Confessions with Jess and Cindy

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 chal...

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...

“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 impor...

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 Gift...

"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 organizat...

"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....

"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 emb...

“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 we...

“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 toget...

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 uncertai...

"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&apos...

“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 revenu...

"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...

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...

"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 b...

“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...

“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 rai...

“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&a...

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...

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...

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...

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 an...

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 sh...

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 t...

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 an...