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In this week's episode of the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast, I talked to Catherine Mattice, the founder/CEO of Civility Partners, an organizational development firm focused on helping organizations create respectful workplace cultures and specializing in turning around toxic cultures.
If you left corporate because of a toxic boss or workplace culture, and you're now building your consulting business while still carrying that weight, this episode is for you. Many consultants who transition from corporate are unknowingly shaped by the trauma they experienced, and it shows up in how they price, set boundaries, and show up with clients.
In this episode, we unpack what really happens after you leave a toxic environment, why shame keeps so many consultants stuck, and the practical steps you can take to stop letting your former workplace control your new business.
In This Episode:
[00:01:27] Catherine's origin story: From being bullied by a toxic peer in HR to founding Civility Partners and writing four books on workplace culture
[00:09:30] The invisible symptoms: How workplace trauma manifests as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and physical illness - even after you've left
[00:13:15] Why consultants who experienced toxicity struggle with boundaries, overdeliver, and undercharge with clients
[00:17:45] The fawning response: Understanding why you might say yes to everything and how it's keeping you from premium positioning
[00:21:30] Taking your power back: Practical advice on therapy, boundary-setting, and rebuilding your relationship with work
[00:28:09] The first step to healing: Why acknowledging what happened (without shame) is essential before you can move forward
Key Takeaways:
Quotes:
"I think for a lot of people it's hard to sort of admit that their workplace caused so much drama and real trauma for them." - Catherine Mattice
"Start changing your self-talk - admit that this happened and that it's not something to be ashamed of. It happens to lots of people. That's why I have a book." - Catherine Mattice
"If you don't like what you used to have, don't create a business that mirrors the exact same environment. Aim for more. Know that more is always out there." - Jessica Fearnley
Useful Links
Catherine:
CivilityPartners.com
Book: Navigating a Toxic Workplace for Dummies
Read actionable insights on the Civility Partners blog
Jessica:
Buy Jessica's book, Too Much, on Amazon
Get in touch with Jessica to discuss your consulting business
Leave a rating and review for the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast
Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn
Guest Bio
Catherine Mattice, MA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, is the founder/CEO of Civility Partners, an organizational development firm focused on helping organizations create respectful workplace cultures and specializing in turning around toxic cultures. Civility Partners' clients range from Fortune 500's to small businesses across many industries. Catherine is a TEDx speaker and an HR thought-leader who has appeared in such venues as USA Today, Bloomberg, CNN, NPR, and many other national news outlets as an expert. She's an award-winning speaker, author and blogger, and has 50+ courses reaching global audiences on LinkedIn Learning. As a keynote speaker, Catherine's insights have transformed CEO's of multinational companies, leaders of all levels in the US Marines and US Navy, and professionals in companies of all shapes and sizes. Her fourth book Navigating a Toxic Workplace for Dummies (Wiley) is available on Amazon and where all books and audiobooks are sold.
With Q4 here and 2026 planning underway, I'm re-sharing one of my favourite episodes on creating your roadmap to seven figures. If you're joining my workshop next week on the $100K offer, this episode shows you how that offer fits into your bigger revenue strategy.
Today I'm talking about what happens when we shift from the "what" to the "how" with getting your consulting business to seven figures and maybe even eight figures. I'll talk all about how to accomplish the milestones you set for your business and how to create the action plan to get there. Tune in to this episode to learn more!
In this episode:
Key Takeaways:
Quotes:
"I always want my clients to have a revenue goal in mind, but it's more important to me that we turn that goal into a sheet of micro goals or milestones." Jessica Fearnley
"One thing I have really learned in recent years is that we need the "what" to be expansive and to be able to expand to its true dimensions before we even make a start on the "how"." Jessica Fearnley
Useful Links:
Get in touch with Jessica to discuss your consulting business
Jessica's LinkedIn
Come and join me for an extra-special live workshop I'm hosting next Thursday 13th November that you won't want to miss if you're looking to create abundance and ease in your consulting business in Q4 and beyond.
The workshop is called 'How To Create a $100K Consulting Offer… and sell it with ease'. I'll show you the theory and your ticket price includes a bonus 30 minute 1:1 strategy call with me where we will get practical and tactical and create your offer blueprint or the quick start strategy you need to get it out in the world and sold.
Places are strictly limited so make sure you grab your ticket as soon as you can.
Find out more and register at jessicafearnley.com/event
In this episode of the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast, I tackle one of the misconceptions that I hear from B2B consultants all the time! They want to get to seven figures, but they also love the idea of a lifestyle business - and they think they can't have both.
I talk about how it's possible to create a 'seven-figure lifestyle business' by offering high-ticket consulting packages, streamlining operations, and pricing based on expertise - not hours.
I also introduce my VIP Strategy Intensive, designed to help consultants craft $100,000 offers and a clear revenue map. With the right strategy and support, you can achieve both financial success and personal freedom.
Quotes:
"The big thing that we all want post corporate and that feels elusive for so many consultants, is the freedom lifestyle. The time freedom. Not just replicating your 80 hour working weeks in your business, or feeling like you just swapped entities from being employed to self employed but apart from that very little has changed."
"Because this work involves getting paid for your brain and your corporate experience, not getting paid for the hours you work or the outputs and deliverables you produce - this can be very light on time. They're not paying you for the hours, they're paying you for the years."
"I often say to my clients: look we are taking you into unknown territory here. You've worked hard all your life - through school, in your exams, through college, through your corporate career. You know how to work hard but you're ready to learn how to work smart. And it might feel uncomfortable at first but it is worth it."
Useful Links
Free Guide: The Business Remodel - Craft Your $100k Offer
Get in touch with Jessica to discuss your consulting business
Join the weekly newsletter for women consultants
Buy Too Much on Amazon
Leave a rating and review for the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast
Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn
Follow Jessica on Instagram
In this episode of the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast, I reflect on the evolution of the podcast and how my coaching now supports B2B consultants at all revenue stages.
I talk about the three key business growth 'eras' I coach and the importance of creating a $100K consulting offer so you can work less and earn more.
I also introduce my new free guide, The Business Remodel, and announce limited spots for private coaching in 2026. If you're ready to elevate your consulting business, this episode is for you!
Quotes:
"When you start to offer high ticket consulting where you're serving the top of the market - the companies who can actually afford you, using your whole brain and the depth of your expertise and experience instead of just 3% of your skills and abilities - this means you can serve a handful of clients and make insane money as a result."
"It's not always about doing loads of really hard and scary things. It's about finding that alignment - doing the things that come naturally to you, instead of feeling like you have to become a completely different person and override all your natural instincts and your intuition."
"You aren't yet financially free and you plan to invest more into your retirement fund. You want to serve at a higher level, and work with senior leaders and C suite level leaders. You want your advice and expertise to make a difference in companies that shape the world. And this is my favourite bit - you want all of these things AND to be back in time for dinner. You want your weekly yoga class and coffee with your friends and time outdoors with your pets, and to live a healthier lifestyle without perpetual stress and rushing. I'm not even exaggerating when I say that your $100K consulting offer will put your business in a place where it delivers all of these things."
Useful Links
Free Guide: The Business Remodel - Craft Your $100k Offer
Get in touch with Jessica to discuss your consulting business
Join the weekly newsletter for women consultants
Buy Too Much on Amazon
Leave a rating and review for the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast
Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn
Follow Jessica on Instagram
In this week's episode of the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast, I talked to Deb Boulanger, a sought-after speaker, business mentor and thought leader, and an expert in guiding women from corporate roles to successful consulting businesses.
We explored how public speaking can be a powerful and strategic tool for consistently closing new clients. Deb shared actionable tips on audience engagement, crafting compelling offers and the importance of follow-up. We also discussed mindset shifts, preparation and how to avoid common pitfalls like over-teaching.
Whether you're new to speaking or looking to refine your approach, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you turn talks into tangible business growth.
In This Episode:
[00:00:00] Introducing Deb Boulanger and her transition from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship..
[00:03:08] Deb discusses the unexpected difficulties of starting her own business and learning new skills.
[00:04:43] Exploring the mindset changes required when moving from corporate to entrepreneurial life.
[00:06:06] Conversation about embracing individuality and being different as an entrepreneur.
[00:07:32] Using public speaking strategically to close clients, and the value of both paid and unpaid speaking.
[00:09:30] The common mistake of over-teaching and how it can overwhelm audiences.
[00:10:46] Deb shares tips on structuring talks for impact, including using simple points and stories.
[00:12:30] The importance of pre-launch content, audience engagement, and reverse engineering event goals.
[00:14:32] Discussion on the need for thorough follow-up with attendees and registrants after a talk.
[00:17:21] Tips on using social media, direct messaging, and ensuring attendees have access to event links.
[00:18:50] Advice for speakers on managing perceived audience disengagement and keeping energy high.
[00:20:38] How to address audience pain points and provide new perspectives during talks.
[00:22:28] Deb explains how to transition to offers, the difference between soft and hard offers, and best practices.
[00:26:00] Guidance on making appropriate offers when selling consulting services to organizations.
Key Takeaways:
Quotes:
"The mindset is totally opposite than corporate, right? In corporate, you're rewarded for something absolutely different, which is fitting in, coloring inside the lines, and in entrepreneurship you're rewarded for being different. So how different can you be? How creative can you be? And coloring outside the lines." - Deb Boulanger
"The things that you used to aspire to, you now need to be the opposite. And it's actually great news for us because it was never that fun to fit in and be less. Whereas suddenly it's like your job depends on you being more and showing the world 'this is who I am.'" - Jessica Fearnley
"You can do lots of things, but if you're in the wrong rooms, not speaking to the right audience for your business, it's lovely that you did it, but it doesn't always drive sales." - Jessica Fearnley
"If you're leading a webinar, if you're speaking from stage, if you're leading a workshop or even if you're on a panel, the primary mistake people make is they want to be seen as smart. They want to showcase their thought leadership, and they end up over teaching, over coaching, leaving the audience overwhelmed or needing to sort it all out so that they can apply it on their own. And that is the first mistake that in our desire to help serve, inform, we end up giving away too much information. People aren't able to take action." - Deb Boulanger
"Keep it to three simple points, right? Three simple points that people can take away and give them a core premise and a paradigm shift that makes it memorable. And this is where true thought leaders really stand out, because when you ask people at the end of your talk, what was the number one thing you took away? They're repeating back to you your paradigm shift that you left them with." - Deb Boulanger
Useful Links
Deb:
LifeAfterCorporate.com
Life After Corporate Podcast
Connect with Deb on LinkedIn
Seven Easy Steps to Convert More Clients Today
Expert Pricing Calculator
Ebook - A Free Guide on How to Make More Money, Meaning, and Impact Doing Work You Love
Jessica:
Buy Jessica's book, Too Much, on Amazon
Get in touch with Jessica to discuss your consulting business
Leave a rating and review for the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast
Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn
Guest Bio
Deb Boulanger is a sought-after speaker, business mentor, and thought leader helping high-achieving women leaders successfully transition from corporate careers to profitable coaching and consulting businesses. With a 25-year background in corporate leadership - where she managed multi-million dollar business lines - she now guides women through the complexities of entrepreneurship with proven strategies in sales, marketing, and business growth.
As the CEO of Life After Corporate and host of the Life After Corporate podcast, she shares deep insights on business strategy, overcoming mindset blocks, and building sustainable six-figure businesses. Her engaging, no-nonsense approach has made her a go-to expert for professional conferences, masterminds, and top-ranked podcasts.
In this episode of the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast, originally broadcast in September 2023, I dive into the topic of returning to work after a break.
It's so important to take time off so that we can recharge and avoid burnout, especially as high achieving, ambitious women consultants and thought leaders, but how can we smoothly transition back into work mode
In this episode I share some key strategies to help you prepare before your vacation and how to get your brain back when you return to work, including the value of checking in with yourself and prioritizing self-care during this transition period to regain your natural energy, maximize your productivity and enjoy jumping back into your consulting business.
Quotes:
"We get into the rhythm of work, leads, sales delivery, onboarding, offboarding, and it can suddenly actually feel quite stark to jump out of the business to take a vacation. When we get back, suddenly things feel less certain. Do I really post on LinkedIn that many times a week? What will I say at that meeting? How do I jump back on the horse now that I've tumbled off? If you've taken a break this summer and you're feeling the brain fog this week, this episode is for you."
"One of the key temptations for entrepreneurs is to be always on. It's so great for us to have that digital detox, to break the patterns that we spend a lot of our weeks wrapped up in online."
"Take that vacation, have that day off, block off that week. We get so blind to the habits that we're falling into when we never break them. How many times have you come back with fresh eyes after some time out and thought, 'wait a minute, why are we even doing this?'"
Useful Links:
Get in touch with Jessica to discuss your consulting business
Join the weekly newsletter for women consultants
Buy Too Much on Amazon
Leave a rating and review for the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast
Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn
Follow Jessica on Instagram
In this week's episode of the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast, originally broadcast in August 2024, I interviewed my wonderful client, Amanda HarNess, an executive coach specialising in leadership development.
Amanda shared her journey from working as an occupational therapist to becoming a successful business owner and coach, adapting and transferring her skills from her previous career.
We discuss the challenges and motivations behind Amanda's career shift, her signature Leadership First Approach™ and the importance of strong leadership for organisational success.
In this episode:
Key Takeaways:
Quotes:
"I like to say that I was a great employee, but I was also not a great employee, because I either met or exceeded the status quo or the expectations. But I was also still unsatisfied. And so I wasn't one of those employees that just kind of did my work and showed up. I was always pointing out something that could be better and how it could be better, and you know, that wasn't always received well." - Amanda HarNess
"I felt like I would come up with these ideas or find the things that needed to be changed and just get shushed or someone would smile and nod and then not do anything, and it always felt like I was being held back. And this idea in my mind felt like 'if I owned my own business, what could hold me back?'" - Amanda HarNess
"If you have misalignment, poor communication, either just bad leadership skills or untrained leadership skills, whatever's happening at the top is going to roll downhill and trickle down in the organisation. … You have to make things strong at the top in order to create the real progress that you want in the organisation." - Amanda HarNess
"I think a lot of us, we have this thing of like, 'I can't invest in myself, that would be a waste of money'. But actually the difference that it makes when a business is making money on a regular basis, like those kinds of investments, if you do it properly, it can really make such a huge difference to how the early years of your business actually play out." - Jessica Fearnley
Useful Links
Amanda:
Visit Amanda's website to learn more about her approach and services.
Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn to get more insights and expert advice.
For access to exclusive content and special events become an Email Subscriber.
Amanda's Photographer, Danielle Uhl.
Jessica:
The Seven Figures Club
Wealth Dynamics
Join the weekly email newsletter for women consultants
Leave a rating and review for the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast
Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn
Guest Bio
Amanda is the CEO and Founder of Business Excelerated. She is a coach and consultant who works with leadership teams of organizations with high stakes environments, helping them to make REAL progress using the Leadership First Approach™. By leveraging her expertise in human behavior, psychology, leadership development, and effective communication, she helps leadership teams close the gap between where they are now and where they want to be.
In this week's episode of the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast, originally broadcast in March 2025, I interviewed my wonderful client, Sherry Lukey, an extraordinary executive and life coach who helps successful professionals worldwide unlock their full potential, cultivate meaningful relationships, and create a life of purpose, peace, and presence.
Sherry shared her inspiring journey into the world of coaching, emphasizing how trauma can significantly impact both personal and professional success.
We talked about the disconnect between outward success and internal struggles, especially within corporate environments, plus the importance of creating safe spaces for healing and exploring how the subconscious mind plays a crucial role in shaping our beliefs.
In this episode:
Key Takeaways:
Quotes:
"It's certainly something that I think all of us as coaches see, we have clients who come to us and they are so outstanding as individuals. They have this amazing potential, and quite often they have things that are already going really well. But for whatever reason, there are these deep traumas sometimes really holding them back and old narratives that don't serve them, but everything just feels completely tangled up and they can't move forward." - Jessica Fearnley
"We can heal trauma and we can have patterns that have plagued us for decades. You always kind of know that you're destined for great things, and every time it's in front of you, you manage to swerve. But to actually be able to heal those patterns, it changes everything." - Jessica Fearnley
"When the subconscious perceives a threat, whether it be real or perceived, that stress response comes on and then your options are fight, flight, freeze, and fawn. And fawn being people pleasing, which is one of the things that women really, really tend to do." - Sherry Lukey
"What people don't realize is that really a trauma at any level has three ingredients. One is shock, it's sort of like you've been blindsided, something that just totally came out of nowhere, a feeling of isolation and a feeling of powerlessness. And if you have those three ingredients, you end up with trauma." - Sherry Lukey
"People have to break down to break through. And so by you taking that on, you're actually preventing their breakthrough. And it completely turns it on its head to be like, 'oh, this is a massive disservice to take this on for someone' because you subconsciously and energetically, you're actually saying to them 'you're not capable of handling this. So I'm going to handle it for you'." - Sherry Lukey
Useful Links
Sherry:
Sherry's website - sherrylukey.com
Jessica:
Buy Jessica's book, Too Much, on Amazon
Get in touch with Jessica to discuss your consulting business
Leave a rating and review for the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast
Jessica's LinkedIn
Guest Bio
Sherry Lukey is an extraordinary executive and life coach who helps successful professionals worldwide unlock their full potential, cultivate meaningful relationships, and create a life of purpose, peace, and presence. Using her unique expertise and Tap into Power Method™, she guides clients to break free from deep-rooted subconscious patterns and biases, empowering them to lead confidently and leave a legacy.
Sherry's expertise has been showcased in top media outlets like Forbes, Beyond the Couch, and the Fearless and Successful podcasts. She captivates audiences with powerful presentations, expertly moderates events, and delivers game-changing insights on panels.
When she's not empowering leaders to lead with greater compassion for themselves and others, you'll find her pursuing her passions for personal growth and pottery in her home studio. She shares a beautiful life in British Columbia, Canada, with her husband of thirty-seven years and takes immense pride in being the mother of adult twin daughters.
In this episode of the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast, I'm outlining the ways you can work with me in 2025 and 2026 if you're ready to grow your consulting business.
The message I'm hearing again and again is that things have felt uncertain in the world this year, but this is beginning to shift in a lot of markets. I've been speaking to B2B consultants at all stages of business who are seeing all these opportunities opening up and I'm so passionate about helping them to take advantage of these opportunities to grow their business - all while working less and earning more.
Tune in to hear more about the stages of a consulting business and how I can help you grow in 2025 and 2026!
Quotes:
"You can work less - fewer hours, fewer clients, less context switching through your week, less time needed on lead gen and sales - and earn more - by pricing your services competitively for the market you are targeting."
"You might not have realized it yet but one of the biggest determining factors in terms of whether your business will grow further than it has already is you. You are likely the bottleneck to all future progress."
"Your business doesn't need to feel hard or attritional. We don't need to believe the story that in order to grow to 7 figures you have to sacrifice your life or your wellbeing. I love to help consultants make this season of growth feel safer, and calmer and something they are in command of."
"When we align your services with your Zone of Genius, instead of just your Zone of Excellence or your Zone of Competence, we can create a consulting business that feels fun again, and where you are building the reputation of being an expert at a specific thing."
Useful Links
Get in touch with Jessica to discuss your consulting business
Join the weekly newsletter for women consultants
Buy Too Much on Amazon
Leave a rating and review for the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast
Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn
Follow Jessica on Instagram
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