Thriving Through

In this episode of the Thriving Through Podcast, AJ sits down with leadership coach and consultant Rachel Wexler to explore the journey from corporate leadership to building a purpose-driven, self-employed consulting practice.

Rachel shares powerful insights from her 20+ years in industry, her transition into coaching, and how she built a blended model of consulting, advisory, and leadership development. This conversation dives deep into fulfillment, resilience, and what it takes to grow a meaningful and sustainable business.

You’ll learn why celebrating small wins matters, how to handle rejection without taking it personally, and how playing the long game can lead to real success.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

The difference between surviving and truly thriving
Why celebration fuels motivation and growth (backed by neuroscience)
The real challenges of becoming a self-employed consultant
How to deal with rejection, silence, and slow progress
Why most consultants underestimate the time it takes to succeed
The power of 360 coaching in uncovering business opportunities
How to balance coaching, consulting, and advisory work
Building long-term client relationships vs transactional work
Managing burnout and staying aligned with your values
The importance of playing the long game in business

Whether you’re a consultant, coach, entrepreneur, or leader, this episode will help you rethink success, not just as profit, but as fulfillment, impact, and growth.

Connect with Rachel Wexler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rlwexler/

About the Podcast:
Thriving Through is a podcast for self-employed consultants and professionals who want to build profitable, sustainable, and most importantly, fulfilling practices.

Keywords:
thriving vs surviving, consulting business, leadership coaching, self employed consultant, entrepreneurship journey, business growth, coaching business, leadership development, personal growth, consultant life, mindset, fulfillment, professional development, resilience, women in leadership

Hashtags:
#ThrivingThrough #ConsultingBusiness #LeadershipCoaching #Entrepreneurship #PersonalGrowth #BusinessGrowth #WomenInLeadership #Coaching #Mindset #Fulfillment

Discover a smarter way to build a sustainable consulting business without constantly chasing new clients. In this episode, host Aj sits down with Rebecca Bauer, Principal Consultant at Rebecca Bauer Consulting, to unpack the power of subcontracting as a long-term strategy for stability, growth, and fulfilment.

Rebecca shares how she built a thriving consulting practice by partnering with other firms, leveraging existing client relationships, and focusing on delivering high-value work without the pressure of direct client acquisition. If you're a consultant, freelancer, or aspiring entrepreneur looking for a more predictable and balanced business model, this conversation is packed with actionable insights.

Learn how subcontracting can help you:

✔ Build consistent income streams
✔ Reduce the stress of sales and marketing
✔ Strengthen professional partnerships
✔ Focus on your zone of expertise
✔ Scale your consulting career strategically

To connect with Rebecca: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-faith-bauer/

Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your consulting approach, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on creating a business that works for you.

🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with industry leaders and experts.

#ConsultingBusiness #Freelancing #Subcontracting #Entrepreneurship #BusinessStrategy #CareerGrowth #ConsultantLife

If your consulting practice feels like organized chaos, where you're holding everything in your head, having the same conversations on repeat, and making decisions on gut feel alone, this episode will show you exactly how to fix it.
 
In this episode, host AJ Riedel talks to Kendra Whitney, Founder of Perigo Partners, a small business operations consultancy. Kendra is a former Fortune 500 project, process, and change management leader who spent 25 years mastering large-scale corporate methodologies, and now translates those best practices into lean, practical systems that help small businesses run smarter.
 
 
Why You Should Listen to This Episode
If you left corporate to build something of your own and now find yourself buried in the day-to-day without systems to show for it Kendra's story will feel uncomfortably familiar. She walked out of a 25-year corporate career after a layoff, spent time genuinely noodling on what was next, and made a deliberate decision to do something different: take the best of Fortune 500 project management, process improvement, and change management and bring it to the small businesses that need it most. In this conversation, Kendra gets real about the challenges of learning a new language (translating corporate jargon for small business owners), overcoming a deep fear of sales, surviving the isolation of solo work, and building a stacked offer suite instead of a menu of disconnected services. She also shares the gardening analogy that every early-stage consultant needs to hear, and the single reframe that finally made sales feel natural for her.
 
 
What You'll Learn in This Episode
•        [Translating Corporate Expertise] How to stop speaking corporate jargon and start talking to small business owners in the language they actually understand — and why this single shift is the foundation for landing clients.
•        [Building a Peer Support System] Why networking events aren't just for lead generation and how Kendra deliberately built a team-like community of fellow solopreneurs to combat isolation and loneliness.
•        [Overcoming Fear of Sales] The reframe that finally made discovery conversations feel natural — and how framing sales as problem-solving (not pitching) transforms your confidence in selling.
•        [Stacking Your Offers] Why building discrete, stackable service offerings instead of custom proposals for every client makes your business more scalable and gives you the data to know what's actually working.
•        [Structure Creates Freedom] How implementing the right systems and processes actually gives you more mental capacity, reduces decision fatigue, and lets you make data-driven decisions instead of gut-feel guesses.
•        [Choosing the Right Coach] What Kendra learned — sometimes the hard way — about how to evaluate coaching investments so you actually get a return, including the two non-negotiables she looks for now.
 

About Kendra Whitney

Kendra Whitney is the founder of Perigo Partners, a small business operations consultancy based in the Raleigh-Durham, NC area. With 25 years of experience leading IT and operations teams at Fortune 500 companies, Kendra specialized in project management, process improvement, and change management — overseeing multi-year technology implementations that impacted tens of thousands of employees. After a corporate layoff, she made the deliberate decision to bring those enterprise-level best practices to small business owners, helping them build the systems, processes, and structures they need to run efficiently, make data-driven decisions, and scale — without the bureaucracy. She is currently in her first year of running Perigo Partners as her sole focus, and is building toward a team-based model that can serve more small businesses at scale.
 
Connect with Kendra on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendrawhitney

Unlock the true power of LinkedIn and personal branding in this inspiring episode of the Thriving Through Podcast featuring Sarka Risch.

From spending 20+ years in corporate sales and marketing to building a thriving consulting business, Sarka shares how finding purpose, overcoming fear, and letting go of perfectionism transformed her life. She dives deep into how LinkedIn can become a powerful tool for lead generation, community building, and long-term business growth.

You’ll learn:
How to build a strong LinkedIn personal brand
The 3 key pillars of LinkedIn success (profile, community, content)
Why relationships matter more than impressions
How to overcome fear, self-doubt, and perfectionism
The mindset shifts needed to grow as an entrepreneur
How investing in yourself accelerates success

Sarka also shares her journey to being featured in Forbes, delivering a TEDx talk, and how consistent self-development helped her create new opportunities.

If you’re an entrepreneur, coach, or professional looking to grow on LinkedIn and build meaningful connections that convert into real opportunities, this episode is for you.

Connect with Sarka Risch on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarka-risch/

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more insights on business growth, mindset, and entrepreneurship.

#LinkedInMarketing #PersonalBranding #EntrepreneurMindset #LeadGeneration #BusinessGrowth #SelfDevelopment #PodcastInterview

In this episode of the Thriving Through Podcast, host AJ sits down with Samantha Elizabeth, a coach and consultant with 25 years of corporate experience, to unpack her powerful journey from repeated layoffs to building her own thriving consulting business.

Samantha shares how hitting a breaking point after 11 layoffs pushed her to finally step off the corporate “rollercoaster” and step into the role of CEO of her own life. From navigating uncertainty to mastering the difference between marketing and sales, this conversation is packed with real, practical insights for anyone considering self-employment.

You’ll discover how to shift from an employee mindset to a CEO mindset, why networking (even as an introvert) is the most powerful lead-generation tool, and how saying “yes” to opportunities can unlock unexpected growth.

This episode is especially valuable for consultants, coaches, entrepreneurs, and anyone looking to build multiple income streams without burning out.

✨ Key topics covered:
• The real definition of “thriving” and why it goes beyond survival
• Samantha’s journey through 11 layoffs and career pivots
• The mindset shift from employee to entrepreneur
• Why marketing alone isn’t enough (and how to sell with confidence)
• The power of networking and building genuine relationships
• How to identify your ideal client and refine your niche
• Why becoming a “yes person” can transform your business

If you're feeling stuck in your career or thinking about starting your own business, this episode will give you the clarity and courage you need.

🔗 Connect with Samantha:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-m-elizabeth/

👍 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations on thriving through life, business, and personal growth.

#ConsultingBusiness #EntrepreneurMindset #CareerGrowth #Networking #SelfEmployment #ThrivingThrough #BusinessCoaching #PersonalDevelopment

AJ welcomes Gaby Sedra to the Thriving Through Podcast for a powerful conversation on resilience, entrepreneurship, and building a successful consulting business.
In this episode, Gaby shares his journey from working in the corporate world to becoming a self-employed consultant, highlighting the importance of mindset, ownership, and perseverance. He explains what it truly means to “thrive through” challenges and how embracing discomfort can lead to growth.

You’ll also learn how Gaby navigated early struggles like client acquisition, marketing failures, and financial learning curves, and how networking and partnerships became his strongest tools for success. He dives into building multiple revenue streams, including launching an e-learning platform, and how consultants can scale without burning out.

This episode is packed with practical insights for entrepreneurs, consultants, and professionals looking to take control of their careers and grow sustainably.

✨ Key Topics Covered:
• Thriving through challenges & resilience mindset
• Transition from corporate to self-employment
• Client acquisition & networking strategies
• Building multiple income streams
• Importance of partnerships & mentorship
• Marketing realities & competition
• Scaling with e-learning platforms
• Adapting to AI and future business challenges

🔗 Connect with Gaby Sedra:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabysedra/

🎧 Like, comment, and subscribe for more inspiring conversations!

#ConsultingBusiness #EntrepreneurMindset #SelfEmployed #BusinessGrowth #ThrivingThrough #Podcast #StartupJourney #Networking #Leadership #AIinBusiness

In this powerful episode of the Thriving Through Podcast, Sara Orellana shares her deeply personal journey from navigating trauma, toxic environments, and rebuilding her life to becoming a successful self-employed consultant and business owner.

Sara opens up about:

Overcoming personal and professional adversity
Transitioning from nonprofit CEO to independent consultant
The hard lessons learned after 8 years in business
Why sleep, self-care, and boundaries are non-negotiable
How to price your services with confidence
Building stable, recurring revenue streams
Turning rejection into growth opportunities
The mindset required to keep going when things get tough

If you're an entrepreneur, consultant, or anyone navigating a difficult season, this episode is packed with real talk, practical wisdom, and inspiration to keep pushing forward.

Key Takeaways:
✔ Believe in yourself even when it’s hard
✔ Say no to what doesn’t align
✔ Your pricing reflects your value
✔ Stability comes from clarity and consistency
✔ Healing and growth go hand in hand

Connect with Sara Orellana:
🌐 Website: www.3raptorconsulting.com
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-c-orellana/

About the Podcast:
Thriving Through is a podcast dedicated to real stories of resilience, growth, and navigating life’s ups and downs with strength and purpose.

👉 Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more inspiring conversations!

#ThrivingThrough #Entrepreneurship #Consulting #Resilience #BusinessGrowth #SelfDevelopment #Mindset #WomenInBusiness #NonprofitLeadership #PersonalGrowth

In this episode of the Thriving Through Podcast, Tommy Rhoads shares his incredible journey from line cook to high-level consultant, revealing the mindset, habits, and strategies that helped him build a powerful consulting alliance.

Tommy talks about growth mindset, entrepreneurship, networking, imposter syndrome, and modern stoicism, along with practical insights on getting consulting clients, using LinkedIn for business development, and building strategic partnerships.

If you're an aspiring consultant, entrepreneur, or professional looking to start a consulting practice, this conversation is packed with real-world insights and inspiration.

🚀 What You'll Learn in This Episode

✔ What “thriving” really means in business and life
✔ How Tommy went from restaurant work to consulting leadership
✔ Why growth mindset and curiosity are critical for career success
✔ How to start and grow a consulting business
✔ The power of strategic partnerships and alliances
✔ How consultants use LinkedIn and networking to get clients
✔ Managing imposter syndrome as an entrepreneur
✔ Daily routines, journaling, and modern stoicism for productivity
✔ How discipline and structure help consultants stay focused

💡 Key Topics Covered

Consulting business strategy
Client acquisition for consultants
LinkedIn marketing for consulting
Growth mindset and entrepreneurship
Stoicism and productivity habits
Overcoming imposter syndrome
Building a consulting network
Personal development for entrepreneurs

👤 About the Guest

Tommy Rhoads is a consultant and alliance builder who helps organizations drive transformation, operational excellence, and leadership development. He is part of the Strategy Elevation Alliance, a collaborative consulting network focused on helping companies navigate complex strategic challenges.

🔗 Connect With Tommy -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/tommy-rhoads-8191358/

🎧 About the Podcast

The Thriving Through Podcast explores the journeys of entrepreneurs, consultants, and leaders who share real lessons on growth, resilience, and building meaningful careers.

#ConsultingBusiness #Entrepreneurship #GrowthMindset #ConsultantLife #BusinessStrategy #LinkedInMarketing #ImposterSyndrome #Stoicism
#StartupAdvice #ThrivingThrough

In this episode of the Thriving Through Podcast, host AJ Riedel sits down with consultant and entrepreneur Leo Sevigny to explore the realities of launching (and relaunching) a consulting business.

Leo shares his journey from early success after publishing The Personal Vision Workbook to building his consulting practice, stepping away, and then restarting nearly 20 years later with a completely different mindset. The conversation dives deep into what it really takes to build a sustainable consulting practice from overcoming imposter syndrome to finding clients, setting boundaries, and creating meaningful conversations instead of “selling.”

If you're starting a consulting business, transitioning out of corporate, or trying to build momentum with your independent practice, this episode is packed with practical insights and honest reflections.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why saying “yes to everything” can hurt your consulting career
The biggest mindset shift from employee to independent consultant
How to build a consulting pipeline using existing relationships
Why most consultants overthink websites instead of talking to clients
The role of confidence, curiosity, and genuine conversation in winning work
How Leo structures his day to avoid “procrasti-working”
Why boutique consultants can thrive in uncertain economic times
How AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude can become creative partners for consultants

Connect with Leo Sevigny:
🌐 https://www.linkedin.com/in/leosevigny/ 

About the Podcast

The Thriving Through Podcast with AJ Riedel shares conversations with experienced consultants and business leaders about building resilient, successful consulting practices.

👍 If you found this conversation helpful, like, subscribe, and share to support more insights for consultants and independent professionals.

#ConsultingBusiness #IndependentConsultant #ConsultingCareer #BoutiqueConsulting #Entrepreneurship

In this episode of the Thriving Through Podcast, AJ speaks with Nicole Sithithavorn, founder of YC Partners, about her journey from corporate CFO to building a successful fractional CFO consulting firm.

Nicole shares the real story behind launching a consulting business including the early challenges of networking as an introvert, figuring out how to generate leads, and discovering the power of outbound email marketing that eventually drove most of her client growth.

She explains how her firm grew from a solo consulting idea into a 7-person team, why fractional CFO services are becoming essential for growing businesses, and the systems she built to create strong client relationships and scalable growth.

Nicole also discusses marketing strategies like targeted outbound email, LinkedIn prospecting, newsletters, and networking, and offers valuable advice for consultants on choosing the right rooms, refining messaging, and building a sustainable pipeline of clients.

Whether you're a consultant, entrepreneur, CFO, or business owner looking to scale, this episode offers practical insights into business development, consulting growth, and strategic finance leadership.

Topics Covered:

Fractional CFO services
Starting a consulting business
Outbound email marketing for B2B
Building a consulting team
Lead nurturing and client relationships
Strategic finance leadership
Networking for consultants
Scaling a professional services firm

Connect with Nicole Sithithavorn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolemsith/

Subscribe for more conversations with leaders who are building meaningful careers and thriving through challenges.

#FractionalCFO #ConsultingBusiness #Entrepreneurship #B2BMarketing #BusinessGrowth #PodcastInterview #ThrivingThrough