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. 6d ago

    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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. Apr 21

    A Day in the Life of an OBM with Beth Johnson (Repositioning Corporate Experience to Online Business Management)

    In this episode of The OBM Show, I’m joined by Beth Johnson for a conversation about something I think more aspiring Online Business Managers need to hear.  You do not have to start from scratch to build a successful OBM business. So many individuals assume that stepping into the OBM role means reinventing everything. A new niche, a new business model, a new version of themselves. But often, the strongest path forward is not starting over. It is building from what you already know. Beth shares how she drew from her background in construction project management to build a business supporting trades-based companies with strategic mapping, project management, and hiring systems. We also talk about what it looks like to create a business that is not just strategic, but sustainable, with clear boundaries, intentional structure, and a deliberate three-and-a-half-day workweek. This episode is a powerful reminder that growth does not have to come from doing more or becoming someone else. Sometimes it comes from trusting your experience, choosing alignment over perfection, and building a business that actually fits your life. In this episode, we talk about: Why becoming an OBM does not mean you need to start overHow Beth returned to a familiar industry and used past experience to shape her nicheThe value of transferable skills when growing into the OBM roleWhat it looks like to build a business around boundaries and sustainabilityHow Beth makes a three-and-a-half-day workweek work in practiceIf you are exploring the OBM role and refining what you want your business, and your life, to look like, this episode will remind you that your next step may be less about reinvention and more about building on what is already there. Connect with Beth: https://fireflyconsultinggroup.com/ Sign up for our upcoming OBM Week Event (for free!) : https://www.obmschool.com/info/ 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. Apr 14

    The Real Reason Clients Get Confused About Your OBM Services

    In this episode of The OBM Show, I’m talking about one of the most common reasons discovery calls start to feel messy for OBMs and why it usually has far less to do with confidence than people think. It often starts with a simple question: “What does working with you actually look like?” And for a lot of Online Business Managers, that is the exact moment the call starts to unravel. Not because they are not skilled. Not because they do not know how to support a client. And not because they are not good at what they do. It is because knowing how to do the work and knowing how to clearly communicate the shape of the work are not the same thing. In this episode, I’m unpacking why so many OBMs freeze when trying to explain what they do, how vague packages create confusing sales conversations, and why unclear offers often lead to scope creep, over-explaining, and drained capacity. We’re also talking about what a stronger OBM package actually needs in order to position you as a leader instead of a catch-all support person. In this episode, we talk about: Why so many OBMs struggle to clearly explain what they do on discovery callsThe difference between a confidence problem and an offer design problemHow vague packages lead to messy sales calls and confusing pricing conversationsWhat a strong OBM package needs in order to create clarity for clientsWhy better boundaries will not fix an offer that lacks structureHow to position your work around leadership, not just supportIf you have ever walked away from a sales call feeling like you talked a lot without actually saying what mattered, this episode will help you understand why and what to shift next. 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. Mar 17

    A Day in the Life of an OBM with Rae Raczka (60 hour work weeks to balanced operations manager)

    In this episode of The OBM Show, I’m sitting down with Rae Raczka, founder of The Ops Collective and Accredited Online Business Manager, to talk about the moment she realized the way she was working simply wasn’t sustainable. At 25, Rae was running operations, payroll, bookkeeping, and accounting across five entities in three countries. She was working 60–65 hour weeks, carrying enormous responsibility, and the stress had reached the point where she was experiencing chest pains almost daily. On top of that, her husband worked the opposite shift, which meant they barely saw each other except in passing. Eventually, something had to give. Rae shares the breaking point that led her to walk away from her corporate role and the surprising twist that followed when her former employer became her very first OBM client. This conversation is a candid look at what it actually means to move from overwhelmed operator to Online Business Manager. We talk about the transferable skills many corporate professionals overlook, the confidence that comes from stepping into the OBM role, and why pricing based on hours can penalize you for becoming really good at your job. In this episode, we talk about: The moment Rae realized her corporate role was no longer sustainable How she turned her former job into her first OBM client The operational skills that transfer seamlessly from corporate into online business Why hourly pricing can punish efficiency for experienced operators How confidence grows as you step into the OBM leadership role If you’ve ever felt like you’re the person holding everything together behind the scenes, or you know you’re capable of more than task work, this episode will show you what’s possible when you step into true operational leadership. 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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