Lead with Excellence with Melissa K. Jones

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What do excellence and leadership look like in a small business? You’re invited to join me, Melissa, as I sit down with friends and entrepreneurs to discuss the different facets of running a business. I ask guests the questions you want to ask or don’t know to ask. The goal is to empower and encourage you to better serve your team and clients. Guests include a diverse group of leaders from different industries and backgrounds. Each is at a different stage of leading themselves, clients, or teams. Join me on the Lead with Excellence podcast! For more resources, visit https://theceoffice.co

Episodes

  1. Positioning Your Business for the Future with IP and AI ft. Paige Hulse

    04/24/2024

    Positioning Your Business for the Future with IP and AI ft. Paige Hulse

    I sat down with Paige Hulse of Paige Hulse Law, PLLC, to discuss intellectual property as it relates to AI and business succession planning. If you are a leader, who wants to better position your business for the future, this episode is for you. Paige Hulse is an intellectual property attorney, business strategist, and serial entrepreneur. Since forming her own law firm in 2017, Paige has built 5 additional companies. As an entrepreneur herself, she finds the deepest fulfillment in practicing law as an advocate for fellow entrepreneurs. In addition to assisting clients with the creation and protection of their intellectual property, she focuses a majority of her work as an outside general counsel. In this role, she assists businesses in implementing intellectual property strategies for legacy-building succession plans. KEY MOMENTS 00:00 Introduction and Background 01:28 The Role of Intellectual Property in Business Succession Planning 05:38 Identifying IP Assets 08:55 Importance of Securing IP 12:54 Positioning Your Business for Future Opportunities 17:41 The Dangers of 50/50 Partnerships 25:47 Processes and Methodologies in Succession Planning 31:11 Social Media and Proprietary Information 36:42 Artificial Intelligence meets Copyright Laws and Trademark Laws 39:01 The Wild West of AI and Creator Responsibility 45:38 Transparency and Value Preservation through AI Disclaimers 53:50 Barriers to Switching Between AI Tools 55:30 Maintain Leverage in Your Business 01:01:16 Small Business and AI Responsibility Outside Intellectual Property Counsel Securing registration is the first step in your business’ ongoing intellectual property plan, but it’s just that- the first step in an ongoing plan. Maintaining those rights are as critical as obtaining those rights in the first place. Our OIPC option protects your time and peace of mind, along with your legacy and intellectual property. This has been a glaring need in the online business world. In the past 24 months, we’ve seen 60% drop in successful due diligence searches, a 40% rise in likelihood of confusion office actions, and at least 3x the amount of infringement disputes within our firm. In other words, the USPTO is quite literally running out of available trademarks, and businesses are collecting trademarks. We currently have three OIPC spots available for Q2. [learn more] --- Thank you for listening to this episode of Lead with Excellence! For additional resources, visit ⁠theceoffice.co⁠ Enjoy the podcast? Share it with a friend and/or leave a review sharing what you enjoyed most and why someone else should listen to it. Let’s go lead with excellence!

    1h 7m
  2. Reducing Risk in Employer Relationships ft Karly Wannos

    04/17/2024

    Reducing Risk in Employer Relationships ft Karly Wannos

    I sat down with Karly Wannos of The Wannos Law Firm, to discuss behavior in small businesses that creates risk. If you are a leader, who cares about creating a positive work environment, this episode is for you. Karly Wannos is a Florida employment attorney and the owner/founder of The Wannos Law Firm. She represents businesses with employees and helps make sure they are following the employment laws in order to maintain a legally protected and compliant workplace. Karly is also a Florida Supreme Court Certified employment mediator, and workplace investigator. She provides on-demand trainings and courses on HR issues and employment laws. KEY MOMENTS 00:00 Introduction of Karly Wannos, Employment Lawyer 01:00 Employees More Educated on Employment Laws with Social Media 04:01 Behavior that Creates Risk in Small Business 06:43 Unintentional Risks During Hiring + Interviews 09:55 Understanding Harassment Definitions 12:04 Importance of Documentation and CYA 14:10 Use of Company & Personal Devices 16:15 Harassment in Female-Dominated Work Cultures 18:49 What's Retaliation? 21:33 Managing Dynamics of Remote Teams 23:47 Employee vs Independent Contractor 26:23 Exempt vs Non-Exempt; Salary vs Hourly 27:38 Reasonable Accommodations + Mental Health 31:37 Non-Compete Agreements 34:56 Critical Soft Skills to Reduce Risk Thank you for listening to this episode of Lead with Excellence! For additional resources, visit theceoffice.co Enjoy the podcast? Share it with a friend and/or leave a review sharing what you enjoyed most and why someone else should listen to it. Let’s go lead with excellence!

    39 min
  3. Soft Skills & Assistants ft. Chaniece Davis

    03/20/2024

    Soft Skills & Assistants ft. Chaniece Davis

    I sat down with Chaniece Davis, to discuss what practices she has put in place to serve executives and founders well as an executive assistant. If you're a leader struggling to create a successful partnership with your assistant, this episode is for you. Chaniece is a Sr. Administrative Assistant at Boston Consulting Group with over 10 years of combined experience working with small businesses, non-profits, and Fortune 200 companies. She specializes in business operations and administrative technology. In her free time, Chaniece enjoys reading, hot yoga, and spending time with her daughter. KEY MOMENTS 00:50 Chaniece’s Journey 03:49 Work Ethic 06:44 Standards for Excellence 09:20 Tips for Partnership with Assistant 17:53 Examples of Positive Leadership 20:18 Building Trust 29:45 Reasons why Support Fails 36:20 3 Tips for Working with an Assistant For additional episode resources [view] Thank you for listening to this episode of Lead with Excellence! Enjoy the podcast? Share it with a friend and/or leave a review sharing what you enjoyed most and why someone else should listen to it. Let’s go lead with excellence! — 📲 Join the conversation on social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theceoffice/

    47 min
  4. Designing with Authenticity ft. Angela Mondloch

    03/20/2024

    Designing with Authenticity ft. Angela Mondloch

    I sat down with Angela Mondloch, Saffron Avenue, to discuss her journey to elevate her craft and deliver exceptional service while remaining true to yourself. If you are a leader, who values authenticity in your work and industry, this episode is for you. Angela is the founder and creative heart behind Saffron Avenue, a graphic design studio for ambitious brands and a template shop for entrepreneurs and artists. With a love for designing with intention and connection, she focuses on infusing strategy, sophistication, and hand-crafted details into each brand, website, and product. Her mission, since 2011, has been to help creative business owners gain clarity and confidence with their brand and website, allowing them to effortlessly evolve with growth. KEY MOMENTS 00:49 How does excellence show up in your day-to-day work? 04:13 Using design to make the world more inspiring 05:48 Practices to recharge and fill up creative vessel 07:52 Protect heart to deliver unique design 10:10 Pushing the limits of design 14:50 Evolving with technology, AI 20:54 Tips for Business Websites 30:27 Building trust with potential clients 37:44 Determining client fit 43:35 Managing client expectations 46:41 How to get the most from your brand design service? 52:25 Business boundaries as a new mom --- Thank you for listening to this episode of Lead with Excellence! For additional resources, visit theceoffice.co Enjoy the podcast? Share it with a friend and/or leave a review sharing what you enjoyed most and why someone else should listen to it.

    57 min
  5. Luxury Can't Afford to Lie ft. Evelin Stepien

    02/15/2024

    Luxury Can't Afford to Lie ft. Evelin Stepien

    In this episode with Evelin M. Stepien, we discuss brand positioning, why testimonials are irrelevant, the loss of personal taste in pursuit of social aesthetics, emotional luxury, and more. As an introvert herself, Evelin is passionate about supporting quiet, introverted entrepreneurs in navigating the noisy online space with her softer, quieter approach to marketing and branding. The School of Luxury is a boutique consultancy and educational platform for luxury brands. Evelin’s methodology enhances luxury brands to reflect the founder’s character, high personal standards, and values. If you want to lead with confidence in your business instead of spending time trying to convince people, this episode is for you. "We believe that bespoke is best, so we highly welcome clients to work with us 1:1. For those who are interested in learning more about the luxury approach to business, we are soon opening our doors to students for our self-paced experiences." https://theschoolofluxury.com/education KEY MOMENTS 00:49 Why did you decide to pursue the luxury industry with your business? 02:19 Luxury marketing: show don’t tell 09:07 Opportunity for small business owners with new luxury 12:10 How taste plays a role in luxury 17:51 Emotional luxury 21:00 How to implement emotional luxury with clients 25:58 Excellence in luxury goods & services 40:25 Emphasis on productivity and speed comes at the cost of connection 43:21 The trait that sets you apart as a leader Thank you for listening to this episode of Lead with Excellence! For additional resources, visit theceoffice.co Enjoy the podcast? Share it with a friend and/or leave a review sharing what you enjoyed most and why someone else should listen to it. Let’s go lead with excellence!

    49 min
  6. Breaking the Cycle ft. Natasha Joy Gordon

    01/18/2024

    Breaking the Cycle ft. Natasha Joy Gordon

    I sat down with Natasha Joy Gordon of NJG Consultancy, to discuss being intentional when entering a partnership the responsibilities that come with leadership 3 practices to break the cycle of recurring problems If you constantly find yourself in the same situation and want to break out of the cycle, this Lead with Excellence episode is for you. Meet Natasha Joy Gordon, a trailblazing first-generation Jamaican American woman whose journey in education and leadership spans over two decades and across the country. Natasha's journey as a lifelong learner instilled in her the resilience and perseverance that would later be the foundation for her unwavering commitment to student academic excellence and leadership empowerment. With a deep sense of faith and purpose, her impact extends beyond the school building as a vocal proponent of self-care and self-keeping. KEY MOMENTS 15:11  What is a leader’s role in culture and cultivating a healthy team environment? 27:29 Self-awareness, how do people develop it and what are things you found along the way whether it’s with yourself or just through your experience that have contributed to that? 39:14 I’m curious about the reflective work you’re doing, how does that contribute to your self-awareness and personal growth? --- Thank you for listening to this episode of Lead with Excellence! For additional resources, visit theceoffice.co Enjoy the podcast? Share it with a friend and/or leave a review sharing what you enjoyed most and why someone else should listen to it. Let’s go lead with excellence!

    1h 2m
  7. Creating Impact with Clients ft. Dondrea Owens, CPA

    01/10/2024

    Creating Impact with Clients ft. Dondrea Owens, CPA

    I sat down with Dondrea Owens, CPA of The Profit Table, to discuss how intentional communication plays a role in creating a positive impact on clients. Dondrea shares how The Profit Table team collaborates to anticipate client needs and deliver trustworthy financial services. We also discuss how her role as a financial leader for small businesses isn’t to make the decisions for clients but to guide them in a way where they’re able to make strategic financial decisions in the moment with confidence. If you are a leader, who wants to create a meaningful impact with clients, this episode is for you. Dondrea was a professional accountant at a top national firm when she turned her love for scrapbooking into a profitable wedding invitation side hustle. There she found herself collaborating with and inspired by talented women business owners who, on the surface, seemed to have it all together, but shared one common problem: A lack of confidence in their business finances. As a fellow business owner with a wealth of financial knowledge, she realized she could bring something to the table to change the game for these women. So she built The Profit Table to provide the financial literacy, strategy, and clarity they need to get their business finances in check and create the future of their dreams. CFO Day is a single-day intensive in which The Profit Table team, including the principal CFO, accountant, and bookkeeper, assesses your business’s overall accounting and finance department and provides actionable strategy. The Profit Table promises to provide you with a Profit Plan that aligns your business goals with your financial expectations and pays you, pays taxes, and grows the business. theprofittable.co/cfo-day KEY MOMENTS 06:30 How do you anticipate client needs and reduce the back-and-forth of messages? 12:08 How have you become more comfortable with delegating? 15:00 How to approach employees with constructive criticism with respect and assertiveness? 20:17 As the face of the business, how do you create this transition where clients are confident and working with other members of the team? 25:15 How do you navigate those conversations when clients feel reserved about sharing their financial situation? 30:06 What’s the positive impact on founders/owners of using budgets? --- Thank you for listening to this episode of Lead with Excellence! For additional resources, visit theceoffice.co Enjoy the podcast? Share it with a friend and/or leave a review sharing what you enjoyed most and why someone else should listen to it. Let’s go lead with excellence!

    40 min
  8. Personality Hires

    12/30/2023

    Personality Hires

    There is a social discussion on Personality Hires. It started on TikTok and expanded to Instagram and LinkedIn. Personality vs skill-based hiring. Is this poor framing? Or is it part of a larger cultural issue? The discussion seems to be a false argument because great teams aren’t built on skill or personality alone. Yet an article on Forbes promotes the personality hire. This episode is my response. --- Thank you for listening to this episode of Lead with Excellence! For additional resources, visit theceoffice.co Enjoy the podcast? Share it with a friend and/or leave a review sharing what you enjoyed most and why someone else should listen to it. Let’s go lead with excellence! — 📲 Join the conversation on social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theceoffice/

    32 min
  9. Rewarding Your Team

    12/14/2023

    Rewarding Your Team

    It’s the time of year when annual reviews and bonuses occur. What are the unintentional consequences of rewarding team members without a framework based on results? In this brief coaching segment, I share three problems that can occur and a framework for assessing performance. --- Thank you for listening to this episode of Lead with Excellence! For additional resources, visit theceoffice.co Enjoy the podcast? Share it with a friend and/or leave a review sharing what you enjoyed most and why someone else should listen to it. Let’s go lead with excellence! — 📲 Join the conversation on social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theceoffice/

    6 min

  10. SEASON 1, EPISODE 1 TRAILER

    Trailer - Lead with Excellence

    What's leadership look like in a small business? Hi, and welcome to Lead with Excellence. I’m Melissa K. Jones, your host. You're invited to join me as I sit down with friends and small business leaders and ask about their journey. We'll cover practices of celebrating the small things, choosing love over fear (which can be tough in a fast-paced competitive business environment), embracing challenges, inner confidence, and leading by example. On occasion, I'll host solo episodes to explore business topics and celebrate excellence. Guests include a diverse group of leaders from different industries and backgrounds. Each is at a different stage of leading themselves, clients, or teams. My goal is to empower and encourage you with each episode to better serve your clients and team. Join me each week as we grow together! --- For additional resources, visit theceoffice.co

    1 min

Trailer

About

What do excellence and leadership look like in a small business? You’re invited to join me, Melissa, as I sit down with friends and entrepreneurs to discuss the different facets of running a business. I ask guests the questions you want to ask or don’t know to ask. The goal is to empower and encourage you to better serve your team and clients. Guests include a diverse group of leaders from different industries and backgrounds. Each is at a different stage of leading themselves, clients, or teams. Join me on the Lead with Excellence podcast! For more resources, visit https://theceoffice.co

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