<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><?xml-stylesheet href="https://feeds.captivate.fm/style.xsl" type="text/xsl"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:googleplay="http://www.google.com/schemas/play-podcasts/1.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:podcast="https://podcastindex.org/namespace/1.0"><channel><atom:link href="https://feeds.captivate.fm/earn-your-seat/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><title><![CDATA[Earn Your Seat]]></title><podcast:guid>a6d4b190-8f73-55ee-b5fd-6debde7174df</podcast:guid><lastBuildDate>Fri, 31 Jul 2026 19:00:45 +0000</lastBuildDate><generator>Captivate.fm</generator><language><![CDATA[en]]></language><copyright><![CDATA[Copyright 2026 CJ Williams]]></copyright><managingEditor>CJ Williams</managingEditor><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Your seat at the table is not given to you. You have to earn your seat. These are high-level conversations with Charlotte's top performers across various industries.]]></itunes:summary><image><url>https://artwork.captivate.fm/dc62ae57-4a64-4c5b-ae8e-4caccbe37853/Untitled-May-25-2026-at-14-34-46-3.jpeg</url><title>Earn Your Seat</title><link><![CDATA[https://earn-your-seat.captivate.fm]]></link></image><itunes:image href="https://artwork.captivate.fm/dc62ae57-4a64-4c5b-ae8e-4caccbe37853/Untitled-May-25-2026-at-14-34-46-3.jpeg"/><itunes:owner><itunes:name>CJ Williams</itunes:name></itunes:owner><itunes:author>CJ Williams</itunes:author><description>Your seat at the table is not given to you. You have to earn your seat. These are high-level conversations with Charlotte&apos;s top performers across various industries.</description><link>https://earn-your-seat.captivate.fm</link><atom:link href="https://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com" rel="hub"/><itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[Roundtable conversations with Charlotte's high performers]]></itunes:subtitle><itunes:explicit>true</itunes:explicit><itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type><itunes:category text="Business"></itunes:category><itunes:category text="News"><itunes:category text="Business News"/></itunes:category><itunes:category text="Society &amp; Culture"></itunes:category><podcast:txt purpose="applepodcastsverify">aaba62b0-59f4-11f1-af80-1f23f3532325</podcast:txt><podcast:locked>no</podcast:locked><podcast:medium>podcast</podcast:medium><item><title>The Future of Small Business: AI, Operations &amp; the New Workforce</title><itunes:title>The Future of Small Business: AI, Operations &amp; the New Workforce</itunes:title><description><![CDATA[<p><strong><a href="https://youtu.be/2vToGOYTRmY" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">WATCH A SEGMENT</a></strong></p><p>Takeaways:</p><ul><li>Dameon Proctors and his esteemed guests explore the profound impact of artificial intelligence on small and medium-sized businesses during this insightful podcast episode.</li><li>The discussion emphasizes the necessity of establishing operational efficiencies through AI to facilitate growth and streamline business processes.</li><li>Taja Graham elucidates her experience in creating OPS IQ, which aims to enhance the operational capabilities of small businesses by leveraging automation and AI technologies.</li><li>Marcela Shine introduces the concept of combining marketing and operational efficiencies, asserting that they are inextricably linked for the success of small businesses.</li><li>The conversation highlights the importance of utilizing AI not only to reduce costs but also to empower human capital by allowing employees to focus on higher-value activities.</li><li>Listeners are urged to recognize that AI is a tool to augment human capabilities rather than replace them, promoting a collaborative approach to innovation and efficiency.</li></ul><br/><p><strong><a href="https://youtu.be/2vToGOYTRmY" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">WATCH A SEGMENT</a></strong></p><p><strong>Taja M. Graham is an executive strategist, founder, and trusted advisor with more than two decades of leadership experience spanning executive sales, operations, and organizational leadership. Throughout her corporate career, she led high-performing teams, managed multimillion-dollar business units, and helped organizations navigate growth, transformation, and operational excellence.</strong></p><p><strong>Taja founded TMG Solutions Advisors to bring that executive experience directly to founders and leadership teams seeking strategic and operational guidance without the commitment of a full-time executive. She later launched OpsIQ, a digital operations platform designed to give growing businesses access to proven frameworks, executive-level insights, and practical tools that help them scale with greater clarity, consistency, and confidence. Today, Taja is recognized for helping organizations build stronger operational foundations, reduce founder dependency, and create businesses that are positioned for sustainable, long-term growth.</strong></p><p></p><p><a href="https://opsiq.biz/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://opsiq.biz/</a></p><p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/opsiq-coo-in-a-box" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/company/opsiq-coo-in-a-box</a></p><p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tajagraham/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/tajagraham/</a></p>]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><a href="https://youtu.be/2vToGOYTRmY" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">WATCH A SEGMENT</a></strong></p><p>Takeaways:</p><ul><li>Dameon Proctors and his esteemed guests explore the profound impact of artificial intelligence on small and medium-sized businesses during this insightful podcast episode.</li><li>The discussion emphasizes the necessity of establishing operational efficiencies through AI to facilitate growth and streamline business processes.</li><li>Taja Graham elucidates her experience in creating OPS IQ, which aims to enhance the operational capabilities of small businesses by leveraging automation and AI technologies.</li><li>Marcela Shine introduces the concept of combining marketing and operational efficiencies, asserting that they are inextricably linked for the success of small businesses.</li><li>The conversation highlights the importance of utilizing AI not only to reduce costs but also to empower human capital by allowing employees to focus on higher-value activities.</li><li>Listeners are urged to recognize that AI is a tool to augment human capabilities rather than replace them, promoting a collaborative approach to innovation and efficiency.</li></ul><br/><p><strong><a href="https://youtu.be/2vToGOYTRmY" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">WATCH A SEGMENT</a></strong></p><p><strong>Taja M. Graham is an executive strategist, founder, and trusted advisor with more than two decades of leadership experience spanning executive sales, operations, and organizational leadership. Throughout her corporate career, she led high-performing teams, managed multimillion-dollar business units, and helped organizations navigate growth, transformation, and operational excellence.</strong></p><p><strong>Taja founded TMG Solutions Advisors to bring that executive experience directly to founders and leadership teams seeking strategic and operational guidance without the commitment of a full-time executive. She later launched OpsIQ, a digital operations platform designed to give growing businesses access to proven frameworks, executive-level insights, and practical tools that help them scale with greater clarity, consistency, and confidence. Today, Taja is recognized for helping organizations build stronger operational foundations, reduce founder dependency, and create businesses that are positioned for sustainable, long-term growth.</strong></p><p></p><p><a href="https://opsiq.biz/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://opsiq.biz/</a></p><p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/opsiq-coo-in-a-box" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/company/opsiq-coo-in-a-box</a></p><p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tajagraham/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/tajagraham/</a></p>]]></content:encoded><link><![CDATA[https://earn-your-seat.captivate.fm]]></link><guid isPermaLink="false">86ee68c1-08c7-47f8-882d-372ec540be91</guid><itunes:image href="https://artwork.captivate.fm/796325af-fb11-493c-be28-bf6d70ff4971/Untitled-May-21-2026-at-16-44-02-3.jpeg"/><pubDate>Thu, 30 Jul 2026 11:00:00 -0400</pubDate><enclosure url="https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/86ee68c1-08c7-47f8-882d-372ec540be91.mp3" length="105076873" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:duration>01:12:58</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>true</itunes:explicit><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType><itunes:season>1</itunes:season><itunes:episode>2</itunes:episode><podcast:episode>2</podcast:episode><podcast:season>1</podcast:season><podcast:transcript url="https://transcripts.captivate.fm/transcript/c3c39e9f-41f5-4884-8f2e-6408a5aaed98/transcript.json" type="application/json"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcripts.captivate.fm/transcript/c3c39e9f-41f5-4884-8f2e-6408a5aaed98/transcript.srt" type="application/srt" rel="captions"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcripts.captivate.fm/transcript/c3c39e9f-41f5-4884-8f2e-6408a5aaed98/index.html" type="text/html"/><podcast:chapters url="https://transcripts.captivate.fm/chapter-05639aa8-9ce1-45a9-8a75-d5e25f1d001d.json" type="application/json+chapters"/><podcast:alternateEnclosure type="video/youtube" title="The AI Employee Problem Nobody&apos;s Talking About"><podcast:source uri="https://youtu.be/2vToGOYTRmY"/></podcast:alternateEnclosure></item><item><title>The Rise of the 50+ Female Entrepreneur: Purpose, Power &amp; Reinvention</title><itunes:title>The Rise of the 50+ Female Entrepreneur: Purpose, Power &amp; Reinvention</itunes:title><description><![CDATA[<p><strong><a href="Tamika L. Porter, MBA is the Founder and Fractional CFO of Porter Financial Services, LLC and a financial strategist with more than 25 years of experience in corporate finance, accounting, treasury, and operational leadership across the banking and manufacturing industries." rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Watch more and/or request a seat</a></strong></p><p>In this powerful first installment of <em>Earn Your Seat</em>, moderator <strong>Amy Watts</strong> sits down with <strong>Tamika Porter</strong>, fractional CFO and founder of Porter Financial Services, and <strong>Jennifer Ramirez</strong>, real estate entrepreneur and relocation specialist, for a raw, insightful conversation on the <em>explosive rise of women over 50 entering entrepreneurship</em>.</p><p>Together, they unpack the fears, the freedom, the identity shifts, and the purpose-driven clarity that define this new era of female leadership. From corporate ceilings to personal reinvention, this episode reveals why women in their 50s are uniquely positioned to build thriving businesses — and why this season of life is becoming a superpower.</p><h2><strong>Key Themes</strong></h2><ul><li><strong>The 50+ entrepreneurship boom</strong> — and why nearly half of new businesses are now started by women</li><li><strong>Freedom vs. fear</strong> — navigating layoffs, life transitions, and the loss of corporate identity</li><li><strong>Purpose as a catalyst</strong> — how aligning with passion creates confidence and momentum</li><li><strong>Breaking generational scripts</strong> — moving beyond “perfect attendance” conditioning and corporate obedience</li><li><strong>The power of lived experience</strong> — why decades of life, leadership, and resilience become business assets</li><li><strong>Imposter syndrome at 50+</strong> — why it still shows up and how these women move through it</li><li><strong>Legacy, control, and financial independence</strong> — redefining what success looks like in midlife</li></ul><br/><h2><strong>Featured Guests</strong></h2><p><strong>Tamika Porter</strong> — Fractional CFO, financial strategist, and founder of Porter Financial Services. After decades in corporate finance, Tamika stepped into entrepreneurship to claim freedom, purpose, and generational wealth.</p><p><strong>Jennifer Ramirez</strong> — Founder of Pro Homes and Lake Wylie relocation specialist. After a 25-year corporate career and a sudden layoff, Jennifer rebuilt her identity and launched a thriving real estate business rooted in service and leadership.</p><h2><strong>About the Moderator</strong></h2><p><strong>Amy Watts</strong> — Founder of Amy Watts Coaching &amp; Consulting and The Reinvention Collective. Amy helps women over 40 redesign their lives, careers, and identities with clarity, purpose, and confidence.</p><h2><strong>Why This Episode Matters</strong></h2><p>Women over 50 are not slowing down — they’re accelerating. They’re rewriting the rules, reclaiming their time, and building businesses that align with their values, purpose, and lived experience.</p><p>This episode is a testament to resilience, reinvention, and the power of stepping into your next chapter with courage.</p><p><strong><a href="Tamika L. Porter, MBA is the Founder and Fractional CFO of Porter Financial Services, LLC and a financial strategist with more than 25 years of experience in corporate finance, accounting, treasury, and operational leadership across the banking and manufacturing industries." rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Watch more and/or request a seat</a></strong></p><h2><strong>Listen &amp; Subscribe</strong></h2><p>Watch the full roundtable on YouTube and subscribe to the QC Amplified network for more curated conversations with credible voices.</p><p></p><p>Companies mentioned in this episode:</p><ul><li>Amy Watts Coaching and Consulting</li><li>Reinvention Collective</li><li>Porter Financial Services</li><li>Relo Pro Homes</li></ul><br/>]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><a href="Tamika L. Porter, MBA is the Founder and Fractional CFO of Porter Financial Services, LLC and a financial strategist with more than 25 years of experience in corporate finance, accounting, treasury, and operational leadership across the banking and manufacturing industries." rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Watch more and/or request a seat</a></strong></p><p>In this powerful first installment of <em>Earn Your Seat</em>, moderator <strong>Amy Watts</strong> sits down with <strong>Tamika Porter</strong>, fractional CFO and founder of Porter Financial Services, and <strong>Jennifer Ramirez</strong>, real estate entrepreneur and relocation specialist, for a raw, insightful conversation on the <em>explosive rise of women over 50 entering entrepreneurship</em>.</p><p>Together, they unpack the fears, the freedom, the identity shifts, and the purpose-driven clarity that define this new era of female leadership. From corporate ceilings to personal reinvention, this episode reveals why women in their 50s are uniquely positioned to build thriving businesses — and why this season of life is becoming a superpower.</p><h2><strong>Key Themes</strong></h2><ul><li><strong>The 50+ entrepreneurship boom</strong> — and why nearly half of new businesses are now started by women</li><li><strong>Freedom vs. fear</strong> — navigating layoffs, life transitions, and the loss of corporate identity</li><li><strong>Purpose as a catalyst</strong> — how aligning with passion creates confidence and momentum</li><li><strong>Breaking generational scripts</strong> — moving beyond “perfect attendance” conditioning and corporate obedience</li><li><strong>The power of lived experience</strong> — why decades of life, leadership, and resilience become business assets</li><li><strong>Imposter syndrome at 50+</strong> — why it still shows up and how these women move through it</li><li><strong>Legacy, control, and financial independence</strong> — redefining what success looks like in midlife</li></ul><br/><h2><strong>Featured Guests</strong></h2><p><strong>Tamika Porter</strong> — Fractional CFO, financial strategist, and founder of Porter Financial Services. After decades in corporate finance, Tamika stepped into entrepreneurship to claim freedom, purpose, and generational wealth.</p><p><strong>Jennifer Ramirez</strong> — Founder of Pro Homes and Lake Wylie relocation specialist. After a 25-year corporate career and a sudden layoff, Jennifer rebuilt her identity and launched a thriving real estate business rooted in service and leadership.</p><h2><strong>About the Moderator</strong></h2><p><strong>Amy Watts</strong> — Founder of Amy Watts Coaching &amp; Consulting and The Reinvention Collective. Amy helps women over 40 redesign their lives, careers, and identities with clarity, purpose, and confidence.</p><h2><strong>Why This Episode Matters</strong></h2><p>Women over 50 are not slowing down — they’re accelerating. They’re rewriting the rules, reclaiming their time, and building businesses that align with their values, purpose, and lived experience.</p><p>This episode is a testament to resilience, reinvention, and the power of stepping into your next chapter with courage.</p><p><strong><a href="Tamika L. Porter, MBA is the Founder and Fractional CFO of Porter Financial Services, LLC and a financial strategist with more than 25 years of experience in corporate finance, accounting, treasury, and operational leadership across the banking and manufacturing industries." rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Watch more and/or request a seat</a></strong></p><h2><strong>Listen &amp; Subscribe</strong></h2><p>Watch the full roundtable on YouTube and subscribe to the QC Amplified network for more curated conversations with credible voices.</p><p></p><p>Companies mentioned in this episode:</p><ul><li>Amy Watts Coaching and Consulting</li><li>Reinvention Collective</li><li>Porter Financial Services</li><li>Relo Pro Homes</li></ul><br/>]]></content:encoded><link><![CDATA[https://earn-your-seat.captivate.fm]]></link><guid isPermaLink="false">638d6fee-ab99-49a2-bab9-125e2e8cd536</guid><itunes:image href="https://artwork.captivate.fm/178bab1a-63ec-4777-820f-aca0c219da05/Untitled-May-21-2026-at-16-44-02.jpeg"/><pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 08:00:00 -0400</pubDate><enclosure url="https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/638d6fee-ab99-49a2-bab9-125e2e8cd536.mp3" length="68761225" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:duration>47:45</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>true</itunes:explicit><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType><itunes:season>1</itunes:season><itunes:episode>1</itunes:episode><podcast:episode>1</podcast:episode><podcast:season>1</podcast:season><podcast:transcript url="https://transcripts.captivate.fm/transcript/2f04895e-14bd-438c-a5b4-7f0247dbc158/transcript.json" type="application/json"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcripts.captivate.fm/transcript/2f04895e-14bd-438c-a5b4-7f0247dbc158/transcript.srt" type="application/srt" rel="captions"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcripts.captivate.fm/transcript/2f04895e-14bd-438c-a5b4-7f0247dbc158/index.html" type="text/html"/><podcast:chapters url="https://transcripts.captivate.fm/chapter-712be42d-ebcb-4f7d-9859-32edc1010f60.json" type="application/json+chapters"/></item></channel></rss>