This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for anyone who’s ever felt overwhelmed by the idea of launching (or re-launching) a brand and doesn’t know where to start.

My guest today is Michael Ray, our Strategic Marketing Director at Accelity. Michael and I discuss how to build buzz before a launch, what makes a campaign theme stick, and why launch day isn’t nearly as important as you think. We also cover how to set meaningful goals, maintain excitement long after the big day, and test your way to better results.

Make sure you tune in for practical advice on how to launch something new in a way that builds real momentum—and keeps it going.

Michael is the Strategic Marketing Director at Accelity, where he's spent almost four years helping companies build interconnected marketing and advertising strategies that build brands and deliver leads. With more than fifteen years of strategy and advertising experience, he works to build innovative and creative, data-driven strategies for clients and also specializes in tracking, reporting, and optimization of their campaigns.

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• Podcast: The step-by-step process of a successful rebrand w/ Abby Bruckner & Michelle Breen, lead creatives at Accelity
• Podcast: The #1 question you must ask yourself: what if I could?
• Podcast: Bold brand, big moves: Why we relaunched our business w/ Jenny Weeden, President of Accelity

💡 Submit your topics for the podcast: https://www.jackiehermes.com/connect

👋 Learn more about the podcast: ​​www.jackiehermes.com/podcast

⭐️ Love the podcast? Please consider leaving a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts!

💛 Production support is provided by Accelity, a full-service marketing agency for bold people growing bold companies.

✉️ Hit me up!

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There’s a lot of talk lately about hustle culture—glorifying long hours and non-stop work as the only path to success. That kind of mindset just doesn’t fly with me (or my team).

In this episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship, I’m sharing how we approach growth, motivation, and momentum without burning people out. I talk about how we’ve built a values-driven team at Accelity, from quarterly conversations that go beyond performance reviews to the ways we recognize wins, share praise, and make learning part of the culture.

If you’re trying to grow your team without grinding them down, this episode is for you. There’s a better way to build, and it starts with how you lead.

• Podcast: Bad leadership habits
• Podcast: Above vs. below the line
• Podcast: Prioritizing, delegating & asking for help: answering your questions

💡 Submit your topics for the podcast: https://www.jackiehermes.com/connect

👋 Learn more about the podcast: ​​www.jackiehermes.com/podcast

⭐️ Love the podcast? Please consider leaving a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts!

💛 Production support is provided by Accelity, a full-service marketing agency for bold people growing bold companies.

✉️ Hit me up!

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This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for anyone who’s navigating the ups and downs of building a startup during unpredictable market conditions.

My guest today is Kyle York, co-founder, CEO, and managing partner of York IE VC firm that focuses on investing in pre-seed and seed-stage companies. Kyle and I talk about the mistakes companies are making right now, what to do if you're looking to raise money and the ways that your company might be bleeding cash that you don’t even know about.

Make sure you tune in for actionable tips on how founders can stay steady through uncertainty, avoid overcorrecting, and make smart financial decisions that support long-term growth.

Kyle York is the co-founder, CEO, and managing partner at York IE, an advisory and venture capital firm focused on helping technology companies scale. With a team of over 200, he partners with entrepreneurs, operators, and investors to build impactful, lasting companies in B2B SaaS. Throughout his career, Kyle has championed growth in product, go-to-market, and finance strategies, prioritizing strong teams, customer satisfaction, and enterprise value.

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• Podcast: Optimizing cash flow with Ryan Calton, CEO of RC MKE
• Podcast: Getting in front of investors + funding underrepresented founders w/ Alex Chompff, angel investor and serial entrepreneur
• Podcast: How did I go from $0 to 7-figures without funding?

💡 Submit your topics for the podcast: https://www.jackiehermes.com/connect

👋 Learn more about the podcast: ​​www.jackiehermes.com/podcast

⭐️ Love the podcast? Please consider leaving a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts!

💛 Production support is provided by Accelity, a full-service marketing agency for bold people growing bold companies.

✉️ Hit me up!

LinkedIn

Instagram

TikTok

Website