of The OBM Show, I'm joined by Shannon Mattern, founder of Web Designer Academy, for an honest conversation about what changed when she stopped trying to do everything herself and learned to truly partner with her right-hand person. Shannon shares how difficult delegation was in the early days, why she'd often jump back into work she'd already handed off, and how her OBM helped her shift from "fixing" problems to leading her business more intentionally. We'll talk about: • why delegation is often much harder than business owners expect • how great OBMs help CEOs become stronger leaders, not just more organised ones • what operational leadership looks like beyond project management and systems • how trust develops between a CEO and their Online Business Manager • what business owners should look for in a true strategic operational partner Whether you're an Online Business Manager, a Virtual Assistant looking to step into a more strategic role, or a business owner wondering what an exceptional OBM partnership really looks like, this episode offers an honest, behind-the-scenes perspective on the relationship that helps businesses scale sustainably. Connect with Shannon (Web Designer Academy): https://webdesigneracademy.com/ Thanks for tuning in to The OBM Show - your go-to podcast for Online Business Managers and entrepreneurs who want to scale strategically and sustainably. If this episode resonated with you, be sure to follow the show and leave a review. It helps more aspiring and established Online Business Managers find this content and grow their businesses with confidence. ✨ Ready to take the next step?  Grab your free OBM Starter Kit → obmschool.com/starter Explore more tools and trainings → obmschool.com/resources Learn about becoming a CPD-certified Accredited Online Business Manager → obmaccreditation.com 🧭 Not sure where to start? Find out your OBM Archetype and get personalized next steps → obmschool.com/quiz 📺 Prefer to watch? Subscribe to our Youtube Channel and hit the bell icon to get notified when we drop a new video → youtube.com/@SarahNokedOBM Until next time, keep building the business behind the business.

  3. Jul 21

    How Much Do Online Business Managers Actually Make? (Real Numbers)

    In this episode of The OBM Show, we're talking money. More specifically... we're talking about what Online Business Managers are actually earning in 2026. It's one of the questions I get asked most often, yet it's one of the topics our industry rarely discusses openly. So, we’re pulling back the curtain on the real numbers, sharing current hourly rates, monthly retainers, realistic income trajectories, and the biggest factors that influence an OBM's earning potential. We'll talk about: • what Online Business Managers are actually earning in 2026 • the difference between Virtual Assistant rates and OBM rates • why retainers create more sustainable, predictable income • the biggest factors that influence an OBM's earning potential • why positioning yourself as a strategic partner changes everything • realistic income milestones during your first few years as an OBM Whether you're a Virtual Assistant wondering if the OBM path is worth it, someone considering leaving corporate, or you're already working as an OBM and questioning whether your rates reflect your value, this episode will give you a realistic look at what's possible. Thanks for tuning in to The OBM Show - your go-to podcast for Online Business Managers and entrepreneurs who want to scale strategically and sustainably. If this episode resonated with you, be sure to follow the show and leave a review. It helps more aspiring and established Online Business Managers find this content and grow their businesses with confidence. ✨ Ready to take the next step?  Grab your free OBM Starter Kit → obmschool.com/starter Explore more tools and trainings → obmschool.com/resources Learn about becoming a CPD-certified Accredited Online Business Manager → obmaccreditation.com 🧭 Not sure where to start? Find out your OBM Archetype and get personalized next steps → obmschool.com/quiz 📺 Prefer to watch? Subscribe to our Youtube Channel and hit the bell icon to get notified when we drop a new video → youtube.com/@SarahNokedOBM Until next time, keep building the business behind the business.

  4. Jul 14

    A Day in the Life of an OBM with Ayesha Bhimji - July 14

    In this episode of The OBM Show, Sarah Noked sits down with Ayesha Bhimji, a UK-based Accredited OBM, whose journey proves that you don't have to start from scratch to build a business you love. After spending 25 years in corporate across investment banking, fundraising, and sustainability, Ayesha reached a point where she wanted something different. Something with more flexibility, more purpose, and more ownership over her work. What followed wasn't one dramatic leap. It was a series of intentional steps that helped her realize the skills she'd spent decades building were exactly what growing businesses needed. In this conversation, Ayesha shares how she discovered the Online Business Manager role, overcame self-doubt, trusted her transferable skills, and is now evolving her business with a strategic new dashboard offer that helps founders turn data into better decisions. We'll talk about: • why transferable skills are often your greatest career advantage • why confidence comes from taking action, not waiting until you feel ready • what it really looks like to transition from corporate into online business • how to keep growing after becoming an OBM • why purpose, curiosity, and continuous learning matter more than having everything figured out Whether you're a Virtual Assistant, online service provider, project manager, corporate professional, or aspiring Online Business Manager, this episode is a reminder that your next chapter doesn't require starting over. Sometimes, it simply requires seeing your experience in a whole new way. Connect with Ayesha: https://soyoudonthaveto.co.uk/online-business-operations-manager/ Thanks for tuning in to The OBM Show - your go-to podcast for Online Business Managers and entrepreneurs who want to scale strategically and sustainably. If this episode resonated with you, be sure to follow the show and leave a review. It helps more aspiring and established Online Business Managers find this content and grow their businesses with confidence. ✨ Ready to take the next step?  Grab your free OBM Starter Kit → obmschool.com/starter Explore more tools and trainings → obmschool.com/resources Learn about becoming a CPD-certified Accredited Online Business Manager → obmaccreditation.com 🧭 Not sure where to start? Find out your OBM Archetype and get personalized next steps → obmschool.com/quiz 📺 Prefer to watch? Subscribe to our Youtube Channel and hit the bell icon to get notified when we drop a new video → youtube.com/@SarahNokedOBM Until next time, keep building the business behind the business.

  5. Jun 16

    Signs You're Already Operating Like an OBM (And Don't Even Know It)

    In this episode of The OBM Show, we're exploring a question that many Virtual Assistants, online service providers, project managers, and corporate professionals eventually ask themselves: "Wait a minute... am I basically running this business?" You’re not trying to take things over. You’re simply noticing that somewhere along the way, you became the person keeping projects moving, timelines clear, team members aligned, problems solved, and all the loose ends from slipping through the cracks. And after more than a decade in the Online Business Management industry, I've noticed something surprising: Many aspiring OBMs are already doing OBM-level work. They just haven't recognized it yet. Or worse, they're doing it without the title, compensation, authority, or freedom that should come with that level of responsibility. In this episode, I'm breaking down the biggest signs that you're already operating like an Online Business Manager and why the gap between where you are today and where you want to be may have less to do with skills and more to do with positioning. We'll talk about: • why so many aspiring OBMs underestimate their experience • the difference between doing OBM work and being recognized as an OBM • how operational leadership often shows up before the title does • why being the "go-to person" is a stronger indicator of leadership than you realize • how OBMs think differently about systems, processes, and business growth • the signs that your responsibilities may have outgrown your current role • why confidence and positioning are often the missing pieces If you've ever wondered whether you're ready to become an Online Business Manager, this episode may completely change the way you see your experience. Because sometimes the biggest career breakthrough isn't learning a new skill. It's recognizing the value of the skills you've had all along. Thanks for tuning in to The OBM Show - your go-to podcast for Online Business Managers and entrepreneurs who want to scale strategically and sustainably. If this episode resonated with you, be sure to follow the show and leave a review. It helps more aspiring and established Online Business Managers find this content and grow their businesses with confidence. ✨ Ready to take the next step?  Grab your free OBM Starter Kit → obmschool.com/starter Explore more tools and trainings → obmschool.com/resources Learn about becoming a CPD-certified Accredited Online Business Manager → obmaccreditation.com 🧭 Not sure where to start? Find out your OBM Archetype and get personalized next steps → obmschool.com/quiz 📺 Prefer to watch? Subscribe to our Youtube Channel and hit the bell icon to get notified when we drop a new video → youtube.com/@SarahNokedOBM Until next time, keep building the business behind the business.

  6. Jun 2

    The Difference Between Hiring Help and Hiring Leadership (With Gillian Perkins)

    In this episode of The OBM Show, I’m joined by longtime entrepreneur and educator Gillian Perkins for a conversation about what operational leadership actually looks like inside a scaling business. Because at a certain point in growth, business owners stop needing more help… and start needing someone who can help hold the business together operationally. Gillian has worked alongside the same OBM for nearly eight years, and this conversation pulls back the curtain on what that long-term partnership has really looked like behind the scenes. One of my favorite moments in the episode is when Gillian describes her OBM as her “work mom.” The person saying: “No, we’re not switching platforms again.” “Remember the goals you set this quarter.” “You need systems before you need more growth.” And honestly? That description perfectly captures the value a strong OBM brings to a business. Because great OBMs are not simply there to complete tasks. They are there to: • create operational structure • protect priorities • manage moving pieces • make confident recommendations • bring consistency to growth • help visionary CEOs stay focused on the bigger picture If your business is growing but everything still feels heavily dependent on you, this episode will completely shift the way you think about operational leadership and the role a strong OBM can play inside a business. Connect with Gillian: https://startupsociety.com/ Thanks for tuning in to The OBM Show - your go-to podcast for Online Business Managers and entrepreneurs who want to scale strategically and sustainably. If this episode resonated with you, be sure to follow the show and leave a review. It helps more aspiring and established Online Business Managers find this content and grow their businesses with confidence. ✨ Ready to take the next step?  Grab your free OBM Starter Kit → obmschool.com/starter Explore more tools and trainings → obmschool.com/resources Learn about becoming a CPD-certified Accredited Online Business Manager → obmaccreditation.com 🧭 Not sure where to start? Find out your OBM Archetype and get personalized next steps → obmschool.com/quiz 📺 Prefer to watch? Subscribe to our Youtube Channel and hit the bell icon to get notified when we drop a new video → youtube.com/@SarahNokedOBM Until next time, keep building the business behind the business.

  7. May 19

    A Day in the Life of an OBM with Jessica Bonilla (From Homemaker to Accredited Online Business Manager)

    In this episode of The OBM Show, I’m joined by Jessica Bonilla for a conversation that completely challenges what people think qualifies someone to become an Online Business Manager. Before Jessica ever called herself an OBM, she was an executive assistant inside a corporate IT department managing moving parts across teams and executives. At one point, she was the breadwinner in her family. Then life shifted. After losing childcare, she stayed home with her children, eventually homeschooling them while continuing to volunteer, go back to college, support her husband’s construction business, take on different jobs, and constantly learn new systems along the way. And somewhere in that process, she slowly started believing she needed to “start over.” But what became very clear in this conversation is this: Jessica was never starting from zero. She already knew how to think operationally. She already knew how to manage complexity, identify breakdowns, communicate with different personalities, and keep moving parts running behind the scenes. She just had not connected those skills to the OBM role yet. This episode is such an important reminder that many of the skills that make someone an incredible OBM are often built long before they ever enter the online business world. We also dive into the difference between emotional intelligence and operational intelligence, why confidence matters more than knowing every tool, and how consistency and visibility helped Jessica land her first clients. In this episode, we talk about: • The transferable skills people massively underestimate • How executive assistant and homeschooling experience translate into OBM work • Why operational leadership is about more than just systems • The difference between emotional intelligence and operational intelligence • Why confidence matters more than knowing every tool perfectly • How Jessica landed her first clients through consistency and visibility • Why “pivoting does not equal failure” when building a business or career If you’ve ever questioned whether your background or experience is “enough” to become an OBM, this episode will completely shift the way you think about operational leadership and the value of the skills you already have. Connect with Jessica: https://virtuallyjessicabonilla.com/ Thanks for tuning in to The OBM Show - your go-to podcast for Online Business Managers and entrepreneurs who want to scale strategically and sustainably. If this episode resonated with you, be sure to follow the show and leave a review. It helps more aspiring and established Online Business Managers find this content and grow their businesses with confidence. ✨ Ready to take the next step?  Grab your free OBM Starter Kit → obmschool.com/starter Explore more tools and trainings → obmschool.com/resources Learn about becoming a CPD-certified Accredited Online Business Manager → obmaccreditation.com 🧭 Not sure where to start? Find out your OBM Archetype and get personalized next steps → obmschool.com/quiz 📺 Prefer to watch? Subscribe to our Youtube Channel and hit the bell icon to get notified when we drop a new video → youtube.com/@SarahNokedOBM Until next time, keep building the business behind the business.

  8. May 5

    Interview with Emily Reagan (How true operational leadership can help you scale)

    In this episode of The OBM Show, I’m joined by Emily Reagan for a conversation about something more business owners (and OBMs) need to understand as they grow. At a certain point, scaling is no longer about getting more clients or doing more marketing. It becomes about what is happening behind the scenes. So many founders assume that if they just keep pushing, keep hiring, or keep optimizing their marketing… things will feel easier. But often, the real issue is not visibility. It is the lack of operational leadership holding everything together. Emily shares what it looks like to run a growing business without that middle layer of support, and how even with a strong team in place, everything can still flow back to the CEO. We also talk about the difference between marketing and operations, why that line gets blurred so often, and how that confusion can create bottlenecks, missed handoffs, and unnecessary pressure. This episode is a powerful reminder that growth does not just require more effort.  It requires better structure, clearer ownership, and the right level of support inside the business. In this episode, we talk about: What scaling really looks like when the backend of the business starts to feel heavyThe difference between marketing support and true operational leadershipWhy founders often think they need a launch manager when what they actually need is an OBMHow handoff breakdowns, decision fatigue, and team bottlenecks impact growthWhy OBMs are becoming more essential as businesses move toward ongoing sales systems instead of one-time launchesIf you are navigating growth in your business or stepping into the OBM role yourself, this episode will give you a clearer understanding of what is really happening behind the scenes… and where the opportunity lies. Connect with Emily:  https://emilyreaganpr.com/ Thanks for tuning in to The OBM Show - your go-to podcast for Online Business Managers and entrepreneurs who want to scale strategically and sustainably. If this episode resonated with you, be sure to follow the show and leave a review. It helps more aspiring and established Online Business Managers find this content and grow their businesses with confidence. ✨ Ready to take the next step?  Grab your free OBM Starter Kit → obmschool.com/starter Explore more tools and trainings → obmschool.com/resources Learn about becoming a CPD-certified Accredited Online Business Manager → obmaccreditation.com 🧭 Not sure where to start? Find out your OBM Archetype and get personalized next steps → obmschool.com/quiz 📺 Prefer to watch? Subscribe to our Youtube Channel and hit the bell icon to get notified when we drop a new video → youtube.com/@SarahNokedOBM Until next time, keep building the business behind the business.

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About

Welcome to The OBM Show — the go-to podcast and YouTube channel for Online Business Managers OBMs, ambitious service providers, and entrepreneurs ready to master the backend of online business. Whether you're a seasoned virtual assistant VA, project manager, or freelancer transitioning into the OBM role… a corporate escapee building a flexible, freedom-based career… or a CEO searching for strategic online business support to streamline operations—you’re in the right place. At The OBM Show, we dive deep into what it really takes to thrive behind the scenes of a growing online business. From team leadership and client management to systems, SOPs, tech, and scalable operations—you’ll get the tools, mindset, and strategies to step fully into your OBM expertise or learn how to hire and work with one effectively. Each episode delivers real-talk insights and actionable takeaways to help you: ✔️ Build a sustainable and scalable OBM business ✔️ Elevate your role from “doer” to strategic partner ✔️ Lead remote teams with confidence ✔️ Support high-level clients without burning out ✔️ Create a backend that works—so the business owner doesn’t have to 📚 ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Streamline your services with free trainings and toolkits: https://www.obmschool.com/resources 🎓 BECOME AN ACCREDITED OBM Learn more about our CPD-certified OBM Accreditation program: https://www.obmaccreditation.com

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