OBM Opportunity – Details, episodes & analysis

If you've been told the only way to grow your business is to hustle harder, post more, and chase every lead — this episode is the antidote.

Ashley sits down with Nathalie Ekobo, a French-born business coach who blends 25 years of business strategy with energy work, neuroscience, and spirituality to help women entrepreneurs build businesses that feel as good as they perform. No grind. No guru-on-Instagram performance. Just clients who feel called in instead of chased down.

Here's what we get into:

• Why "fixing yourself" is the wrong starting point — and the structural shift that actually moves the needle (jump into creating first, then deal with the blocks)
• The difference between 3D problem-solving and creating from source — and why most entrepreneurs are stuck running their business from the wrong one
• A real-time exercise to feel the shift from "incomplete and prickly" to "whole and complete" — try it while you listen
• Why desperation repels clients (Nathalie's "guy in the bar" analogy is going to stick with you)
• The "double bubble" practice — how looking at your worst-case scenario actually helps you relax into the best-case one
• The seven generations of inherited survival mode showing up in your business right now — and what to do about it
• Inspired action, decoded: not just "a thought you're called to do," but a specific practice you can apply this week to magnetize the right clients

For the OBM who's tired of pushing, this one is going to land. If you've got a crystal on the desk or a card pulled this morning — you're going to feel right at home.

Find Nathalie: Text "alchemy" + your full name and best email to +1-602-881-3040 (WhatsApp preferred) to grab her free Alchemy Creation Code — a 7-step process for creating with more ease. Her signature program, Become Your Business Alchemist, is launching soon.

Most OBMs think their job is to take things off the CEO's plate. Gwen Bortner — business advisor with 40+ years of working alongside women entrepreneurs — would push back on that. Your job is bigger.

In this episode, Ashley sits down with Gwen (founder of Everyday Effectiveness and co-host of The Business You Really Want) to unpack what it actually looks like to show up as a leader inside your client's business. Not a task manager. A thought partner with a seat at the table.

Here's what we get into:

• Why your most valuable strategic contribution isn't more ideas — it's helping your visionary CEO sift through the ones she already has and stay focused on the path she said she wanted
• How to ask the hard questions — "Did we switch paths on purpose, or did we get distracted?" — without them landing as criticism (Gwen's trick: talk about the issue, not the person)
• The real definition of accountability — and why most clients say they want it until they actually have it
• What to do when your CEO keeps missing the same deliverable — and why redesigning the work beats nagging her every week
• Why "strategy mode" and "task mode" need to be two separate hats, and how trying to wear both at once dilutes both
• Gwen's SOP philosophy: document the 20% that gets you 80% of the way there, never duplicate information across systems, and stop writing instructions for things the right hire should already know

This one is full of language you can take straight into your next client conversation. Pen ready.

Find Gwen: everydayeffectiveness.com | The Business You Really Want podcast at thebusinessyoureallywant.com

In this powerhouse episode of The OBM Opportunity Podcast, Leah Steinkirch of Prowess Project chats with Dr. Susie Carder—a seasoned profit coach, fractional COO, and business strategist with over 30 years of experience helping entrepreneurs build, scale, and sell multimillion-dollar businesses.

Together, they dive deep into the game-changing role that OBMs play in the entrepreneurial journey. From streamlining chaos to scaling operations and boosting profit, OBMs aren't just helpful—they're essential. Dr. Susie shares why OBMs are her very first hire, even before assistants or sales teams, and unpacks what truly separates six-figure businesses from seven- and eight-figure empires.

This episode is a guide to stepping fully into your OBM power and becoming a CEO's most valuable asset.

🔥 Top 3 Takeaways

1. OBMs Are the First Strategic Hire - OBMs are not just supporting the business; they're driving it forward by creating structure, building systems, and executing strategy.

2. Clarity Creates Cashflow
   Scaling a business without a solid plan is a recipe for burnout. OBMs bring order to the chaos with clear business and financial roadmaps—ensuring every move is purposeful and profitable.

3. Quantify Your Impact
   Want to prove your worth? Ask your client, "What was the value of this?" on a regular basis. It helps translate your behind-the-scenes magic into real-world ROI—and positions you as a growth partner, not just support.

💡 Whether you're new to OBM work or ready to level up, this episode is packed with insight, strategy, and real-talk from one of the best in the biz.

 

Where to find Dr. Susie:

Website: https://susiecarder.com/power-your-profits/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SusieCarder/

Free Resource: https://susiecarder.com/calculator/

 

Get more Prowess Project resources! 

What is an OBM?

Resources

Get Trained as an Online Business Manager

How Prowess Project Job Matching Works

Free OBM Clarity Call to discuss your OBM career path

Want more Prowess Resources? Subscribe to the weekly newsletter

  In this episode of the OBM Opportunity Podcast, Leah Steinkirch chats with Shari Barnes, a successful OBM who went through Prowess Project's OBM University. Shari, who transitioned from a 15-year career in tech, shares her inspiring journey. She discusses her initial challenges, how the Prowess Project helped her fine-tune her skills for small business environments, her methods for screening clients, and the tools she uses to run her business. Shari also emphasizes the importance of community and planning in the transition from corporate to entrepreneurship. This episode provides valuable insights into the OBM role, and practical advice for those considering or starting their own OBM journey.     Where to find Shari Barnes: https://outsourci.com/      

Get more Prowess Project resources! 

What is an OBM?

Resources

Get Trained as an Online Business Manager

How Prowess Project Job Matching Works

Free OBM Clarity Call to discuss your OBM career path

Want more Prowess Resources? Subscribe to the weekly newsletter

In this episode of The OBM Opportunity Podcast, host Leah Steinkirch sits down with Kathy Goughenour, a trailblazing virtual expert and business coach, to explore the essential mindset shifts needed to transition from corporate life to freelance success. Kathy shares her personal journey from a corporate job that stifled her personality to building a thriving six-figure virtual business. She dives into the key strategies that helped her—and can help you—confidently step into freelancing and build a sustainable, fulfilling career.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

1. The Three P's of Freelance Success – How being proactive, a problem solver, and professional can set you apart and attract high-value clients.
2. Pricing with Confidence – Why you should charge more than you think you're worth, and a simple strategy to gradually increase your rates.
3. Overcoming the Employee Mindset – How shifting from waiting for instructions to taking initiative makes you indispensable to clients.

Ready to take the leap into freelancing? Tune in now to gain the confidence and strategy you need to make it happen!

Where to Find Kathy Goughenour - Virtual Traning Experts

https://www.virtualexperttraining.com/

 

Get more Prowess Project resources! 

What is an OBM?

Resources

Get Trained as an Online Business Manager

How Prowess Project Job Matching Works

Free OBM Clarity Call to discuss your OBM career path

Want more Prowess Resources? Subscribe to the weekly newsletter

In this episode of The OBM Opportunity Podcast, Leah Steinkirchs from Prowess Project sits down with Kim Carpenter—Founder of People at the Center, and an experienced coach and former corporate leader—who shares her transformative journey from a high-profile career to a purpose-driven coaching business.

Kim opens up about the pivotal moments that led her to redefine success, the power of tuning into your inner voice, and why aligning your career with your core values is the ultimate game-changer. She also dives into her mission to create people-centric organizations. 

You will learn: 

How to recognize when it's time for a career pivot – Learn to listen to your inner whispers and align your work with your values.

The importance of creating people-centric organizations – Discover leadership strategies that foster a thriving, engaged workplace.

Practical steps for betting on yourself – Gain actionable advice on transitioning from corporate life to a purpose-driven career.

 

If you're feeling the pull to pivot, craving more fulfillment, or wondering if now is the time to bet on yourself, this episode is packed with insights and practical steps to help you take the leap. 🎧✨

Where to find Kim Carpenter

https://www.peopleatthecenter.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/peopleatthecenter/

https://www.instagram.com/the.kim.carpenter

 

Get more Prowess Project resources! 

What is an OBM?

Resources

Get Trained as an Online Business Manager

How Prowess Project Job Matching Works

Free OBM Clarity Call to discuss your OBM career path

Want more Prowess Resources? Subscribe to the weekly newsletter

In this episode of The OBM Opportunity Podcast, Ashley Connell, CEO of Prowess Project, welcomes Alyssa Gioscia, a results-driven coach with a background in psychology. Alyssa dives deep into the power of aligning personal values with career goals to prevent burnout and cultivate lasting fulfillment.

🎙️ What's inside this episode?
✨ How to recognize the warning signs of misalignment before burnout hits
✨ The role of dreaming and visualization in shaping your ideal career path
✨ Overcoming mental roadblocks that keep you stuck
✨ Why tailored strategies and external support are key to taking action

Plus, they explore how OBMs can be game-changers for businesses—taking essential (but overwhelming) tasks off leaders' plates so they can focus on what they do best.

Checkout this insightful discussion on the importance of community and the ongoing reassessment of career goals. If you're ready to step into greater alignment and impact, this one's a must-listen! 🎧

Where to find Alyssa Giosia

https://www.alyssagioscia.com/

https://www.instagram.com/alyssagioscia/

 

Get more Prowess Project resources! 

What is an OBM?

Resources

Get Trained as an Online Business Manager

How Prowess Project Job Matching Works

Free OBM Clarity Call to discuss your OBM career path

Want more Prowess Resources? Subscribe to the weekly newsletter

In this episode of The OBM Opportunity Podcast, host Ashley Connell, CEO of Prowess Project, sits down with Kylie Peters to discuss how diverse career experiences can be transformed into a thriving Online Business Manager (OBM) career. Kylie shares her journey from marketing to entrepreneurship, highlighting the game-changing power of productizing services—a strategy that helps OBMs and business owners streamline their processes, scale efficiently, and break free from the time-for-money trap.

She also dives into her Intentional Exit Framework, revealing six essential levers—productization, people, pipeline, profits, process, and planning—to increase business value and set up a smooth, strategic exit. Whether you're an OBM looking to refine your services or a business owner preparing for the future, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you work smarter and plan for long-term success.

👉 Tune in now to learn how to scale, systemize, and set yourself up for a successful exit!

 

Where to find Kylie Peters:

https://rayneix.com/

https://kyliepeters.com/

 

Get more Prowess Project resources! 

What is an OBM?

Resources

Get Trained as an Online Business Manager

How Prowess Project Job Matching Works

Free OBM Clarity Call to discuss your OBM career path

Want more Prowess Resources? Subscribe to the weekly newsletter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ever feel like your goals are working against you instead of for you? You're not alone! In this episode of the OBM Opportunity, Ashley Connell, CEO of Prowess Project, breaks down the most common goal-setting mistakes OBMs make—and how to fix them. From setting goals that are too rigid to juggling way too many at once, she shares real-life lessons (yes, including her own missteps!) and practical strategies to keep you on track.

You'll learn:
✅ Why focusing only on outcomes can backfire
✅ How to stay flexible without losing momentum
✅ The power of tracking progress and accountability

Ready to set goals that actually work for you? Tune in now—and don't forget to grab a free 15-minute consultation for personalized support! 🚀✨

 

Get more Prowess Project resources! 

What is an OBM?

Resources

Get Trained as an Online Business Manager

How Prowess Project Job Matching Works

Free OBM Call to discuss if the OBM career path

Want more Prowess Resources? Subscribe to the weekly newsletter

 

In this final episode Ashley Connell chats with Jessica Lackey, a corporate strategist turned fractional COO, about the journey from OBM to COO and how to make a bigger impact in small businesses. Jessica shares her transition from corporate giants like Nike to working with service-based businesses earning over $1M, highlighting the skills and mindset shifts required to thrive in this space.

Listeners will learn:

1. How to identify and solve the biggest bottlenecks in a business.
2. Why understanding finances and metrics is key to driving growth.
3. The difference between operations-focused roles and strategic leadership.

Packed with practical tips and inspiring stories, this episode is the perfect way to wrap up the year and prepare for 2025.

 

Where to find Jessica

Website: https://www.jessicalackey.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-lackey/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jessicalackey

 

Get more Prowess Project resources! 

What is an OBM?

Resources

Get Trained as an Online Business Manager

How Prowess Project Job Matching Works

Want more Prowess Resources? Subscribe to the weekly newsletter