Confessions with Jess and Cindy: Recent Episodes
Cindy Wagman and Jess Campbell
Ever wish you could pull back the curtain and see how other nonprofit consultants run their businesses? Well, we’ve got you covered! Welcome to the Confessions podcast, hosted by Jess Campbell and Cindy Wagman. We are two former in-house nonprofit pros turned coaches and consultants to purpose driven organizations.
In this podcast, we are giving you access to the business leaders who serve nonprofits as their clients - you know - the people who truly get it. No more gatekeeping, no more secrets - this podcast is going to give you an inside look at what running a successful nonprofit coaching and consulting business looks like. Basically, we’re asking people how much money they make, how they get paid and what has and hasn’t worked in their businesses.
After building our own successful 6-figure nonprofit coaching and consulting businesses, we are on a mission to help other nonprofit coaches and consultants looking to start or scale their own businesses by pulling back the curtain.
Whether you are still working inside a nonprofit and thinking of one day going out on your own or have been running your consulting business for years - you understand that working with nonprofits is just different. Listen in as sector leaders and other experts share their insights, their numbers, and the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to building a nonprofit coaching or consulting business.
After hundreds of episodes and countless conversations, Jess and Cindy are making one of the hardest business decisions: ending Confessions (for now). Butthis isn't just a goodbye episode - it's a masterclass in strategic decision-making and knowing when to let go of something you love for the sake of your business.
In this candid conversation, they pull back the curtain on how they made this decision, why "it's fun" isn't always enough of a business reason, and how regular business evaluations led them to this crossroads. From Cindy's pivot to fractional work to the reality that successful consultants still face doubt and struggle, this episode is packed with real talk about business evolution.
Whether you're holding onto something in your business that's no longer serving you or wondering how to make tough strategic decisions, this conversation will give you permission to choose growth over comfort.
Highlights:
- Regular business audits are non-negotiable. What worked 12 months ago might not align with where your business is headed today.
- "It's fun" isn't always enough. If something doesn't serve your business goals, it might be time to let it go - even if you love it.
- Your business should evolve with you. Cindy's shift from general nonprofit consulting to fractional specialization shows how niching down can clarify everything.
- Everyone struggles, even the "successful" people. Comparison truly is the thief of joy, and behind every confident consultant is someone who still has moments of doubt.
Thanks for being part of this journey with us. Keep doing the important work - the sector needs you. ❤️
🎧 What's next? Connect with Jess at Building Better Together (buildingbettertogether.co) and follow Cindy's fractional work at nonprofitfractionals.com/fracture
Connect with Cindy:
- Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
- Fractional Work: nonprofitfractionals.com/fracture
- LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
- Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
- Building Better Together buildingbettertogether.co
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutntiheboons/
"I was so grossed out. I would send an email and want to go hide under my bed." That's how Rachel Muir, founder of League of Extraordinary Fundraisers, describes her old high-pressure launch strategy.
Now? She's built a thriving membership business around the things she actually loves doing: monthly webinars and writing emails that people think are newsletters (spoiler: they're sales emails, just really good ones).
In this episode, Rachel pulls back the curtain on her complete business model transformation during COVID, when her speaking revenue disappeared overnight and she had to choose: adapt or fail. Her choice? Build around what energizes her, not what she "should" be doing.
Highlights:
- Stop forcing yourself into marketing channels that drain you. Rachel admits she barely posts on LinkedIn and doesn't have a VA—and her business is thriving anyway.
- The 80/20 split that works. Rachel spends 80% of her time marketing her membership and 20% delivering—and why that ratio makes sense.
- How to handle the "commitment issues" of subscription pricing. People assume they're locked in for a year. Rachel's messaging strategy addresses this head-on.
- Why scaling isn't always the goal. With twins heading to college, Rachel's choosing travel and flexibility over aggressive growth—and that's perfectly fine.
Listen to discover how letting go of the "shoulds" and building around your natural strengths can create a business that actually works for your life.
Ready to ditch some business "shoulds" of your own? Subscribe to Confessions for more real talk on building a thriving consulting business.
Connect with Rachel:
- Rachel’s website: https://www.rachelmuir.com/
- Membership website: https://www.leagueofextraordinaryfundraisers.com/
Find Us Online:https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Cindy:
- Nonprofit Fractionals Network: https://www.nonprofitfractionals.com/
- LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
- Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutntiheboons/
"I started thinking about having a kid as it related to my career long before I even started my business. And actually it was really the impetus to start my business."
What do you do when you're self-employed and need to take four months off for maternity leave? If you're Sara Royf, you get ridiculously strategic about it.
Most of us panic at the thought of stepping away from our consulting businesses for any extended period. What happens to our clients? Our income? Will anyone remember we exist when we come back? Sara faced all these fears when she got pregnant, and instead of spiraling, she created a plan that actually worked.
Well, mostly worked. Because this is Confessions, and we're gonna talk about the stuff that didn't go as expected, too.
Sara breaks down exactly how she pre-scheduled four months of content (yes, four months), managed client expectations, and kept her audience warm while she was away. She also gets real about the maternity leave waitlist that converted exactly zero clients and why she'd completely flip her communication strategy if she did it again.
But here's what makes this conversation especially valuable—Sara's not just sharing theory. As a LinkedIn coach who teaches consultants how to get clients through authentic relationship-building, she literally practices what she preaches. Her approach to LinkedIn DMs is the opposite of gross sales tactics, and it works so well that clients book discovery calls with her while simultaneously telling her they hate DMs.
Plus, she drops a confession that'll surprise anyone who follows her work: she's actually not that fond of LinkedIn. Plot twist, right?
Highlights:
- Stop trying to optimize for everything when planning extended leave. Sara chose creative outlet and audience warmth over maximum revenue, and that clarity shaped every other decision she made.
- The 30-person waitlist that converted zero people immediately taught her that timing in business is everything. Sometimes your best-laid plans flop, and that's totally okay if you've layered your strategies.
- Make more noise about coming back than going away. Sara wishes she'd spent less energy announcing her departure and more energy announcing her return—your audience cares about when you're available, not why you're not.
- LinkedIn DMs work when you treat them like in-person conversations. The "would you say this at a conference?" test transforms how people respond to your outreach and makes it feel authentic instead of sales-y.
- Even the experts doubt themselves. Sara had to constantly remind herself she'd achieved exactly what she optimized for, proving that mindset challenges hit all of us—and why having good business friends matters.
Don’t miss the end of the episode to find out how you can connect with Sara and get expert feedback on your LinkedIn profile—completely free.
Connect with Sara:
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-royf/
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Cindy:
- Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
- Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
- LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
- Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutntiheboons/
"I'm not gonna do it like everybody else. I'm very stubborn. I'm very competitive. I do believe that differentiation is stronger than competition."
That's Trevor Nelson from HGA Fundraising, and he's built something pretty incredible by completely ignoring what his competitors were doing. While everyone else was chasing the luxury market at the "tip of the pyramid," Trevor went straight for the base – working with smaller nonprofits that everyone else was overlooking.
The result? A 7-figure consignment business with 24 employees, serving thousands of events.
And they're just getting started.
In this episode, Trevor pulls back the curtain on his anti-competition strategy and shares why trying to beat everyone else at their own game is a losing battle. Instead, he chose to be the best at something completely different, and it's working.
Highlights:
- Stop trying to out-compete everyone else. Trevor looked at what his competitors were doing and deliberately chose the opposite path. Sometimes the best strategy is not to play the same game.
- Volume can be your friend if you're not afraid of it. With thin margins and a "make a little off of a lot" model, Trevor embraces scale instead of running from it. His mindset: "All I have to do is exactly what we're doing right now, just more of it."
- Family business isn't a dirty word. Against all conventional wisdom, Trevor built his company by hiring his sister, brother-in-law, and best friends. His take: "Those are the people you can trust and roll with."
- Relationships are your real equity. Trevor's entire business model is built on genuine connections – even talking prospects out of using their services if it's not the right fit. The long game always wins.
Ready to stop competing and start differentiating? This conversation will shift how you think about positioning your consulting business in a crowded market.
Connect with Trevor:
- LinkedIn: Trevor Nelson
- Company website: hgafundraising.com
- Podcast: "Hey Nonprofits" (YouTube, Apple, Spotify)
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Cindy:
- Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
- Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
- LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
- Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutntiheboons/
Ever roll your eyes when someone tells you AI will "revolutionize your business"? Yeah, our guest Brooke Richie-Babbage felt the same way. She was firmly in the "I don't need some tool to write weird poems" camp until one conversation completely shifted her perspective.
Now? Brooke has built an AI-powered business advisory system that's replaced expensive professional services, streamlined her financial reporting, and gives her marketing insights that used to take days to compile. And she's doing it all without becoming a tech guru or spending hours crafting perfect prompts.
In this candid conversation, Brooke pulls back the curtain on exactly how she went from AI skeptic to power user, sharing her specific systems for training custom GPTs that actually know her business, understand her clients, and deliver actionable insights she can trust.
Whether you're curious about AI but haven't found your use case yet (hi, Jess!) or you're ready to move beyond basic content creation, this episode breaks down practical applications that can actually transform how you run your consulting practice.
Highlights:
- Stop starting from scratch every time. Brooke's custom "Business Advisor" GPT is trained on 15+ business frameworks, her specific goals, and detailed customer insights—so it gives advice that's actually relevant to her business model.
- Turn raw data into actionable insights. Those monthly P&L reports and Google Analytics downloads you avoid? Brooke uploads them to AI and gets comprehensive business analysis in 15 minutes instead of spending three days doing it herself.
- Your clients need this too. The same AI systems Brooke uses for her own business are helping the nonprofit leaders she works with get strategic insights without hiring expensive consultants or drowning in spreadsheets.
- Training matters more than prompts. Forget perfect prompt architecture—the real game-changer is giving AI the right knowledge base to draw from, whether that's business frameworks, customer feedback, or your own proven methods.
Resources Mentioned:
Connect with Brooke
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brookerichiebabbage
- Brooke’s website: https://brookerichiebabbage.com/
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutntiheboons/
What do you do when the world feels like it's falling apart and you still have a business to run?
In this raw and powerful conversation, Rachel D'Souza from Gladiator Consulting opens up about navigating one of the most challenging years in recent memory. From losing a third of projected revenue when Black-led clients had funding pulled, to making the choice to double down on values instead of backing down, Rachel shares what it really looks like to lead with courage when everything feels impossible.
But this isn't just a story about surviving crisis—it's about the radical decision to choose community over competition, transparency over pretense, and love over fear. Rachel breaks down the practical strategies she's using to keep her team together, the emotional toll of leadership during unprecedented times, and why she believes "community is survival."
Whether you're struggling with how to show up authentically in your business right now, wondering if you should tone down your values to protect revenue, or just need to hear that you're not alone in feeling like the world has gone completely sideways, this conversation will remind you why doing the right thing—even when it's hard—is always worth it.
Highlights:
- Crisis reveals your true values—and that's your competitive advantage. When Rachel's business faced significant revenue loss, doubling down on equity and justice messaging didn't hurt her business—it attracted clients who specifically sought them out because they trusted Rachel's values and approach.
- Radical transparency builds stronger teams. Rachel's weekly staff meetings include discussions about cash flow, revenue projections, and the reasoning behind difficult decisions. This vulnerability has created a team culture where people proactively find solutions and support each other through challenges.
- Business development timelines are longer—plan accordingly. What used to be predictable revenue streams now require patience and relationship-building. Rachel went from knowing her full year's revenue by May to having conversations in June about work that won't start until January.
- Community over competition creates sustainable growth. Instead of hoarding opportunities, Rachel actively refers work to other values-aligned consultants and builds referral networks. This collaborative approach has created a stronger pipeline for everyone involved.
- "Enough" is a business strategy. Rachel's commitment to having "enough" rather than maximizing profit has allowed her to make decisions based on values rather than pure financial gain—from taking compensation cuts to ensure team stability to closing for three weeks every summer for rest and family time.
Resources Mentioned
Connect with Rachel:
- LinkedIn: Search for Rachel D'Souza or Gladiator Consulting
- Instagram: @gladiatorrds (for cooking content with her kids!)
- Website: gladiatorrds.com (sign up for their monthly newsletter)
Connect with Cindy:
- Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
- Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
- LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
- Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutntiheboons/
Ever feel like you're working harder but not necessarily smarter? In this candid conversation, Jess and Cindy pull back the curtain on the simple but game-changing strategies they use to stay productive, focused, and sane while building six-figure consulting businesses.
From Cindy's "CEO weeks" that give her massive chunks of uninterrupted deep work time to Jess's 90-minute screen detox that flattened her afternoon energy crashes, this episode is packed with practical hacks you can implement immediately.
Whether you're struggling with boundaries around your time, looking for ways to generate content ideas effortlessly, or just need permission to throw money at problems (hello, summer childcare!), this episode will give you the permission slip to experiment with what actually works for your life and business.
Highlights:
- Stop living in meetings if you want to grow your business. Cindy's CEO weeks—alternating between meeting-heavy weeks and deep work weeks—has been a game-changer for actually getting needle-moving work done
- The first 90 minutes of your day set the tone for everything. Jess's screen detox (no screens, no caffeine before food) eliminated her afternoon energy crashes and helped with adrenal fatigue
- Change your environment to change your energy. Sometimes the simple act of getting out of your house and walking to a different workspace can make you feel human again
- Your best business ideas won't come at your desk. Jess generates weeks of content ideas during weighted vest walks—combining exercise, inspiration, and productivity in one efficient package
- Throw money at the problems you can solve with money. From hiring summer babysitters to getting salads delivered, sometimes the best productivity hack is just paying someone else to handle it
Ready to try CEO weeks? Start with just one protected week and see what happens.
Resources Mentioned:
- Brick: https://getbrick.app/?srsltid=AfmBOoo4tU7sTn04-E9A8rU8cxTkCwCBZoPF5OLMltu9ysX44DM3F_Jc
- Diary of a CEO: https://www.youtube.com/TheDiaryOfACEO
- IFC Conference: https://www.resource-alliance.org/event/ifc-2025/
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutntiheboons/
In this episode, Dr. Tiffany shares how her "faith walk" led her from feeling defeated in her corporate role to building HR Tailormade, a thriving consultancy serving as the virtual HR department for nonprofit organizations. She pulls back the curtain on her seven-year journey to clarity, how health challenges became the catalyst for entrepreneurship, and why it took finding the right marketing partner to finally get her messaging right.
From structuring retainer relationships that make HR expertise accessible to small nonprofits to building strategic partnerships through intentional LinkedIn outreach, Dr. Tiffany offers a masterclass in building a consulting business that aligns with both your strengths and preferences (hello, fellow introverts!) while delivering exceptional value to clients.
Highlights:
- Define clear service boundaries in your virtual practice. Tiffany is so beautifully clear about what her virtual HR department doesn't do (recruiting and payroll) and instead builds partnerships with others who excel at those services. What a relief to know you don't have to do it all!
- Simplify your marketing as a virtual consultant. After trying ALL the platforms, Tiffany realized her nonprofit clients were primarily finding her through LinkedIn and word-of-mouth. Sometimes less really is more when it comes to marketing your virtual services!
- Ask for what you need, always. As Tiffany wisely says, "a closed mouth doesn't get fed." She shows us how to request testimonials and website mentions in ways that feel comfortable and authentic - essential skills for growing a virtual practice.
- Be patient with your niche journey. It took Tiffany seven years to get completely clear on serving nonprofits as a virtual HR consultant. Business clarity emerges through experience, not perfect planning from day one.
- Build a virtual support community. I love how Tiffany intentionally reaches out to 10 LinkedIn contacts weekly, resulting in quarterly meetings with trusted peers. This business journey is too hard to do alone, especially when you're working virtually!
Resources Mentioned:
- HR Tailor Made: https://hrtailormade.com/
- Canva: https://www.canva.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/
- Women's Business Center (St. Louis area) https://www.wbdc.org/en/event/getting-to-know-the-womens-business-center-st-louis/
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Dr. Tiffany:
- Website :https://hrtailormade.com/
- LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-e-slater
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linke
"I'm gunning this year to get to double digit millions."
That's not something you hear every day. But Shannon Brome-Ward isn't just any financial coach. As a money mindset coach and financial educator, Shannon is on a mission to help consultants move from middle class to millions, and she's not shy about her own financial goals.
In this candid conversation, Shannon opens up about the mindset shifts required for consultants to build real wealth. She challenges the scarcity thinking that keeps so many of us (especially women) playing small with our pricing and financial goals. From explaining why "getting by" is no way to live, to breaking down exactly how to start investing with as little as $25 a month, Shannon brings practical strategies any consultant can implement immediately.
If you've ever caught yourself whispering about wanting more money or felt guilty about charging premium rates while serving nonprofits, this episode is your permission slip to think bigger. Shannon walks us through how creating multiple revenue streams can provide the freedom to weather economic storms, and why having millions isn't about luxury—it's about options.
Highlights:
- Women and money shame is real. Shannon reveals why female consultants often whisper about wanting more money, while men never express concern about being "too greedy"—and how to overcome this limiting belief.
- Millionaires have multiple paychecks. Learn why diversifying your income beyond your consulting business is critical for building generational wealth, and practical examples of revenue streams to consider.
- Starting expert to build wealth.
- Charge more, live on less. The simplest wealth-building equation: increase your consulting rates while becoming comfortable living on less than you make, and invest the difference.
Resources Mentioned:
- Podcast - From Middle Class to Millions: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/from-middle-class-to-millions/id1781017144
- Website: https://www.thewholebudget.com/
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Shannon:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewholebudget/reels/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewholebudget
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWholeBudget/
- Website: https://www.thewholebudget.com/
Connect with Cindy:
- Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
- Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
- LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
- Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutntiheboons/
If you've ever struggled to make a profit while serving nonprofits, you're going to love this conversation. Our good friend Rachel Bearbower is back to share how she went from running a membership that was literally losing money every month to commanding $30,000+ for her automation services. And yes, she's still serving the sector we all love!
Rachel opens up about the emotional journey of letting go of her Small Shop Strategies membership (it took her over a year to fully grieve it) and the scary but exhilarating process of building the Nonprofit Automation Agency through pure trial and error. In classic Rachel fashion, she doesn't hold back about the messiness - including the website crash mid-pitch webinar that accidentally led to creating a second business!
I'm still blown away by her transformation. The Rachel who once fought for every $100 membership fee now confidently tells prospective clients on sales calls: "We are very good at what we do" - and they believe her. And they should! She's gone from barely covering expenses to making more in two months than she did in all of 2023.
Highlights:
- Done-for-you is a game-changer. Rachel realized that nonprofit leaders don't want to learn automation - they just want someone to handle the "hot mess of tech" for them. And they'll pay premium prices for it!
- Real talk on following up. Rachel followed up with one prospect for 109 days before they signed. Her secret? She BCCs herself on every proposal email, then snoozes it weekly as a reminder to check in. Don't assume silence means "no"!
- Your referral network is gold. A whopping 44% of Rachel's revenue comes from referrals. She pays 10% commission to fellow consultants who send clients her way - making it a win-win for everyone.
- It's okay to not have it all figured out. Rachel built this incredibly successful business by flying the plane while building it - no grand strategy, just constant iteration based on what worked with real clients.
Resources Mentioned:
- Nonprofit Automation Agency: https://www.nonprofitautomationagency.com/
- Kit (formerly ConvertKit): https://kit.com/?gad_source=1
- "Letters to Randy": http://letterstorandy.com/
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Rachel:
Website: https://www.nonprofitautomationagency.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelbearbower
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallshopstrategies/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutntiheboons/
Marc Pitman is a DELIGHT. The CEO of Concord Leadership Group joined us to spill all the tea on what it actually takes to keep a consulting practice alive and thriving for over two decades.
Marc took us on his journey from bow-tie-wearing "Fundraising Coach" to running multiple brands under his company umbrella. And yes, we finally got him to admit the truth about "passive income" (spoiler alert: it's completely made up!).
If you've ever felt like everyone else has it figured out while you're still flying by the seat of your pants, this episode will make you feel SO MUCH BETTER. Marc's old-school approach to marketing (dude literally picks up the phone and calls people every day) combined with his willingness to evolve makes for a masterclass in consulting longevity.
Highlights:
- The "Jeremy Bearimy" approach to marketing: Marc focuses on activities he can control (like making daily phone calls) and trusts that business will come—but not in the linear, trackable way modern marketing promises
- Audience building then and now: From early blogging in 2003 to navigating today's "walled-off" social platforms, Marc shares how he's consistently adapted his approach while maintaining his core focus on serving first
- Overcoming the comparison trap: Marc explains how he stops himself from second-guessing content when he sees others covering similar topics, and how finding your unique voice matters more than originality
- The consulting long game: Even with multiple revenue streams (speaking, coaching, books, etc.), Marc shares that the goal isn't to sell the business but to be "used up" when he dies—living up to all the potential entrusted to him
Resources Mentioned:
- Fundraising Coach - Marc's blog since 2003
- Concord Leadership Group - Umbrella company for Marc's brands
- The Nonprofit Academy - Low-cost, CFRE-accredited training program
- Ask Without Fear - Marc's first book on fundraising
- "The Surprising Gift of Doubt" - Marc's book on leadership
- Gallup Strengths Finder - Marc mentioned having "Maximizer" as one of his strengths
- Quadrant Three Leadership Coach Certification - Program that Marc and his wife run
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Marc:
Website: https://marcpitman.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcapitman/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutntiheboons/
Ever find yourself doing work you swore you'd never do?
You're not alone! When Brittny Wilson launched her consulting business in 2021, she quickly found herself saying yes to everything – especially event planning, which was literally on her "absolutely not" list.
In this chat with our friend Brittny, she opens up about her journey from reluctant event planner to confident recruitment agency owner. The turning point? When her kids flat-out told her she wasn't "nice" during event season (ouch!) and when looking at her actual numbers showed her that what felt risky – walking away from steady event clients – was actually more profitable.
Brittny gets real about the emotional rollercoaster of pivoting her business, the game-changing moment at Jess's conference when she started introducing herself differently, and how she's navigating the feast-or-famine nature of client work. Plus, she shares the exact pricing structure that's working for her now.
Whether you're feeling stuck in work that drains you or trying to find the courage to specialize, Brittny's journey will remind you that sometimes the scariest business decisions lead to the most aligned (and profitable!) outcomes.
Highlights:
- Your gut knows when something isn't working. When Brittny's kids pointed out how stressed she became before events, it confirmed what she already felt – this work wasn't sustainable for her wellbeing.
- Saying something out loud makes it real. The confidence to call herself a "recruitment agency" came before she felt 100% ready – and that declaration helped others see her differently.
- Your pricing can protect your mission. Brittny's three-phase approach ensures clients don't skip critical elements like onboarding support – the key to her mission of keeping good people in the sector.
- Systems save sanity. Working with a systems-focused contractor and implementing Airtable automations allowed Brittny to create a repeatable process that doesn't depend solely on her.
Seasons are normal. Six clients in fall, crickets in January – Brittny reminds us that business ebbs and flows are totally normal (even when they're nerve-wracking!).
Resources Mentioned:
- Airtable - https://www.airtable.com/
- Ashley (Airtable expert) - https://systemsoverstress.co/about
- LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/login
- Shannon Bowen - https://monsoonleadership.com/about/
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Brittny:
Website: https://www.brittnywilson.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittnywilson/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutntiheboons/
In this high-energy replay of the finale to our Fractional/Shift summit, entrepreneur Vivian Kaye (founder of KinkyCurlyYaki and operations coach) introduces us to "The Chadacity" – a mindset framework that teaches nonprofit consultants how to show up with bold confidence in their businesses.
After bootstrapping a multi-million dollar business as an immigrant, college dropout, and single mother, Vivian shares how adopting just a fraction of the unapologetic confidence that mediocre “Chads” often display can transform your consulting practice. This isn't about being someone you're not – it's about stepping into the fullest, most confident version of yourself.
From imposter syndrome to pricing strategy, Vivian challenges nonprofit consultants to stop playing small and start demanding what their expertise is worth. Through hilarious examples and practical advice, she demonstrates how confidence isn't something you wait for – it's something you build by taking bold action, even when (especially when) it feels uncomfortable.
Highlights:
- Stop Questioning, Start Claiming Your Worth: Your expertise isn't a luxury – it's valuable. Vivian demonstrates how mindset shifts around money and worth are essential to scaling past six figures. "Common sense is not common – there are people who will gladly pay for what you think is simple."
- Take Bold Action Before You Feel Ready: The confidence muscle only develops through practice. Start with one bold move today (not tomorrow), whether that's raising your rates, adding a client even when you feel at capacity, or launching a service you've been hesitating on.
- The "What Would Chad Do?" Framework: When facing decisions or opportunities, ask yourself what an overconfident person would do in your situation – then do it (minus the jerk behavior). This simple reframe helps bypass self-limiting beliefs that keep consultants stuck.
- Take Up Space Unapologetically: Whether through your personal brand, communication style, or physical presence at events, stop minimizing yourself. Vivian notes how she intentionally wears bright colors and makes direct eye contact to be memorable in professional settings.
- Confidence Without Compromise: True confidence isn't about stepping on others to get ahead – it's about showing up authentically while uplifting those around you. Use your "Chadacity" to create positive impact and inspire the nonprofit community.
Resources Mentioned:
- Connect with Vivian Kaye on Instagram: @VivianKaye
- Vivian's website: VivianKaye.com
- Fractional Fundraising Network:https://www.fractionalfundraising.co/
- Vivian's business coaching: Operations coaching for entrepreneurs
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutntiheboons/
Okay, so you know how Jess has been bugging Cindy FOREVER to host a summit? Well, she finally did it! In this fun behind-the-scenes chat, Cindy spills all the tea on her first-ever Fractional Shift Summit that absolutely crushed it with 1,400+ registrations and $24K in revenue (and yes, she's got the Airtable data to prove it — you should see how happy spreadsheet data makes her!).
Cindy opens up about why she finally felt ready to "take up space" as THE fractional expert, how she convinced practically every sponsor she approached to say yes (only three said no!), and why she thinks the nonprofit world needs way more time to make decisions than those "launch in 3 days" gurus will tell you.
If you've been on the fence about hosting your own signature event, this episode is your permission slip to either go all-in or wait until it feels right. As Cindy says, it's definitely a "high effort, high reward" project — but now that she's built it once, she can rinse and repeat next year with half the stress.
Highlights:
- The moment Cindy knew she was ready to claim her spot as THE thought leader on fractional roles (and why she's glad she waited)
- How she crafted a "curated approach" to partnerships that made sponsors feel like they were getting the golden ticket (and they funded all her speaker fees!)
- Why she started promoting a full two months before launch (and why LinkedIn delivered even better than her email list)
- The hilarious reality of launching her Academy right when the nonprofit world was in crisis mode (and what she'll do differently next time)
- Her secret weapon named Christine who made the whole thing possible (because let's be real, no one does this alone!)
Breaking News Alert! Jess and Cindy also drop the bomb that they're hosting in-person masterminds this year in Toronto (May 21), Boulder (August), and possibly Atlanta (October). Listen to the end for details!
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutntiheboons/
In this episode of Confessions, Jess and Cindy chat with Caroline Danks, a UK-based fundraising consultant who runs Lark Owl with her partner. Caroline shares her journey from traditional consulting to developing multiple revenue streams, most recently transitioning her email newsletter to a monetized Substack publication called The Nest Egg.
Caroline discusses how she began as a freelancer in 2016 after being made redundant, then discovered the potential of online business beyond selling time for money. After initially creating and selling online courses for several years, she faced email deliverability challenges in 2023 that prompted her to rethink her business model. This led her to Substack, where she now monetizes her weekly newsletter directly, charging £6/month or £60/year.
Caroline shares her marketing strategy, focusing on LinkedIn for discovery, Substack's recommendation feature for cross-promotion with other writers, and consistently producing high-quality content that people naturally share. She also discusses her decision to retire her online courses and workshops in favor of a simpler business model that prioritizes what she truly enjoys.
Key Takeaways:
- Monetize What You Already Love Doing: Caroline found success by turning her passion for writing emails—something she was already doing weekly—into a revenue stream. As she puts it, "there's a simplicity in being able to monetize a thing that you would be doing anyway and a thing that you probably would do if nobody paid you for it because you love it so much."
- Quality Content Is Your Best Marketing Tool: Caroline emphasizes that creating genuinely valuable content is central to her strategy. Each piece helps her clarify her own thinking on important topics while providing tactical advice to readers, which naturally encourages sharing and word-of-mouth growth.
- Simplify for Sustainability: By retiring her online courses and reducing workshops and affiliate marketing, Caroline created a more streamlined business model that reduces overwhelm and focuses on her strengths. This intentional simplification helps maintain quality while preventing burnout.
- Alternative Revenue Models Require Patience: Caroline is transparent about the "slow burn" nature of subscription models, noting that a low-cost product requires higher volume to be significant financially. She's comfortable with this gradual growth because it aligns with her lifestyle needs and desire for business simplicity.
- There's Power in a Weekly Commitment: For five years, Caroline has consistently published content every Tuesday at 10am without fail (except for planned breaks in August and December). This consistency has been crucial to building trust and a loyal audience that's willing to pay for her expertise
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Caroline:
- LinkedIn: Caroline Danks: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/caroline-danks-ab54b921
- Substack: The Nest Egg: https://larkowl.uk/newsletter/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutntiheboons/
Ever wonder how to scale your consulting practice without a huge team or complex tech stack? In this episode, Ashley Rose from Systems Over Stress reveals how she built and manages her business using primarily Airtable and strategic automation. A self-described "systems nerd," Ashley opens up about how her ADHD diagnosis led her to create systems that work with her brain instead of against it – and ultimately helped her build a thriving consulting practice.
But here's what makes this conversation particularly valuable: Ashley isn't just sharing theory. She breaks down exactly how she uses Airtable as her "first team member," managing everything from client experience to launch tracking with just two part-time VAs. She also gets refreshingly honest about the financial reality of scaling, including a recent $43,000 business loan and her journey to more intentional business spending.
Whether you're drowning in spreadsheets or trying to figure out how to scale without sacrificing client experience, this episode offers practical insights on building systems that actually work. Ashley shares specific examples of how she automates everything from sales tracking to content management, and why the right systems can help you make better business decisions.
Highlights:
Your Systems Should Be Your First Hire - Before bringing on team members, invest in systems that can automate routine tasks and provide clear visibility into your business metrics. A good system is like having an extra team member for just $24/month.
Data-Driven Decisions Change Everything - When Ashley ignored her data and followed industry trends, her template shop made $23,000 compared to her group program's $422,000. Having clear metrics helps you make decisions based on what actually works in your business, not just what everyone else is doing.
Scale Without Sacrificing Experience - The right systems let you maintain high-touch client experiences even as you grow. From automated check-ins to progress tracking, you can use technology to enhance rather than replace personal connection.
Simple Can Be Sophisticated - Ashley manages her entire business with primarily two tools: Airtable and strategic automation. You don't need a complex tech stack to build a successful consulting practice.
Resources Mentioned:
Airtable: https://www.airtable.com/
Kit (Email Platform): https://kit.com/
Thrivecart: https://thrivecart.com/
Systems Over Stress: https://systemsoverstress.co/
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Ashley:
Website: https://systemsoverstress.co/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/systemsoverstress/#
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutntiheboons/
"I used to hate speaking publicly and going into rooms full of people I didn't know. It was an absolute nightmare." Now Chris McMartin's superpower is building authentic connections that drive real business results.
In this episode, Chris shares her journey from dreading events to becoming a master connector, and reveals why playing small at events is costing you opportunities. She pulls back the curtain on her transformation and gives practical, actionable insights on becoming unforgettable (without feeling sleazy).
From her signature red power suits to the specific goals she sets before walking into any room, Chris breaks down how to show up authentically while driving real business results. She also tackles the exhausting reality of networking (spoiler: even extroverts need recovery time) and provides a fresh perspective on building relationships that actually convert.
Whether you're ready to uplevel your presence at in-person events or trying to figure out how to stand out authentically in a crowded space, this conversation will transform how you think about networking.
Key Takeaways:
-
Stop going to events without clear goals. Whether you want to meet 20 new people or connect with one specific person, having measurable objectives changes your results and your confidence.
-
Trying to network in spaces that don't energize you is a waste of time. Find the environments, people and conversations that light you up - those are the relationships that will drive business growth.
-
Being memorable doesn't mean being someone you're not. Whether it's a signature accessory, a conversation starter, or just your authentic way of showing up, find what works for you and own it consistently.
-
The "would you say this in person?" test is the fastest way to determine if your online networking strategy is effective. If you wouldn't walk up to someone at an event with that opener, don't use it in their DMs.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Chris:
LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/chris-mcmartin
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hypeher_boss/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutntiheboons/
Resources:
Dotty Clothing: https://dotty.ca/
Cheekbone Beauty: https://www.cheekbonebeauty.com/
Ever wonder what it really takes to build a consulting business that aligns with your values AND makes great money?
This week's guest, Rachel D'Souza, founder of Gladiator Consulting, reveals how a Netflix binge and a supportive brother helped her build a consulting business that now hovers between $750-900K in annual revenue.
But here's what makes this story interesting - Rachel doesn't chase RFPs, doesn't compromise on her values, and actually turns down clients who don't align with her vision for transforming the nonprofit sector. And the surprising result? More success, not less.
Rachel opens up about how she went from charging "nonprofit sector rates" to confidently pricing at $500/hour, thanks to some tough love from her business coach. She shares the mindset shifts required to charge premium rates while still ensuring her services remain accessible to grassroots organizations.
We dive deep into how she structures her team (hint: it's a mix of core staff and carefully selected contractors), her approach to equitable compensation, and why she's not afraid to have hard conversations about money with potential clients.
But perhaps most compelling is Rachel's candid discussion about showing up with courage in the sector, even when it means potentially losing business. She shares how being vocal about equity and justice has actually attracted more of the right clients, not fewer.
Key Takeaways:
-
Your pricing structure can reflect both your values and your worth. Rachel breaks down how she prices differently for different organizations while ensuring everyone on her team gets paid equitably.
-
Business development doesn't have to mean constant hustling. Building authentic relationships and being selective about clients can actually lead to more sustainable growth.
-
Success often means redefining what "enough" looks like. Rachel found her sweet spot isn't about maximizing revenue but about maintaining the right balance of impact and income.
-
Getting comfortable with premium pricing takes practice. Start by understanding what you and your team need to thrive, then work backwards from there.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Rachel:
Gladiator Consulting Website: http://www.gladiatorrds.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gladiatorrds/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gladiatorconsulting/?hl=en
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutntiheboons/
Resources:
Rachel’s Website: www.gladiatorrds.com
Purpose First Advisors :https://www.purposefirstadvisors.com
Why Was Jess’s Black Friday Bundle Such a Hit?
How do you turn a seemingly overwhelming launch into a profit-packed success story? In this behind-the-scenes episode, Cindy and Jess spill the tea on Jess’s wildly successful Black Friday Bundle launch. With 35 contributors, 408 sales, and over $24,000 in profit, Jess breaks down what worked (spoiler: waitlists are game changers!) and what she'd tweak for next time.
But it’s not just about the money—Jess shares how this strategy helps nonprofit consultants build email lists and collaborate effectively. From the tech challenges (opt-in overload!) to discovering sales unicorns on her list, you’ll get a transparent look at what it takes to pull off a project like this. Ready to up your marketing game? Tune in for all the juicy details, and don’t miss this blueprint for bundling success.
🎧 Listen to the full episode now and take notes—you’ll want to steal these ideas!
5 Key Takeaways:
- A Waitlist Strategy Pays Off Building anticipation with a waitlist led to double the day-one sales compared to the previous year, with a 75% conversion rate.
- The Power of Collaboration By partnering with 35 consultants, Jess leveraged collective networks to drive sales and list growth for everyone involved.
- Email Frequency is Key Sending 12 emails in 8 days helped maintain momentum and boosted conversions, proving reminders are a kindness.
- Opt-In Flexibility Matters Allowing customers to choose which items to opt into gave them control, balancing convenience with quality engagement.
- Swipe Copy Simplifies Selling Providing ready-to-use marketing materials made it easy for contributors to promote the bundle effectively.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutntiheboons/
Resources:
Brooke Richie Babbage: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bjrichiebabbage
Fractional Shift Summit: https://www.nonprofitfractionals.com/
Ever feel like you're so busy serving clients that you never have time to work ON your business? In this episode, gathering expert Tes Cohen reveals her systematic approach to building reflection into her consulting practice. From annual "personal offsites" to monthly reset days, learn how intentional pauses can lead to better business decisions and sustainable growth. Plus, Tes shares her "confession" about finally updating her unwieldy client tracking system during one of these reflection periods—proof that sometimes we need to slow down to speed up.
If you've been running your consulting business on autopilot, this conversation offers a practical roadmap for incorporating strategic reflection into your routine. Discover why taking time away from client work isn't just self-indulgent—it's essential for business growth. Learn how to structure your reflection time, what questions to ask yourself, and how to turn insights into action. Tes shares candid examples of how these practices have shaped her business evolution, from revamping basic systems to making major strategic pivots.
👉 Ready to build more intentional reflection into your consulting practice? Listen now and connect with Tes at gatherbetter.co!
5 Key Takeaways:
- Schedule Deep Work Time Block off regular time for business strategy and improvement, whether it's monthly, quarterly, or annually
- Create Clear Structures Use consistent frameworks and questions to guide your reflection process
- Balance Review & Planning Look back at what's working (and what isn't) before planning future moves
- Implement Simple Systems Focus on manageable improvements that you'll actually maintain
- Connect Personal & Professional Include both business metrics and personal wellbeing in your reflection practice
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Tes:
Transformative Gatherings: http://transformativegatherings.co/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tescohen/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutntiheboons/
Resources:
The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker
Hustle and Play Planner
Canva
Google Workspace
Building Better Together Community
Ever find yourself in the middle of a client project thinking "How did I end up here?" In this candid conversation, nonprofit transition specialist Naomi Hattaway shares how she learned to stop taking on work that drained her energy and started building a practice true to her expertise. From setting "riverbank boundaries" that protect your time while maintaining flexibility, to transforming her communication style with 20-minute meetings and voice messages, Naomi offers practical strategies for consultants ready to level up their business boundaries. Plus, she opens up about her journey to finally paying herself formally after 10 years in business, driven by a powerful personal mission.
If you've ever struggled with saying no to work outside your zone of genius or worried about damaging relationships by setting limits, this episode is your permission slip to reshape your consulting practice. Learn why your reputation isn't built on saying yes to everything, but rather on being known for specific, high-value work that energizes you. Naomi shares actionable examples of how to communicate boundaries professionally, refer work strategically, and build a business that serves both you and your clients better.
5 Key Takeaways:
- Define Your Lane Clearly Your reputation grows stronger when you're known for specific, focused work rather than trying to be everything to everyone
- Set "Riverbank" Boundaries Think of boundaries like riverbanks—firm enough to keep things flowing but flexible enough to adapt naturally
- Communicate Limits Upfront From 20-minute meetings to asynchronous communication, set expectations early about how you work best
- Make Strategic Referrals Build relationships with other consultants who can handle work outside your zone of genius
- Protect Your Reputation Be intentional about which projects you take on—they shape how others talk about your work
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Naomi:
Naomi’s Website:https://www.naomihattaway.com/
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/naomihattaway
Podcast: https://www.naomihattaway.com/podcast
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutntiheboons/
Resources:
Hood Wellness by Tamela J. Gordon
Heal Your Way Forward by Prentis Hemphill
Diary of a CEO Podcast
Building Better Together
Alison Davis’ Monthly Sales Roundtables
Are you tired of superficial networking that feels more like a chore than a game-changer? In this episode, Cindy and Jess challenge the traditional "coffee chat" approach to building professional relationships, revealing how to create connections that naturally lead to business growth. They dive deep into the often-overlooked distinction between how men and women approach networking, and why combining both strategies might be the secret sauce to your success.
If you've ever wondered how some consultants seem to effortlessly build thriving networks that lead to tons of business while others struggle to get beyond small talk, this episode is your roadmap to transformation.
From handwritten notes that leave lasting impressions to the art of being memorable when you're not in the room, Jess and Cindy share the strategies that have helped them build six-figure consulting businesses. They also reveal why chasing "big names" might be holding you back, and how to find your true business besties who will champion your success.
5 Key Takeaways:
- Relationship First, Business Second The most profitable networking happens when you focus on building genuine relationships rather than immediate transactions.
- Be Memorable Between Meetings Success isn't about how many coffee chats you schedule—it's about being the person people think of when you're not in the room.
- Strategic Gratitude Matters Taking time to acknowledge and appreciate your connections during "lull seasons" can lead to unexpected opportunities when you least expect them.
- Community Drives Revenue Building Better Together shows how combining authentic community with strategic business mindset creates powerful financial results.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Cindy:
Fractional Shift Summit registration: https://www.nonprofitfractionals.com/
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutntiheboons/
Resources:
Fractional Shift Summit Registration: nonprofitfractionals.com
Building Better Together Community: https://buildingbettertogether.co/
In this episode of the Confessions Podcast, we sat down with Racheli Edelkopf, the mastermind behind Pedal Marketing - a consulting biz that helps nonprofits up their marketing game. Racheli talked about her journey as a program director and how that led her to start her own business. Racheli has valuable insights into the realm of marketing and specifically attraction-based marketing, which is the approach she has taken to build her business.
Highlights:
- Racheli's transition from the nonprofit sector into marketing consultancy
- Attraction-based marketing strategies
- The balance of working on your business vs. in your business
- How to leverage your strengths and find a marketing strategy that suits your abilities and business style.
Connect with Racheli Edelkopf:
Pedal Marketing: https://www.thepedal.co/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepedal.co/?hl=en
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/racheli-edelkopf-0484a81a3
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me
Building a thriving consulting business can be a challenge, but what if the key to success lies in embracing joy and redefining growth? Meena Das, CEO of Namaste Data, shares her refreshing "anti-capitalistic" approach to building a thriving consulting practice. She emphasizes the importance of finding joy in your work, redefining growth on your own terms, and utilizing AI tools strategically.
If you're ready to break free from the traditional consulting mold and create a business that truly lights you up, tune in to this episode. Get ready to redefine success, embrace joy, and build a business that aligns with your values.
Key Highlights:
- Embrace joy as a driving force in your business, infusing your offerings with authentic passion to connect meaningfully with your audience.
- Redefine "growth" through an anti-capitalist lens, measuring success by your ability to sustain your desired lifestyle while centering fulfillment.
- Strategically leverage AI as a supportive tool for content ideation, social media planning, and as a logical "thought partner" voice.
- Nurture an abundance mindset by reflecting on past successes and tracking personal wins, cultivating self-trust during entrepreneurial ebbs and flows.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Meena:
LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/meenadas
Website: https://www.namastedata.org/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutintheboons/
In this episode of we're rolling out the red carpet for 'Layne, the Auctionista.'' Layne is a master of the gala stage. They shared serious confessions about the thrilling yet demanding live fundraising world. Or should we say, philanthrotaining. Yes, you read that right!
Now - think for a minute - if you’re business was centered around taking the stage at live fundraising events, the last few years probably have been pretty brutal.
But Layne has navigated that and found success in this changing world.
Entertainment Meets Philanthropy: Layne, the auctionista, underscores the substantial role entertainment plays in galvanizing gala guests and maximizing fundraising efforts. They shed light on how other nonprofit service providers might integrate entertainment into their work to form deeper, more authentic connections without resorting to pressured sales pitches.
Valuing Authenticity Over Desperation: We all agree—connection beats a sales pitch any day. Layne talks authenticity and building relationships in fundraising, capturing the essence of how we too believe in connecting with our clients for success in nonprofit consulting.
Self-Care Isn't Optional: Layne shared the essential role of self-care, especially after the heightened stimulation of event fundraising. They've mastered the art of working hard, then unwinding equally hard. As consultants, it's crucial we follow suit, remembering that recovery is just as important as the grind.
Scaling with Stories: Layne candidly discusses how embracing personal storytelling, especially their experiences as a non-binary person, has enhanced their keynote speaking engagements. Their upcoming Impact Workshop focuses on gender identity and creating inclusive workspaces, which is already garnering uplifting responses and inspiring the younger generation.
Layne's episode is a masterclass in personal branding, storytelling, and authentic engagement. These are essential tools for anyone consulting!
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Layne:
Layne (Linkedin): linkedin.com/in/laynetheauctionista
Layne (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/TheAuctionistaLayne
Layne (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/TheAuctionista
Layne (Twitter): https://twitter.com/The_Auctionista
Layne Talent Inc. o/a The Auctionista (Website): auctionista.ca
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jess-campbell-outintheboons
Do you wonder if you're overlooking vital legal aspects of your business? Is the thought of hiring a lawyer daunting to you, especially if you're in the early stages of your entrepreneurial journey? In this episode, we sit down with Adrienne, a seasoned lawyer and the founder of Open LLP, a boutique law firm specializing in helping startups, and entrepreneurs. Adrienne shares her wealth of knowledge to provide some guidance on navigating the legal landscape of your business.
Highlights:
- Identifying the legal questions every small business owner should be asking
- Understanding the importance and role of contracts in your business.
- Distinguishing between templated contracts and custom-made ones, and knowing when to use each.
- Why it's crucial to have Intellectual Property assignment clauses in your contracts
- The concept of 'Common Law Trademark Rights' and how it affects your business
- When it's time to consider formally applying for a trademark registration
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Adrienne Ng:
Open LLP : https://www.openllp.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/open.llp/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
How do you rebuild your business—and your confidence—when it feels like everything is falling apart? In this heartfelt and deeply personal episode, Jess and Cindy welcome back Kishshana Palmer, CEO of ManageMint, to share the real story behind her business reinvention. Kishshana doesn’t hold back as she opens up about the rollercoaster of running a million-dollar company, only to watch it all crumble in an unexpected moment. From struggling to pay her mortgage to using her savings to keep her team together, Kishshana takes us through the hard lessons she’s learned—and the inspiring way she’s climbing back up.
This conversation is for anyone who’s hit a rough patch in their consulting business and wondered if they’d make it through. Kishshana reminds us that resilience isn’t about bouncing back overnight—it’s about redefining what success looks like and prioritizing your well-being in the process.
5 Key Takeaways:
- Resilience in Business: Kishshana’s story is proof that even when life knocks you down, you can rebuild and come back with more clarity and focus.
- Wellness Comes First: Taking care of your health—mentally and physically—isn’t just good for you, it’s a game-changer for your business too.
- Protect Your Energy: Kishshana reminds us it’s okay to say “no” and step away from people or things that don’t align with your values.
- Rebranding with Purpose: A fresh take on her business helped Kishshana attract the right clients and finally made her work feel aligned with her mission.
- Leadership Done Right: It’s not about hustling harder—it’s about creating spaces where your team can thrive and everyone feels good showing up.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Kishshana:
Kishshana’s Website:https://www.kishshanapalmer.com/
Busy Is a Four-Letter Word will be available on December 12, 2023. Pre-order your copy here: kishshanapalmer.com/book.
ManageMint’s Website: https://www.managemint.co/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutntiheboons/
What does it take to build a micro-agency that scales without sacrificing flexibility? In this episode of Confessions, Cindy and Jess chat with conversion copywriter Eman Ismail, founder of Eman CopyCo, about her journey to creating a micro-agency. With experience working in the charity sector, Eman dives deep into her decision to transition from solo work to a micro-agency model that lets her balance big projects with a flexible lifestyle. They talk about the nuts and bolts of managing client work with a contractor team, fostering client trust, and scaling up with intention (no big, overwhelming teams here!). Eman also shares her launch journey—complete with website rebranding, new team introductions, and some bold shifts in positioning.
Tune in to hear how Eman navigates hiring, pricing, and marketing, and why it’s crucial to find the right experts who can deliver quality. If you’re curious about building your own agency or hiring top-tier support, Eman’s insights will resonate!
5 Key Takeaways:
- Micro-Agency = Flexibility: Eman highlights how her micro-agency model allows her to hire when needed, avoid full-time employee obligations, and keep a flexible work-life balance.
- Client Trust in Contractors: Through careful branding and clear messaging, Eman builds trust with clients to work directly with her contractors, taking herself out of the day-to-day work loop.
- Pricing for Quality Work: Eman stresses the value of paying for quality. Her team’s expertise comes with a cost, but it’s worth it for reliable results and strong client satisfaction.
- Marketing with Intent: Post-launch, Eman found that her audience needed time to adjust. She’s now investing more than ever in intentional marketing to showcase her agency’s strengths.
- Using Senja for Social Proof: Eman’s secret tool, Senja, helps her manage, organize, and promote testimonials across platforms—crucial for building credibility and converting new leads.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Eman:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eman-i307/?originalSubdomain=uk
Website: https://www.emancopyco.com/
Podcast: https://www.emancopyco.com/podcast
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutintheboons/
Resources:
Senja
Kit (formerly ConvertKit)
BS Free Business
Six-Figure Freelance Copywriter
Eman’s Custom Email Packages
Eman’s Evergreen Product Suite
What should nonprofit consultants do when growth starts to feel like hitting a wall? In today’s episode of Confessions, Jess and I are thrilled to welcome Natalie Ekdahl, CEO of Biz Chix, Inc., a powerhouse coach for nonprofit consultants who want to scale without burning out. Natalie shares her no-nonsense approach to building a lucrative consulting business that prioritizes both financial success and personal freedom—no more trading time for dollars! We dive into common pitfalls consultants face when hitting growth bottlenecks, and Natalie unpacks why traditional business models and advice don’t always work for nonprofits. This episode is packed with actionable advice on how to create a sustainable path for growth that aligns with your strengths and values as a nonprofit consultant.
So, if you’re at capacity, but ready to grow, get comfy, because Natalie shares how to turn overwhelm into opportunity and the practical steps to make it happen. Whether it’s tackling pricing, setting boundaries, or the big question of who and when to hire, we cover the puzzle pieces you need for your next level of success.
5 Key Takeaways:
- Positioning is Everything - Natalie emphasizes the importance of defining a clear niche and service expertise to attract high-quality clients who are ready to pay for your unique value.
- Overcoming the “One-to-Many” Myth - Digital courses and one-to-many models can look tempting, but Natalie breaks down why they’re often not sustainable for consultants with smaller audiences or niche markets like nonprofits.
- The Value of Micro-Positions - When it comes to hiring, starting small with targeted micro-positions (like admin support) can buy back your time without the overwhelm of a big team.
- Boundaries & Mindset Shifts - Building a thriving consulting practice means setting clear boundaries with clients, learning to say no, and tackling mindset barriers around pricing and hiring.
- Nonprofit Audiences Require Unique Approaches - Unlike B2C businesses, nonprofit clients often need additional consideration around budgeting, approvals, and relationship-building—things quick-sale tactics often overlook.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Natalie Eckdahl:
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalieeckdahl/
Website: https://bizchix.com/
Podcast #1: https://nataliemba.com/The-Biz-of-Nonprofit-Consultants-Podcast
Podcast #2: https://bizchix.com/category/podcast/bizchix/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutintheboons/
Why do feelings sometimes mislead us in business? Cindy and Jess dive into how to keep emotions in check and focus on data, especially as we head toward 2025. Jess shares insights from her record-breaking year and explains why it’s essential to surround yourself with positive influences who push you forward. They also tackle the importance of tracking key metrics like conversion rates, lead generation, and sales calls—because knowing your numbers beats going by "gut feeling" every time! This episode offers a wealth of practical advice on setting up systems to measure success and making intentional decisions based on solid facts.
Plus, Cindy and Jess discuss the power of networking and asking for business directly. Instead of chasing shiny distractions like social media or podcasts, they encourage you to focus on face-to-face connections, especially if you're looking to wrap up the year with new clients. Jess breaks down her recent experience at a local nonprofit conference, highlighting how in-person conversations can accelerate the client-finding process. Check out this episode if you're ready to realign with your goals, take purposeful action, and enter 2025 stronger than ever!
5 Key Takeaways:
- Feelings Aren't Facts – Just because something feels hard doesn’t mean it’s reflected in your actual results. Jess emphasizes the importance of separating emotions from business data to get a clear, accurate view of success.
- Track Your Metrics – Knowing your numbers is crucial. From lead generation to conversion rates, Cindy and Jess highlight the importance of tracking these figures so you can make informed decisions and adjust as needed.
- Focus on Networking Over Social Media – While social media has its place, the fastest path to new clients often comes through personal connections and networking, especially if time is tight for year-end goals.
- Ask for Business Directly – Don’t be afraid to reach out and let your network know you’re available for work. Jess explains that simply asking can open doors, so prioritize these genuine conversations over passive marketing.
- Cut Distractions, Execute Your Plan – Set aside time-wasting activities and focus on your core tasks. Cindy and Jess remind listeners to limit consumption of new content and instead put existing knowledge into action.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutintheboons/
Resources:
Airtable: https://www.airtable.com/
Dielle Charon Coaching: https://diellecharon.com/
Diary of a CEO Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/TheDiaryOfACEO
Locus of Control Theory
In this episode,we chat with Shannon Bowen, a nonprofit leader who's rocking both a full-time job and a thriving side hustle. Shannon, the Chief Advancement Officer for a genetics and genomics institute in Seattle, also founded Monsoon Leadership to help people land their dream jobs. She spills the tea on salary negotiation, navigating the challenges of nonprofit leadership, and the importance of niching down.
Plus, Shannon gets real and shares a juicy confession about how she started her business the wrong way. She originally focused on helping people avoid burnout, but quickly realized that wasn't resonating with her audience. Instead, they were craving advice on salary negotiation and landing better jobs. This led to a major pivot in her business, and she's now helping nonprofit professionals earn what they're worth.
Want to hear more juicy confessions and learn how to build a successful side hustle? Listen to the full episode now!
5 Key Takeaways:
- Listen to your audience. Shannon's story highlights the importance of understanding the needs of your audience and being willing to adapt your offerings accordingly.
- Don't be afraid to pivot. It's okay to change direction in your business, even if it means letting go of what you've already invested in.
- Be open to feedback. Feedback can be invaluable in helping you to improve your business and better serve your clients.
- See your business as a service. When you focus on serving others, you're more likely to find success.
- Don't give up. Building a successful business takes time and effort, but it's definitely possible.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Shannon Bowen:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-bowen525/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monsoonleadership/
Website: https://monsoonleadership.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutintheboons/
Resources:
Dream Job Power Pack: https://monsoonleadership.com/djpp/
Salary Power Pack: https://monsoonleadership.com/spp/
Monsoon Leadership: https://monsoonleadership.com/
AFP Lead Conference: https://afplead.org/
Podia: https://www.podia.com/
How do you navigate imposter syndrome and build confidence as a new consultant? On this episode of the Confessions of a Nonprofit Consultant podcast, Jess and Cindy interview Denyelle Fraser, nonprofit and equity design consultant who shares her journey and insights on thriving as a new consultant in the nonprofit world.
Denyelle, a mom and wife, shares her experience navigating the challenges of being a young, Black woman in the consulting industry, and how she overcomes imposter syndrome and microaggressions. She emphasizes the importance of community, representation, and staying true to oneself.
5 Key Takeaways:
- Embrace your lived experience: Your unique perspective and background are valuable assets in the consulting world.
- Build a strong community: Surround yourself with supportive people who understand your challenges and can provide guidance and encouragement.
- Don't be afraid to be different: Challenge conventional approaches and offer innovative solutions that reflect your values and expertise.
- Protect your energy: Set boundaries and prioritize self-care to avoid burnout and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
- Focus on connection: Building genuine relationships with clients and colleagues is essential for success in the nonprofit sector.
Denyelle's insights on overcoming imposter syndrome, building a strong community, and staying true to oneself are invaluable for anyone navigating the challenges of the consulting industry.
Connect with Denyelle Fraser:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denyellefraser/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutintheboons/
Resources
More Than Enough Consulting
As a consultant, you probably have thought about growing a team, or hiring subcontractors or even getting work as a subcontractor. Lauren Elyse Tudor, founder of Architect Philanthropic Collective, joins us to share her journey and insights. Lauren's firm focuses on community-centered and diverse philanthropy, leveraging storytelling, strategic marketing, and inclusive fundraising strategies to help small to mid-sized shops thrive.
In this episode, Lauren opens up about her transition from a successful nonprofit career to entrepreneurship, the challenges she faced, and the valuable lessons she learned along the way. She shares how she built a team that thrives on collaboration and creative problem-solving. But here's the kicker: Lauren's agency operates on a revenue-sharing model that's designed to incentivize growth and ensure fairness. We dive deep into how this model works, why it's a game-changer for her team, and how it aligns with her values-driven approach to business.
Key Takeaways:
- Revenue-Sharing Model: Lauren's innovative model fosters collaboration and incentivizes growth by splitting revenue fairly between the company, the person who secured the contract, and the team members delivering the work.
- The Power of Packages: Packaging services into clear offerings simplifies pricing and helps clients understand the value they're receiving.
- Marketing Matters: Building a strong brand and marketing your services through thought leadership, networking, and partnerships is essential for attracting clients.
- Embrace Ambition: Setting ambitious goals and believing in your ability to achieve them is crucial for success.
- Values-Driven Business: Building a business that aligns with your values can lead to a more fulfilling and impactful career.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Lauren Tudor:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenelysetudor
Website: https://www.architectyourambition.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutintheboons/
Resources
Architect Philanthropic Collective
Daylight Advisors
AFP Greater Charlotte
ICON 2024
Duke University Nonprofit Management Program
United Way Greater Charlotte
Nonprofit Quarterly
Community Centric Fundraising
In this episode of Confessions with Jess and Cindy, Cindy sits down with fellow nonprofit consultants live at the RAISE conference.
She discusses the power of conferences in business development and knowledge sharing. Join Cindy as she chats with Sabrina Walker Hernandez, Barbara O'Reilly, Diana Farias Heinrich, Frank Velásquez Jr., and the dynamic duo Kristin and Sam from Swaim Strategies. They share their experiences, strategies, and confessions about leveraging conferences for business growth, the importance of getting paid for speaking engagements, and the power of collaboration in the nonprofit sector.
The consultants share how they approach conferences, from applying to speak to connecting with attendees and other consultants. They also discuss the importance of repurposing content and aligning speaking engagements with their business values. Additionally, they share their experiences with exhibiting at conferences and the challenges of making it a worthwhile investment.
Key takeaways
- Relationships are Key: Building relationships with other consultants and potential clients is essential for success. Conferences provide a valuable opportunity to network and connect with people in person.
- Be Selective: Not all conferences are created equal. Consider your business goals and target audience when selecting conferences to attend or speak at.
- Know Your Value: Understand the value you bring to the table and don't be afraid to ask for compensation for your time and expertise.
- Align with Your Goals: Make sure your conference attendance aligns with your overall business development strategy.
- Authenticity and vulnerability are powerful tools for connecting with your audience. Sharing your story, owning your mistakes, and being true to yourself can help you build trust and credibility.
Tune in to this episode of Confessions with Jess and Cindy to hear candid conversations with nonprofit consultants and gain valuable insights into navigating the conference landscape and building a successful business.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutintheboons/
Resources:
Boys and Girls Club
RAISE Conference
Blacks in Nonprofit
The Ethical Storytelling Framework
The Ethical Nonprofit Summit
4DaHood
The Ascending Leaders in Color Program
Nonprofit Storytelling Conference
Swaim Strategies
Ever felt the pull of those big fundraising conferences, imagining the potential clients and connections waiting just beyond those booth walls? Cindy sure did! But after two experiences, one exhilarating, the other... well, let's just say "eye-opening," we’re here to share the raw, unfiltered truth about what it's REALLY like to be a small fish in a big conference pond.
In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on Cindy’s adventures at AFP Icon and Raise. We'll talk about the hidden costs, the surprising challenges, and the hard-earned lessons about ROI. Get ready for some real talk about diversity, pay equity, and why speaking up, even when it's scary, is essential.
Key Takeaways:
- Conference exhibiting is a gamble: It's important to go in with realistic expectations and a willingness to experiment. Not every conference will be a home run, and that's okay.
- Do your homework: Before committing to a conference, research its values, audience, and reputation. Make sure it aligns with your business goals and your personal values.
- Speak up and advocate for change: Don't be afraid to share your experiences and push for a more equitable and inclusive conference landscape. Your voice matters!
- There are alternatives to traditional conferences: If the cost and ROI of exhibiting aren't adding up, consider virtual summits, webinars, or other online events to connect with your audience.
- Community matters: Building relationships with other small businesses and consultants can lead to creative solutions and collaborative opportunities. Let's support each other and create a more accessible and inclusive conference experience for everyone
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutintheboons/
Resources :
Raise Conference
AFP Icon
Bridge Conference
Nonprofit Storytelling Conference
Rachel Rogers
Ever felt like you needed a shower after a sales call? You're not alone! This week, we're diving into the world of authentic sales strategies with email marketing queen Kristi Scott.
Kristi spills the tea on her journey from cold-calling tech sales to building her nonprofit consulting business. She shares how she ditched the pushy tactics and found her groove with a more genuine approach that aligns with our sector's values.
We chat about the power of niching down (spoiler alert: it's not as scary as you think), how to leverage workshops for lead generation, and why being part of a consultant community is a game-changer. Kristi even drops a truth bomb about her financial situation that'll make you rethink those picture-perfect Instagram posts.
Key Takeaways:
- Authentic beats aggressive: Learn how to sell your services without feeling like you need to take a decontamination shower afterward.
- Workshops work wonders: Discover how offering value upfront can lead to long-term client relationships.
- Clarity is king (or queen): Find out why getting crystal clear on your offerings can make sales conversations a breeze.
- Community is your secret weapon: Hear how connecting with fellow consultants can skyrocket your business growth.
- Transparency trumps perfection: Get inspired to be real about your business journey, struggles and all.
Ready to transform your sales approach and build a consulting business that feels as good as it looks on paper? Tune in and let's get to work!
Ever wondered what it's really like to ditch your nonprofit job and start a consulting business with your work buddy? Today, we're pulling back the curtain on that exact scenario. No sugar-coating, no BS - just the raw, unfiltered truth about what it takes to build a values-driven consulting firm from the ground up.
Sarah Steiger joins us to share the rollercoaster journey of how she and her former boss, Laura, transitioned from nonprofit employees to co-founders of Steiger Vitelli and Associates. Buckle up, because this conversation gets real fast.
From their "aha" moment on Laura's back porch to navigating the murky waters of pricing and client acquisition, Sarah holds nothing back. We dive deep into the nitty-gritty of building a business that aligns with your values (hello, community-centric fundraising!) while still paying the bills.
But it's not all sunshine and rainbows, folks. Sarah gets real about the challenges of putting yourself out there as a consultant and dealing with criticism. Spoiler alert: sometimes it involves hiding under the covers with your dog for a few hours. (No judgment here!)
Key Takeaways:
- Volunteer gigs can be a goldmine for future clients. Don't underestimate the power of showing up and doing good work, even when you're not getting paid.
- Your values can be your superpower. Sarah and Laura's commitment to community-centric fundraising principles has become their unique selling point.
- Partnerships can be a game-changer. Two heads (and two sets of skills) really can be better than one when it comes to building a consulting business.
- Self-care isn't just a buzzword. It's crucial for surviving the emotional rollercoaster of entrepreneurship. Sometimes that means taking a mid-day break to ugly cry or read a book.
- Pricing is an art, not a science. Don't be afraid to get creative with your pricing structure to align with your values and serve your ideal clients.
Look, starting a consulting business isn't for the faint of heart. It's messy, it's challenging, and sometimes it downright sucks. But for those of you ready to take the leap, this episode is packed with hard-earned wisdom and practical insights. Whether you're just starting out or looking to level up your existing practice, Sarah's story will give you plenty to chew on.
Rachel Zant of Pen With a Purpose shares her journey from agency workhorse to boundary-setting badass. With 25 years of fundraising copywriting under her belt, Rachel dishes on the ups and downs of running a successful consulting biz while juggling motherhood and the constant urge to say "yes" to everything.
From charging what she's worth (spoiler: it's way more than when she started) to firing clients who don't respect her expertise, Rachel keeps it real about the struggles and triumphs of being a solopreneur in the nonprofit world. She even shares her secret sauce for packaging her services and why she's totally cool with sometimes choosing Netflix over networking.
Get ready for a no-holds-barred chat about embracing your true self in business, even if that means ugly crying in client meetings.
Key Takeaways:
- Ditching the hourly rate trap: Rachel breaks down her journey to value-based pricing and why it's a game-changer for your bank account and your sanity.
- The art of the graceful "no": Learn how setting boundaries can actually lead to more fulfilling work and happier clients (yes, really!).
- Embrace your quirks: Rachel spills on how leaning into her emotional side made her more successful, not less "professional".
- Balance is bull... but priorities are everything: Get the scoop on how Rachel juggles single motherhood, client work, and self-care (hint: sometimes self-care wins).
- Your expertise has value: Discover why it's okay to charge premium prices and fire clients who don't respect your experience. (Your future self will thank you!)
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Rachel:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelzant/
Website: https://www.penwithapurpose.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutintheboons/
Today, we're diving into the world of client retention with Alex Lustig, co-founder of the Global Grant Writers Collective. Their business is teaching people how to build careers as grant writers, but the real magic? They're keeping 70% of their members for a second year.
Alex shared insights on how they've built this success. It's not just about teaching grant writing - they've created a program that's part skill-building, part business training, and a whole lot of community. Their members aren't just learning a new skill; they're reimagining their lives.
While Alex's focus is grant writing, the strategies we discussed apply to any consulting business. We explored client retention, community building, and creative ways to make your clients feel valued and supported.
Key Takeaways:
- Prioritize onboarding. Get your clients taking action and seeing results from day one.
- Use surprise and delight tactics. Keep your clients engaged with unexpected perks and milestone celebrations.
- Build a strong community. Facilitate connections between your clients to boost retention and satisfaction.
- Focus on one marketing channel at a time. Master it before moving on to others.
- Play to your strengths. You don't need to be an expert in everything - build a team or network that complements your skills.
Whether you're just starting out or looking to level up your consulting business, this episode offers practical strategies to boost your retention rates and create a business that truly serves both you and your clients.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Alexandra:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-edwards-lustig-09220644
Instagram: @learngrantwriting
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutintheboons/
Ever wonder how some consultants seem to effortlessly land high-paying clients while you're still struggling to break the $5K mark? This week's guest, Kel Haney, spills the tea on her journey from theater director to six-figure fundraising consultant.
Kel shares how she transitioned from a 20-year career in theater to becoming a sought-after fundraising consultant, specializing in mid-level donors and her signature "5-minute fundraising ask." She candidly discusses her initial resistance to networking, her mindset shifts around pricing, and how she learned to articulate her unique value proposition.
But here's the kicker: Kel reveals how she went from charging $30-50 an hour to a $15K minimum for her consulting packages. And spoiler alert: clients are saying yes!
We dive into the nitty-gritty of Kel's business model, including how she structures her offers, her approach to business development (hint: it's all about relationships), and why she's committed to keeping her business lean and mean.
Kel also shares her secret weapon for staying motivated during the less-than-glamorous parts of running a business. Let's just say it involves a green visor and a healthy dose of playfulness.
Key Takeaways:
- Clarity is queen: Kel's business took off when she got crystal clear on her niche and how to articulate it. Take the time to refine your messaging – it pays off.
- Invest in yourself: Kel credits her rapid success to investing in coaching and professional development. It's not an expense, it's a fast pass to success.
- Relationship-building trumps cold outreach: Kel's high-ticket clients come from nurturing her network and being genuinely curious about people's needs.
- Keep it lean: By maintaining low overhead, Kel maximizes her profit margins and gives herself more flexibility in her business.
- Don't be afraid to raise your rates: Kel's story proves that when you offer unique value, clients are willing to pay premium prices. Know your worth and price accordingly.
Today on Confessions, we're diving into a topic that's been on all our minds lately: online courses. We all know the appeal, right? Scale your impact, ditch the time-for-money trap, and make some serious cash. But, like everything in life, it's not as simple as it seems.
On our recent Mastermind retreat, we enlisted our friends Rhea Wong, Brooke Richie-Babbage, and Rachel Bearbower to have a raw, honest chat about the challenges of creating a course that actually sells. Spoiler alert: the world doesn't need more pretty content. As one of our peers put it, "Nobody cares about how cute your content is if it doesn't solve a problem for them." Ouch, but so true! It's a wake-up call to focus on crafting experiences that genuinely transform our clients' lives, not just info dumps.
We also dove into the nitty-gritty of actually building a successful course – from how to structure it for maximum impact to finding your ideal audience and getting them excited to buy. It's a journey, guys, not a sprint.
We're sharing all the behind-the-scenes secrets, from validating your ideas (goodbye, biased "mom calls" 👋) to pricing strategies that attract high-paying clients. We even get real about the emotional roller coaster of charging for your expertise.
Get ready to ditch the fluff and create courses that truly matter. Tune in and join the conversation!
As you immerse yourself in this unfiltered conversation, you'll uncover:
- Strategies for validating course ideas through authentic audience conversations, avoiding the pitfalls of biased "mom calls"
- A framework for scaling your business methodically, from stabilizing your core offering to optimizing and expanding strategically
- Insights into pricing models that cater to your highest-paying clients, fueling sustainable growth without burnout
- Candid reflections on the emotional toll of pivoting from free to paid offerings and navigating dissenting voices
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutintheboons/
Email marketing remains a potent tool for nurturing relationships and driving revenue. But are you truly harnessing its full potential? We're peeling back the curtain on the often overlooked strategies that separate lackluster campaigns from engagement powerhouses.
With candor, we breakdown myths and discomfort surrounding email cadences, calls to action, and general email strategy.
Prepare to have your email marketing mindset reshaped as we demystify the enigma of robust inbox placement. You'll discover a muscle-building approach to nurturing email deliverability, from crafting reply-prompting messages to decoding the intricate metrics that govern inbox providers' algorithms.
In this unfiltered exchange, you'll uncover:
- The counterintuitive magic number of hyperlinks to embed throughout emails for maximum mobile engagement
- Ethical upselling strategies that foster genuine connections without triggering mass unsubscribes
- Techniques for nurturing the "email deliverability muscle" to ensure robust inbox placement
- A profound mindset shift: reframing relentless reminders as a generous service for the chronically forgetful
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutintheboons/
Have you been feeling the pinch in your nonprofit consulting business lately? You're not alone. The landscape for nonprofit consultants has been shifting, and many of us are experiencing challenges we haven't faced before.
Jess recently hosted a roundtable discussion in her Build Better Together community to explore what's really going on in 2024 and brainstorm solutions. The insights shared were eye-opening and we want to pass them along to you.
Get ready for some real talk about:
- Current Nonprofit Landscape: Nonprofits face funding uncertainties, post-pandemic shifts, trust issues, and changing donor preferences. How are consultants adapting?
- What's Working for Consultants: Discover the back-to-basics approach, the power of collaboration, flexible pricing models, niche specialization, and community engagement that are yielding results for consultants.
- Overcoming Obstacles: Learn how to navigate proposal purgatory, LinkedIn fatigue, and scarcity mindset – common challenges faced by consultants in the nonprofit sector.
- Moving Forward: Find out how building a supportive community, clear communication, nurturing existing relationships, and prioritizing self-care are crucial for consultants to thrive in these evolving times.
The nonprofit consulting landscape may be evolving, but with creativity, adaptability, and a supportive community, we can continue to make a significant impact.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutintheboons/
Ever feel like you're on an island, trying to figure out this whole business-building thing on your own? Well, shake off that isolation, because we're diving into the world of peer masterminds – where "yes, and" thinking meets the power of collective wisdom.
In this episode, we're joined by Aïko Thurlow, an experienced mastermind facilitator who's helped many entrepreneurs grow their businesses. Aïko's sharing insights on how these small groups can significantly improve your consulting practice.
Get ready for some real talk about:
- Why flying solo is so 2019 (and how masterminds can be your secret weapon)
- The art of curating a kickass mastermind group (hint: it's not just about finding other consultants)
- How to create a vibe where vulnerability isn't just okay, it's celebrated
- Structured chaos: Aïko's tips for meetings that actually get sh*t done
- The facilitator's toolbox: Techniques to keep your mastermind humming along
Whether you're new to masterminds or looking to improve your existing group, this episode offers practical advice to help you build the support system your consulting business needs.
So grab your favorite note-taking tool (we won't judge if it's a cocktail napkin), and let's explore how peer support can fuel your growth. Your future self (and your bank account) will thank you.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Aiko:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aikothurlow/
Website: https://www.infounders.org/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutintheboons/
Building a thriving consulting business can be a challenge, but what if the key to success lies in embracing joy and redefining growth? Meena Das, CEO of Namaste Data, shares her refreshing "anti-capitalistic" approach to building a thriving consulting practice. She emphasizes the importance of finding joy in your work, redefining growth on your own terms, and utilizing AI tools strategically.
If you're ready to break free from the traditional consulting mold and create a business that truly lights you up, tune in to this episode. Get ready to redefine success, embrace joy, and build a business that aligns with your values.
Key Highlights:
- Embrace joy as a driving force in your business, infusing your offerings with authentic passion to connect meaningfully with your audience.
- Redefine "growth" through an anti-capitalist lens, measuring success by your ability to sustain your desired lifestyle while centering fulfillment.
- Strategically leverage AI as a supportive tool for content ideation, social media planning, and as a logical "thought partner" voice.
- Nurture an abundance mindset by reflecting on past successes and tracking personal wins, cultivating self-trust during entrepreneurial ebbs and flows.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Meena:
LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/meenadas
Website: https://www.namastedata.org/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutintheboons/
We see behind the scenes of a LOT of nonprofit consulting businesses. On today’s podcast, we’re talking about trends that we are seeing for those who are finding success this year.
Discover how narrowing your niche and building strategic relationships can unlock a steady stream of ideal clients. Learn the power of offering "done-for-you" services to provide immense value while commanding premium prices.
Key Highlights:
- Understand the importance of specializing in a specific niche to position yourself as the go-to expert and attract clients seeking your unique expertise.
- Master the art of networking and relationship-building to cultivate a loyal following of raving fans who actively refer business your way.
- Explore the rising demand for "done-for-you" services that alleviate the burden on overstretched nonprofit leaders and justify higher investment.
- Gain insights into crafting irresistible "done-for-you" offers that provide tangible results while freeing up your clients' time and resources.
- Hear real-world examples and success stories from consultants who have implemented these strategies to skyrocket their revenue and impact.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutintheboons/
Imagine a world where ambitious entrepreneurs gather, unbound by geographical constraints, to forge unbreakable bonds and propel their businesses to new heights. In this unfiltered conversation, you'll be a fly on the wall as Jess and Cindy prepare for our upcoming Mastermind retreat. From cross-country flights and cozy Airbnb sanctuaries to curating local flavors and fostering an environment ripe for vulnerability, every detail is meticulously orchestrated to cultivate a judgment-free zone where entrepreneurial dreams can flourish.
Key Highlights:
- The art of striking a delicate balance between structured "hot seat" sessions and organic, free-flowing conversations that seamlessly interweave business and personal growth.
- The nuances of hosting duties, from securing accommodations to infusing local flavors, creating an immersive experience that transcends mere logistics.
- The dynamics of a tribe of driven individuals who breathe and live their businesses, blurring the lines between work and play in a harmonious dance of collective growth.
- The evolution of their masterminds, from the early days of unstructured exploration to the refined formula that harnesses the collective wisdom of the group.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutintheboons/
Jennie Armstrong, founder of Wild Awake and Delve, started her second business when she kept getting people who weren’t her core audience asking for her services.
Jennie shares the behind-the-scenes journey of transitioning from a solopreneur to building a thriving consulting firm and online program - under the banner of two brands. Discover her strategies for attracting ideal clients, creating irresistible offers, and managing a remote team - all while serving as an elected state representative.
Key Highlights:
- Understand Jennie's decision-making process for hiring employees versus subcontractors as her business expanded.
- Learn her proven tactics for generating a consistent pipeline of clients through relationship-building and word-of-mouth marketing.
- Gain insights into effectively onboarding and leading a remote team aligned with your vision and values.
- Explore the systems and processes she implemented to facilitate growth while maintaining quality and work-life balance.
- Discover her candid confessions about the challenges, lessons learned, and privileges that enabled her entrepreneurial journey.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Jennie:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JennieForAlaska
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniemarmstrong/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenniemariearmstrong
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wild_awake_creative/
Delve: https://www.delveforgood.com/
Wild Awake: https://www.wildawakecreative.com/
The Legacy Collective: https://www.wildawakecreative.com/legacy
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutintheboons/
Are you struggling to find the right partners to accelerate your nonprofit consulting business growth? In this candid conversation, Dana Snyder, CEO of Missions to Movement, shares her invaluable insights on building strategic partnerships that drive revenue and impact.
With over 7 years of experience in the nonprofit space, Dana reveals the behind-the-scenes strategies that have enabled her to generate over 60% of her annual revenue through creative partnerships, paid speaking engagements, and her highly successful Monthly Giving Summit.
Discover Dana's approach to identifying win-win-win opportunities, structuring mutually beneficial agreements, and leveraging her assets to create compelling value propositions that partners can't resist. From negotiating equitable compensation to tracking meaningful KPIs, Dana holds nothing back.
Key Highlights:
- Learn how Dana strategically builds assets like podcasts and summits to enhance her partnership offerings.
- Gain insights into structuring creative partnerships that align with both parties' goals and metrics.
- Understand Dana's approach to negotiating fair compensation for speaking engagements and partnerships.
- Discover tactics for tracking and demonstrating the ROI of partnerships to attract long-term collaborations.
- Hear Dana's candid confessions about the challenges and lessons learned from her partnership journey.
Connect with Dana:
Website: https://positiveequation.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danarsnyder/
Monthly Giving Mastermind: https://positiveequation.com/mastermind
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/positivequation/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutintheboons/
Imagine pouring countless hours of unpaid labor into cultivating a vibrant online community, only to face the daunting decision of monetizing it. That's the raw reality Jess confronted with her nonprofit consultants' group, Build Better Together. In this unfiltered convo, Jess pulls you into the emotional whirlwind of pivoting a once-free offering, sharing the psychological toll and resilience required.
From agonizing over potentially alienating loyal members to weathering scathing criticisms questioning her integrity, Jess holds nothing back. Yet her vulnerability gives way to triumph as the vast majority rallied behind the change, empowering her vision. Discover how this pivotal shift transformed the community's dynamics, fostering deeper engagement, generous knowledge-sharing, and an environment of mutual respect.
But behind the tactics lies a profound lesson in nurturing communities aligned with your values. Witness Jess's journey from trepidation to fulfillment as she cultivated this cherished digital space. Her tenacity exemplifies the mindset shift required to monetize your offerings without compromising authenticity.
Key Highlights:
- Understand Jess's decision-making process and the factors that influenced her transition to a paid model.
- Learn how she managed member expectations and addressed dissenting voices during the monetization process.
- Gain insights into fostering a supportive, collaborative environment that encourages knowledge-sharing and networking.
- Explore the systems, processes, and roles Jess implemented to facilitate community growth while maintaining quality.
- Hear her candid reflections on the lessons learned and the impact the transition has had on her business one year later.
If you've ever wrestled with the complexities of building a paid community or simply crave an honest look at an entrepreneur's trials and triumphs, immerse yourself in this empowering narrative. You'll emerge with a deeper appreciation for the grit required and inspiration to boldly pursue your own passion projects.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutintheboons/
You know that feeling of dread when someone asks you to do unpaid work? That sinking sensation that you're being taken advantage of, yet again? Well, if you're a nonprofit consultant, requests for free labor might hit a little too close to home.
But what if there was a way to turn those asks into opportunities to get properly compensated for your expertise? In this refreshingly candid discussion, we pull back the curtain on a topic that's often brushed under the rug: referral fees.
Key Highlights:
- How to reframe your mindset around monetizing referrals, breaking free from the "martyr mentality" that plagues the nonprofit sector.
- Practical tips for initiating referral fee conversations upfront, setting clear expectations with potential partners.
- Specific percentage structures Jess and Cindy implement
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutintheboons/
In this unfiltered glimpse into her entrepreneurial journey, Maria Rio pulls back the curtain on the relentless work ethic, strategic systems, and authentic team-building approach that is skyrocketing her firm's rapid growth.
With refreshing candor, Maria also confesses the challenges she's faced - from difficult hiring decisions to struggles with boundaries and self-care amidst her relentless work ethic. Her resilience and commitment to constant growth will leave you feeling empowered to tackle your own entrepreneurial obstacles with renewed clarity and determination.
In this episode of Confessions, Maria shares:
- Her multi-pronged lead generation tactics that keep her pipeline consistently full, from leveraging LinkedIn to hosting webinars and fostering strategic partnerships.
- The meticulous preparation and onboarding systems she implemented to seamlessly embed her first hire and maintain a consistent, values-driven client experience.
- Her evolved mindset on transitioning from a subcontractor model to hiring employees, and the unique considerations involved in that pivotal decision.
- The authentic, community-centric principles that guide her firm's culture and approach to building a diverse, mission-aligned team.
So tune in as Maria shares the truth about her first year building a thriving, multiple six-figure nonprofit consulting firm. You'll walk away with actionable strategies to implement in your own business and the inspiration to approach your ambitions with the same tenacious passion that propelled Maria's success.
Connect with Maria:
Go Further Together (Website): https://www.gofurthertogether.ca/
The Small Nonprofit Podcast: https://www.gofurthertogether.ca/podcast
Maria Rio (Linkedin):https://ca.linkedin.com/in/mariario
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutintheboons/
Get an inside look at the behind-the-scenes financials, marketing challenges, and partnership opportunities around hosting retreats and events in your business.
Both Kamilah and Jess lost money (and not just a little) hosting their first in-person events. Yet, they continue to explore this business model for its ability to facilitate powerful in-person connections in an online world.
In this raw conversation, Kamilah shares her experience hosting annual luxury retreats for Black and brown women entrepreneurs and the pivots her business has gone through.
Jess discusses her virtual and in-person events for nonprofit fundraisers and consultants and her learnings around pricing, format, content, and size that create an intimate experience.
They both explore potential sponsorships and partnerships to make their events more financially viable in the future while remaining aligned to their personal brands.
Key Highlights:
- Gain insight into retreat and conference business models in the nonprofit space, including the significant upfront investments required to host events and the immense marketing effort involved.
- Understand strategies around pricing events profitably through tiered pricing models and requiring deposits.
- Discover ideas for potential brand partnerships and sponsorships that feel authentic by bundling offers and requiring budget transparency.
- Recognize the importance of proximity and intimate gatherings for referral marketing: "You can't get close to someone, you don't have proximity."
If you've considered hosting events in the nonprofit consulting space, this transparent glimpse behind the scenes is essential listening to inform your strategy going forward. Tune in now to join Kamilah and Jess as they share their wins, challenges, and future plans.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Kamilah:
Katalyst Consulting (Website): https://www.katalystconsult.com/
Kamilah Martin (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamilahmartin
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutintheboons/
Bored of boring? This conversation on the Confessions podcast brings a spark of joy.
Maryanne Dersh of Courageous Communication infuses playfulness into the often too-serious nonprofit sector. She shares how she’s been able to move beyond heaviness and limitation into ease and flow — in a way that’s sustainable as a business owner.
We discuss the root causes of nonprofit drudgery and how to transform that energetically. Maryanne explains why it’s essential we give ourselves permission to have fun and prioritize enjoyment. She offers insights on self-care, managing difficult emotions skillfully, and building true confidence.
Key Highlights:
-
Learn how to bring levity and lightness to your nonprofit work joyfully
-
Discover sustainable strategies to nurture yourself on hard days
-
Gain tools to move through intense emotions while maintaining passion
-
Challenge imposter syndrome and create opportunities aligned with your unique talents
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Maryanne:
Courageous Communication (Website): https://www.courageouscommunication.com/
The Influential Nonprofit (Podcast): https://www.courageouscommunication.com/podcast
Maryanne Dersch (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryannedersch-courageouscommunication/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutintheboons/
Should nonprofit consultants write a book to grow their business? Many purpose-driven entrepreneurs ponder this strategic question as they aim to establish their authority and reach new audiences.
Jenny Mitchell generously shares her first-hand experience collaborating with 11 women leaders to produce the book “Embracing Ambition” in just 12 months. She breaks down the full process from initial conception to securing a publisher and coordinating author retreats for writing and editing. Jenny is remarkably transparent about the financial model and initial investment required. Writing and publishing the book cost over $30,000 when factoring in expenses like editorial services, author gifts and hotel accommodations. However, Jenny maintains it was worth the meaningful conversations sparked about authentic women’s leadership journeys.
With over 25 years of experience in the sector, Jenny Mitchell is perfectly positioned to provide this rare glimpse behind the curtain.
Key Highlights:
-
Insider knowledge of the book publishing process specifically for the nonprofit consulting industry
-
How to leverage strategic collaborations with co-authors to share more diverse and empowering stories
-
The importance of vulnerability and sincerity in advocating for women leaders
-
Clarity on whether writing a book is the right move for your particular business goals
-
Tips for maximizing the impact of your book through targeted PR, speaking engagements and podcast interviews
How can nonprofit consultants better manage their finances, cashflow, and profitability?
It's a common pain point that keeps many consultants up at night. You're not alone!
Tune into this conversation on Confessions with Jess and Cindy with Carleen Dehaney, Founder and Principal of FXO Consulting. With over a decade of experience guiding consultancies and nonprofits, she shares her proven framework for getting your numbers in order.
Learn how to calculate your gross and net profits to know where you stand each month. Discover easy-to-use budget forecasting models to plan for the future and make informed decisions about growth. Plus, strategies to improve cash flow management when working with nonprofits who (sadly) often pay late.
Carleen also tackles the mindsets and behaviours that hold many back from getting financially savvy. As she reminds us, "If you don't take care of the business, it won't survive and then you can't help anybody."
Key Takeaways:
- Learn how to calculate your gross and net profits
- Discover easy budget forecasting models
- Strategies to improve cashflow management
- Mindset shifts to become more financially savvy
- Actionable ways to start saving 3-6+ months of operating costs
Think beyond just delivering services day-to-day. Get the insider advice you need to run a sustainable business with impact.
Shit happens. As much as we plan and organize, there is so much about running a business that is out of our control.
Which is why we invited risk expert Rosalie Ennes to the podcast - to talk about how to manage risk in your consulting business.
A risk management strategy can help you plan for the future, protect yourself from bad things happening, and also help you consider and calculate the upside of your business.
This is Rosalie's story:
Rosalie's journey into the world of risk management began during her college years, where she studied business administration and accounting. Her initial foray into external audit exposed her to the financial aspect of risk management, delving into the meticulous process of ensuring accuracy in numbers. It was her transition to internal audit, however, that broadened her perspective, enabling her to proactively tackle operational risks and streamline organizational processes. The passion for mitigating risks ignited during her time working with large corporations, and as she ventured into consultancy, Rosalie found herself drawn to impact-driven businesses, aiming to instill a proactive risk management approach. Through her diverse experiences and unwavering commitment, she has become a beacon of guidance for small businesses and organizations, empowering them to navigate the intricate landscape of risk management with confidence and foresight
In this episode, you will be able to:
- Discover effective strategies to protect your business from potential risks and uncertainties.
- Gain insights into assessing and mitigating financial risks to ensure the stability and growth of your business.
- Unlock the secrets to building and delivering impactful consulting services
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Rosalie:
Website: https://portecuaconsulting.cpa/
Connect with Rosalie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/portecua/
Connect with Rosalie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/portecuaconsulting/
Connect with Rosalie on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@portecuaconsulting
Five Steps to Jumpstart Your Risk Journey: https://portecuaconsulting.mykajabi.com/opt-in-businesses
Three Things About Risks to Know Today: https://portecuaconsulting.mykajabi.com/opt-in-individuals
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jess-campbell-outintheboons/
If you're feeling stuck in the feast or famine cycle of consulting, wondering if you'll ever achieve consistent success, then you are not alone! Building a thriving business as a consultant can feel like a rollercoaster, with moments of abundance followed by periods of uncertainty and doubt. It's time to break free from this cycle and create a sustainable, fulfilling business that brings you steady income and joy. Let's explore how to make that transition from consultant to successful business owner a reality.
This is Luz Reyna's story:
Luz Reyna, the visionary behind Luz Reyna Consulting, embarked on a remarkable journey transitioning from politics to a realm of strategic and fractional leadership. Her introduction to this unique role stemmed from managing diverse responsibilities for a congressional campaign, sparking a realization of her true calling as a "fractional leader." Luz's innovative approach to pricing, based on a comprehensive understanding of her clients' needs and her own time capacity, ensures a customized and equitable value for her services. With a profound focus on social impact, Luz is dedicated to educating others about the concept of fractional leadership and its potential to drive positive change across industries. By seamlessly blending problem-solving skills with genuine curiosity, she has crafted a thriving business that resonates with her values and empowers her to effect meaningful change.
In this episode, you will be able to:
- Master the art of starting a consulting business in nonprofits to make a meaningful impact in your community.
- Unlock the secrets of effective pricing strategies for consultants to maximize your earning potential.
- Learn the art of building a powerful network for business growth to expand your opportunities and reach.
- Embrace the journey of transitioning from consultant to business owner and unlock the potential for unlimited success.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Luz:
Connect with Luz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luzreyna
Connect with Luz on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reynaconsulting/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jess-campbell-outintheboons/
Running a 7-figure nonprofit consultancy is a dream for so many consultants, but we’re often held back by the fear of being overworked or overwhelmed. Find out how this business owner achieves success while maintaining balance and flexibility.
This is Shavonn's story:
Shavonn Richardson, the visionary behind Think and Ink Grant Consulting, was inspired to start her nonprofit consulting business after facing the intricacies of grant writing firsthand as a nonprofit leader and a funder. Her unique perspective led her to establish Think and Ink Grant Consulting, with a mission to empower nonprofits by providing strategic consulting, comprehensive research, and efficient grant management services. Shavonn's journey is characterized by her unwavering faith and a deep sense of purpose, further fueled by the revelation of her family's multi-generational involvement in this impactful work.
In this episode, you will be able to:
- Discover the essential steps for starting a nonprofit consulting business and making a positive impact in the community.
- Master the art of building a successful consulting team to expand your impact and create a thriving nonprofit consultancy.
- Uncover powerful marketing strategies specifically tailored for consulting firms in the nonprofit sector, and elevate your visibility and influence.
- Explore practical tips for balancing entrepreneurship and personal life, ensuring sustainable success while maintaining a fulfilling lifestyle.
Kara, a hospitality pro turned marketing pro, reveals her secret to balancing a thriving co-working space alongside a booming marketing agency. But what unexpected confession does she share about her business journey? Dive into this episode for an eye-opening revelation that will transform how you approach your own business ventures.
This is Kara's story:
Kara's journey into the world of business ventures began with a passion for marketing and sales, which eventually led to the creation of KC Creative. Her deep understanding of the evolving digital landscape prompted the expansion of her services to include social media marketing and content creation. Her involvement with nonprofits, driven by a desire to support and uplift her community, opened new doors for collaboration and partnerships. With a keen eye for relationship-building, Kara's approach to consulting with nonprofits focuses on genuine interest and understanding, paving the way for impactful collaborations. Balancing her marketing business and the acquisition of a co-working space is inspiring for anyone who has multiple passions.
In this episode, you will be able to:
- Master the art of starting a nonprofit consulting business and make a positive impact in your community.
- Uncover effective marketing strategies for nonprofit consultants and amplify your outreach.
- Learn the secrets to balancing multiple business ventures and achieve success without burnout.
- Discover the importance of hospitality in business and create unforgettable customer experiences that keep them coming back.
- Gain valuable insights into financial planning for small business owners and secure the future of your ventures.
If you're feeling frustrated trying to balance inclusive collaboration and fair compensation, and finding yourself overworked and underpaid, then you are not alone!
This is Renee's story:
Renee's journey began with a transformative experience at a previous job. Feeling unfulfilled in a hierarchical and unsupportive environment, she made the courageous decision to seek change. After a period of self-reflection and regrouping, she emerged with a newfound clarity of purpose. Through her blog, she shared her reflections and learnings, creating a space for others to relate and engage in meaningful conversations. This experience led her to establish the Ross Collective, a platform where she collaborates with an array of talented individuals, sharing a common goal of advocating for equity and inclusion. Renee's story is one of resilience and growth, a testament to the power of embracing change and turning adversity into opportunity. Her journey illustrates the importance of fostering open dialogue and building positive, collaborative relationships, which have become the cornerstone of her work in the nonprofit sector.
In this episode, you will be able to:
- Mastering the Art of Starting a Nonprofit Consulting Business: Learn the essential steps to kickstart your nonprofit consulting venture and make a meaningful impact.
- Fostering Inclusive and Equitable Consultancies: Uncover the key strategies to create an inclusive and equitable environment within your business.
- Unveiling Effective Marketing Strategies for Nonprofit Consultants: Explore innovative marketing approaches tailored specifically for nonprofit consultants, amplifying your reach and impact.
- Conquering Challenges in Nonprofit Consulting: Gain valuable insights on overcoming common obstacles in nonprofit consulting, empowering you to navigate hurdles with confidence and resilience.
Are you ready to pull back the curtains on one of the legendary consultancies in our sector?
With 31 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Steven Screen is a fundraising expert and the co-founder of The Better Fundraising Company. His extensive background in fundraising and agency work has equipped him with valuable insights and expertise in helping organizations with their fundraising strategies.
Get ready to be amazed by the power of email and the surprising marketing strategy that transformed his client acquisition game. Dive into this eye-opening conversation to unlock the key to attracting more nonprofit clients and making a meaningful impact in the sector.
In this episode, you will be able to:
- Learn what's working for Steven for business development and marketing.
- Learn how to scale your nonprofit consulting firm and take it to the next level of success.
- Build successful client relationships in consulting to enhance your nonprofit's impact and reach.
- Recruit and train staff and teach them to deliver value to your clients.
The key moments in this episode are:
00:00:00 - Introduction to the Confessions podcast
00:06:25 - Structuring Offerings and Pricing
00:10:13 - Thought Leadership and Training
00:13:40 - Finding and Training Staff
00:16:32 - Paying Staff and Subcontractors in Nonprofit Consulting
00:19:13 - Finding and Attracting Small Nonprofits
00:23:34 - Using Direct Response in Business
00:27:28 - The Power of Email Marketing
00:32:47 - The Investment in In-Person Connections
00:33:55 - Understanding Nonprofit Training Needs
00:36:33 - Maximizing Conference Presence
00:39:56 - Nonprofit Fundraising Practices
00:43:24 - Connecting with Better Fundraising
00:45:29 - Pricing Strategy and Transparency
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Steven Screen:
Subscribe to the blog and emails at: https://betterfundraising.com/subscribe-to-emails/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jess-campbell-outintheboons/
Ready to uncover the secrets to successful collaboration and community building for business growth? Today on the Confessions podcast, social media and content marketing expert, Caroline Griffin joins us to share how she has leveraged collaboration and community to do less work and still grow her business.
Caroline Griffin's journey from the world of nonprofit internships to establishing her own thriving business is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and the power of community. Her unconventional start, propelled by a decision to live and work on the road, led her to embrace collaboration and community in a way that transformed her professional trajectory. Through her unwavering determination and scrappiness, Caroline built a network of consultants and professionals in the nonprofit sector, establishing a foundation of support and opportunity. By prioritizing partnerships and valuing the expertise of her peers, she has not only expanded her business but also cultivated a community that drives mutual success. Caroline's story exemplifies the transformative impact of collaboration, illustrating how interconnectedness and shared values can lead to unexpected growth and meaningful connections. Her journey serves as an inspiring reminder that embracing community and working in tandem with others can pave the way for sustainable business growth and personal fulfillment.
Key Highlights:
- Discover effective tactics for building and engaging your email list.
- Plan and prepare for maternity leave as an independent consultant.
- Explore collaboration opportunities to expand your network and projects.
- Overcome niche marketing struggles and embrace your unique skills for business success.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Caroline Griffin:
Caroline Griffin (Website): https://marketeronamission.work/
Caroline Griffin (Linkedin): linkedin.com/in/carolinethemarketer
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jess-campbell-outintheboons/
Have you heard these three myths about building an anti-capitalist consultancy? Myth 1: Anti-capitalist means you can't make money. Myth 2: Consulting ethically means sacrificing profits. Myth 3: Implementing anti-capitalist principles is too complicated. But fear not, I'm about to reveal the truth behind these myths. Get ready for a game-changing approach to sustainable and socially conscious business operations. Stay tuned for the surprising strategy!
In this episode of Confessions with Jess and Cindy, Olanike Akanbi-Ayomide, the founder of Mosaic Consulting, shares her journey of transitioning her business to operate based on anti-capitalist principles. Olanike reflects on the shifts in her business model, aligning her approach with personal values and cultural influences. She emphasizes the importance of transparency, ethical leadership, and the need for consultants to consider their own characteristics when crafting their approach to securing clients. The conversation highlights the challenges of balancing business growth and sustainability with personal well-being, providing valuable insights for entrepreneurs looking to establish a successful practice while staying true to themselves. Olanike's narrative serves as a powerful example of challenging conventional norms and reimagining success through a lens of social justice and accountability. By embracing anti-capitalist principles and fostering ethical leadership, Olanike's experiences provide valuable lessons for consultants prioritizing ethical business practices and seeking more sustainable and socially conscious operations.
Key Highlights:
- Embrace socially conscious values to build a consultancy business that makes a positive impact on society and the environment.
- Implement effective business development strategies to attract clients and grow your consultancy with ethical principles at the core.
- Transition your business to anti-capitalist principles for a more equitable and socially responsible approach to entrepreneurship.
- Prioritize personal well-being to enhance your effectiveness as an entrepreneur and create a more sustainable business.
- Build financial sustainability while incorporating equitable practices to drive positive change in the business world.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Olanike:
Olanike Akanbi-Ayomide (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/mosaic_4equity/
Olanike Akanbi-Ayomide (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/in/olanike/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jess-campbell-outintheboons/
Ever felt like you're stuck in a loop of always trying to stay positive, scared of missing out, and endlessly comparing yourself to others in the nonprofit consulting world? This constant pressure can really mess with your head, leaving you anxious and your mental health taking a hit. It's a tough cycle that can make your work life feel like you're running on empty. This is why understanding the mental and emotional battles that come with entrepreneurship is super important for nonprofit consultants and coaches looking to grow their businesses without burning out.
Join us on this episode where we get real with Shulamit Ber Levtov, a therapist who's a pro at helping entrepreneurs navigate these choppy waters.
Key Highlights:
- The Myth of Perpetual Positivity: Breaking the chains of toxic positivity isn’t just liberating, it’s necessary. As Shulamit discussed, the real power lies in acknowledging the full spectrum of our emotions. This is especially true in the world of entrepreneurship, where terms like VUCA are the daily alphabet soup we slurp up. Remember, admitting that navigating uncertainty is tough doesn’t make you weak—it makes you real, and equipped to deal with the complexity of running a business.
- A Revolution Against Comparison: Cindy pointed out the snare of FOMO and the constant comparison, a plight many of us face. Shulamit urges us to manage these feelings by first understanding the biological roots of comparison and then actively practicing techniques that anchor us into our uniqueness. You are more than your bank balance or social media likes; you're a powerhouse who brings irreplaceable value to the table.
- Building A Supportive Community: Echoing Shulamit, Jess highlighted the transformation that comes from consistent, supportive practice. It's like building muscle – the more you work it, the stronger it gets. And let’s not forget the magic of having a tribe. As we preach, standing shoulder to shoulder with people who get it can multiply your growth personally and professionally.
- Healing Financial Trauma: Talking about money can feel icky—but it's a necessary discomfort. Often, we associate shame and self-worth with our financial situation, thanks to our capitalist culture. But through vulnerable conversation and community, we can heal the wounds that hold us back from fully embracing our value.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Shulamit Ber Levtov:
Shulamit Ber Levtov (Website): https://www.shula.ca/
Shulamit Ber Levtov (Linkedin): linkedin.com/in/shulamitberlevtov
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Today’s episode is a goldmine for anyone in the nonprofit space ready to shift from freelancer to bona fide business visionary. We sit down with the brilliant Miriam Dicks of 180 Management Group, who shares her evolution and the strategic pivot that transformed her consulting. She'll unravel the often misunderstood fabric of operations, revealing how it's the backbone of every successful organization—and yes, it can be as sexy as it is essential. You’ll learn about the real grind behind turning your skillset into a systematized powerhouse, the truth about balancing the roles of employee and entrepreneur and building a brand that resonates with your values and expertise. Prepare for an episode rich with insights, and don't forget to connect with us after the show to continue the conversation. Let's transform your drive into a thriving, operational engine.
Key Highlights:
- Build Your Business Strong: Miriam started just like many of us, working gig to gig. But she had bigger dreams. She wanted a business that didn't just pay the bills but made a real difference. Like putting together a puzzle, she put systems in place that helped her business grow bigger than she ever imagined.
- The Magic of Good Management: You might think talking about systems and operations is a snooze fest. But not for Miriam! She says that’s the secret sauce for keeping everything running smoothly. Let's remember that a good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow.
- Juggling Jobs and Dreams: It’s tough sometimes, isn’t it? Miriam gets real about the struggle of holding down a day job while building her dream. It’s like having two full-time jobs. She was tired, but guess what? She never gave up. And that’s a big lesson for all of us. 🎢
- Business Partnerships and Collaboration: It examines the dynamic of business partnerships and collaboration with insights on how Miriam and her husband balance their roles in their church with their business responsibilities.
- Navigating Career Transitions: Transition from healthcare operations to consulting and the pivot that took place due to shifts in the industry and market demands, especially during the pandemic.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Miriam Dicks:
180 Management Group (Website): https://www.180managementgroup.com/
Miriam Dicks (Linkedin): linkedin.com/in/miriampdicks
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jess-campbell-outintheboons/
Hosted on Acast. See
Today, we are super excited to introduce Heather Nelson, Founder and President ofat boutique fundraising consultancy, BridgeRaise. Her agency is dedicated to forging corporate partnerships for mid-sized charities. In this episode, we'll explore her journey from an individual consultant to the leader of a thriving firm and discuss her strategic shift to the agency model.
Key Highlights:
The Agency Advantage: Dive deeper with Heather as she shares how her passion for teamwork and client success steered her towards running an agency. Juggling HR, hiring, and maintaining profitability while being a compassionate boss, Heather gives us a candid look at navigating the complexities of agency management.
Client Relationships and Boundaries: Setting boundaries is vital, and Heather's agency is no exception. From planned vacation periods to choosing clients who resonate with the agency's values, discover how to maintain a healthy work-life balance and foster respectful, mutually beneficial relationships with clients.
Heather's Pricing Journey: Join us as Heather unveils her transition from solo consulting to establishing a robust firm, which brought about a pivotal change in her pricing strategy. Learn how she almost doubled the pricing of each product and further tweaked it over time, underlining the correlation between pricing, client access, and psychological hurdles like fear of client loss.
The Importance of Self-Investment: Investing in personal development isn't just motivational jargon. Heather reveals her own commitment to coaching and courses to buff up her business acumen. She didn't shy away from prioritizing personal development, addressing issues head-on, and it's reflected in her business's success today.
Choosing the Right Clients: Heather shares the evolution of her decision-making when taking on clients, emphasizing the need to value emotional well-being and her own terms. From early-career struggles with saying 'No' to harnessing confidence in her marketing and pipeline, she now opts for clients aligned with her agenda and values.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Heather Nelson:
Heather Nelson (Linkedin): linkedin.com/in/nelsonheather
Heather Nelson (Twitter): heathernelson12
BridgeRaise (Website): https://www.bridgeraise.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jess-campbell-outintheboons/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Let’s consider this – if you're immersed in the nonprofit consulting world, the constant hustle to provide affordable, effective solutions can feel like an uphill battle. But our guest on the Confessions podcast, Cherian Koshy, has masterfully tackled this challenge, not only by creating an innovative AI resource but also by navigating the intricate process of nurturing and then selling this brainchild in a multi-seven-figure deal.
Get ready for some raw, honest insight into the journey from concept to creation to cashing out. Cherian spills the details on the necessary grind, the mindset shift involved in scaling a product, and the secrets to sealing a lucrative tech sale.
Key Highlights:
Delivering Indispensable Solutions to Nonprofits: The secret sauce Cherian brought to the table is simple yet profound: zero in on the pain points, then tailor a solution that nonprofits can't imagine going without. He walked us through captivating product demonstrations and authentic testimonials that are driving a stake into the heart of nonprofit inefficiencies. It’s about commitment to their cause, wrapped up with a bow of strategic thinking.
Striking a Balance: Free Content and Fiscal Wisdom: One of the big questions we get asked is how to stay true to our giving nature while still making a living. Cherian's strategy of providing free value up front, with upscaling to paid services, is a golden nugget for all of us. It's not about selling out; it's about smartly selling your services in a way that's as viable financially as it is invaluable to your clients.
Masterful Partnerships for Amplified Results: Cherian's storytelling of his partnership experience, especially with the iWave deal, serves as a masterclass in aligning with the right partners for a mutually beneficial outcome. His insights show us that valuing our expertise is key to forging alliances that extend our reach and deepen our impact.
Confessions from the Front Lines of Success: Cherian's tale is more than just an account of winning; it's evidence that aligning profits with non-profit missions is not just possible but necessary for sustainable success. His journey underscores a core truth — recognizing your worth and the value of your contributions is as paramount as any work you do for the cause.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Cherian Koshy:
Cherian Koshy (Website): https://www.cheriankoshy.com/
Cherian Koshy (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheriankoshy/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jess-campbell-outintheboons/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/
"I now get paid mostly through clients, nonprofit executive directors who enroll in my group program called Thrive and stay there usually for at least a year. My big pet peeve as the thing I can't do that crushes my soul is when you give clients support and they don't implement. I just need it for my own sanity for clients to implement." - Sarah Olivieri
In this episode, we welcome Sarah Olivieri, mastermind behind PivotGround, to share her blueprint for balancing a successful nonprofit consultancy while juggling the responsibilities of single parenthood. From strategic shifts to innovative program structuring, Sarah is candid about the significance of time management, profitability, and the personal lifestyle choices that fuel her success.
Key Highlights:
- Building a Successful Nonprofit Business: Sarah discusses her journey of starting PivotGround, a marketing agency for nonprofits and eventually shifting to a focus on improving nonprofit operations. She shares her experience with Mariah Coz’s High Ticket Hybrid program and her group program called Thrive.
- Transitioning to a Scalable Coaching Program: Transition from one on one coaching to a one to many model in the coaching business. Sarah shares her experience of making this transition and how it resulted in exponential growth in both time and money.
- Transitioning to a Simpler Sales Process: Challenges of selling to nonprofits and how their selling process has evolved to avoid lengthy proposals. Sarah shares her success with a three webinar sequence that speeds up the closing process.
- Understanding Objections in Marketing: Insights from Sarah on overcoming objections in sales and marketing, highlighting how understanding what people really want can be more effective than focusing on money-related objections.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Sarah Olivieri:
Sarah Olivieri (Linkedin): linkedin.com/in/sarah-olivieri
PivotGround (Website): pivotground.com
PivotGround (Twitter): PivotGround
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jess-campbell-outintheboons/
Looking for more inspo and strategies to make 2024 your most successful year yet?
Join us in California for the Make It Happen Conference, February 28-29!
Link: themakeithappenconference.com/?affiliate=goodpartners
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
"It's okay to have a small list. It's good to have a small list because they'll be more engaged. There are people who actually care about you." - Katelyn Baughan
This episode zeroes in on the coveted goal for all consultants: securing high-ticket clients. We're joined by Katelyn, a nonprofit email consultant who's not only mastered the art of attracting premium contracts but has also built a thriving six-figure business. As a mother and entrepreneur, Katelyn is a testament to the power of integrating professional ambition with personal life, all while sidestepping the relentless hustle culture.
Key Highlights:
- Expert Positioning: Want to attract the crème de la crème of clients? Katelyn advises positioning yourself as an authority in your field. By polishing her professional presence and sharing her knowledge through various platforms—including podcast interviews—Katelyn has become the go-to consultant for sizable nonprofits seeking top-tier email marketing guidance.
- Building Deep Relationships: High-ticket clients aren't just looking for transactions; they crave transformative partnerships. Katelyn tells us about the value of investing time and energy into understanding the unique challenges and goals of her clients. This relationship-centric approach isn’t just good business; it’s a fulfilling way to ensure meaningful, lasting impacts on the organizations she works with.
- The Retainer-Based Model:Katelyn gives us the low-down on the stability and advantages of retainer agreements. By shifting to this model, non-profit consultants can focus on delivering consistent, high-quality work without the constant hustle for new one-off projects. It’s a win-win: reliable revenue for the consultant and ongoing expert support for the client.
- Going Above and Beyond: Those high-ticket clients yearn for the personal touch, says Katelyn. This might mean an annual in-person visit or a tailored strategy that goes beyond the standard email marketing campaign, providing both superior results and a personalized experience.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Katelyn Baughan:
Katelyn Baughan (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/in/katelyn-baughan/
Katelyn Baughan (Website): https://katelynbaughan.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jess-campbell-outintheboons/
Looking for more inspo and strategies to make 2024 your most successful year yet?
Join us in California for the Make It Happen Conference, February 28-29!
Link: themakeithappenconference.com/?affiliate=goodpartners
Hosted on Acast. See
In today's episode, our guest Tammy Zonker, founder and president of Fundraising Transformed, peeled back the curtain to her successful business model – and to a few confessions. What she's built is not just a business but a thriving community that champions work-life balance and profitability through diverse and strategic offerings for nonprofit organizations. We're getting real about the boundary-setting, strategic planning, and partnership synergy that makes Tammy's operation soar. So, tune in and join us on a journey that goes beyond revenue to the heart of impactful and intentional nonprofit work.
Elevate Your Consulting Game In the world of nonprofit consulting, it’s not just about hard work; it’s about smart work—integrating passion with strategy. Tammy embodies this like a boss! From moving her mission forward at the crack of dawn (seriously, she’s up at 4:00 a.m.!) to knowing when to say a polite “no,” Tammy’s approach is the mentorship gold we all need.
Building Revenue Streams That Work for You Tammy’s genius lies in her diversified business model. High-end consulting mixed with her "Fundraising Transformers" community and an array of on-demand learning resources, Tammy’s teaching us to spread our wings and soar toward sustainable revenue. Remember folks, it's about creating that sweet spot between making a living and making a difference.
Partnerships In and Out of Business Tammy shares how she collaborates with her life partner in running their business. She points out the presence of respect, complementing skill sets and clear communication in making the partnership successful.
Say "Yes" to Boundaries Listen up, friends; it's boundary-setting time! Tammy's got it down to an art—saying no means saying yes to alignment, loyalty, and value. And isn't that what we're all here for? To fuel our passions and empower organizations while respecting our time and genius.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Tammy Zonker:
Tammy Zonker (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/in/tammyzonker
Tammy Zonker (Twitter): https://twitter.com/TammyZonker
Fundraising Transformed: https://www.fundraisingtransformed.com
The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-intentional-fundraiser-podcast/id1493678510
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me
Looking for more inspo and strategies to make 2024 your most successful year yet?
Join us in California for the Make It Happen Conference, February 28-29!
Link: themakeithappenconference.com/?affiliate=goodpartners
Hosted on Ac
In this episode of we're rolling out the red carpet for 'Layne, the Auctionista.'' Layne is a master of the gala stage. They shared serious confessions about the thrilling yet demanding live fundraising world. Or should we say, philanthrotaining. Yes, you read that right!
Now - think for a minute - if you’re business was centered around taking the stage at live fundraising events, the last few years probably have been pretty brutal.
But Layne has navigated that and found success in this changing world.
Entertainment Meets Philanthropy: Lane, the auctionista, underscores the substantial role entertainment plays in galvanizing gala guests and maximizing fundraising efforts. They shed light on how other nonprofit service providers might integrate entertainment into their work to form deeper, more authentic connections without resorting to pressured sales pitches.
Valuing Authenticity Over Desperation: We all agree—connection beats a sales pitch any day. Lane talks authenticity and building relationships in fundraising, capturing the essence of how we too believe in connecting with our clients for success in nonprofit consulting.
Self-Care Isn't Optional: Lane shared the essential role of self-care, especially after the heightened stimulation of event fundraising. They've mastered the art of working hard, then unwinding equally hard. As consultants, it's crucial we follow suit, remembering that recovery is just as important as the grind.
Scaling with Stories: Lane candidly discusses how embracing personal storytelling, especially their experiences as a non-binary person, has enhanced their keynote speaking engagements. Their upcoming Impact Workshop focuses on gender identity and creating inclusive workspaces, which is already garnering uplifting responses and inspiring the younger generation.
Lane's episode is a masterclass in personal branding, storytelling, and authentic engagement. These are essential tools for anyone consulting!
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Layne:
Layne (Linkedin): linkedin.com/in/laynetheauctionista
Layne (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/TheAuctionistaLayne
Layne (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/TheAuctionista
Layne (Twitter): https://twitter.com/The_Auctionista
Layne Talent Inc. o/a The Auctionista (Website): auctionista.ca
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jess-campbell-outintheboons
In today's episode of 'Confessions with Jess and Cindy,' we sat down with Lynne Wester, an OG nonprofit consultant who built her empire from ground up, all sparked by the urgent need to fund her dog's surgery. Now leading a 16-strong team, Lynne's journey through the shifts in healthcare consulting, her strategic use of webinars, and hands-on approach to change management, has been nothing short of inspiring. Tune into this episode to hear Lynne's raw and real success story, and grasp invaluable insights that could ignite your next breakthrough. Don't miss out on this game-changing episode!
Key Highlights:
- Taking the Leap into Nonprofit Consulting Lynne's journey to becoming a nonprofit consultant started unexpectedly when her dog needed surgery. This urgent need led her to explore new ways to earn money, eventually leading her to create a successful consultancy in the nonprofit sector.
- Balancing Instruction and Impact Lynne today splits her time evenly between teaching and direct client work, which not only demonstrates the importance of diversification but also presents a model of sustainable growth.
- Embracing the Winds of Change The world of nonprofit consulting can be tumultuous, with shifts like the Affordable Health Care Act reshaping entire landscapes. Lynne’s adaptability shows us that when change comes knocking, the savvy consultant swings the door wide open and invites it in for coffee.
- Authenticity Above All Lynne’s journey to prioritizing authentic self-representation over the temptation of selling out her voice is a testament to the power of integrity. She has built her audience on the rock-solid foundation of who she truly is, and she encourages every consultant to do the same. Growing a following isn't about appealing to the masses; it's about resonating with the right people.
- Investment in Knowledge is Non-Negotiable From webinars to in-person retreats, Lynne's commitment to accessible professional development is a cornerstone of her success. It's a vital cue for
- nonprofit consultants that investing in your own expertise is integral to providing the best service to your clients.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Lynne Wester:
Lynne Wester (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnewester/
Donor Relations Guru (Website): https://www.donorrelations.com/
Donor Relations Guru (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/donorguru/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com
Fractional Fundraising Network https://www.fractionalfundraising.co
LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jess-campbell-outintheboons
Hosted on Acast. See
In today's episode, our powerhouse guests at Evenings and Weekends Consulting, Paul Taylor and Laëtitia Eyssartel, peeled back the curtain to their successful business model – and to a few confessions. We're getting real about the radical changes they've made to the established rules of the nonprofit sector. So, tune in!
Key Highlights:
- Embrace Decent Work: This episode has showcased how Paul and Laëtitia's business, Evenings and Weekends Consulting, not only talks the talk but walks the walk. They've built their business around the philosophy of 'decent work' - striving to provide an environment where each individual's labor, experience, and expertise are valued and respected. This is something we can all take inspiration from, as promoting a culture of respect and appreciation strengthens the overall work environment.
- Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Paul and Laëtitia's success is also a testament to how collaboration and team focus can drive success. They're able to offer a diverse range of services and manage a large volume of projects because they've created a strong, cohesive team. If we keep this in mind, we too can create dynamic teams that can deliver high quality work and achieve shared goals.
- Be Intentional: Paul and Laëtitia didn't just stumble onto success, they've been intentional in their efforts, focusing on clear communication, establishing boundaries, and prioritizing deeper relationships over transactional connections. So, whether it's with your clients or team members, remember to be intentional with your interactions. Every communication and decision should align with your vision and goals for your business.
- Put Happiness First: Laëtitia confessed something we all need to remember - it's okay to prioritize ourselves and do what brings us joy. Being a consultant doesn't mean sacrificing personal growth and happiness for your clients. Remember to keep a balance between your professional and personal life that works for you!
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Paul Taylor:
Paul Taylor (Linkedin): linkedin.com/in/paultaylorto
Website (Personal): paulmichaeltaylor.ca
Evenings & Weekends Consulting: https://www.eveningsandweekendsconsulting.com/
Connect with Laëtitia Eyssartel:
Laëtitia Eyssartel (LinkedIn): linkedin.com/in/laetitiaeyssartel
Evenings & Weekends Consulting: https://www.eveningsandweekendsconsulting.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me
Hosted on Acast. See
Summits are a powerful tool for networking, lead generation, and collaboration. As a business owner or nonprofit leader, understanding how to effectively host a summit can propel your business forward and expand your reach globally. In this episode, we are sitting down with Krista Miller, CEO and Founder of Summit in a Box. Krista breaks down the complexities of summit hosting and guides us on how to create a worthwhile event that both attendees and sponsors can rave about!
What are the secrets to creating a summit that both attendees and sponsors will rave about? How do you balance summit planning with your work-life? Join us as Krista answers these questions and more, providing insights into everything from scheduling to promotion. This episode is not just a conversation; it’s a masterclass in making your summit a success.
Key Highlights:
- The Role of Summits Today Krista fiercely advocates for the influence of online events, even amid Zoom fatigue. She underlines, crisp and clear, that summits are far from fizzling out. On the contrary, they're top-notch tools to ignite business momentum, sharpen your email game, and foster industry connections. And did we mention the revenue potential? It's all about being unique, catering to a specific audience, and putting care into the execution.
- Combining Summits with Your Launch Strategy Krista is a treasure trove of great advice for all you nonprofit visionaries out there. Together we challenge the misconception that summits are overdone. Instead, we guide you to consider their potential as dynamic launch platforms. Combining them with other methods like webinars and email sequences can produce real change. The key is to lead with service and empathy before focusing on sales.
- Engaging Speakers and Participants Krista also delve into how to manage speakers effectively, highlighting communication, empathy, and recognizing the respective journeys of each speaker.
- Making Summits Accessible and Adaptable In these heavy screen-times, it's about striking a balance. By keeping sessions short, offering a private podcast feed, and adapting to shifts like shorter summit durations, an accessible and fruitful experience is completely within your reach!
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Krista Miller:
Krista Miller (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/in/krista-miller-summit-in-a-box/
Summit in a Box (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/summitinabox/
Summit in a Box: https://www.summitinabox.co/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Consulting https://cindywagman.com
Network https://www.fractionalfundraising.co/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me
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In this episode of "Confessions with Jess and Cindy," we're joined by Sonia Daniels, founder and CEO of S. Daniels Consulting, who has successfully grown her consulting business for nonprofit clients over six years. In this candid conversation, Sonia takes us through her unique business journey, starting as a side project and evolving into a full-time passion. We delve into the challenging decisions she's made, her strategies to supporting employees during maternity leave, and how she balances personal passions and business responsibilities. Stick around for Sonia's valuable insights on recognising team gaps, the importance of open communication, and the role of strategic pricing in the consulting world.
Key Highlights:
- Embrace the evolution: Running a consulting business is not a job for the faint-hearted. It’s a road often marked with ups and downs; our guest, Sonia Daniels, can testify to this. Starting her consulting business as a side project, she gradually transitioned into making it her full-time occupation. The desire for autonomy and flexibility were her driving forces. Sonia’s confession shed light on her journey, highlighting the questioning and the reward of starting her business.
- Employee Support and Management: A central concern of growing a business is managing and supporting your team effectively. Sonia's intent to have a detailed and considerate plan for her employee's maternity leave underlines the importance of nurturing employee well-being for the success of the business.
- Strategic Pricing: Sonia's approach to pricing–charging market rates, being flexible for clients with limited budgets, and considering salaries and business expenses–provides a practical framework for consultants when setting their prices. It emphasizes the need to balance profitability, fairness, and business sustainability.
- The Importance of Networking and Client Relationships: Sonia attributes much of her success to referrals and word of mouth, treating clients like friends and family to ensure a positive experience. It underlines the value of building strong, authentic relationships with clients and maintaining an active network.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Sonia Daniels:
Sonia Daniels (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/in/soniadaniels
Sonia Daniels (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/sdanielsconsulting/
S. Daniels Consulting: https://www.sdanielsconsulting.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me
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In this episode, we dive into a thought-provoking discussion on marketing strategies and the undeniable impact of authenticity in the industry. We unpack the confessions from the ICON conference, addressing the blurred line between self-promotion and genuine expertise, and share our experiences on making strategic business investments. Whether you're navigating the world of nonprofit coaching and consulting or aiming to expand your business, this episode will empower you to carve your path to success.
Key Highlights:
- The Power of Authenticity In the episode, we delved into the debate about the relationship between marketing and the quality of your work. One thing that stood out is the power of authenticity. Authenticity is key in making a lasting impression. As nonprofit consultants, your reputation is your number one marketing tool, and nothing beats the authenticity and credibility that comes with doing impeccable work.
- Finding Your Marketing Style We understand that not everyone's marketing journey will look the same. Whether you prefer a low-key approach or want to go all out, finding what works for you and your business is crucial. Understanding the platforms where you can showcase your work authentically is also important. Knowing the value of professional branding and marketing, and making investments strategically can help elevate your presence in the industry.
- Long-term Play: Building Community At Confessions, we've always believed in the long-term strategy of community building. With the podcast being a powerful tool for marketing, we've seen the impact of community support and organic growth. Taking opportunities to showcase your work at events, conferences, or through networking can be a game-changer for your brand awareness and growth in the industry.
- Making an Impact We've learned that making strategic investments in marketing can be a game-changer. It's about making a lasting impression and standing out. Your marketing efforts are an investment in your business and the impact you want to make in the nonprofit world.
To our fellow nonprofit coaching and consulting friends - remember, the journey to successful marketing isn’t made overnight. It’s about finding what works for you and your business. We're here to share our knowledge and create collective empowerment.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me
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“I gave a very clear example about being in pain, and when you’re in that level of pain, you are willing to literally do whatever it takes.” - Jess
In this episode of Confessions podcast, we're diving deep into the world of recurring revenue. We share our experiences and insights on the benefits of offering monthly options, the shift from one-off projects to long-term contracts, and the importance of marketing and positioning these offerings. Plus, we discuss the value of addressing pain points and saving time for our nonprofit clients.
Tune in as we spill the beans on how we're navigating the world of recurring revenue and creating sustainable income in our businesses. It's a candid conversation that's sure to offer some valuable takeaways for fellow nonprofit coaches and consultants.
Key Highlights:
- Why Recurring Revenue Matters Your business is like a marathon, not a sprint. If you only rely on one-time transactions, you're constantly chasing new clients, which can be exhausting. Recurring revenue brings stability, allowing you to plan and budget with more confidence. It's a win-win for you and your clients. For many nonprofits, predictable monthly expenses are a game-changer, making it easier for them to budget and manage cash flow.
- Navigating Pricing and Contracts Pricing can be a tricky beast. Both Jess and Cindy share insights on how to package services and offerings in a way that makes sense for recurring revenue. It's not just about setting a monthly price, but also understanding the value of your services and the needs of your clients. Jess gives an amazing example of how to create annual programs and simplify the approval process for your clients.
- Clever Marketing Strategies Understanding your audience and their pain points is key. Jess and Cindy discuss the importance of marketing strategies tailored to the value you provide. Jess offers a fresh take by focusing on time-saving benefits, a perspective less explored in the industry. This approach aims to resonate with nonprofits feeling the impact of time constraints. Cindy shares her experiences with marketing recurring revenue options to consulting and nonprofit audiences, offering valuable tips for consultants to position their offerings effectively.
- Playing Chess, Not Checkers As Jess mentions, playing chess, not checkers, in business is about working smarter, not harder. It's about being strategic and forward-thinking. Cindy chimes in, highlighting the need to create long-term contracts, especially when offering indefinite services, giving a direct boost to recurring revenue and long-term relationships.
Keep in mind, recurring revenue can help stabilize your business and provide consistent income. By understanding your audience, pricing your offerings appropriately and effectively marketing the benefits, you can create a successful recurring revenue model for your nonprofit coaching or consulting business.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me
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Today, we’re diving into a topic that’s especially timely as we head into the holiday season: gift giving. Whether you’re looking to show appreciation to clients, strengthen relationships, or simply spread some joy, the art of thoughtful and purposeful gift giving is something that can truly make a difference in our work as coaches and consultants.
Key Highlights:
- The Importance of Thoughtful Gifting As nonprofit consultants, we understand the significance of making meaningful connections. That's why we believe that thoughtful gifting can play an essential role in expressing gratitude and strengthening relationships with clients, partners, and staff.
- Gifting Strategies for Client Relationships When it comes to showing appreciation to clients, we've found that personalized and useful gifts can go a long way. Whether it's a hand-picked book, a personalized mug, or even a lunch treat on Giving Tuesday, the key is to consider the recipient's interests and preferences. We've also explored the idea of supporting indigenous artists and businesses by gifting items such as artist-designed adult coloring books and indigenous-made products, aligning our gestures with our values.
- Authenticity Over Branding During our conversation, we emphasized how the focus of gifting should be on the recipient rather than on branding or marketing opportunities. While branding has its place, it's crucial to ensure that the gifts we give reflect our values and what we stand for, resonating with the recipients on a personal level.
Remember, it’s the thought and effort put into the gift that truly counts. Whether it’s a small token or a grand gesture, the intention behind the gift is what matters most. By showing genuine care and consideration, these heartfelt gestures can strengthen relationships and leave a lasting impression.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me
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"Working for myself is a form of rest because I get to choose my clients and I don't have what I experienced in the workplace when I was working in the nonprofit sector, which is racial battle fatigue" - Dr. Asia Lyons
This week's episode of Confessions featured the amazing Dr. Asia Lyons, who shared her journey to building a thriving consulting business serving youth organizations. Dr. Asia's story is a reminder that we should never stop pushing boundaries or embracing new possibilities in our work. The only limits are the ones we place on ourselves!
Key HIghlights:
- Niche down. Dr. Asia knew from the start that she wanted to support youth-serving orgs, and she built her entire business around serving that niche. Her advice? Get extremely clear on who you help and how. Niching down allows you to become an expert in your field and better serve your clients.
- Cold Outreach Strategy. Dr. Asia didn't wait around for new clients to come to her—she went out and found them. Even though cold outreach can be scary, Dr. Asia has developed a system that works for her. Her advice? Start small, learn as you go, and try new strategies. You'll get better and more comfortable over time.
- Entrepreneurship as Empowerment. Dr. Asia intentionally set up their own business to have control over their clients and avoid experiencing racial battle fatigue and racism-related stress that they previously encountered in the workplace. This choice to work for themselves gives them freedom to choose their projects and avoid oppressive environments.
- Breaking the burnout cycle. Dr. Asia recognizes that as business owners we need to make rest a priority. She makes sure to step away from work and recharge through self-care, community, and family. Being part of a mastermind and women's retreat allows her to connect with like-minded people who truly understand this work.
The path of a nonprofit consultant isn't always easy, but Dr. Asia proves that with hard work, clarity, and self-care, you can build a thriving business that serves organizations doing important work. Her story is a reminder that we should never stop pushing boundaries in our work. The only limits are the ones we place on ourselves!
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Dr. Asia Lyons:
Lyons Educational Consulting: https://www.lyonseducationalconsulting.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asia-lyons
The Exit Interview: https://www.exitinterviewpodcast.com
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me
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"I think as business owners, or maybe just me personally, I like to go really fast. So slowing down to speed up is so painstakingly hard for me, but I know it's also necessary." - Stephanie Skryzowski
As consultants and business owners, one of the biggest challenges we face is scaling our business in a sustainable way. A key part of scaling is building a team to support your growth.
In this week's episode of The Confessions Podcast, we spoke with Stephanie Skryzowski, founder of 100 Degrees Consulting, about how she built her team to over 16 people. By delegating work to her team, Stephanie is able to step into her role as CEO and focus on strategy, culture, and business development. Building a team is challenging, but also rewarding. To hear more about how Stephanie scaled her business through building a team, listen to the full episode. You'll come away with actionable insights to start putting into practice in your own firm.
Key Highlights:
- Prioritize your people. Stephanie believes that when her team can disconnect, they do higher quality work. So she offers generous PTO, limits work to 40 hours/week, and invests in her team’s wellbeing. This mindset has enabled 100 Degrees to scale in a healthy way.
- Don’t be afraid to change course. Stephanie made the bold choice to sell part of her business in order to refocus her efforts. While scary, it allowed her team to align around their purpose and opened up new opportunities for growth.
- Follow your vision. Stephanie built the business of her dreams by staying true to her purpose of empowering nonprofits to create change. Don’t cling to convention—you have the power to forge your own path.
Be willing to let go of what is not working and make strategic decisions that will benefit the long-term success of your business.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Stephanie Skryzowski:
100 Degrees Consulting: https://100degreesconsulting.com/
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/stephanieskryzowski
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Steph100Degrees
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
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"I'm selling unapologetically through the whole thing and that's something I've really had to work on and work towards." - Christina Edwards
Jess and I just sat down with Christina Edwards for this episode that will light a fire under your consulting business. Christina has built a multiple six-figure nonprofit consulting firm over the last 15 years by unapologetically embracing abundance in all its forms. If you're ready to stop playing small in your business and start embracing abundance, listen to this episode. Christina will inspire you to claim what you're worth, follow your passion, and get comfortable with being different. The opportunities are endless if we have the courage to color outside the lines.
Key Highlights:
- Sell unapologetically. Don't be afraid to talk about what you're selling and promote your offers often.Staying consistent with selling is the key to growth. If it turns some people off, so be it—your true people will appreciate the value.
- Find your sweet spot. Whether it's high-ticket or low-ticket, courses or one-on-one work, choose what lights you up and go all in. There's room for us all, so don't get caught up comparing yourself to what others are doing. Focus on what works for YOU.
- Build your list and turn up the volume. Email marketing has been essential for scaling my business, and the more you email, the more opportunities you will have to serve. Don't be afraid to be visible and share your message loudly and often. The right folks will tune in.
- Collaborate for growth. Look for partnerships with other consultants to get in front of new audiences. Make it easy for them by handling the details, and be generous with commissions and bonuses. Successful collaborations are a win-win.
- Keep learning and embracing your "weird." The path of a nonprofit consultant is one of constant evolution. Learn from those further along, but also trust your instincts. Your unique experiences and perspective are what allow you to serve in a way no one else can.
Be unapologetic and confident in selling your products or services. It’s essential to have a belief in the value of what you are offering and to not shy away from promoting it to your audience.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Christina Tzavaras Edwards:
Splendid Consulting: www.splendidatl.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinatza/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCphQIax9fJdZ6t77EnPVp4A
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
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“Every investment I've made in my business has been a learning experience, even if it didn't bring the desired results. I see these investments as opportunities for growth and improvement.” - Cindy Wagman
In this episode, we're diving into how our investments in our businesses have evolved over the years—and the life-changing lessons we've learned along the way. Early on, we were hungry for any and all business advice we could get. We took all the courses, joined all the programs, and tried to model what the "experts" were teaching. But here's the truth: most of that just didn't align with our nonprofit audience or values. We learned that there are no shortcuts to finding what works for your unique business. These days, we invest in the things that really move the needle:
- Bringing on support so we can work less and earn more. We've hired contractors, built out our teams, and worked with coaches who get our sector.
- Referrals from our network. Finding service providers recommended by people we know and trust.
- Invest in the relationships and communities that truly understand you. These are the investments that pay off the most.
- Rest. This year, we both took extended breaks to renew our creativity. Coming back with fresh eyes is the best investment you can make.
The bottom line? Don't be afraid to invest in yourself and your business. But make sure those investments align with where you are now and where you want to go. Find your people, focus on what lights you up, and don't be afraid to challenge the status quo.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“How we present is directly tied to how present we are. We can never be our most passionate, communicative, vulnerable, inspiring selves if we are in our own heads and doubting ourselves the whole time” - Lucia Cesaroni
In this episode of the Confessions podcast, we chatted with Lucia Cesaroni, an opera singer, entrepreneur and self-styled evangelist for bringing business and the arts closer together. Lucia shared her journey of pivoting from a successful opera career to launching her own consulting firm focused on empowering corporate executives through performance skills training.
Some of the biggest takeaways:
- Develop a growth mindset. Look for opportunities to apply your skills in new ways and don’t be afraid to push into uncharted territory. You never know what might stick!
- Focus on the “how,” not just the “what.” Lucia teaches performance skills to equip her clients with the tools they need to communicate with confidence and charisma. We spend so much time preparing the content of our work, but we often neglect how we show up to deliver it.
- Practice self-compassion. Even the most skilled performers don’t always execute perfectly. Learn from your experiences and then move on without judgment. Your worth isn’t defined by any single interaction or event.
- Find what fuels you. For Lucia, empowering others through her performance skills training lights her up. Look for work that ignites your passion, so you can show up fully for your clients and community.
We hope Lucia’s story inspires you to embrace new possibilities in your own work. Keep pushing boundaries, follow your passions, and don’t be afraid to forge new paths. Abundance awaits! Let’s go get it.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Lucia Cesaroni:
Cesaroni Consulting: https://www.cesaroniconsulting.com/
Lucia Cesaroni (Website): http://luciacesaroni.com/
Linkedin: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/lucia-cesaroni-b4821051
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luciasee/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/LuciaCesaroni
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership: https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s Confessions podcast, we had an inspiring conversation with Rowena Veylan, founder of The New School of Fundraising. Rowena shared her journey to launching a nonprofit consulting business in the midst of COVID-19 and her vision for empowering community leaders through accessible education.
Some of the biggest takeaways:
- Embrace possibility and abundance, even when times seem uncertain. Rowena started her business during the pandemic after seeing a gap she could fill. Focus on relationships, not transactions.
- Build a business model focused on impact, not profits alone. Rowena partners with funders to make her programs nearly barrier-free for nonprofits. Her “uncommon education for community crusaders” motto says it all.
- Forge your own path. Rowena didn’t wait for permission or the “right” circumstances. She sent hundreds of emails to get her first clients and learned perseverance pays off. Her story inspires us to create the life and business we want.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Rowena Veylan
The New School of Fundraising: https://nsof.ca/
Mediate BC: https://www.mediatebc.com/
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rowena-veylan
Confessions with Jess and Cindy Podcast with Nneka Allen: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/episodes/nneka-allen
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Audio: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ftXTkuYPuYn5qAtCEEskb5IdjfYi8NF8/view?usp=drive_link
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
"As much as I know the market has embraced AgentsC, I also believe that there are some organizations, because of the makeup of AgentsC and because of the activism of its founder and CEO, kind of make a choice not to work with or partner or invite us to support their work. But I also just celebrate those who have partnered with us and come to us and sought our help and expertise. And that's where I put the lens." - Olumide Akerewusi
Mide Akerewusi, founder of AgentsC, joined us for an inspiring conversation about courage, activism, and building a business with purpose. Mide shared his journey of stepping into his power as a vocal leader for equity and justice, despite facing discrimination and barriers as a Black business owner.
Some of the biggest takeaways:
Pursue your purpose. Mide started AgentsC to follow his calling for transformative change, even without a clear plan or safety net. Saying "yes" to your purpose will open up opportunities you can't yet imagine.
Find your co-conspirators. Mide found strength in numbers by joining forces with others pushing for change. Seek out allies with a shared vision of justice and abundance. Together, you have the power to accomplish more than you ever could alone.
Speak your truth. Mide acknowledged the costs of being a vocal activist, but said staying silent in the face of oppression is even more dangerous. Share your experiences to liberate yourself and educate others. Your voice matters.
Keep learning and growing. Mide confessed that running a business is difficult, especially without role models or a template to follow. Approach each day with a willingness to experiment, make mistakes, and find the "right thing to do." Growth and progress, not perfection, should be the goal.
At the end of the day, we all have a role to play in creating a just world where everyone can thrive. Mide's story is a reminder that when we embrace our purpose, use our voices, and support each other, we become an unstoppable force for positive change. The time for courage is now. How will you answer the call?
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Olumide Akerewusi
AgentsC : https://www.agentsc.ca/
Giving Black: https://www.givingblack.ca/
Giving Black Podcast: https://www.givingblack.ca/the-giving-black-podcast
More information about AFP GTC and the experiences of Black Fundraisers: https://www.change.org/p/remove-afp-greater-toronto-chapter-s-10-star-status
Confessions with Jess and Cindy Podcast with Nneka Allen: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/episodes/nneka-allen
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Host
“And it was the first time, too, that I felt like, oh, man, I thought I was an entrepreneur. I thought this was in my bones. Why can't I figure it out? ” - Meredith Noble
Meredith Noble knows what it’s like to start from the ground up. On today’s episode of the podcast, she shares the ups and downs of growing Learn Grant Writing, from having her office literally explode to tripling her revenue by making a few key changes. Her story is inspiring and her advice is spot on for anyone looking to take their consulting business to the next level.
Highlights:
- Navigate entrepreneurial challenges, gleaning wisdom from failures, and seeking mentorship for guidance.
- Don't be afraid to blow up your business model if it's not working
- Grasp the concept of moving from budget-friendly to higher-end course models, accentuating your offer's value.
- Focus on your ideal customer and get your pricing right.
- Delve into dealing with challenges in entrepreneurship, extracting knowledge from failures, and finding guidance through mentors.
- Realize the importance of delegating tasks, hiring the right talents, and systemizing for an effective team collaboration.
- Discern the strategy of keeping a steady concentration while pursuing multifaceted interests to maintain progress.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Meredith Noble:
Meredith Noble (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/meredith.noble/
Learn Grant Writing (Website): https://www.learngrantwriting.org/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
"I think, like everybody, there's always imposter syndrome, right? You know, this feeling of, am I really that good? Or am I as good as I pretend to be on TV?" - Amy Eisenstein
For many nonprofit consultants, the temptation to diversify services is ever-present. This approach, although seemingly effective, can dilute one's specialty, leaving you wading through tasks that might not align with your core passion. If Amy Eisenstein's story sounds familiar, you know the challenge: offering myriad services but missing out on harnessing the true power of your expertise.
Dive into Amy’s business evolution from Amy Eisenstein LLC to Capital Campaign Pro. Discover how she harnessed the power of niche specialization, and revolutionized her revenue stream by transitioning to a subscription model. If you're in the nonprofit consultancy realm, this episode is your guide to optimizing and refining your services. Listen to the full episode now and unearth the secrets to niche mastery in nonprofit consulting.
Highlights:
- Building a successful nonprofit coaching or consulting business requires specializing in a niche and choosing clients that align with your expertise and interests.
- Creating a subscription model for services can help generate recurring revenue and provide ongoing support and guidance to clients.
- Onboarding new clients is crucial for their success, and it involves introducing them to the team, providing orientation to the program, and ensuring they have access to resources and support.
- Retention and engagement of clients can be achieved through regular check-ins, monitoring their participation, and offering personalized support and guidance.
- Growing an email list and utilizing email marketing strategies, such as providing valuable free resources and nurturing leads, can be an effective way to attract and convert ideal clients.
Connect with Amy:
Website: https://capitalcampaignpro.com/
For Nonprofit Consultants: https://capitalcampaignpro.com/toolkit-for-consultants/
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of the Confessions podcast, we have Danielle Gines, the founder of DG Consulting. Danielle specializes in curriculum development and design, instructional design, English language learners, adult learners, nonprofit management, and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
Danielle discusses the challenges and fears she faced when choosing a niche for her business. She also explains the various services she offers, including curriculum development, curriculum revision, course mapping, audits, and learning management systems. Danielle provides insights into her pricing structure and how she receives payment for her services.
Highlights:
- The importance of understanding adult learning and designing courses that focus on behavior change and real-life impact.
- Collaboration and networking with other consultants has been instrumental in growing her business and attracting clients.
- A suggestion for consultants is to prioritize the three P's: presentation, practice, and production, in order to develop interactive and impactful learning opportunities.
- An important reminder for consultants is to embrace their worries and imposter syndrome, as it often signifies a dedication to self-improvement and a learner-centric mindset.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Danielle Gines:
Danielle Gines (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-gines1
DG Consultancy (Website): https://dgconsultancy.us/
Email: danielle@dgconsultancy.us
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
"Let go of what's not working. Let go of the things that are keeping you and preventing you from saying yes and go all in with your heart and your brain and just do great things." - Cindy Wagman
Join Cindy, Jess, Rhea, and Brooke as they discuss the power and impact of their mastermind in this episode of the Confessions podcast. They share their experiences and insights from their biannual in-person meetings, highlighting the transformative nature of these gatherings. The group emphasizes the importance of trust, vulnerability, and mutual admiration in creating a supportive and empowering environment. They also discuss the value of investing in oneself and the power of collaboration and resource sharing. Tune in to learn how this mastermind group has helped them level up their businesses and achieve their goals.
Highlights:
- Trust and vulnerability are crucial in a successful mastermind group, where open communication and honest feedback from peers are essential for growth.
- Investing in oneself and one's business is crucial, with the group members recognizing the need for time, resources, and money to elevate their businesses and achieve their goals.
- The mastermind's success was due to the group's mutual admiration and respect, creating a supportive and collaborative environment.
- The mastermind group members support each other by sharing resources and knowledge to help each other in their businesses.
- The mastermind group emphasized the value of camaraderie, celebration, and support in their business journey.
Connect with Brooke:
Newsletter: richiebabbage.com/leadershipforward321
Podcast: Nonprofit Mastermind Podcast
Website: https://brookerichiebabbage.com/
Connect with Rhea Wong:
Website: https://www.rheawong.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rheawong/
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nonprofit-lowdown/id1436858854
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“A majority of what secures you the proposal or the winning bid is your relationship to that organization.” - Cindy Wagman
In this eye-opening episode, we dive headfirst into the world of Request for Proposals (RFPs) within the nonprofit consulting industry. We’ll delve deeper into the pros and cons of RFPs for nonprofit consultants and share our personal experiences and offer some valuable advice for those who choose to pursue them. From building relationships to customizing proposals, we’ll reveal the secrets to standing out in a sea of RFPs (and when you should just ignore them). Join us as we explore the intriguing dynamics of RFPs and the unique challenges they present
Highlights:
- RFPs and standardized responses
- The pros and cons of RFPs
- What to include on a proposal
- The challenges and benefits of responding to RFPs
- The power of personalization
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“Follow your gut. If it's not so bad, but you're just like I'm not interested, double your prices and see what they say.” - Cindy Wagman
In today's episode, we are thrilled to introduce a brand-new format for the show. We will delve into the common struggle of choosing clients and openly share our own experiences of dealing with difficult clients. From setting boundaries to raising prices, we offer valuable insights on how to navigate the tricky world of client selection. Plus, we’ll reveal a clever strategy for attracting the right clients through case studies.
Highlights:
- Pick clients that align with your values and work style
- Setting boundaries and be selective about who you work with
- Don't undervalue your services out of fear or scarcity mindset
- Seek support and advice from trusted peers or mentors to help you navigate client selection and pricing decisions
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“I pride myself on being a disruptor. So like, how can we talk about things differently that aren't or haven't been talked about in the sector? That's not what I was comfortable with when I started my business 14 years ago. I was born in Georgia, raised in South Carolina, like conservative roots, pearl necklaces, right? Where it was like, oh, no, no, no, you just need to like, don't rock the boat. And I'm rocking the fucking boat, Like where's the boat? I want to rock it. And so really like stepping out and into myself over the last 14 years, like publicly speaking about what I believe in. - Jarrett Ransom
Highlights:
- Embrace Your Worth: Jarrett's journey started at $40/hour and now she has ascended to strategic planning rates that have doubled over time. This increase didn't lead to raised eyebrows among her clients either. Isn’t it heartening to see how respect for your skills goes hand-in-hand with the pricing it calls for?
- Become Your Best Investment: Jarrett recognized her growth potential and gave herself the gift of a high-ticket coach. Surrounding yourself with people who've reached where you aim to be, could be your game-changer. Be inspired to invest in yourself!
- Mindset Matters: Uplifting your business begins with uplifting your mindset. Jarrett emphasizes the necessity of freedom from scarcity thinking and adopting an abundance and prosperity mindset. Remember, your mindset towards money shapes your business.
- Systems for Success: How about 'working less and making more'? Jarrett simplifies her day-to-day workload by delegating tasks to her VA team, which frees her to focus on higher objectives. Building feasible systems and processes can be your key to this.
- Consistency Pays: Jarrett's committed endeavors in hosting a daily live show have borne fruits in building her reputation and online presence. The myth of overnight success is debunked here. Let's pledge to be persistent!
- The Art of Releasing: Want to reach newer heights? Learn to let go! Jarrett made a decisive move away from long-term interim work to concentrate on her fresh program for nonprofit consultants. Recognize when to say 'no'.
- Speak for Your Work: Jarrett makes it a point to advertise her availability for new projects on LinkedIn. An essential and direct reminder - people can only hire you when they are aware that you are open to work!
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Jarrett Ransom:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jrransom
The Rayvan Group: therayvangroup.com
Nonprofit Nerd School: nonprofitnerdschool.com
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Get ready for a power-packed panel discussion that will leave you inspired and motivated! In this episode of the Confessions Podcast, we've gathered three extraordinary nonprofit leaders who are here to share their wisdom and experiences of what it’s like for your clients. Join Jehan Seirafi, the visionary force behind Sunsar Maya, Sara Miller, the fearless advocate for organ donation through SODA National, and Cassy Horton, the superhero championing the cause for children of cancer patients with Pickles Group. Their unique experiences and practical wisdom will shed light on their expectations and preferences when it comes to working with consultants like you!
Highlights:
- How do nonprofits identify suitable consultants?
- Understanding the approval process within nonprofits for hiring consultants.
- The role of professional development in nonprofit-consultant relationships.
- Highlighting what nonprofits value most about working with consultants.
- One crucial insight nonprofits wish all consultants knew about collaborating with their organizations.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Jehan Seirafi:
LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/jehanseirafi
Connect with Cassy Horton:
LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/cassyhorton
Connect with Sara Miller:
LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/sara-miller-1398719a
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Say goodbye to traditional pricing models and hello to value-based pricing. But what exactly does that mean? In this episode of the Confessions Podcast, we are joined by Regina Alhassan, founder of ResearchPRO, a prospect development coaching and consulting firm. With years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Regina has mastered the art of value-based pricing to help organizations not only meet but exceed their financial goals. Hear her thoughts on delivering value, prospect development, and maintaining authenticity in relationships.
Highlights:
- The secrets behind working effectively with high-value, six-figure clients.
- Art of value-based pricing
- Regina’s journey on evolving her business model from small-scale projects to long-term retainers and a one-to-many model.
- How to prospect clients in the nonprofit sector and build authentic relationships.
- Developing and pricing premium programs and services
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Regina Alhassan:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reginaalhassan
The ResearchPRO: https://theresearchpro.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Get yourself prepared for an awe-inspiring conversation in this episode of the Confessions Podcast as we sit down with the extraordinary LaTresse Snead, founder of Bonsai Leadership Group. She runs a boutique consulting firm that helps nonprofit organizations in the environmental sector with executive coaching, recruiting, and consulting services. LaTresse reveals how she added a personal brand to her business and how she prices her services based on the value she brings to her clients. She also shared how she built her dream team by finding coaches and experts to supplement her own skills and the undeniable significance of having a coach in your corner. So, grab your trusty pen and paper, because LaTresse is about to unleash a mind-blowing knowledge storm.
Highlights:
- Overview of Bonsai's core services
- Finding right people to work with
- How to cultivate a strong referral network
- Relationships as fundamental business strength
- The importance of delegating tasks
- Mentorship and coaching
- Business Memoir: When Black Women Rise
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with LaTresse Snead:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/latressesnead
Website: https://www.bonsaileadershipgroup.com/
Book: https://www.latressesnead.com/about-book
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Get ready to hear some juicy confessions on this episode of the Confessions Podcast as we sit down with Chad Barger, a fundraising consultant who's decided to keep his business a one-man show. Chad shared his secrets to work-life balance, including how he manages to take intentional time off and keep his workload under control. He also dishes on the challenges of growth and staying focused and giving out his killer advice for fellow consultants on how to build a business that doesn't make them want to pull their hair out.
If you're a consultant looking to tune out the noise of what you "should" be doing and build a unique and quirky business that stands out, then you won't want to miss this episode.
Highlights:
- How to navigate the transition from freelancer to a business of one
- Chad’s strategic growth as a solopreneur
- The importance of taking intentional time off and prioritizing work-life harmony
- Leveraging speaking and webinars
- Building a business you enjoy
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Chad Barger:
Chad Barger (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadbarger
Chad Barger (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/fundraiserchad/?hl=en
Productive Fundraising (Website): https://productivefundraising.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Get ready to be inspired by the latest episode of the Confessions Podcast featuring Lacey Kempinski, founder of the Balanced Good. Lacey shares her inspiring journey of pivoting from a career in fundraising plans to creating a new and innovative service in nonprofit sector. Through persistence, faith, and leveraging her relationships. Join us as we delve into Lacey's story and discover how she found her calling in helping organizations navigate the complexities of parental leave.
Highlights:
- How Lacey started in consulting
- Balanced Good’s unique offer and service
- A fundraiser’s approach to creating her own marketing strategy
- Building relationships and growing her network
- Lacey as a leader in her own consulting business
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Lacey Kempinski:
Lacey Kempinski (Linkedin): https://ca.linkedin.com/in/laceykempinski
Balanced Good (Website): https://balancedgood.com/
Balanced Good (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/balancedgood/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of the Confessions Podcast, we sat down with Racheli Edelkopf, the mastermind behind Pedal Marketing - a consulting biz that helps nonprofits up their marketing game. Racheli talked about her journey as a program director and how that led her to start her own business. Racheli has valuable insights into the realm of marketing and specifically attraction-based marketing, which is the approach she has taken to build her business.
Highlights:
- Racheli's transition from the nonprofit sector into marketing consultancy
- Attraction-based marketing strategies
- The balance of working on your business vs. in your business
- How to leverage your strengths and find a marketing strategy that suits your abilities and business style.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Racheli Edelkopf:
Pedal Marketing: https://www.thepedal.co/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepedal.co/?hl=en
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/racheli-edelkopf-0484a81a3
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Audio link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1cHfhQq7P_jeyilCXSG-kQ3WN27FuAYcS?usp=drive_link
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ever wonder what it really takes to launch a successful product or program? How do you transition from a safe, small-scale launch to a full-on, all-in launch? Join us in this episode as Cindy spills all the details about her super successful launch of the Fractional Fundraiser Academy. You'll hear about the nitty-gritty details, the numbers, and the journey from conceptualizing to creating and eventually launching a comprehensive program. It's going to be a deep-dive case study filled with valuable insights and lessons.
Highlights:
- Cindy's journey of developing and launching Fractional Fundraiser Academy
- The most effective opt-in strategies for the launch
- The launch results and ROI
- Insights and advice on playing big in launching your program
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Join The Fractional Fundraiser Waitlist: https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/waitlist
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
"I think that people who maybe have the best intentions of being an affiliate and then don't end up doing it well is because they don't treat it like a launch the way they would launch their own product."
Looking for insider knowledge on affiliate marketing? In this episode, we’re giving you the inside scoop on the art and business of affiliate marketing. We're debunking myths, sharing insights, and guiding you through every step to make the most out of your affiliate relationships. Whether you're considering becoming an affiliate or looking to incorporate affiliates into your marketing strategy, this episode is a must-listen!
Highlights:
- Understanding affiliate relationships
- The importance of audience alignment
- Commission structures
- Leveraging affiliate marketing for product launches
- How to keep affiliates engaged for success
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“Nobody's ever gonna do it the way that you would do it, and that's okay. So you just have to find people who know 60% of what you know, you teach them 20% to 30% and you have to be okay with 80% to 90%. And it won't be 100% the way you would define 100%, but it'll be 80%, 90%. And for most people that you're gonna help, for most clients, that is already 200% better than they would do on their own. So don't get hung up on it.” - Mike Duerksen
In this episode of The Confessions we sit down with Mike Duerksen, the mastermind behind the fundraising agency BuildGood. Mike takes us along his journey of going from solopreneur to head of a growing agency. With his in-depth insights and real-life experiences, Mike provides a glimpse into the challenges and rewards of transitioning into the role of an agency leader.
Highlights:
- From solopreneur to agency owner
- An inside look into the operation and pricing model of an agency
- Insight to managing a team
- How Mike uses a demand generation approach in marketing
- The significance of a positive mindset towards investment and risk.
- Creating a family mission and aligning it with your business goals
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Mike Duerksen:
Linkedin: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/mikeduerksen
Website: http://mikeduerksen.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
"I think one of the first triggers to where you need to turn your mind to, maybe you need some legal advice or legal help or a system, and this isn't necessarily something you need to go to a lawyer for but it's something that you should turn your mind to because there are legal ramifications, and it's the idea of contracts."
Do you wonder if you're overlooking vital legal aspects of your business? Is the thought of hiring a lawyer daunting to you, especially if you're in the early stages of your entrepreneurial journey? In this episode, we sit down with Adrienne, a seasoned lawyer and the founder of Open LLP, a boutique law firm specializing in helping startups, and entrepreneurs. Adrienne shares her wealth of knowledge to provide some guidance on navigating the legal landscape of your business.
Highlights:
- Identifying the legal questions every small business owner should be asking
- Understanding the importance and role of contracts in your business.
- Distinguishing between templated contracts and custom-made ones, and knowing when to use each.
- Why it's crucial to have Intellectual Property assignment clauses in your contracts
- The concept of 'Common Law Trademark Rights' and how it affects your business
- When it's time to consider formally applying for a trademark registration
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Adrienne Ng:
Open LLP : https://www.openllp.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/open.llp/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
"Don't network to network, network to learn, network to meet, network to engage because one thing I have learned is everyone in this sector is so open and so willing and wants to share and encourage and love and support and talk like there's no reason.” - Clay Buck
Self-discovery and alignment in your business with Clay Buck
In this episode of the Confessions Podcast, we have a heart-to-heart with Clay Buck, the brain behind TCB Fundraising. With over three decades of experience in fundraising, communications, and marketing, Clay has helped countless organizations build sustainable relationships and revenue. We dive deep into the essence of the consulting business, emphasizing the importance of community. Our conversation ranges from the dynamics of sharing knowledge and resources to fostering mutual respect and collaboration. Clay, underlines the vital role everyone plays in the sector, with an emphasis on promoting generosity and kindness.
Highlights:
- Lay’s journey of self-discovery through transitions
- Creating community in consulting
- Nurturing genuine connections
- Ripple effect of generosity and gratitude in business
- Role of mentors and fellow consultants
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Clay Buck:
TCB Fundraising: https://tcbfundraising.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TClayBuck/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
"Having an intention behind what it is you're putting any effort, energy and money towards is critical."
In this episode of the Confessions Podcast, we will spill the beans of our experience at the Association of Fundraising Professionals International Conference (AFP ICON) in New Orleans. We went there with a mission: to create space for consultants! We dive into all of our reflections and learnings. But the real gem of this episode is our reflection on the importance of having clear intentions when attending conferences. It's not just about collecting business cards and free swag (which honestly isn’t all that good). It's about seizing opportunities to connect with people and build relationships. So, next time you attend a conference, don't just wing it. Have a game plan and make the most out of it. You never know who you might meet or what you might learn.
Highlights:
- Having a clear intention when attending professional development opportunities.
- The value of going big and standing out when creating a conference booth, as it can attract the right audience and lead to meaningful conversations.
- Attending conferences is not just about networking and standing out. It's also an opportunity to connect with people and build relationships.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“ I could have stopped and walked away and said, you know what, it didn't work. And I had this support and it didn't happen. And that's about me. And only sold four class, all of the things, right? But I kept going. It was like, no, I still believe in this. And I had to get myself to that energy to then get to where I am now. “- Holly Rustick
Are you curious to know how to grow your business with diversified income streams and turn your services into passive income? Then you should listen to this episode featuring Holly Rustick, who runs a grant writing and funding business with a multi-pronged model. Holly explains how she transitioned from an agency doing grant writing services for nonprofits to a business owner who makes passive income.
Highlights:
- Holly's experience with diversifying her streams of income
- Tips on how to grow your email list, gain social media followers, and show up as a thought leader in your field.
- How to let go of what no longer serves your business and focus on what truly matters
- How to reframe pain points and focus on problem-solving in your sales process
- The value of tracking your time, money, and joy to make informed decisions for your business growth
Connect with Holly Rustick:
Linkedin: https://gu.linkedin.com/in/holly-rustick-0765b817
Grant Writing & Funding: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollyrustick/
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/grantwriting
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership: https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“You just have to decide how long am I going to be a hamster on this wheel and when am I going to stop the wheel and say I want to do meaningful work that really means something to somebody that people are learning and they're growing and they're changed because of the work that you're doing.” - Christal Cherry
Do you ever feel trapped in a never-ending grind in your business and wonder how you can break the cycle? Christal Cherry, founder of The Board Pro, joins us today to share her journey from being a burned-out fundraiser to a thriving and empowered consultant. Christal shares how you could break free from the hamster wheel and do meaningful work in your business.
Highlights:
- Christal's fundraising journey and how she discovered her passion for board consulting
- The process and pricing of Christal's board recruitment services
- How to manage client flow in a consultancy business
- Standing your ground and staying true to your values in your work
- Growing your email list with intention
- Making profit and creating impact with consulting
Connect with Christal Cherry:
The Board Pro: https://www.theboardpro.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063945049056
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christal-m-cherry/
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership: https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“One of my big things is that I hate lazy money. And so giving your money a job, knowing exactly what it's for is really beneficial.” - Jayne Dykstra
Are you struggling with cash flow in your business? Do you have trouble making your money work for you and paying yourself and your bills? In this episode of Confessions with Jess and Cindy Podcast, we speak with Jayne Dykstra, the founder and CEO of Zetique, about the value of keeping track of your financial situation in a meaningful way.
Highlights:
- The value of keeping track of your financial situation
- The simple and effective system based on Profit First
- How this system works for businesses with variable income
- Tips for overcoming the initial hurdle of setting up the system
- Outsourcing your bookkeeping
- The difference between working with bookkeeper and accountant
Connect with Jayne Dykstra:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayne-dykstra-1965a3123
Zetique: https://zetique.com/
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching: https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership: https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“So just allow the process to be the process. Take it easy on yourself and don't overthink it. Just do what you do best. As long as you do good and you have pure intentions, like the revenue, the clients, the good things, the opportunities will find you. I don't have to stress out on trying to find it. “ - Sheleia Phillips
Our guest for today's episode is Sheleia Phillips, the brains behind SMP Nonprofit Consulting and a former biologist turned grant writing coach. Since its inception, she has expanded from a part-time to a full-time endeavor, and now she runs group coaching programs. Get the inspiration and knowledge you need to learn about and succeed in the competitive world of grant writing.
Highlights:
- Sheleia’s journey from being a biologist to a grant writer and eventually a full-time grant writing coach
- The importance of finding your community, networking, and learning from mentors
- How she started her side hustle and took the leap to go full time
- Her savvy use of social media to expand her network
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Sheleia Philips:
Website: https://www.smpnpc.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheleia-phillips-mph-ches-a9901a108
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“I find that fluidity is where I find joy and where I am my most productive. And by fluidity, I mean some days, I might be at my desk from eight till six. And other days, I might be at my desk from 10 till noon. “ - Katy Pedersen
Behind the scenes of the Fractional Fundraiser Academy with Maria and Katy
In this episode, we're taking you behind the scenes with Maria and Katy, members of the Fractional Fundraiser Academy. Listen in as they share their journeys, reveal how they've overcome entrepreneurial challenges, achieved freedom and flexibility, and discuss the invaluable support they've found within the Academy. Get ready to be inspired and learn how you, too, can thrive in the world of fractional fundraising!
Highlights:
-
What fractional fundraising is and how it benefits nonprofits and fundraisers
-
How fractional fundraising has transformed Maria and Katy's lives personally and professionally
-
Challenges of being your own boss and how to overcome them
-
The value of fractional fundraising community
-
Advice for those who want to become fractional fundraisers
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
"It's designed to really make it, less risky, more comfortable, and safer for people to take that step towards achieving their goals and creating the income and freedom they set out to create from day one."- Cindy Wagman
In this episode,we’re going to dive into the Fractional Fundraiser Academy, a training program that empowers you to set-up, launch, and succeed as a fractional fundraiser. Discover how this program helps you set up your business, find clients, deliver results, and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Highlights:
- An overview of the Fractional Fundraiser Academy
- The 4-phase structure of the program: Prepare, Propose, Produce, Play
- Support and accountability for fractional fundraisers community
- The investment for joining the Fractional Fundraiser Academy
If you are interested to be a Fractional Fundraiser, apply for the Fractional Fundraising Academy now at thegoodpartnership.com/ffa
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“And I wish more people were like me. I wish more people would just give themselves a break and know that it's okay to screw up because other people learn from that. And again, there's value, I think, in seeing how you respond to the screw ups.” - Kamilah Martin
In this episode, we had the pleasure of chatting with Kamilah Martin, the founder and CEO of Katalyst, who shared her valuable insights and experience as an interim executive director for nonprofits. Kamilah revealed some practical tips on how she manages to balance her workload while prioritizing rest and self-care, and how she sets boundaries with her clients to avoid burnout.
Highlights:
- The power of REST
- Master the art of LinkedIn outreach with Kamilah's strategies
- Balancing work with rest and other passions
- Kamilah’s 60-40 rule to manage her business and work with clients
- Setting boundaries with clients and maintaining healthy working relationships
- Organic growth approach to community-building for nonprofits
- Embracing vulnerability
Connect with Kamilah Martin:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamilah-martin-67673b8
Website: https://www.katalystconsult.com/
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“So it really is the topic. It's sadly, far less about the person and the accomplishments, the experiences, the biography of who is getting pitched, and more about how relevant that topic is to the host audience and how aligned it is with the type of content that they create and produce.” – Angie Trueblood
In this episode, we're thrilled to welcome Angie Trueblood of the Podwize Group to discuss the art of pitching yourself to podcasts. With her entrepreneurial spirit, innovative thinking, and super-connector powers, Angie deeply supports business owners who use podcasts as a core tenet of their business growth. Her passion for normalizing the voices of women in leadership positions shines through in her work. Whether you're a nonprofit pro, consultant, or coach, this episode will give you the inside scoop on the long-tail impact of being a podcast guest and how you can maximize the opportunity.
- How to strategically determine why being featured on a podcast is important for your business
- The power of podcast guesting for authority building and lead generation
- The dos and don'ts of pitching yourself to a podcast, including how to personalize your pitch and the best way to reach out
- Real-life examples of good and bad pitches and how to make yours stand out
- Nurturing relationships with the podcast host and their audience
Connect with Angie Trueblood:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angietrueblood
Website: https://thepodwizegroup.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepodwizegroup/?hl=en
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/go-pitch-yourself/id1480391075
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
"The real win is who I'm becoming, that I'm becoming a more resilient person, that I am becoming someone who is more courageous, more kind. I'm learning perseverance in a real way. I'm learning staying power. Can you just stay? Can you just keep going? That's what entrepreneurship is, right ?" – Julie Ordoñez
In this podcast episode, we’re joined by Julie Ordoñez, a major gifts strategist and coach. She is also the founder of CourageLab, a 6-week accelerator where ambitious nonprofit leaders get the courage to ask for more and raise major gifts. Julie walks us through her personal journey of building her own business (as a side hustle), her strategies to attract ideal clients, her own struggles and challenges in growing her business and how she overcomes them. Tune in now to gain valuable insights and inspiration for your own entrepreneurial journey!
Highlights:
- Julie’s personal journey on transitioning her fundraising skills to the business world
- The importance of investing in business and marketing strategies
- Money mindset on fundraising vs business
- Attracting the right clients and letting people go in your business
- Developing courage and resilience in entrepreneurship
Connect with Julie Ordoñez:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julieordonez
Website: https://julieordonez.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliemordonez/?hl=en
Twitter: https://twitter.com/juliemordonez
Courage Lab : https://www.couragelab.co/
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“I make all my decisions through the lens of my values. My values are love and justice.” – Nneka Allen
Join us as we chat with Nneka Allen, the founder of The Empathy Agency, a business that is aligned with her values - love and justice. Nneka dives into the complexities of the historical relationship between African and Indigenous peoples and how it informs her work to create belonging spaces where everyone can feel they belong. Tune in as she discusses her approach to coaching, training, consulting, and education to achieve her mission.
Highlights:
- Creating belonging spaces for racial justice through coaching, training, consulting, and speaking
- Determining client fees through the lens of love and justice
- How Nneka's clients find her through word of mouth, teaching, and her intentional online presence
- Collecting Courage, an anthology about Black fundraisers, is more than just a book, it's a movement
Connect with Nneka Allen:
Website (The Empathy Agency): https://theempathyagency.ca/who-i-am
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nnekaallen/?hl=en
Website (Collecting Courage): https://www.collectingcourage.org/meet-the-authors/nneka-allen
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-empathy-agency
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nikki Bell and Simon Scriver are the co-founders of Fundraising Everywhere, an online training and support community for fundraisers. Through their hard work and dedication, Nikki and Simon were able to provide their staff with pay rises and other benefits, and introduce new methods to make their events and conferences more accessible.
Highlights:
- How Nikki Bell and Simon Scriver started Fundraising Everywhere and their journey to success
- The ROI of making values-based decisions and how they incorporate values into day-to-day operations
- Growing an affordable and accessible online community
- Bridging the digital gap for nonprofits through their own virtual event platform: Everywhere+
- Generating leads with different business models and strategies
Connect with Nikki Bell and Simon Scriver :
Website: https://www.fundraisingeverywhere.com/
Fundraising Everywhere (Twitter): https://twitter.com/FundEverywhere
Nikki Bell (Linkedin): https://uk.linkedin.com/in/nikki-bell
Simon Scriver (Linkedin): https://ie.linkedin.com/in/simonscriver
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
You’ve heard us talk about the value of having an email list, well, today we’re diving all in.In this episode of The Confessions Podcast, we are joined by Eman Ismail, an email strategist and copywriter who started with a small email list of 400 people and was able to make $35,000 from her launch. Eman now helps online business owners and ecommerce brands make money through email and encourages them to nurture their email lists.
Highlights:
- Transition from working for charity to for profit business owner
- The value of having a quality email list
- How to nurture your email list
- The anatomy of an effective email
- Finding your creative flow when writing
- How to get people in your email list
- Building a solid email list by learning the importance of subject lines, preview text, and images in emails
Connect with Eman Ismail :
Linkedin: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/eman-i307
Website: https://emancopyco.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emancopyco/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/emancopyco
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/mistakes-that-made-me/id1635998876
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
"This is a long game. Everything in life, every relationship we have with our best friends is a long game. If you try to turn to your short game, you just cannot win. And unless you're capable of investing in the long game and yes, looking for quick wins, I just don't think you can have a very successful long business life." - John Lepp
Jen Love and John Lepp are the founders and strategic leads of Agents of Good, a strategic and storytelling firm that supports nonprofits in telling better stories and connecting with donors. They are passionate about helping organizations of all shapes and sizes unlock their donors' giving and creativity.
Highlights:
- The power of strategic thinking and partnership in business success
- How to find a balance between passion and practicality
- Playing the long game in business
- Making wellness a priority
Connect with Jen Love and John Lepp :
Website :https://agentsofgood.org/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/johnlepp
https://twitter.com/agentsofgood
New Book by John Lepp: Creative Deviations
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“If you have great structure and systems in place and your pricing is right, you can do this while you're at your nine to five. The goal is to replace your income, not feel burned out, and not do all those things”
DeaRonda Harrison is a grant writing expert and coach, helping nonprofits train up their grant writers and start or scale their own consulting businesses. She is the founder of June 1 Firm, providing high quality services and achieving impressive ROI for her clients.
Highlights:
- Strategy on evolving her pricing and service model
- How to attract quality clients with a premium offer
- Positioning yourself as an expert
- Leveraging LinkedIn to attract premium clients
Connect with DeaRonda:
Website: https://junefirstfirm.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dearondaharrison
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“I've been speaking for about 10 years. You know, I'm not a newbie at it. I think just being really clear about your boundaries and what you'll accept and not accept.’ – Julia Campbell
Julia Campbell is an OG nonprofit consultant and social media teaching maven. She has been in the nonprofit sector for over 13 years, and now works with clients one-on-one, speaks on stages, and runs online courses to empower nonprofit coaches and consultants. In this episode, Julia walks us through how she has built her own speaking business and shares her top tips on how you can leverage it for your own consulting business.
Highlights:
- Pricing, negotiating and setting boundaries in your business
- How to grow your speaking business like a pro
- Business advise and resolutions for 2023
Connect with Julia:
Podcast: Nonprofit Nation
Email: julia@jcsocialmarketing.com
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
"It takes a lot of time and having an accountability partner or just somebody to be on that journey with you to remind you that you're not doing it wrong." - Brooke Richie-Babbage
Navigating the 'Fun Hard' of scaling a business, Brooke Richie-Babbage, CEO of Bending Art, is on a mission to empower nonprofit coaches and consultants to make the power moves that bring them the income and freedom they desire, uncovering secrets and no-longer gatekeeping strategy.
Highlights:
- Shifting business models to scale
- Setting business systems and goals
- Exploring Brooke Richie-Babbage's strategic thought process when scaling her business.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Connect with Brooke:
Newsletter: richiebabbage.com/leadershipforward321
Podcast: Nonprofit Mastermind Podcast
Website: https://brookerichiebabbage.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
"When I shifted my approach to sales to be of service, it allowed me to have more open, transparent, and honest conversations - it doesn't feel like a zero-sum game where you're fighting for the most your client can give you, and they're fighting for getting the least, the lowest price for the most amount of work. It feels like you're on the same team." - Erin Lindstrom
Let us all grow our businesses holistically, combining strategy, mindset, and healing with Erin Lindstrom, a sales strategist and dynamic coach who has been in the online business world for 10 years.
Highlights:
- Uncovering the secrets to successful nonprofit consulting and coaching businesses
- Exploring how to approach sales as a service
- Examining the holistic approach to sales strategy and mindset.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Connect with Erin:
Website: https://www.erinlindstrom.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinlindstrom/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-lindstrom-80176020
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
"Time is so precious. Money as a renewable resource, time is not. And so there's always going to be a segment of every audience in every industry that is always looking for the fastest way to get something done.” - Jordan Gill
Today, in this episode, we are joined by a very important person who has been teaching and coaching thousands of people on VIP days for the past two and a half years, Jordan Gill! She is the founder of System Save Me, a business that helps coaches and consultants build successful six-figure businesses through VIP day offerings.
Highlights:
- What is a VIP Day or Week, and how can it help you start or scale your nonprofit coaching or consulting business
- What are some examples of successful VIP Day offers that have been used by Jordan Gill and her students
- How can you leverage VIP Days to create a more efficient customer experience
Connect with Jordan:
Website: https://systemssavedme.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/systemssavedme/
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“It is just as important, if not more important to work on your business than just doing that outward facing client work, to have the space and ability to build, reevaluate and think and dream.” - Jess Campbell
In today’s episode, we talked about why working ON your business is just as important in working IN your business.
Highlights:
- Jess and Cindy’s systems working on their business
- Determining the appropriate framework for working on your business
- Knowing the nice to haves vs. critical part of your business
- Making decisions, planning and executing goals
- Avoiding mental burnout while working in and on your business.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“Letting go of things that don't serve you is as important as investing in the things that will serve you.” - Cindy Wagman
Investing in yourself—hear from our guests
When it comes to investments, one of the best you can make is in yourself! In this roundup episode, we gathered inspirational insights from our number of guests and shared their personal journeys of success and revealing their secrets on business growth.
Highlights:
- Importance of investing in yourself to be mentally strong and resilient in your business, and to focus on consistency and accountability.
- How can investing in mentors, coaches, and therapy help business owners become their most healthy and successful selves?
- Why it’s okay to release things that no longer excites or serve you.
- Finding a mentor or a coach to help you become accountable, grow and develop your business
- Taking time for yourself, your mental health and working on personal growth
- How to take workations
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“Very often we buy into other people’s dreams with our business and so now is a good opportunity to actually step back and say, ‘What is it that I want?’” - Cindy Wagman
2023 predictions—hear from our guests
We’ve had insightful conversations with our amazing guests this year. And that’s why for this episode, we’ve invited them back for the podcast’s first-ever roundup episode. Our guests talk about what they are expecting in the nonprofit consulting and coaching space in the next year. One thing’s for sure, there are so many things to look forward to!
Highlights:
- Taking a step back to reflect on what we truly want in our business
- Looking at the trends and movements in the nonprofit sector retrospectively
- The possible shifting back from online and digital to physical and face-to-face events
- How you can stand out and become successful by helping nonprofits do their mission
- Moving from online to smaller, more personal events
- Alignment of identity and mission
- Resilience through the recession
- Learning to adapt and thrive after the great resignation
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
"One thing that I always felt like almost like, formal about is like, people always say, “Well, you got to focus better.” You hear that in everything that you hear that in the arts, especially, it's like you got to give it all to this one path.” - Betty Xie
Often the business advice we hear is: focus. Do one thing and do it well. Great advice! Except if you’re like Jess, or today’s podcast guest Betty, who are multi-passionate, multi-talented people. On this episode of the Confessions podcast, we are joined by Betty Xie, a multi-passionate artist, fundraiser, and filmmaker, who shares her journey of how she found a way to blend all of her talents into one business.
Highlights:
- Betty shares how she blends her passions and talents into a business model that works for her and her clients.
- Betty shares her insights on how to manage time and energy as a multi-passionate person, and how to find the balance between hobbies and revenue-generating activities.
- Betty talks about her process of experimenting and growing to evolve her business in a way that works for her.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Betty:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bettyxcoach/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bettyxie
Podcast: https://everydaytalent.buzzsprout.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“But showing up consistently, working, being visible with your audience, I think is most important out of all.” - Cindy Wagman
Let's get visible, visible! With Jess and Cindy
Do you even exist if you’re not online? All jokes aside (of course you do), being visible to your audience can help build the “know, like, and trust” factor for you and your business. People go to your social media or your website as a part of getting to know you and the solutions you have for them. On this episode of the Confessions podcast, we'll tackle the importance of visibility for business growth.
Highlights:
- The value of being visible for your consulting business
- How to connect through social media without being sales-y
- Building partnerships to reach your target audience
- Growing visibility through speaking at conferences and podcasts
- Showing up as a Thought Leader
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
"The thing is, you want to make sure that you are specifically on Pinterest, like with the visuals, letting them know exactly who you're talking to." - Precious Rodgers
Is Pinterest a social media platform? Not exactly! It’s more like a search engine. Which means folks are on there looking for solutions to their problems. Solutions you have! On today’s podcast, we’re chatting with Precious Rodgers of The Pinning Oasis, a boutique agency that helps consultants, coaches, content creators, and online businesses, and all those with content drive more people and profit to their business by leveraging Pinterest.
Highlights:
- What is Pinterest, and why should businesses be on it?
- How can businesses use Pinterest to drive more traffic and sales?
- What are some best practices for using Pinterest for your nonprofit-serving business.
- Optimizing your Pinterest strategy through keywords and posting.
Connect with Precious:
- Website: https://preshrodgers.com/assistant/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/preciousrodgers/
- Facebook: The Pinning Oasis | Facebook
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
"I was a successful non-profit CEO but it came at a cost, of course. And so, when I was in the hospital undergoing a stem cell transplant, I just knew that I did not want anyone else to go through this. I knew it was time for me to retire. I also knew I didn't want anybody else to go through what I had went through. So I thought, “How can I help my fellow non-profit professionals in this journey?" - Sabrina Walker Hernandez
In today’s podcast, we’re chatting with Walker Hernandez about how she moved from being completely burned out (including how that affected her health) to growing a business that allowed her to still serve nonprofits but in a way that protected herself and her own wellbeing. She Through her company, Supporting World Hope, Sabrina is ais a trainer, facilitator, and coach who specializes in strategic planning, fundraising, and leadership development.
Highlights:
- How Sabrina invested in herself - for her health, but also in learning to start a business
- Getting clear on your business’ offerings and services
- Working in your business vs. on your business and how to balance those two
Connect with Sabrina:
- Website: sabrina@supportingworldhope.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/supportingworldhope
- Linktree: https://linktr.ee/supportingworldhope?fbclid=IwAR1cQd9zCUNADjoUr_WMSiaqp_aD4gsJZE6_kJpngs7IwejJ3H05zbBcyNk
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“So while you are important in that story, you are not the main character; your customer is. And the part you play as the professional is the guide. Because what we ultimately wanna do for our customers is we don't wanna sell ourselves. We wanna sell the problem we solve; like we wanna sell the solution.” - Amy Milne
Leaning into the problem with Amy Milne
For this episode, Jess and I are excited to sit down with Amy Milne, the CEO of Beyond Fundraising. Being an experienced nonprofit consultant, she was recently certified as a StoryBrand guide. She talks about how to use the StoryBrand framework and how to make your customer the hero of the story. So if you’re feeling stuck or you’re experiencing a business slump then this episode is for you!
Highlights:
- Attracting your customers with what you can do for them
- Being clear and clever about your business
- Utilizing authentic storytelling in the nonprofit sector
Resources Mentioned In This Episode:
StoryBrand
Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller
thegoodpartnership.com
Captivate by Vanessa Van Edwards
Connect with Amy:
- Website: https://www.startingbeyond.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-milne-8946791/
- Instagram: @startbeyond, @milneamyr
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“Long story short, the thing that I'm really about is Democratizing thought leadership or this thing we call thought leadership. I don't really love that term. So that the people with the real wisdom, insight and lived experience that I think that we should all be listening to can grow their influence and recognition so that we can actually move the world towards a more just future.” - Tania Bhattacharrya
Niching down to become a thought leader with Tania Bhattacharrya
In today’s podcast, we are chatting with Tania Bhattacharrya. We talked about her going from her in-house job as a fundraiser to having a business of her own, VIP Day. Today she is working with vision-led entrepreneurial women in the social impact space and helps them build their power and influence using LinkedIn.
Highlights:
- How to democratize thought leadership and why it is important
- Intentionally evolving - as seen in Tania’s journey
- Tips and tricks for nonprofit coaches and consultants who are looking to start or grow their business
Connect with Tania:
- Website: https://lumosmarketing.co
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tania-bhattacharyya/
- Podcast: The Campfire Circle
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“I think we're attracting folks who understand that mindset. I mean, they're choosing to join a community. And I think also a lot of us recognize that the skills that we've learned, that we base our businesses on, we learn from somebody else.” - Heather Yandow
“I think the abundance and collaboration mindset really helps people do better work… It is much better if I can feel kind of comfortable letting that go, sharing that with other folks that are going to do a much better job and really love doing that work. And then give myself the space to take on clients that are more aligned with what I do.” - Lauren Andraski
Community over competition with Heather Yandow and Lauren Andraski
In today’s podcast, we are chatting with Lauren Andraski from Consultants for Good and Heather Yandow from Nonprofit.ist. Jess and I were so excited to have them talk about how they have formed open and generous communities for consultants where everyone grows and learns from each other.
Highlights:
- The benefits of social connection and having a community where you can learn from and feel supported.
- Having an abundance mindset and allowing other people to work alongside you.
- Leading with trust and building your network.
How to keep members in your community.
Resources Mentioned In This Episode:
Jess' Nonprofit Coaches and Consultants Slack Channel
Connect with Heather:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatheryandow/
- Website: nonprofit.ist
- nonprofit.ist/confessions
Connect with Lauren:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenandraski/
- Website: consultants4good.com
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“My relationship with rest has to continue to evolve because I'm the business, right? I'm the business. And if there's no better investment I can make, it's in myself.” - April Walker
Taking a sabbatical with April Walker
In today’s podcast, we’re chatting with April Walker about how she invests in her mental wellbeing by taking those well-needed breaks. She also shares how she earns from her speaking engagements, how she declines organizations who don’t stand for what she believes in, and how she informs clients when taking sabbaticals.
Highlights:
- You are the business. Without you, your business isn’t going anywhere so make sure you take those breaks from time to time, and make sure you really leave work behind when taking time off.
- We need to set boundaries with our clients. If they don’t stand for what you stand for, then what’s the point?
- Learn how to know your worth. If you always get an immediate yes, then you should’ve asked for more.
Resources Mentioned In This Episode:
Philanthropy for the People
Rhea Wong
Connect with April:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilcwalker/
- Email: hello@aprilcwalker.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philanthropyforthepeople/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/equityandthings
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
"People don't go into nonprofit [business] because they're gonna make a lot of money. They do it because they are so passionate about it. That's how you can connect with them on a deep human level." - Erin Binns
Creating a 5-star experience with Erin Binns
In today’s podcast, we’re chatting with Erin Binns about how she aces the customer service department. Erin of The Client Collective previously worked in the hotel industry and during her hotelier days, she learned how to treat customers as royalty. She learned how to form human connections, allowing her to generate more leads for her business. Her client management approach means less marketing and more ideal clients!
Highlights:
- Basic referral networks bring a lot more to your business than you think of so don’t underestimate the power of word of mouth.
- Form human connections - Simple gestures such as greeting them on their birthdays or giving them gifts out of nowhere can keep your clients coming back or making meaningful referrals
- Always remember, offboarding is just as important as onboarding so don’t hesitate sending that thank you note.
Resources Mentioned In This Episode:
Andaz of Park Hyatt
Connect with Erin:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-binns-7a69611/
- Email: hello@erinbrinns.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinbinns/
- Facebook: https://business.facebook.com/Binnsy/
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“There are clients where we just like, ‘Nah, this isn't working.’ It’s scary, right? It's scary to let go of revenue. I've always believed though, that like, the reason we consult is cause we don't wanna be treated badly by people. And so at some point, most of us are gonna have to fire a client.” - Cindy Wagman
“I think it's about giving yourself permission to not continue to work with clients that you don't wanna work with.” - Jess Campbell
AMA: Saying buh-bye to clients
It’s just Jess and Cindy in today’s podcast as they talk about the importance of knowing your limits when it comes to dealing with clients. In this episode, they explore how to properly approach the matter of firing clients. What boundaries have been crossed? How do you start the conversation? How do you frame your words?
Highlights:
- The importance of setting boundaries with clients
- How to frame conversation when firing a client
- Remembering that our actions influence our client’s expectations of us
Resources Mentioned In This Episode:
The Make It Happen Conference
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“The podcast has been transformative. It is mind-blowing how many people say yes to being on your podcast that you would never imagine in your wildest dreams saying yes to you.” - Dana Snyder
Launch like a pro with Dana Snyder
In today’s podcast, we’re chatting with Dana Synder about her business and how she launched her super successful podcast Mission to Movements. Plus, we’re diving into how Dana built her business by pivoting her focus from direct service to teaching and coaching.
Highlights:
- A full behind the scenes playbook of launching (in Dana’s case, a podcast)
- How Dana moved from an agency model to teaching and training
- Leveraging Dana’s superpower of digital marketing to generate leads and build her business
Resources Mentioned In This Episode:
The Make It Happen Conference
Positive Equation
Buzzsprout Ads
Connect with Dana:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danarsnyder/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/positivequation/
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“So I always tell people, you don't have to be shiny like me. You gotta be shiny like you. And just remember, I mentioned that I'm a candle. Candle shine, light shine, mirrors shine, sun shines, diamond shine, all those things shine. So you have to be authentic to yourself and shine the way you would shine and how you would show up.” - Vivian Kaye
Highlights
- F*ck it - How turning 40 life made Vivian care less about what other people think
- Building your audacity muscles - how to claim your space and power
- Asking “why not?” to battle your imposter syndrome and step into opportunities with confidence
Resources Mentioned In This Episode:
Connect with Vivan:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsviviankaye/
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“We need to learn how to self-coach because at the end of the day, It’s just us.” - Cindy Wagman
It is never an easy battle when the enemy is yourself, but imposter syndrome is something 100% of us go through in our business journey. In this episode of Confessions Podcast, Cindy and Jess listen to a confession from one anonymous caller sharing their experience with imposter syndrome. They dig deep by sharing their own Imposter moments throughout their experience with their businesses. Jess and Cindy discuss how turning negative thoughts about one’s self off and combating the voices in our head with logical and emotional evidence got them through those tough times.
Highlights:
- We all struggle with Imposter Syndrome.
- How to identify where your Imposter Syndrome comes from and whose voices you’re actually hearing.
- Some approaches to combat Imposter Syndrome
Resources Mentioned In This Episode:
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“We have this headwind of constantly trying to remind the nonprofit sector that we are people too, and we deserve to be compensated for our time.” - Rachel Bearbower
Everyone keeps talking about the need for consultants to move from 1:1 work to 1:many, but what does it really take to get there? In this episode of the Confessions podcast, Rachel Bearbower, the founder and CEO of Small Shop Strategies, shares the good, the bad, and the ugly of her experience creating a membership program in her business. It’s not all sunshine and roses, but there is definitely a payoff to patience.
Highlights:
- Going from 1:1 work to 1:many doesn’t happen overnight
- A membership is a great way to build a community (and recurring revenue) but is a huge commitment and requires you to show up for that community consistently.
- What has worked and what hasn’t when it comes to growing an audience
- Not apologizing for wanting to earn a good living
Resources Mentioned In This Episode:
Connect with Rachel:
- Website: https://www.smallshopstrategies.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelbearbower/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smallshopstrategies
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallshopstrategies/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/rachelbearbower
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“If you wanna know our strategy for the first year, it was make as many friends as possible, put out incredible content and don't ask anybody for anything other than your shares and your friendship. And that was literally our business model for the first year before we actually monetized really anything.” - Jon McCoy
Are Partnerships Worth It? With Jon & Becky
In this episode of the Confessions podcast, Jon & Becky share their journey and intentions behind building their business We Are For Good. If you haven’t heard of We Are For Good you might be sleeping under a rock. These two (along with their amazing team) have exploded on the scene and are taking us behind their strategy, successes, and learnings.
Highlights:
Getting strategic on your long term goals and having the patience to build them
How to work with partners and sponsors in a way that is aligned with your values and brings benefits to your community
The importance of mental health for you as a business owner
Resources Mentioned In This Episode:
The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek
Slack
Calendly
Connect with Jon & Becky:
We Are For Good
Jon’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanpmccoy/
Jon’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonforgood_/?hl=en
Becky’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-endicott/
Becky’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beckyforgood/?hl=en
Find us online: Confessions with Jess and Cindy
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.
“And so I just, I don't know if this is my finest hour, but one week I was you know what? Y'all I quit. I was, I looked at my numbers and I realized that y'all is just happy to hear what is going on in the world. And you don't care nothing about what I have to teach, so I will not be writing to you anymore. Follow me on Instagram. Good night.” - Kishshana Palmer
Enjoy as you listen to this very inspirational, uplifting, and lighthearted episode with the one and only, Kishshana Palmer as she shares her origins, how she made her business successful, her journey with how her business grew, evolved… and basically how she started from needing to survive, to being really intentional and thoughtful about what she does!
Tune into this awesome conversation with Jess and Cindy as they have a fun discussion with the best storyteller sharing what business she has today.
Highlights
- How Kishshana got started consulting and her journey along the way.
- What are the metrics Kishshana and her team measure and hold value towards?
- Showing up on stages and selling from the stage became Kishsana’s best asset!
- Why are you in business? The value of getting really clear on your lifelong goals.
Resources Mentioned In This Episode:
- Kishshana & Co.
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
- The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Connect with Kishshana Palmer:
- Kishshana’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kishshanapalmer
- Kishshana’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kishshanapalmer/
- Kishshana’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/kishshanapalmer
- Kishshana’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kishshanapalmer/?hl=en
- Kishshana & Co.: https://kishshanaco.com/
- Talk to Kishshana: letschat@kishshanaco.com
Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.
“At the end of the day, if you don't see the value of what I'm offering or you aren't willing to find the money to make it happen, then you're probably not the person I wanna work with. The people I wanna work with are ready to say yes and ready to make a change. ” - Rhea Wong
Tune into this episode of Confessions Podcast with your hosts, Jess and Cindy, as we talk to Rhea Wong on how she created and scaled her $7500 signature program.
Rhea drops so many golden truth bombs about fundraising, building businesses and the power of consistency as she shares the knowledge she learned from her journey. She is the founder of Rhea Wong Consulting (obviously) and she works specifically with nonprofit organizations to raise major gifts.
We’re basically fangirling over Rhea in this episode and we’re sure you’d love her even more!
Highlights:
- Rhea’s journey to building Rhea Wong Consulting that made her realize, “Why did it take me so long to do this?”
- ‘It’s not you, it’s them’ - why people still won’t work with you even if you had tons of great feedback.
- Starting your email list from the people you know because as Cindy said, “Who the hell else are you gonna know?”
- Consistency is key! Rhea shares how she wears multiple hats by maintaining a schedule.
Resources Mentioned In This Episode:
- Rhea Wong Consulting
- Get That Money, Honey! By Rhea Wong
Connect with Rhea Wong:
Website: https://www.rheawong.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rheawong/
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nonprofit-lowdown/id1436858854
Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/
Connect with Cindy:
Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/
The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/
Connect with Jess:
Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/
Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tune into a behind the scenes conversation with Jess and Cindy as we share what you can expect from our new podcast for nonprofit-serving coaches and consultants.
In this podcast, we are giving you access to the business leaders who serve nonprofits as their clients - you know - the people who truly get it. No more gatekeeping, no more secrets - this podcast is going to give you an inside look at what running a successful nonprofit coaching and consulting business looks like. Basically, we’re asking people how much money they make, how they get paid and what has and hasn’t worked in their businesses.
We're kicking things off with our own confessions - and it's juicy!