The Ops Authority

Former operations executive Teri Swope shares how chronic stress shuts down your ability to think clearly, and the three-pillar POWER framework she uses to lower your stress baseline and lead from calm. Teri spent 25+ years in executive operations leadership, and she knows the hidden cost of holding it all together: the composure on the outside, the exhaustion underneath, and the decisions that suffer when your nervous system is running the show. We talk about why operators are conditioned to carry everyone else's load, and what it takes to finally set some of it down.

For full show notes, check out https://theopsauthority.com/podcast/316-the-hidden-cost-of-holding-it-all-together-with-teri-swope/

Connect with Teri

Website: http://www.swopelight.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teri-swope/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terileeswope/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1959750441416777

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A coaching client came to me with a sentence I have heard more times than I can count: I have become the bottleneck. She was making every decision, running marketing she was never hired to run, and still holding delivery together. Nothing about her discipline was the problem. The original scope had quietly moved and nobody had said so out loud. In this episode I share the SHOW framework we built to fix it, four steps that let you prove the shift with data rather than ask your client to take your word for it.

For full show notes, check out https://theopsauthority.com/podcast/315-4-steps-to-show-your-client-youve-outgrown-the-original-scope/

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Nobody signs up for a certification program hoping to leave with four new best friends. That is exactly what happened to Beth, Cameron, Jenessa and Tera, who met inside a Director of Operations cohort, began gathering thirty minutes before every training, and are still meeting every Friday, nearly two years on. I sat all four of them down to ask how it started, what has kept it alive, and what it has actually changed in their businesses. If you have ever felt that nobody in your life understands the work you do, this one is about the kind of business friendships that fix exactly that.

For full show notes, check out https://theopsauthority.com/podcast/314-from-cohort-to-community-how-lasting-business-friendships-form/

Connect with Beth

Website: http://fireflyconsultinggroup.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fireflyconsultinggroup/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firefly_consulting_group/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fireflyconsultinggroup

Connect with Cameron

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-fugate/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cameronfugate2022

Connect with Jenessa

Website: https://sustainablesystemsstudios.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenessaeljarra

Connect with Tera

Website: http://teramarie.com LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/teramarie/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teramarie.inc/

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Not every operator wants to run their own company, and that turns out to change nothing about how valuable the skill set is. Dr. Cinnamon Brown came into our program on the employee track and stayed on it, and she is now a Learning and Development strategist who reaches for operations every single week. We talk about why corporate titles hide the work people are actually doing, the ceiling operators hit when getting things done is the only tool they use, and why the people around you matter more than the leader above you. If you have been wondering whether this path is only for the people starting agencies, Cinnamon is the answer.

For full show notes, check out https://theopsauthority.com/podcast/313-from-history-phd-to-learning-development-operator-with-cinnamon-brown/

Connect with Cinnamon

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cinnamon-brown-821a5222b

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Twenty years in the nonprofit sector taught Claire Crum something most operators never get told: the causes you care about are often where your skills are worth the most. She now runs a six person ops agency helping mission driven organizations do more with what they already have. We get into why nonprofits so strongly prefer operators who understand their funding streams and stakeholders, how outgrown systems quietly cap an organization's growth, and why operations have never belonged in the overhead column. If you have a cause you love and a skill set you have not yet monetized, Claire has already walked this road.

For full show notes, check out https://theopsauthority.com/podcast/312-inside-a-six-person-ops-agency-built-for-nonprofits-with-claire-crum/

Connect with Claire

Website: https://calm-ops.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairecrum/

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An aging workforce, a hundred years of "this is how we've always done it," and a shrinking pool of people to hire. That is the operational reality inside the printing industry, and it is exactly where my guest thrives. Continuing our operator in the wild series, I am joined by Kasandra Murray, a fractional CMO and COO who serves print manufacturers. She unpacks why retention is the industry's biggest challenge, how strong training quietly solves it, the messy ops moment that saved her client thousands in overtime, and the two skills that make any operator invaluable. If you have ever wondered what it looks like to niche down and go deep, this conversation is your window in.

For full show notes, check out https://theopsauthority.com/podcast/311-inside-the-printing-industry-with-kasandra-murray-systems-ai-and-growth

Connect with Kasandra

Website: https://www.unluckyumbrella.com/

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Are you a talented operator quietly wondering if there is still a place for you in this market? You aren't alone, and this episode is the reset you need. I'm unpacking why so many capable service providers are questioning their value right now and why this is not an AI conversation; it's a confidence conversation. I'm sharing what has actually changed in the market, how the modern operator has evolved beyond implementation, and the operator mindset that will carry you through the next decade. If you've been feeling stuck, uncertain, or invisible, consider this your call to step into strategic leadership.

For full show notes, check out https://theopsauthority.com/podcast/310-why-great-operators-are-suddenly-doubting-themselves

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What if the reason certain business strategies never worked for you has nothing to do with effort, and everything to do with design? In this episode of The Ops Authority Podcast, I'm joined by my longtime business bestie, Melissa Froehlich, a strengths-based business strategist and Kolbe Certified consultant, to explore how Human Design can transform the way you build and run your service-based business. We unpack the five Human Design types, the strategy each one is meant to operate from, and how this awareness pairs beautifully with the Strategic Mapping Model™. If you've ever forced yourself into someone else's blueprint, this conversation will give you permission to finally do business your way.

For full show notes, check out https://theopsauthority.com/podcast/309-how-human-design-helps-operators-deliver-the-strategic-map-with-melissa-froehlich

Connect with Melissa

Website: http://www.melissafroehlich.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissafroehlich_biz/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MFStrategicBusinessGrowth

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Saying yes to the wrong client can cost you far more than money. In this episode of The Ops Authority Podcast, I sit down with Raquel Castillo, founder of The Online Integrator, to talk about one of the most uncomfortable lessons in business: how to fire a client, and how to avoid ever needing to. Raquel shares the story of an engagement that looked perfect on paper but unraveled over misaligned values and team culture. The decision-making tool she now uses to vet every fractional client before she says yes. If you have ever stayed too long in a bad-fit relationship, this conversation is for you.

For full show notes, check out https://theopsauthority.com/podcast/308-how-raquel-castillo-fired-a-client-who-paid-three-months-in-advance

Connect with Raquel

Website: https://theonlineintegrator.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theonlineintegrator

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What happens when you gather the most common, most challenging questions from our Director of Operations community and answer them live, without a script? Pure gold. In this Ops Edition of The Ops Authority Podcast, I'm joined once again by Lynette Robinson to tackle three real-world scenarios that every operator faces: how to clearly communicate what you do, how to build local connections that convert, and whether to niche down or stay broad as a new business owner. If you've struggled with messaging, meetups & momentum, this episode will give you the clarity and confidence to move forward strategically.

For full show notes, check out https://theopsauthority.com/podcast/307-how-to-becom…adrienne-dorison/

Connect with Adrienne

Website: https://Level11leaders.comFacebook: http://Facebook.com/adriennedorisonhttps://www.facebook.com/lighterlivingvirtualsolutions Instagram: http://Instagram.com/adriennedorison

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Ever poured time or money into a big program that promised the world and delivered very little? In this solo episode of The Ops Authority Podcast, I'm taking you behind the scenes of a major shift we've made to our Director of Ops Certification program, and the philosophy that drove every part of it: confidence comes after evidence, never before. I'm sharing why we separated our signature work into two distinct parts, how that lowers your risk, and why I believe this is now the most responsible way to step into operational work. Two clear paths. One mission: to give you proof before you plunge all the way in.

For full show notes, check out www.TheOpsAuthority.com/podcast/306

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Dreaming about leaving corporate for consulting but unsure if you're truly ready to take the leap? In this episode of The Ops Authority Podcast, I'm pulling back the curtain on the eight strategic steps that every operator needs in place before handing in their notice. From getting proof of concept to building your network behind the scenes, this is the calculated, confident roadmap I wish I had when I made my own exit. If you've been waiting for a sign to start preparing, this episode is it.

For full show notes, check out www.TheOpsAuthority.com/podcast/305

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What happens when six business owners from completely different niches sit down together after a major marketing summit? You get raw, honest insight into what is actually working right now, and what is not. In this special episode of The Ops Authority Podcast, I am sharing a roundtable conversation recorded by my friend Dr. Destini Copp after the New Media Summit in Austin. Alongside Kelly Snyder, Monica Froese, Kate Kordsmeier, and Jodi Bourne, we unpack the boldest takeaways, the uncomfortable truths, and the practical shifts every operator needs to make as part of an evolving marketing strategy.

For full show notes, check out www.TheOpsAuthority.com/podcast/304

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Ten episodes in and the questions just keep getting better. In this milestone Ops Edition of The Ops Authority Podcast, I am joined once again by the brilliant Lynette Robinson for a real-time Q&A that gets straight to the heart of personal development for operations professionals. We tackle three community-sourced questions: the real difference between a DOO and a COO, how to handle video requirements in job applications, and what to do when business owners try to pay DOO-level talent at VA rates. Two operators, zero scripts, and a whole lot of honest insight.

Connect with Lynette:

Website: http://www.lighterlivingvirtualsolutions.com Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/_lynettedrobinson_ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lighterlivingvirtualsolutions

For full show notes, check out www.TheOpsAuthority.com/podcast/303

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Welcome back to another episode of The Ops Authority Podcast! I have Kimberly Howard on the show today. Kimberly is a Certified Director Of Operations and she is sharing her journey from educator to DOO. Our conversation highlights her action-oriented approach throughout the certification and beyond, and her belief in her abilities. She also shares more about the Strategic Mapping Model™, explaining its huge impact on her business and clients and how it truly helped her achieve success through practical and tactical planning. Tune in to hear Kim's story!

For full show notes, check out www.TheOpsAuthority.com/podcast/302

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Have you heard us talk about the Strategic Mapping Model™, but are unsure of what it entails, and how it can be a valuable asset in your Director of Operations (DOO) business?

Today we are talking about the Strategic Mapping Model™, which is the licensed material that we teach in the very first module of the DOO certification program. We have had students join us just to learn this information because it is such an incredible tool.

For full show notes, check out www.TheOpsAuthority.com/podcast/301

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What happens when you gather the most common, most challenging questions from our Director of Operations community and answer them live, without a script? Pure gold. In this Ops Edition of The Ops Authority Podcast, I'm joined once again by Lynette Robinson to tackle three real-world scenarios that every operator faces: how to clearly communicate what you do, how to build local connections that convert, and whether to niche down or stay broad as a new business owner. If you've struggled with messaging, meetups & momentum, this episode will give you the clarity and confidence to move forward strategically.

For full show notes, check out www.TheOpsAuthority.com/podcast/300Natalie Gingrich

Connect with Lynette

Website: https://www.lighterlivingvirtualsolutions.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lighterlivingvirtualsolutionsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/_lynettedrobinson

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What happens when a former COO of a top 10 mega real estate team takes everything she learned the hard way and turns it into a business built to help others avoid the same chaos? That is exactly the story Lauren Duke, founder of CoreOps Collective, is here to share. In this episode, we are going deep into the operational business foundations that real estate agents desperately need but rarely have, and Lauren is breaking down her proven framework for replacing survival mode with real structure. If you are an operator looking for a behind-the-scenes look at a niche industry, or a real estate professional wondering why everything feels so scattered, this conversation is for you.

Connect with Lauren:

Website: http://www.coreopscollective.com Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/coreopscollective Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/coreopscollective

For full show notes, check out www.TheOpsAuthority.com/podcast/299Natalie Gingrich

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Events are more than just experiences; they're pressure cookers where every operational decision converges at once. In this episode of The Ops Authority Podcast, I'm joined by event producer Shay Wheat to explore the operations behind live events that most people never see. From reverse engineering strategy to leveraging AI, Shay shares the systems that support high-stakes events without burning out the operators holding them together. Whether you're managing your first summit or producing your fiftieth conference, this episode will transform how you think about event operations.

For full show notes, check out www.TheOpsAuthority.com/podcast/298Natalie Gingrich

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Welcome to a brand-new three-part series on The Ops Authority Podcast, where we go behind the scenes with operators from industries that look completely different on the surface but share the same heartbeat: strong operations. In this first episode, I'm sitting down with Thais Saenz, Founder of Saenz Global, to explore the world of roofing contractors. From managing chaotic job sites to leveraging AI for world-class delivery, Thais is proving that operations isn't just about keeping things running. It's about building businesses that scale, teams that thrive, and clients who trust you. Whether you're supporting trades, running your own business, or simply curious about what makes companies work, this conversation will show you how strong operations create stability and success in any industry.

For full show notes, check out www.TheOpsAuthority.com/podcast/297

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