So, how do you grow without burning yourself out?

In this AMAS episode, I talked about what I learned about raising rates, bringing on other consultants, and using AI and administrative support to create more capacity. We also tackle the bigger question: Do you actually need to grow beyond yourself?

After building a successful career in luxury real estate, Sam’s life took an unexpected turn. After a series of life-changing events unfolding within months, he found himself leading a consulting business his father founded, in an industry he never planned to enter. 

But Sam quickly discovered that the skills he'd developed in real estate translated surprisingly well to consulting. 

In our conversation, we explore those skills and why they’re valuable to his work. 

I sat down with Kari Huske to talk about her bold career shift, the power of stepping outside your comfort zone, and how she’s building a consulting practice abroad.

We also covered her work with Strategy Tools, work-life balance, and landing clients big and small through strong networks.

She's designed nuclear submarines, played professional poker in Russia, built and sold an educational consulting practice. Then, at an age when most people retire, she launched PROVOKEDmagazine, a media company for women over 60 that's already hit 45,000 subscribers with a team of 20+ writers. 

For Susan, every new chapter is just another hard problem worth solving. 

Here, she breaks down exactly how she thinks about starting over, at any age. 

But Pradnya Haldipur did it and she did it successfully – no consulting business plan involved. 

She left a senior role at Doctors Without Borders to start a consulting company. Twelve months in, she was doing better than she'd expected. 

We first talked to Pradnya during the first few months of her launching her independent practice. We brought her back a year later to see what happened, and ask her a few things we missed the first time around.  

This is the third part of our Win Trust, Win Six Figures series about establishing a trusted brand as an independent consultant. 

Pradnya Haldipur to show us what happens when someone executes this advice under real pressure. 

With some of the best AI tools for marketing today, extracting ideas from those assets is easier and faster than ever. Finding the message-market fit hidden in the transcripts is the key to writing thought leadership content that resonates. 

Candyce is also an expert when it comes to building the best LinkedIn profile for consultants – one that sounds like your most authentic self, not the polished version. 

We talk about it and more in the second part of our Win Trust, Win Six Figures series. 

After all, you can’t read the label from inside the bottle. 

In this first part of our Win Trust, Win Six Figures podcast series, Angie lays out the how-to’s of narrowing your expertise and turning them into thought leadership content examples that build trust. 

This one’s worth a listen, especially if you’re looking to upgrade your marketing and LinkedIn content strategy. 

I sat down with Megan Fanale, COO of Ability, to talk about how their simulations help people build real-world financial acumen—especially when it comes to P&L management.

We also covered how AI is changing practice conversations and why hands-on learning beats theory every time.

Allison Sutera learned it the hard way—as the person responsible for running the business. 

After leading P&Ls at PepsiCo, Aramark, and SIG North America, she discovered that improving cash isn't about collecting invoices faster. It's about fixing the way the business operates. 

In this conversation, she shares the lessons every operator, consultant, and business leader should know. 

It's the kind of decision that starts with a career change, a push from circumstance, or a feeling that there's something better on the other side of corporate life. 

In this episode, I’m giving you a glimpse of my journey — from an unexpected exit to building a consulting business. I'm also answering questions she that I hear most often from professionals considering the leap. 

If you're wondering whether you're ready, or how to prepare before you make the move, this conversation is a great place to start.  

I sat down with Sandhya Jain-Patel—founder of CulturePRISM and co-author of Beyond Diversity—to talk about authentic storytelling, lived experiences, and why culture is way more than a checkbox.

We also touched on her journey from Christie’s to Disney, and what companies get wrong (and right) in their DEI efforts.

The answer is yes, but I understand the hesitation. Asking for compensation can feel awkward, especially when all you're doing is making an introduction. 

But here's the way I think about it: when you refer someone, you're creating value for everyone involved. You're helping a consultant find an opportunity they may not have found on their own, and you're helping a client find someone trustworthy to solve a problem. 

That's not just an introduction; it's value. Referral fees are simply a way to recognize that value. 

In this podcast episode, I answered some of the most common questions I hear about referral fees. 

Namrata Sarmah followed the traditional path all the way to the C-suite before realizing there was more than one way to be successful. 

Today, she advises PE-backed companies as a product leader, runs global leadership communities, and helps executives create what she calls a plural career. 

If you've ever wondered what comes after the corporate ladder, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on what's possible. 

👉 Join CPO Track: https://forms.gle/CPVZiyW1czzUCyp18

The challenge is that anxiety is also a signal from the nervous system. If we never learn how to manage it, the same thing that drives performance can eventually lead to burnout, overwhelm, and unhealthy habits.

And whether we realize it or not, our children are watching.

They see how we respond to pressure. They learn how to handle setbacks. They absorb our relationship with stress long before they learn how to manage their own. 

That’s why I was thrilled to speak with Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge, author of The Dysregulated Kid. For more than 30 years, she has helped children and families understand nervous system dysregulation – the connection between stress, emotions, behavior, and performance. 

Her work is built around a simple but powerful idea: you cannot teach, lead, or parent a dysregulated brain. 

In this conversation, we discuss resilience over achievement, the signs of stress in children, and what you can do to help kids build the coping skills they need to be happy and successful.

For any parent-consultants out there, this one’s worth a listen.

👉 Get a copy of his book: https://www.amazon.com/Theres-Room-Service-Psych-Ward/dp/1955026890

He's done it at McKinsey, at the Big Four, and now while splitting his time between independent consulting and building his own food tech venture.

In this conversation, Troy breaks down the discipline behind great strategy work — and what happens when you take those skills into an entirely new field.

Not the glamorous ‘build your personal brand and land dream clients.’ But the actual mechanics of how many consultants find work: through hiring companies and curated networks that connect talent with clients. 

And depending on who you ask, those companies are either a shortcut or great opportunities – or middlemen taking cut of your revenue. 

The truth is much more nuanced than that. 

Sudeshna Sen believed it too – until she left corporate and tried to build something of her own. 

That’s when she realized the playbook we know isn’t always the answer. 

What she found, after slowing down and actually listening to other founders, was that their problem ran deeper than tactics. Women founders were surrounded by communities, events, and connections – but still felt completely alone when things got hard. 

Because support wasn't there when it counted. That gap is what Pionyr is built to close. 

In this conversation, Sudeshna talks about what it really took to build something you’re proud of – and why going slow was never the setback people thought. 

👉 Join Pionyr: https://joinpionyr.com/

I sat down with Kris Hardy to talk about product refresh cycles, why customer insights matter more than ever, and how smart collaboration between product and sales teams can drive real innovation.

And I get it – because I asked all of them too. Only I had to figure things out on my own, either by Googling things, asking around, or trying out stuff to see if they stick.

So instead of overcomplicating it, I’m just going to walk through the ones that matter most and give you the straight answers I wish I had when I started. 

Think taxes, structure, payroll – and a whole set of decisions no one teaches you how to make.

But Lorie Jones, founder of Fearless Financial Advisors, has built her career helping founders manage what comes next financially.

In this conversation, we go deep into the three stages every founder goes through – and how to navigate each one. 

While working at Deloitte, Parm built Student Storage into a 20-campus business across Canada. It’s an impressive feat, especially this early in his career.

And it’s also why my conversation with Parm matters.

Because once you’ve run something yourself, you don’t think – or advise – the same way again. 

Last year, we started featuring the worst charts and visuals the internet has to offer.

We've racked up a fair amount in our collection, so we invited chart champ Amelia Waters to critique some bad charts and give us a few pointers on how to do it right.

Watch the full episode in our YouTube channel next week: youtube.com/channel/UC5DlEn-4CszFJw-aCTcTopQ/

Joe Griffith did – and it’s the best decision he made. 

He used his expertise as a former Bain consultant and built Wander New Mexico, now the no.1 rated tour company in New Mexico. 

He’s still running it a decade later while consulting independently on the side. 

The interesting part isn’t just how he’s doing both – it’s how one made the other better. 

I sat down with my good friend Katie McCormick Lelyveld—founder of MELD and former press secretary to Michelle Obama—to talk about authenticity, networking, and the real work of building lasting relationships.

We also touched on intergenerational conversations, women in leadership, and how small moments lead to big connections.

Amanda Nizzere is a fractional CMO who has reached full capacity in just two years (impressive, right?). But she’s spent that time doing more than just client work for AN Strategy.

As the host of the Female Fractionals podcast, Amanda has had dozens of candid conversations with fractional executives about what works (and what doesn’t) in a fractional practice.

If you’re building a fractional or independent consulting practice, this conversation offers a clear framework – and some hard-earned insights – for what actually makes fractional work work. 

Do you have a graveyard of unused subscriptions, or do you still do everything manually?

I think you only need four essentials – every one of them useful for everyday tasks.

Anything else you add should pass the ultimate efficiency test: Reach the least number of clicks to get sh*t done. 

You leave corporate, land a client, and price your time.

You breathe easier because you do the work you’re passionate about. In many ways, it’s wonderful.

But here’s what doesn’t get talked about enough: The real challenge of fractional life shows up in about six months.

In a bonus episode of The 2x2 Podcast, Anna Wondany – founder of Hey CMO – walked me through the network she built to support fractional leaders. 

👉 Join Hey CMO here: https://hey.heycmo.com/a/2148165011/4NwoMab9

👉 Watch the FREE Demo here: https://youtu.be/Jem1f7y3tCY

Ryan O’Toole spent his entire career inside rooms a lot of us only hear about – PE board rooms and PE-backed leadership teams.

He’s been the consultant, the operator, and the advisor.

This makes him unusually good at explaining how boards actually work. In this interview, we’re talking about everything you and I need to know about boards. 

In this episode, we talk about the evolution of brand management and the importance of creativity and mentorship in consulting.

We also discuss the challenges faced in the consulting industry, the significance of continuous learning, and the path to achieving true mastery.

Did that number scare you? Or does it sound like a piece of cake?

I think $400k is the mark of a successful consulting practice – it means you live a financially comfortable lifestyle without burying yourself with work.

Are you up for the challenge?

It started when she found a half-empty twelve-pack Sprite in her 6th grader’s backpack. She asked James about it, and he said he goes to an H-E-B before school and sells soda to his friends.

He made $20/day and called it SchoolDash. This is when Leslie knew she has an entrepreneur in the house.

Now, James is onto his second business venture: Grove Flower – a flower delivery subscription service for assisted living residents.

In this episode, we talked about recognizing that your child is afflicted with the curse of entrepreneurship and nurturing it in a positive way. We also exchanged business ideas that we think kids can start today.

In this conversation, Wes Wheless shares his journey from being a consultant to helping other independent consultants articulate their expertise through visual communication. He discusses the challenges consultants face in defining their niche and the importance of intellectual property in establishing a unique brand.

Wes emphasizes the power of visual metaphors and frameworks in communicating complex ideas simply and effectively, ultimately helping consultants connect with their clients on a deeper level.

Anna Wondany did. And so can fractional executives.

She' s a fractional CMO and the founder of Hey CMO, a fast-growing network for marketing leaders who want independence without isolation.

In this episode, we talk about what it means to work fractionally, how to prevent your own competence from drowning you, and why always saying yes might be your smartest move.

Seasoned fundraising and development strategy expert, Pradnya Haldipur, has been in the nonprofit world for a long time, working with large organizations like Doctors Without Borders.

But now, she’s a newly minted fractional expert already gaining success in just six months.

In this interview, she gives us a peak on what happens on this side of business: meeting year-end goals and keeping organizations funded.

Let’s dive in.

(While we have you here, check out her newsletter: The Chad Chronicles)

I sat down with Scott LaBoda to talk about his path from consulting to retail and back again—with stops at Tom’s Shoes and Lululemon along the way.

We got into merchandising, supply chains, and what’s ahead for both luxury and mass retail.

They weren’t talking about corporate finance, but Nicki Monson agrees the words are still true.

Strangely, she’s not a Wu-Tang fan, but I’ll forgive her for that.

Nicki was the VP of finance at Stenograph, a dynamic SaaS startup. And before that, she held leadership positions for over 20 years at bp, a global energy powerhouse.

Now, Nicki is an esteemed member of the Keenan Reid consulting team – helping clients with their cash flow problems and leading transformations.

In this interview, Nicki breaks down what cash flow really is, why companies lose track of it, and how to get it back under control.

I sat down with Terry Chevalier to talk about his move from big-firm consulting to running his own shop—what’s hard, what’s worth it, and how he’s carved out a niche in telecom and exit planning.

We also talked coaching, business transitions, and why defining the problem you solve is half the battle.

I sat down with Cooper Wechkin, founder of RyeStrategy, to talk about climate accounting, sustainability, and why small and mid-sized companies shouldn’t sit this one out.

We got into Cooper’s journey from undergrad startup to ESG consulting, and how thoughtful strategy can shrink your footprint, and grow your business.

I sat down with Sam Hollin to talk about his move into the world of growth consulting —what changes, what carries over, and how to navigate the shift from structure to speed.

We dug into networking, intuition, and the kind of personal growth that comes from building in real time.

I sat down with Tracy Samantha Schmidt, former Time Magazine reporter, to talk personal branding, earned media, and what actually works in today’s PR landscape.

We covered her path from journalism to consulting, how to think about content distribution, and why a strong messaging framework is non-negotiable.

I sat down with Melissa Aarskaug, host of Executive Connect, to talk about building meaningful relationships, leading with purpose, and how personal branding surfaces—regardless of your industry.

We also got into mentorship, giving back, and the lessons that come from the toughest parts of a career.

I sat down with Pablo Bernal, former product leader at Microsoft, to talk about the shift from reactive support to proactive services, and how AI is reshaping the way we align technology with real customer goals.

We also got into Pablo’s sabbatical, career transitions, and what the future of the industry might look like with AI at its disposal.

After working with hundreds of consultants, I realized that the ones who last aren't just talented. They know how to run the business side too. They know what agreements they make and how they set their rates. 

And so, we made a special podcast episode for it — all the common questions I get asked about contracts and rates.

Paige Darby and I sat down with Susie deVille to talk about how tapping into intrinsic energy can change the way we lead, collaborate, and grow.

We also got into Susie’s leap into indie consulting, the Kolbe assessment, and why adding play to your process actually sharpens performance.

I sat down with Pedro Girardi to talk about his journey from BCG and Delivery Hero to independent consulting—and the resilience it takes to make that leap.

We got into the value of strong networks, co-working spaces, and staying grounded through big transitions.

I sat down with Kristi Gaudioso to talk about her move from Microsoft to indie leadership—and what it takes to drive revenue without being full-time.

We covered sales strategy, adaptability, and why community and collaboration matter more than ever in the fractional world.

If you’re an independent consultant, strategist, or fractional exec who’s serious about building your business—not just picking up gigs—this channel is for you.

I’ve built an eight-figure consulting firm from the ground up. No agency model. No corporate safety net. Just the real work of building something sustainable, scalable, and entirely my own.

Every week, I bring you deep conversations with top independent consultants—people who’ve gone from big firms or executive roles to building successful businesses on their own terms.

We talk about how they:

• Land clients without chasing
• Set your rate in line with value 
• Balance client work with the admin of running your own business
• And scale from solo to microfirm—without burning out

This isn’t a motivational channel.

This is the actual playbook—built for deep thinkers, expert operators, and people who want more autonomy and more control.

So if you’re ready to move your consulting business up and to the right, hit subscribe and dive in.