Stay ConnectedYou started this business to lead. Somewhere along the way, the business started leading you instead.
The Modern CEO Podcast with Amber McCue is where that stops, and growth gets a plan. Real strategy, sustainable systems, and the kind of leadership conversations that help you step fully into your role as the CEO your business needs.
Your season of growth is already underway. You’re right on time.
Your clients don't care about your process. They care about how working with you makes them feel.
And in a world where AI can generate, automate, and replicate almost everything, that feeling is the one thing that cannot be copied.
In this episode, Amber gets into what it actually means to be an experience-driven business and how to design one, whether you're fully virtual, product-based, service-based, or all three. She shares the research behind why emotionally connected customers are more than twice as valuable as satisfied ones, breaks down the three levels most businesses operate at (and why so few ever reach level three), and brings it all to life with real examples from her own business, Nike, and a founder's community doing something quietly brilliant.
In this episode:
Why satisfaction is transactional and connection is where loyalty actually lives
The three levels of business delivery and what it takes to move to level three
How Amber's team opened their real planning meetings to VIPs and what happened when they did
What Nike's run clubs teach us about identity, belonging, and price sensitivity
Why a packed schedule can actually hollow out the experience you're trying to build
A five-layer framework to audit or design your own client experience starting now
Whether this is brand new thinking or you've been building experience into your work for years without a name for it, you are right on time.
Are you dangerously close to becoming the bottleneck in your own business?
Recorded while walking through Zagreb (because I was literally about to become the bottleneck myself), this episode breaks down how to tell if you're holding up your own progress and what to do about it.
What We Cover:
→ The signs you're becoming the bottleneck (hint: it's because you care too much, not too little)
→ The $1 bill vs. $100 bill framework for prioritizing your time
→ Three systems that stop the bottleneck before it starts
→ The responsiveness trap and how it trains you to become the answer person
→ Why meetings beat message marathons
→ Creating decision-making frameworks so your team knows what they own
The Bottom Line:
You're not removing yourself from your business. You're removing yourself from the noise so you can focus on what compounds value.
💬 What's one thing bottlenecked at your desk right now? Drop it in the comments.
🔗Connect: ambermccue.com | @ambermccue on Instagram
What happens when you ask AI to give you brutally honest feedback about how you lead, decide, and show up in your business?
You get a CEO Reality Check that helps you stop spinning, start integrating, and lead with way more clarity.
In this video, I'm walking you through how I built my Reality Check Folder inside ChatGPT (or Claude), which includes:
The prompt that gave me feedback was so accurate that I almost dropped my coffee
Personality-based data (Human Design, Enneagram, MBTI, astrocartography!)
Business strategy and mindset coaching
Energy rhythms and lifestyle integration
If you're someone who wants your business to run in alignment with your actual self (instead of duct-taping strategy over burnout), this is for you.
🎯 Want the prompts? DM me "REALITY" on Instagram, and I'll send them to you: ambermccue.com/instagram
🎧 Also available on Apple Podcasts!
You are right on time. Keep going.
I Slowed Down Last Year. Here's What Happened
Life came in hot. Moves, family shifts, tech hiccups, and surprise detours.
In this episode, Amber shares a raw, reflective look at what really happened behind the scenes in 2025, and how it's shaping everything she's doing (and not doing) in 2026. She's also sharing a gift to help you stay focused in 2026. Comment RISE, and we'll send it your way.
🔗 Subscribe, leave a comment, and let us know your word of the year. We'd love to hear it.
Running a business should mean freedom, but what happens when you finally step away from it? I took a 7-day trip deep into Kenya's Savannah to find out. No laptop. No client calls. Just me, my team, and a test of everything we've built. Did I pass the Vacation Test this time? Let's unpack what happened, the unexpected and the surprisingly smooth moments, plus how you can prepare your business to run without you.
Watch now to find out if I survived… and if my business did too!
Could your business survive without you for a week? Could YOU survive without checking in?
In this episode, I take The Vacation Test—a three-part challenge designed to reveal if your business is truly set up for freedom. The rules? No work calls. No "just checking in" texts. No scrambling to catch up when you get back.
I thought I had this in the bag… but what happened on my trip to Marrakesh might surprise you.
Did I pass or fail? And, more importantly, would YOU pass?
Come find out.
Mentioned In This Episode:
Can your business pass The Vacation Test? If stepping away for a week (or more!) feels impossible without chaos erupting, this episode is a must-watch. I'm breaking down why vacations actually grow your business (yes, really!), the three-question test that reveals if your business is truly set up for freedom, and the exact steps to make sure you can unplug without the stress.
Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more strategies to run your business like a true Modern CEO!
Mentioned In This Episode:
Google is out here doing the most—and you're probably not even using half of what it can do. These five AI tools inside Google Suite will blow your mind and save you hours.
Inbox zero in five minutes (yes, really)
Scheduling meetings with one click (no back-and-forth nonsense)
AI workflow productive hacks that keep you on track
Best AI apps built right into Google (no extra downloads)
The sneaky new Google Docs trick that makes SOPs actually usable
Hit play now if you're ready to ditch the busy work and start working smarter.
PS: What's your favorite productivity AI hack? Drop it in the comments!
Mentioned In The Episode:
Ever feel like you're running on fumes and, instead of a superwoman cape, you're wearing a frayed "I'm fine" sign? Feeling burnt out but still trying to power through like a WiFi signal that only works when you stand on one leg in the corner of your kitchen? In this episode, we dive deep into burnout recovery, how to prevent burnout before it knocks you flat, and the sneaky signs of emotional burnout you might be ignoring. If your morning coffee looks at you like, " I can't help you," we need to talk. Tune in as we break down real strategies to stay productive without running yourself into the ground.
Mentioned In This Episode:
2021 Study by the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology – Discusses predictors of burnout, including prolonged stress and lack of recovery time.
American Psychological Association Research – Highlights that individuals who take regular breaks and prioritize self-care have higher productivity and greater satisfaction.
Prioritize Everything Framework – A framework mentioned for prioritizing activities, available here.
Ready to take control of your day, eliminate chaos, and actually get the important stuff done? Tune into today's episode, where I spill the secrets to getting more done without losing your sanity. From entrepreneur productivity tips to time management skills that work, we're covering it all.
Say goodbye to distractions, spinning your wheels, and guilt about protecting your time.
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