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. 3d ago

    Is Your Solopreneur Era Holding Your Business Back? (With Abbey Ashley)

    Abbey Ashley hired her first contractor the same month she got her first client. She was six months pregnant and brand new in business. No case study told her it would work. She just refused to build something that only ran when she was in it. Abbey is the founder of The Virtual Savvy, and she joins Sarah on this episode to talk about the moment every business owner eventually hits: the point where doing it all yourself stops being resourceful and starts being the thing that's holding you back. We'll talk about: why Abbey started hiring from day one instead of waiting to "earn" the right tothe simple math she uses to decide what to pay someone else for client workwhy she pays for a test project before every single hire, no exceptionsthe real reason most working relationships fall apart, and it isn't the personhow to figure out your own "swim lane," the handful of things only you should be doing as CEOConnect with Abbey (The Virtual Savvy): https://thevirtualsavvy.com/ Virtual Assistant Hiring form: https://thevirtualsavvy.com/hire 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. Sep 1

    Day in the Life with Emma Johnson (From Front-Facing Coach to Behind the Scenes OBM)

    Emma Johnson used to be a business strategist and coach, front and center on stages and inside her own launches. Today she's an Accredited OBM who built a fully booked practice for coaches and course creators, and she built it entirely around her two boys. At the end of 2025, life circumstances shifted, and Emma made an intentional decision to be less visible. Instead of stepping away from her business, she pivoted into the work she'd always loved: systems, structure, and behind the scenes implementation, on a schedule that puts her kids first. In this episode, we'll talk about: why Emma pivoted from a visible, launch based coaching business into OBM workhow she built her whole business around school hours, and what that actually looks like day to dayhow she went from finishing OBM Accreditation to a fully booked roster in two monthswhat she means when she calls herself her clients' “second brain”how she works asynchronously with clients across the US, UK and Australia without being online after school pickupthe self-trust and boundaries that decide who she takes on as a clientConnect with Emma (Emma Johnson & Co): https://www.emmajohnsonandco.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. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

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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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