A client asks for something small - a quick deliverable, perhaps. But you see the bigger problem they’re really trying to solve. What do you do? In this episode, Leah talks with a consultant who’s learning how to turn tactical requests into strategic engagements. You’ll hear how to reframe the ask, guide the conversation, position yourself as the expert your clients truly need, and sell in more strategic work. Connect with Leah on LinkedIn → Get Higher-Paying Consulting Clients: If you’re a woma...
Jun 22, 2025•23 min•Ep. 119
After selling her company and launching a new consulting business, Joanne Sonenshine found herself burned out, undercharging, and putting others first. In this episode, she shares how she reclaimed her confidence, started valuing her work, and built a business that supports her life. It’s a powerful look at what happens when you finally put yourself first, even in mission-driven work. Connect with Leah on LinkedIn → Get Higher-Paying Consulting Clients: If you’re a woman running a consulting bus...
Jun 08, 2025•42 min•Ep. 118
What happens when a stay-at-home mom (Leah's Mom, in fact!) goes back to school at 37 and completely rewrites her career and her confidence? In this special episode, Leah talks with her mom, Julie Neaderthal, about ambition, reinvention, and the ripple effect of showing up. Whether you knew your purpose early on or you found yours later, this one will stick with you. Connect with Leah on LinkedIn → Get Higher-Paying Consulting Clients: If you’re a woman running a consulting business, learn how y...
May 25, 2025•54 min•Ep. 117
In this episode, we shift our focus to the early stages of consulting business - the startup phase. If you're in the first two years or even just starting out, this is for you. We examine the differences between the "messy middle" and the startup phase, providing insights, reassurance, and specific strategies for those navigating this critical stage. Whether you're feeling lost, behind, or unsure.. or having great momentum and want to keep up your success... this episode will guide and empower y...
May 11, 2025•44 min•Ep. 116
When Alli Myatt’s business partner left their consulting firm, Alli faced a challenge she never expected: having to get clients all on her own. In this episode, Alli shares how she went from relying on a partner to mastering business development herself. She talks about the mindset shifts, strategies, and lessons that helped her build a thriving business, without a safety net. If you've ever wondered how to grow your business when you’re the only one selling, this conversation is for you. Connec...
Apr 27, 2025•43 min•Ep. 115
With everything going on, clients are starting to hesitate, budgets are starting to shrink, and getting work sold in is getting harder. So what now? In this episode, Leah coaches two consultants who just lost three proposals they thought were a slam dunk. Listen in as they unpack what’s really happening, what to do when clients start pulling back, and how to keep winning work even when the economy is a mess. If you’re worried about getting clients right now, you need this episode. Connect with L...
Apr 13, 2025•34 min•Ep. 114
As you reach new revenue milestones in your business, who do you need to BECOME? As a business owner, as a leader, and as a person? In this episode, Leah chats with business coach Jessica Fearnley, about essential shifts in leadership and mindset required to navigate the complexities of growth in later stages of your consulting business. With this leadership and mindset shifts, you'll be able to grow as a business owner, weather challenges, and thrive as your business grows. → Get Higher-Paying ...
Mar 30, 2025•51 min•Ep. 113
Many consultants find themselves subcontracting to other agencies. But what happens when they want to stop subcontracting and start getting their own clients? In this episode, Leah talks to Anna Schardt Baker, who successfully made that transition. You'll hear the moment she realized she wanted to get away from subcontracting, how she got her own consulting clients, and what this shift has allowed her to do as a business owner. Get ready for a candid conversation filled with insights, tips, and ...
Mar 16, 2025•45 min•Ep. 112
What can you do TODAY to get consulting clients? In this episode you'll learn three key strategies to help you communicate your value effectively, attract clients, and help clients say yes. From mastering client communication to defining clear and compelling client offers using the ETSY (Easy To Say Yes) Framework, tune into this episode and learn actionable tools to build and nurture your client pipeline, position your work for value, and create services your clients can say yes to. Connect wit...
Mar 02, 2025•31 min•Ep. 111
Marketing your consulting business can feel like a chore. But it doesn't have to. Join Leah and marketing specialist, Darby Days, in a candid conversation about The 5 Mindset Shifts That Make Marketing Easier. Learn how to apply lessons from Nike and Oprah to your consulting business, how to stand out on LinkedIn amidst the noise, and how to make marketing more fun. Whether you're struggling to get started or need some new ideas, this episode will help you market your consulting business with mo...
Feb 16, 2025•41 min•Ep. 110
Have you ever worried that if you do marketing or business development, you'll get too busy with client work? It's FOCO, fear of client overwhelm, and it's a really common fear among women consultants. In this episode, Leah illustrates why business development doesn't lead to FOCO, and how to structure your business development time so you're not overwhelmed. Connect with Leah on LinkedIn → Get Higher-Paying Consulting Clients: If you’re a woman running a consulting business, learn how you can g...
Feb 02, 2025•21 min•Ep. 109
What happens when your income is mostly reliant on one client... and that client cancels their contract? Enter the world of fractional HR consultant Cara Barnes, who faced this exact situation. Join us in this episode as we share the remarkable journey of how Cara transformed her business from depending on a single client to nurturing a diverse client base. Discover the steps she took to secure her income and build financial security into her business, and learn what you can do to build security...
Jan 19, 2025•51 min•Ep. 108
Discover the unfiltered truth every consultant needs to hear, as Leah delivers a raw and honest pep talk. In this episode, she confronts hard realities, shares practical strategies, and offers actionable steps to propel your business forward, so you can stop stalling and start succeeding. Tune in for invaluable insights and a roadmap to a profitable and fulfilling year ahead. Connect with Leah on LinkedIn → Get Higher-Paying Consulting Clients: If you’re a woman running a consulting business, le...
Jan 05, 2025•21 min•Ep. 107
What happens when you go from taking consulting projects here and there, to building your business with intention? That's the journey that leadership consultant Beth Messich is sharing in this episode. Join us as Beth Messich shares how she decided to go from from casual consulting gigs to intentional entrepreneurship. Connect with Leah on LinkedIn → Get Higher-Paying Consulting Clients: If you’re a woman running a consulting business, learn how you can get paid more for your consulting contract...
Dec 22, 2024•52 min•Ep. 106
How do you run a successful business, when your brain works a little differently? That's the question we're diving into today with Latrice Prater, founder of the Digital Solutions Team and advocate for women business owners with ADHD. We explore how Latrice Prater has leveraged her ADHD to shape her work approach and business strategies, the transformative impact ADHD has had on Latrice's journey to building a successful consultancy, and you'll gain valuable insights into making your business wo...
Dec 08, 2024•47 min•Ep. 105
Do you ever wonder if you're working on the right things in your consulting business? You're not alone. In this episode of The Smart Gets Paid Podcast, join Leah in conversation with leadership coach and consultant Laura Eigel, as she shares her journey from struggling with mismatched business advice to building a thriving B2B consulting practice. You'll discover why so many of those "must-do" tactics often fail for B2B consulting, how to transition your business development to attract corporate...
Nov 24, 2024•55 min•Ep. 104
Ever feel like the sales process is a jungle? In this episode, Leah and her client dive into practical tools for navigating the twists and turns of selling in consulting work. You'll learn strategies for taking control, guiding prospects with confidence, and leading the process to a successful close. Tune in to gain insights on managing each stage of the journey and turning challenges into clear paths toward the win. Connect with Leah on LinkedIn → Get Higher-Paying Consulting Clients: If you’re...
Nov 10, 2024•38 min•Ep. 103
In this episode, Leah is joined by attorney Amanda Moncada-Perkins as she shares her journey of blood, sweat, and tears in building her business, only to see things take an unexpected turn. Learn how Amanda's resilience and determination led her towards a new direction, filled with hard work and redemption. The lessons Amanda shares are a raw and inspiring reminder of what can happen when you give it your all. Connect with Leah on LinkedIn → Get Higher-Paying Consulting Clients: If you’re a woma...
Oct 27, 2024•55 min•Ep. 102
In this episode, Leah is exploring the systems that can take your consulting business to the next level—without the chaos. If you’re still juggling business development and follow-ups in spreadsheets or sticky notes, it’s time to talk about why you need a CRM. Learn how the right tools can streamline your workflow, nurture client relationships, and help you scale smarter. Whether you’re just starting or leveling up, this episode will show you how to stop letting business slip through the cracks ...
Oct 13, 2024•33 min•Ep. 101
It's the 100th episode! We've invited questions from our listeners to spark discussion in this special "Leah Unfiltered" episode. You'll hear answers to burning questions from women consultants just like you. Connect with Leah on LinkedIn → Get Higher-Paying Consulting Clients: If you’re a woman running a consulting business, learn how you can get paid more for your consulting contracts and attract more of the right kinds of clients at smartgetspaid.com ....
Sep 29, 2024•42 min•Ep. 100
As any parent knows, running a consulting business while raising kids can be a lot. So in this episode, we get real about the challenges and opportunities in being a business owner and a parent. Leah chats with Sara Dean, founder of Shameless Leadership (formerly known as The Shameless Mom Academy) and they spills the beans on their hilarious and sometimes cringe-worthy journeys of running a consulting business with kids in tow. Tune in for no-nonsense tips for thriving in this chaotic ride, as ...
Sep 15, 2024•56 min•Ep. 99
Have you ever wondered how you can work with fewer consulting clients who pay you more? In the second episode of a two-part series, Leah discusses the steps to transition from working with many clients to working with fewer clients who pay higher fees. Tune in to find out why this shift may benefit you, what approaches do not work, and the five key steps to successfully work with fewer clients who pay you more? Connect with Leah on LinkedIn → Get Higher-Paying Consulting Clients: If you’re a wom...
Sep 01, 2024•35 min•Ep. 98
As a woman consultant, it's not uncommon to feel like you're doing well with revenue, but maybe working with too many clients to get there. That can leave you feeling totally swamped. That's why many consultants want to move to working with fewer clients that pay you more. Leah dives into this topic in the first of a two-part series. In this episode, Leah chats with a client about the first step to transitioning to fewer clients who pay you more: raising your prices with your current clients. Ge...
Aug 18, 2024•35 min•Ep. 97
How do you run a successful business, without having any experience working in a business? Join Leah and her sister Ariel as they chat about Ariel's journey from a 14-year teaching career to the brave new world of entrepreneurship. Discover how she discovered the confidence to pursue a longstanding dream, the unexpected secrets to her success, and how she overcame challenges along the way. If you've ever felt the pull to try something new, this heartwarming episode is a must-listen. Connect with...
Aug 04, 2024•56 min•Ep. 96
When it comes to nurturing relationships, making an ask, and securing funds, nonprofit fundraisers have a lot they can share with women consultants. Get ready for an eye-opening chat as Leah and Mallory Erickson, coach and consultant for nonprofit fundraisers, as they share the powerful mindsets and tools that help nonprofit fundraisers win, and which can help you in your consulting business. Connect with Leah on LinkedIn → Get Higher-Paying Consulting Clients: If you’re a woman running a consul...
Jul 21, 2024•53 min•Ep. 95
Have you ever considered quitting your consulting business for a full-time job? This candid episode explores one consultant's tough decision to do just that. You'll hear hear why she made the shift and how she can apply her business skills in her new role. Leah and her client talk through how to nurture relationships even while she's working for someone else, and steps to prepare for re-entering consulting down the road. Listen in for an honest look at an often unspoken reality - and a call to e...
Jul 07, 2024•22 min•Ep. 94
In this second installment of our Pride Month series and celebration of Leah's 20th anniversary of coming out, she relives her journey from being a self-proclaimed "professional gay" to becoming a successful business owner. Joined by a panel of esteemed LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs - Jennifer Brown, B Pagels-Minor, Eduardo Placer, Nate Shalev, and Claire Wasserman - this episode explores the unexpected ways that being queer has propelled their businesses forward. Prepare to be inspired and gain valuable...
Jun 23, 2024•38 min•Ep. 93
In this Pride Month episode, host Leah celebrates her 20th anniversary of coming out, sharing her journey of self-discovery, the importance of community, and the reality of being queer and a business owner. Leah reflects on the continuous process of coming out, the joys and challenges faced by LGBTQ individuals, and her professional ventures, including co-founding "Lesbians Who Tech." Tune in for an inspiring tale of visibility, representation, and finding true happiness. Connect with Leah on Li...
Jun 09, 2024•33 min•Ep. 92
Sometimes life throws us a curveball that hits us right in the feels, which can also wreak havoc on your business. How do you recover from setbacks and bounce back even stronger? In this episode, Leah chats with Joanna Lovering, an executive presence and leadership coach and consultant, who shares how she navigated a personal difficulty and helped her business bounce back stronger than ever. Connect with Leah on LinkedIn → Get Higher-Paying Consulting Clients: If you’re a woman running a consult...
May 26, 2024•51 min•Ep. 91
A client relationship, like any relationship, is based on mutual respect. When you sense that a client doesn't respect your work, the relationship can become toxic. Then you're left wondering: how did I get here? And how do I ensure it won't happen again? In this episode, Leah helps a client who's struggling with those questions, and together they discuss how to attract clients who respect your expertise! Connect with Leah on LinkedIn → Get Higher-Paying Consulting Clients: If you’re a woman run...
May 12, 2024•33 min•Ep. 90
