“The really surreal part for me personally is that when I did the Online Business Managers programme myself back in 2020, I was in such a financial mess after my 20-year marriage had broken down that I had to remortgage my home, and was receiving support from the local food bank,” Amanda begins. “Just two years later, I became a trainer, and just recently, 1st May 2026, I became the CEO of the International Association of Online Business Managers, the very organisation that created the programme all those years ago. Just six years ago, my life was in tatters... Today, I am remarried, I have relocated my life back to England from Belfast, I have beaten cancer, I have remarried, and now I own the very association that changed my life and countless others around the world.” When she initially invested in OBM training, it didn’t come from a place of comfort or confidence, but a mix of desperation and hope. “I remember putting my OBM training on a credit card and physically feeling sick, wondering if I’d just made the worst decision of my life,” Amanda recounts. But it was a decision that changed everything, and she hasn’t looked back. Now, the values behind the business are deeply personal to Amanda due to her personal experiences, with her caring massively about integrity, standards, and helping people build businesses and careers that genuinely change lives, not just look good on Instagram. “I want people to realise they are capable of far more than they think they are,” she says. “If I’d known that such a thing existed in 2009, perhaps I would have been able to spend more time with my son instead of in an office feeling unappreciated, unseen, unvalued, and underpaid. I never thought for a second there were roles out there that people with an admin background could turn into a lucrative in-demand business.” Having recently become CEO of the International Association of Online Business Managers, Amanda tells us how this feels incredibly significant. It doesn’t only represent her growth, but also the growing recognition of the UK within the industry globally. She is leading a revolution of highly skilled UK-based operational professionals to achieve the skills they need to step into businesses and genuinely lead. These individuals bring a strong work ethic and high expectations surrounding communication, structure, and delivery, which naturally feed into how Thrive OBM Academy trains and supports them. Many UK businesses are becoming comfortable hiring experienced remote professionals at leadership level without the need for a traditional in-house structure. Thrive OBM Academy develops people so they are equipped to take on these roles, to think strategically, to manage moving parts, to lead teams, to improve workflows, and to help businesses function well. Many of its students are working with clients around the world, too, with their impact stretching far beyond the UK alone. Furthermore, AI is a growing trend within businesses, and it has strengthened the need for skilled OBMs, rather than weakened it. Thrive OBM Academy advocates for AI’s capability to support business efficiency, but it should not replace human critical thinking and oversight. The academy itself has begun integrating AI into its training, but always through the lens of operations and business strategy, placing emphasis on how it can genuinely improve the way a business runs. “I think that’s one of the reasons our students and the graduating members, our Certified OBMs, stand out,” says Amanda. “They are learning how to think as AIempowered, operational leaders, not just knowing what to click.” So, what’s next? Amanda says, “Personally, I would love to see the OBM role become far more recognised publicly over the next couple of years. I think we are only scratching the surface of how valuable these roles are to growing businesses. “Longer term, my vision is simple really. I want people searching for AI and/or operational leadership to immediately think, ‘I need a Certified OBM.’” She concludes, “I think the biggest thing I’d want people to take from my story is that success rarely looks polished when you’re in the middle of building it. But I’m incredibly grateful for every part of the journey because it allows me to genuinely understand the people we support now. And, honestly, if my story proves anything, I hope it’s that one decision can completely change the direction of your life.” Company name: Thrive OBM Academy Contact name: Amanda Hyde-Pierce Website: www.thriveobmacademy.com Thrive OBM Academy is the first UK-based licensed provider in the 17-year history of the International Association of Online Business Managers, training people to become Certified Online Business Managers (OBMs), so they can succeed in the world of online business. Thrive OBM Academy works with mainly women who have started out in admin support but are ready for more. More leadership, more ownership, more income, more impact. Amanda Hyde-Pierce, now also CEO of International Association of Online Business Managers, tells us her story and how there is something very full-circle about her founding of Thrive OBM Academy. Best Online Business Manager Training & Certification Provider 2026
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