In this episode of Girls Make Bank, Jac sits down with the brilliant Julia Lynch — career strategist, personal brand architect, and creator behind Smarter in a Sec. Julia’s path is anything but traditional, and that’s exactly why it works. She built her business through service, storytelling, and a fiercely human approach to visibility.

Together, they unpack how Julia went from a teenage intern at HarperCollins → to consulting across Asia → to becoming one of the most trusted career and personal brand strategists for Gen Z, executives, and founders.

Julia shares the truth about building a portfolio career, why she refuses to “pitch slap” anyone, how she thinks about authentic networking, and why her most expensive clients aren’t who you think they are.

This conversation is generous, candid, and packed with practical insight — especially if you’re building a business, crafting a personal brand, or redefining your career path.

Topics Discussed:

• The unexpected start of Julia’s storytelling career (including an editor who accidentally roasted her in the newspaper)
• What a “portfolio career” actually looks like in practice
• Why vulnerability sells (and where to draw the line)
• The difference between authentic networking and pitch-slapping
• How Julia structures her revenue streams — from coaching to retainers to content partnerships
• The importance of “power referrers” and why 60% of Julia’s business still comes from offline connections
• What service-based entrepreneurs get wrong about social media
  
  
  

Connect with Julia Lynch:

• Instagram: @smarterinasec
• Substack: smarterinasec.substack.com
• Website: smarterinasec.com
• Email: smarterinasec@gmail.com

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In this episode, Jac sits down with Jessica Abo — journalist, keynote speaker, author, and executive presence coach helping leaders and entrepreneurs show up as their most confident, authentic selves.

Jessica shares her journey from dreaming of being the next Phil Donahue to anchoring for New York One, launching her own production company, and building a thriving business teaching others how to communicate powerfully — on camera and off.

Together, they explore the art of executive presence, how your environment and mindset shape confidence, and the life-changing power of slowing down. Jessica also opens up about her wake-up call with burnout, recovering from people-pleasing, and how curiosity (not perfection) builds connection in leadership, business, and parenting.

Topics Discussed in the Episode:

• What “executive presence” really means in 2025
• Why the way you show up on Zoom reveals how you see yourself
• How to build authentic rapport and connection — fast
• Leadership lessons from broadcasting and motherhood
• The hidden cost of people-pleasing and how to reclaim your voice
• Jessica’s upcoming From the ER to PR program for health professionals
  
  
  

Connect with Jessica Abo:

• Website: jessicaabo.com
• Corporate Coaching: jet-t-productions.com
• Email: hello@jessicaabo.com

Apply to be a part of the Honeybees Sales Circle
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Subscribe to our email newsletter
Visit us at honeybeesgroup.co

In this episode, Jac sits down with Devin Lee, a systems strategist who helps entrepreneurs design the thoughtful processes and tech stacks that keep their businesses running smoothly—so they can focus on high-impact work instead of getting lost in the weeds.

Devin shares her journey from professional home organizer to systems strategist and how building structure into her own business helped her create the freedom to live and work anywhere in the world. Together, Jac and Devin talk about what it really means to “get out of the weeds,” why creativity actually thrives with structure, and the tell-tale signs it’s time to upgrade your systems.

They also dive into process mapping, the power of automation, and how tools like ChatGPT can make creating SOPs faster and easier than ever. Plus, Devin shares her signature mini-course, Inbox Zero Hero, for anyone ready to finally get their email under control and reclaim their mental space.

Topics Discussed in the Episode:

• Why solopreneurs need systems just as much as big companies
• The difference between systems that get you started and those that help you scale
• How process mapping can reveal the hidden work (and value) in your business
  Tools and automations that save time and create consistency
• The first systems to set up if you’re just getting started
  
  
  
  

Connect with Devin Lee:

• Website: devinlee.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devinleesystemsstrategist/
• Check out Inbox Zero Hero
  
  
  

Apply to be a part of the Honeybees Sales Circle
Follow me on LinkedIn
Subscribe to our email newsletter
Visit us at honeybeesgroup.co