In this episode of The OBM Show, Sarah Noked sits down with Rae Raczka, Accredited OBM and founder of The Ops Collective, to talk about the breaking point that pushed her to completely rethink the way she was working.

At 25, Rae was running operations, payroll, bookkeeping, and accounting across five entities in three countries. She was working 60–65 hour weeks, constantly stressed, and the pressure had reached the point where she was experiencing chest pains most days. On top of that, her husband worked the opposite shift, which meant they barely saw each other except in passing.

Eventually, something had to change.

Rae shares the moment she realized the corporate role she had worked so hard to build simply wasn’t sustainable anymore and the unexpected twist that followed when the company she left became her first OBM client.

This conversation explores the very real transition many operators make when they move from employee to strategic operations partner. Instead of carrying responsibility without authority, they step into a role where they design systems, guide decisions, and help founders stabilize the backend of their businesses.

We also talk about one of the most common lessons OBMs learn early in their careers: why hourly pricing can unintentionally punish you for becoming really good at your job.

If you’ve ever wondered how experienced operators transition into the OBM role, or what it actually looks like to build a career in operational leadership, this episode gives an honest behind-the-scenes look.

🎥 Prefer video? Watch the full episode here on YouTube:

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

This episode is especially relevant if you’ve ever felt like you’re the person quietly holding everything together behind the scenes.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to:

  • Recognize when operational responsibility has outgrown a traditional role
  • Identify the transferable leadership skills corporate operators bring into online businesses
  • Understand how Rae turned her former job into her first OBM client
  • See why efficiency can actually reduce income when pricing is purely hourly
  • Shift toward scope-based pricing that reflects operational leadership and value

This conversation isn’t just about leaving a job.

It’s about recognizing the moment when your experience and leadership belong in a different kind of role.

The Next Step

If this episode resonated and you’re beginning to see how your operational experience could translate into the Online Business Manager role, the next step is understanding what that path actually looks like.

OBM Accreditation helps experienced operators step fully into the OBM role by strengthening operational leadership, strategic decision-making, and the systems that allow businesses to grow sustainably.

For business owners who are ready to bring operational leadership into their company, you can explore the Directory of Accredited OBMs or be matched with the right partner through OBM School’s matchmaking process.