In this second installment of our Live Advisory series on Millions Were Made, Jessica coaches two social media agency founders who are navigating what most people don’t talk about: the inner tension between growth, profitability, and staying true to your values.

First up is Chelsea, whose agency doubled its revenue and profit in just one year, going from $270K to a projected $550K, and increasing her margins from 17% to 35%. But now she’s wondering: Should I give myself a raise… or reinvest for growth? Jessica dives into a strategic breakdown of where to put that extra profit, from hiring to marketing and how to prepare for acquisition, even if you’re not quite at $1M.

Next, we meet Maria, founder of a Singapore-based agency for conscious and sustainable brands. After losing her biggest client and scaling down to focus on her health, she’s now rebuilding from a stronger place—with a $4,500 retainer minimum, a projected revenue of $357K, and a bold commitment to profitability without compromising her mission.

Inside this episode, Jessica breaks down:

• The mindset shift required to stop undercharging and start scaling with intention
• Where to reinvest profits to support long-term growth
• How to prepare your business for acquisition.. even under $1M
• Why your pricing beliefs might be holding you back more than the market

If you’re an agency owner or service provider struggling to price with confidence, manage sustainable growth, or get clarity on your next move, this conversation will hit home.

Connect with Jessica:

Instagram: @millionsweremade & @thejessicamarx

Website: Millions Were Made

Work with Jessica: Tailored Premier

Want to be coached live on the podcast?

Email: [email protected] to get on the waitlist for our next live Q&A episode.

Is your business set up to run without you? In this episode of Millions Were Made, Jessica Marx and Chief Integration Strategist Brooke Dumas break down how high-performing CEOs can unplug without sales tanking, clients panicking, or team members messaging you every five minutes.

From restructuring owner-dependent businesses to building proactive teams and implementing clear systems, this conversation is your blueprint for building a company that scales, even when you’re OOO. Whether you're dreaming of a summer break or simply want to be able to go to a doctor’s appointment without chaos, this episode shows you what needs to shift (and how to do it without burning everything down).

Highlights:

(00:58) Why most founders struggle to fully unplug

(01:29) Two reasons your business can't function without you

(03:31) The hidden costs of owner-dependence

(04:21) What large-scale companies do differently

(06:16) A realistic timeline for stepping away

(06:59) The task audit that helps you reclaim 10+ hours a week

(09:19) What a future-proof CEO schedule actually looks like

(10:17) How to communicate boundaries with your team and clients

(11:35) Baby steps: how to test your team’s independence

(13:02) Why this isn’t just about vacations—it's about life

(15:00) What to do if you're anxious while away

(17:51) A message from your integrator: stop micromanaging

(19:14) How to ease back in after time off

(20:15) Our favorite proactive strategies for prepping to be OOO

(21:51) Why most founders only need to work 3–4 days a week

(23:24) Proactive planning to avoid post-vacation chaos

(24:44) The simple two-week time-tracking exercise that changes everything

(25:42) Rewriting your beliefs about what’s possible as a CEO

Connect with Jessica:

Instagram: @millionsweremade and @thejessicamarx

Website: Millions Were Made

Apply to work with Jessica: Tailored Premier

In this episode of Millions Were Made, Jessica Marx sits down with podcast strategist and marketing expert Kylee Chandler, whose behind-the-scenes work has fueled the success of top shows like Amy Porterfield’s and Kathy Heller’s. 

From growing podcast audiences by over 200% to generating 15,000+ leads through podcast-centric quizzes, Kylee reveals the strategies every founder should know to turn their podcast into a true marketing machine.

Whether you’re just launching or looking to hit a million downloads, Kylee shares real, actionable insights into leveraging podcast content to generate leads, nurture email subscribers, and monetize your offers—without relying on traditional advertisers.

You’ll learn how to use quizzes and curated episode bundles to grow your email list, the SEO tricks to make your show more searchable, and why smaller podcasts may outperform big-name ones when it comes to ROI. Plus, Jessica shares her unique approach to structuring Millions Were Made as a separate media company for long-term profitability and clean business operations.

Highlights:

(01:20) Kylee’s story, managing top podcasts and launching her own company

(03:44) How to use a podcast-centric quiz to generate 15,000+ qualified leads

(05:51) Bundling podcast episodes as lead magnets (without creating more content)

(08:10) SEO for podcasting—how to use keywords and titles to boost discoverability

(10:50) What makes a podcast binge-worthy and how to create superfan content

(13:00) Real-time feedback: Why hosts need listener input to shape high-value episodes

(14:42) Are reviews still relevant? How to ask for them and what they really do

(16:45) When to start pitching advertisers—and how small shows can still win big

(19:50) Why niche, loyal audiences outperform vanity metrics

(21:20) How to pitch yourself (or a client) and land interviews on top-tier podcasts

(23:45) Are big shows really worth it? What to know before prioritizing reach

(25:30) How to repurpose your podcast guest spots for long-term brand visibility

(27:50) Kylee’s 3 best tips for podcast growth and monetization

(29:00) Jessica’s bonus tip: Why your podcast should be a separate media company

Connect with Jessica:

Instagram: @millionsweremade | @thejessicamarx

Website: Millions Were Made

Work with Jessica: Tailored Premier

Connect with Kylee:

Website: podcastmarketinghub.com/subscribe

Instagram: @kyleejchandler

In this special live advisory edition of Millions Were Made, Jessica sits down with two founders who are both scaling rapidly but hitting very different challenges when it comes to their teams.

First up: Manya Horner, Founder of an HR and training consultancy for skilled trades. After leaving her full-time job, Manya brought in $350K in her first year and is now projecting $1.5M for 2025. Her challenge? Managing a growing team of seven subcontractors and setting the right KPIs to ensure quality, output, and client success.

Then we hear from Gretchen Hawley, Founder of a thriving online membership for people living with MS. With impressive profit margins and a growing audience, Gretchen is ready to stop being the bottleneck. She's looking for guidance on team structure, delegation, and what it really takes to step into her visionary CEO role—including hiring a fractional integrator.

You’ll hear Jessica’s real-time coaching on:

• How to create performance metrics for subcontractor teams
• What to measure beyond revenue to drive accountability
• The signs it’s time to hire an integrator (and what that role really looks like)
• How to restructure your team to finally get out of the weeds

If you're stuck in the day-to-day and craving more time to lead, this episode is packed with perspective shifts and action steps you can apply right now.

Connect with Jessica:

Instagram: @millionsweremade & @thejessicamarx

Website: Millions Were Made

Work with Jessica: Tailored Premier

Want to be coached live on the podcast?

Email: [email protected] to get on the waitlist for our next live Q&A episode.

Struggling to find the right people—or to keep the good ones? You’re not alone. In this episode of Millions Were Made, Jessica Marx sits down with Jen Dillard and Makena Finger Zannini, Co-Founders of Brick by Brick Collective, to share their proven systems for building high-performing teams, designing performance-based compensation, and leading with clarity.

Whether you're hiring your first employee or scaling a team of 50+, you’ll learn how to write effective job descriptions, create an onboarding process that drives results in the first 90 days, and implement leadership development strategies that boost retention and revenue. They also reveal their approach to incentive compensation plans, how to conduct value-aligned interviews, and what every founder needs to know before making their next hire.

If you're a small business owner or CEO scaling to 7 or 8 figures, this conversation is your playbook for building a motivated team, creating an intentional culture, and leading like a visionary.

Highlights:

(01:00) Why most small business owners overlook leadership development

(02:06) Scaling from solopreneur to 100+ team members

(03:42) Hiring support without compromising profit margins

(04:36) Why you must set high hiring standards early

(06:44) The power of performance-based compensation plans

(07:55) Stop writing job descriptions that combine 4 different roles

(08:38) Corporate experience vs. small business agility

(09:45) How to improve your interview process with test projects

(11:45) Screening for emotional intelligence in sales roles

(13:10) A proven 90-day onboarding process for employee success

(16:01) Why new hires don’t magically fix your business

(17:25) Leveraging feedback from fresh team members

(18:39) Creative incentive plans that increase employee motivation

(22:39) Building a strong company culture—remote or in-person

(24:24) Handling low team morale or underperformance

(25:17) How to have tough conversations without fear or guilt

(29:18) Making data-driven decisions when managing people

(30:44) How personal wealth creates freedom and legacy impact

Connect with Jessica:

Instagram: @millionsweremade | @thejessicamarx

Work with Jessica: Tailored Premier

Website: Millions Were Made

Connect with Jen & Makena:

Website https://www.brickbybrickcollective.com/

Connect with Jen and Makena on Instagram: @jendillard and @makenafz

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hilarythecfp/

Your company’s biggest asset isn’t your product—it’s your people. In this episode of Millions Were Made, Jessica Marx and Chief Integration Strategist, Brooke Dumas, explore one of the most overlooked growth strategies for CEOs: building and motivating a high-performing team.

They discuss how to hire the right talent for each phase of business growth, why job descriptions are often the silent business killer, and what truly motivates employees beyond just compensation. From incentive-based leadership to company culture strategy, this episode is packed with actionable insights on how to align your team with your vision, retain your top performers, and avoid costly hiring mistakes.

Whether you're a startup founder or scaling toward eight figures and beyond, this conversation is a must-listen for business owners serious about sustainable growth, team accountability, and becoming a CEO who doesn’t have to do it all alone.

Highlights:

(00:58) Why your team is your biggest asset as a CEO

(01:57) How to motivate team members who just “check the box”

(03:51) The problem with hiring corporate employees for startup roles

(06:05) How unclear job descriptions sabotage team performance

(09:17) The opportunity small businesses have that corporate can’t match

(10:50) What actually motivates people (it’s not just money!)

(12:07) How to tie compensation to personal goals and life milestones

(13:34) Creating a culture of balance and preventing burnout

(14:54) Why you need to “market” your compensation packages to your team

(17:26) The power of a positive, high-performance company culture

(19:58) How to run a team audit using the A, B, C method

(22:18) Why keeping B and C players is hurting your best people

(23:25) Comp strategy: how to invest in the right hires and outpace the competition

Resources Mentioned:

Episode #34: When To Coach & When To Fire

Learn more about the Business Performance Audit

Grab the Business Planning Bundle

Connect with Jessica:

Instagram: @millionsweremade and @thejessicamarx

Website: Millions Were Made

Apply to work with Jessica: Tailored Premier

What if your next sales or client came from a DM, a friend-of-a-friend, or a happy customer who couldn’t stop talking about you?

In this episode of Millions Were Made, Jessica Marx is joined by her right-hand, Brooke Dumas, to break down the exact referral strategies behind Tailored Premier’s client acquisition model. Together, they share how referral programs drive powerful growth when set up correctly and why they’re still one of the most underleveraged tools in most businesses.

Whether you’re service-based, product-based, or running a brick-and-mortar, Jessica walks you through the frameworks they use for their clients to turn satisfied customers into brand advocates and strategic partnerships into a steady pipeline.

You’ll learn how to structure your own referral program, what to offer, how to market it, and most importantly, how to take care of the people who are sending business your way.

Highlights: 

(00:01) Why referrals built Jessica’s business—and how you can replicate the model.

(02:35) Why referral programs are low-cost, high-return acquisition channels.

(05:27) How to structure payout models for high-ticket vs. low-ticket offers.

(07:46) The compounding value of brand awareness through referral traffic.

(09:40) Why customer experience is the real foundation of a strong referral engine.

(12:06) How to nurture your referral partners to keep business flowing.

(14:30) Jessica’s SOPs and best practices for long-term referral partnerships.

(16:08) The right way to qualify referrals before introductions are made.

(18:34) The 3 core components of a high-converting referral program.

(20:24) Why consistent follow-up and backend processes make all the difference.

Connect with Jessica:

Instagram: @millionsweremade | @thejessicamarx

Work with Jessica: Tailored Premier

Website: Millions Were Made

What does true leadership look like when you're also the CEO of your household—and your company?

In this episode of Millions Were Made, Jessica Marx is joined by Heather Chauvin, a leadership coach, and a podcast host of Emotionally Uncomfortable. From raising three kids to surviving stage 4 cancer, Heather shares the radical mindset shifts and emotional intelligence tools that helped her reclaim her time, energy, and capacity to lead.

Together, they explore how high-achieving women can stop white-knuckling their way to success and start aligning how they lead, live, and love. Heather breaks down the 4 types of energy every founder must manage, how to rewire beliefs that keep you stuck in fear or burnout, and why “doing it all” is not the goal—feeling alive is.

If you're a founder, parent, or leader feeling stretched thin, this conversation is a must-listen. Tune in now and redefine what thriving looks like on your terms.

Highlights:

• (05:00) How a stage 4 cancer diagnosis led to radical inner transformation.
• (08:10) Why vulnerability is a powerful leadership strategy for founders.
• (10:23) Reframing burnout, fear, and resentment as emotional guidance.
• (13:08) Why “balance” is a feeling—and how to identify what you're truly after.
• (14:40) The “Wouldn’t It Be Nice If…” exercise to realign with your desired state.
• (18:37) The 4 types of energy every founder must manage for sustainable success.
• (22:17) How indecision drains your energy—and what clarity does for leadership.
• (28:42) Conscious parenting and leadership: how they mirror each other.
• (30:56) Leading vs. rescuing—why true leadership starts with self-ownership.
• 
  

Connect with Jessica:

Instagram: @millionsweremade | @thejessicamarx

Work with Jessica: Tailored Premier

Website: Millions Were Made

Connect with Heather:

Website: heatherchauvin.com

Instagram: @heatherchauvin_

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-chauvin-472a7333/

What’s the difference between a business coach and an advisor—and when is it time to build your executive team? In this episode of Millions Were Made, host Jessica Marx is joined by her Chief Integration Strategist, Brooke Dumas, to unpack the leadership strategies that drive profitable, scalable growth for high-level entrepreneurs.

Whether you're preparing for rapid expansion or feeling stretched as a founder, this conversation breaks down the key roles every growing business needs—from fractional CFOs to strategic advisors—and how to avoid common hiring mistakes that can slow your momentum.

Jessica and Brooke share a data-driven, real-world approach to:

• Structuring your leadership team
• Avoiding premature promotions
• Making smarter decisions about when (and who) to hire

If you’re serious about scaling your business sustainably, building the right advisory board could be your next power move.

(01:19) The difference between business coaches and business advisors—and why that distinction matters for your growth.

(03:23) How strategic advisors help optimize profitability and reduce founder dependency.

(05:10) Why staying ahead of industry trends is critical in today’s business landscape.

(07:29) The problem with one-size-fits-all advice—and why tailored strategies are essential.

(09:28) Why mass coaching programs often fall short for scaling businesses.

(12:01) A step-by-step guide to hiring executive leadership: CFO, COO, CMO, and more.

(14:56) The risks of promoting internal team members to executive roles too soon.

(18:46) How to vet potential business advisors and ensure they can deliver real results.

(20:22) The most important questions to ask when hiring key leaders or consultants.

Work with Jessica: tailoredpremier.com

Website: Millions Were Made

Instagram: @millionsweremade | @thejessicamarx

Instagram: @thejessicamarx

Website: tailoredpremier.com

Are you an ambitious woman entrepreneur looking to scale your business, grow your network, and stay authentic in the process? In this episode of Millions Were Made, host Jessica Marx chats with Hannah Nieves—CEO, brand strategist, and Co-Founder of Maison, an exclusive AI-powered private network for 7-to-9-figure female founders.

Hannah shares her inspiring journey from corporate burnout to becoming a powerhouse entrepreneur who built multiple successful ventures. She dives deep into how she created a values-aligned community using AI to foster real, human connections—and why authentic networking is the future of business growth.

We explore the intersection of technology and human connection, the power of niching down, and what it really takes to build a scalable, purpose-driven business while balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship.

Whether you’re a startup founder or seasoned CEO, this episode is packed with actionable strategies, AI tools for business growth, and powerful reminders on how to lead with purpose.

(01:21) How Hannah left corporate life to launch a PR and branding agency, and her first community.

(02:34) The "aha!" moment on Necker Island that sparked the idea for Maison.

(05:43) How to choose a network that aligns with your core values and mission.

(08:09) Why Maison launched with no website or social media—and how that led to a stronger, more authentic network.

(14:51) How AI matchmaking connects Maison members with media, podcasting, and speaking opportunities.

(20:33) How Hannah manages motherhood, marriage, and entrepreneurship—and why building a support system is key.

(23:37) Letting go of perfectionism and societal pressure as a working mom.

(26:27) Why sharing your entrepreneurial journey early builds trust and loyalty.

(29:03) How to scale through community, asking for help, and enrolling others in your vision.

Business Performance Audit: tailoredpremier.com/business-performance-assessment

Maison: joinmaison.com

Work with Jessica: tailoredpremier.com

Jessica on Instagram: @millionsweremade | @thejessicamarx

Website: joinmaison.com

Instagram: @hannahmnieves

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/hannahnieves1