Excited and Terrified: The Dual Emotions Every New Leader Must Master

In this episode of Do Small Business Like a Big Boss, host Aisha Jorge Massengill sits down with Karen Murphy, President of FBM Integrated Marketing, to discuss her journey from employee to owner of a 35-year-old B2B marketing agency. Karen shares what it’s really like stepping into leadership—feeling both excited and terrified—while navigating mentorship, remote work, and high-level decision-making. This conversation dives into building strong processes, simplifying complex marketing challenges, maintaining work-life balance, and leading with confidence in a women-owned business.

🎧 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• You don’t have to start from scratch to build something extraordinary
• Why leadership often feels both exciting and terrifying
• The power of mentorship in personal and professional growth
• How remote work has changed collaboration and leadership
• Why strong processes are essential for managing complex projects
• How to achieve work-life balance through trust and flexibility
• The value of women-owned business certifications
• Why a research-minded approach leads to better client outcomes
• How to simplify complex marketing challenges
• Advice for aspiring leaders facing tough decisions

⏱️ Episode Timestamps:

• 5:40-6:07– The importance of mentorship in leadership
• 23:02 - 25:15 – Research-minded approach to client work
• 34:07-34:34 – Doing small business like a big boss

👤 About the Guest:
Karen Murphy is the President of FBM Integrated Marketing, a B2B marketing and branding agency. She leads with a research-driven mindset, a passion for mentorship, and a commitment to simplifying complex marketing challenges for clients.

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Podcast Mantra:
Build the dream messy, build it scared, just don’t build it small.
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