Leslie Elliott, Poolie CEO and mom of four, is a business builder. And it seems her son is also wired for it.

It started when she found a half-empty twelve-pack Sprite in her 6th grader’s backpack. She asked James about it, and he said he goes to an H-E-B before school and sells soda to his friends.

He made $20/day and called it SchoolDash. This is when Leslie knew she has an entrepreneur in the house.

Now, James is onto his second business venture: Grove Flower – a flower delivery subscription service for assisted living residents.

In this episode, we talked about recognizing that your child is afflicted with the curse of entrepreneurship and nurturing it in a positive way. We also exchanged business ideas that we think kids can start today.

How well do you understand your work?

In this conversation, Wes Wheless shares his journey from being a consultant to helping other independent consultants articulate their expertise through visual communication. He discusses the challenges consultants face in defining their niche and the importance of intellectual property in establishing a unique brand.

Wes emphasizes the power of visual metaphors and frameworks in communicating complex ideas simply and effectively, ultimately helping consultants connect with their clients on a deeper level.

This is what networking looks like beyond the handshake.

I sat down with Melissa Aarskaug, host of Executive Connect, to talk about building meaningful relationships, leading with purpose, and how personal branding surfaces—regardless of your industry.

We also got into mentorship, giving back, and the lessons that come from the toughest parts of a career.

What is customer success actually and where is it headed?

I sat down with Pablo Bernal, former product leader at Microsoft, to talk about the shift from reactive support to proactive services, and how AI is reshaping the way we align technology with real customer goals.

We also got into Pablo’s sabbatical, career transitions, and what the future of the industry might look like with AI at its disposal.

Client work is only half the business. The other half? Contracts and rates. 

After working with hundreds of consultants, I realized that the ones who last aren't just talented. They know how to run the business side too. They know what agreements they make and how they set their rates. 

And so, we made a special podcast episode for it — all the common questions I get asked about contracts and rates.

What does creativity have to do with consulting?

Paige Darby and I sat down with Susie deVille to talk about how tapping into intrinsic energy can change the way we lead, collaborate, and grow.

We also got into Susie’s leap into indie consulting, the Kolbe assessment, and why adding play to your process actually sharpens performance.

Here's why you should treat your indie practice like a startup.

I sat down with Pedro Girardi to talk about his journey from BCG and Delivery Hero to independent consulting—and the resilience it takes to make that leap.

We got into the value of strong networks, co-working spaces, and staying grounded through big transitions.

What’s a day in the life of a fractional CRO like?

I sat down with Kristi Gaudioso to talk about her move from Microsoft to indie leadership—and what it takes to drive revenue without being full-time.

We covered sales strategy, adaptability, and why community and collaboration matter more than ever in the fractional world.

Hey—I’m Lauren Wambold Patel, and this is The 2x2 Podcast.

If you’re an independent consultant, strategist, or fractional exec who’s serious about building your business—not just picking up gigs—this channel is for you.

I’ve built an eight-figure consulting firm from the ground up. No agency model. No corporate safety net. Just the real work of building something sustainable, scalable, and entirely my own.

Every week, I bring you deep conversations with top independent consultants—people who’ve gone from big firms or executive roles to building successful businesses on their own terms.

We talk about how they:

• Land clients without chasing
• Set your rate in line with value 
• Balance client work with the admin of running your own business
• And scale from solo to microfirm—without burning out

This isn’t a motivational channel.

This is the actual playbook—built for deep thinkers, expert operators, and people who want more autonomy and more control.

So if you’re ready to move your consulting business up and to the right, hit subscribe and dive in.

Can you keep climbing the corporate ladder after it collapsed?

Anna Wondany did. And so can fractional executives.

She' s a fractional CMO and the founder of Hey CMO, a fast-growing network for marketing leaders who want independence without isolation.

In this episode, we talk about what it means to work fractionally, how to prevent your own competence from drowning you, and why always saying yes might be your smartest move.

Thanksgiving week is the prime time for gratitude – and crunch time for nonprofits.

Seasoned fundraising and development strategy expert, Pradnya Haldipur, has been in the nonprofit world for a long time, working with large organizations like Doctors Without Borders.

But now, she’s a newly minted fractional expert already gaining success in just six months.

In this interview, she gives us a peak on what happens on this side of business: meeting year-end goals and keeping organizations funded.

Let’s dive in.

(While we have you here, check out her newsletter: The Chad Chronicles)

Ready for the war room that is Black Friday planning?

I sat down with Scott LaBoda to talk about his path from consulting to retail and back again—with stops at Tom’s Shoes and Lululemon along the way.

We got into merchandising, supply chains, and what’s ahead for both luxury and mass retail.

In the immortal words of Wu-Tang Clan, “Cash rules everything around me.”

They weren’t talking about corporate finance, but Nicki Monson agrees the words are still true.

Strangely, she’s not a Wu-Tang fan, but I’ll forgive her for that.

Nicki was the VP of finance at Stenograph, a dynamic SaaS startup. And before that, she held leadership positions for over 20 years at bp, a global energy powerhouse.

Now, Nicki is an esteemed member of the Keenan Reid consulting team – helping clients with their cash flow problems and leading transformations.

In this interview, Nicki breaks down what cash flow really is, why companies lose track of it, and how to get it back under control.

What does it take to actually find your niche?

I sat down with Terry Chevalier to talk about his move from big-firm consulting to running his own shop—what’s hard, what’s worth it, and how he’s carved out a niche in telecom and exit planning.

We also talked coaching, business transitions, and why defining the problem you solve is half the battle.

Is ESG really that important?

I sat down with Cooper Wechkin, founder of RyeStrategy, to talk about climate accounting, sustainability, and why small and mid-sized companies shouldn’t sit this one out.

We got into Cooper’s journey from undergrad startup to ESG consulting, and how thoughtful strategy can shrink your footprint, and grow your business.

What’s it like going from BCG to the chaos of startups?

I sat down with Sam Hollin to talk about his move into the world of growth consulting —what changes, what carries over, and how to navigate the shift from structure to speed.

We dug into networking, intuition, and the kind of personal growth that comes from building in real time.

How do you get your name out there, without feeling cringe about it?

I sat down with Tracy Samantha Schmidt, former Time Magazine reporter, to talk personal branding, earned media, and what actually works in today’s PR landscape.

We covered her path from journalism to consulting, how to think about content distribution, and why a strong messaging framework is non-negotiable.

What comes after a decade at BCG?

I sat down with Michael Stutts to talk about his path from consulting to executive leadership—and how personal branding and clear communication shaped the journey.

We also touched on his book, There's No Room Service at the Psych Ward, and why mental health deserves more airtime in the business world.

👉 Get a copy of his book: https://www.amazon.com/Theres-Room-Service-Psych-Ward/dp/1955026890

Troy Ruemping has spent his career asking the question most consultants skip: what problem are we actually solving?

He's done it at McKinsey, at the Big Four, and now while splitting his time between independent consulting and building his own food tech venture.

In this conversation, Troy breaks down the discipline behind great strategy work — and what happens when you take those skills into an entirely new field.

What do nut milk, corporate porridge, and startups have in common?

Seems like a random list, right?

I sat down with Ben Manwaring to talk about his winding career path—from consulting to startups to his current chapter in Amsterdam.

We got into flexibility, risk-taking, and what it really looks like to blend creativity with business growth.

Would you trade a comfortable life in the city for a spot in an RV park? 

Joe Griffith did – and it’s the best decision he made. 

He used his expertise as a former Bain consultant and built Wander New Mexico, now the no.1 rated tour company in New Mexico. 

He’s still running it a decade later while consulting independently on the side. 

The interesting part isn’t just how he’s doing both – it’s how one made the other better. 

Ever heard of a corporate athlete?

I sat down with Mariela Hunter to talk about biomarkers, sleep, and how AI is becoming essential for us to keep ourselves in top shape–personally and professionally.

We also got into her shift into fractional work and why the future of performance is all about human–AI collaboration.

Here's how you can get a meeting with anyone.

I sat down with my good friend Katie McCormick Lelyveld—founder of MELD and former press secretary to Michelle Obama—to talk about authenticity, networking, and the real work of building lasting relationships.

We also touched on intergenerational conversations, women in leadership, and how small moments lead to big connections.

The most successful fractional works have tells.

Amanda Nizzere is a fractional CMO who has reached full capacity in just two years (impressive, right?). But she’s spent that time doing more than just client work for AN Strategy.

As the host of the Female Fractionals podcast, Amanda has had dozens of candid conversations with fractional executives about what works (and what doesn’t) in a fractional practice.

If you’re building a fractional or independent consulting practice, this conversation offers a clear framework – and some hard-earned insights – for what actually makes fractional work work. 

Can you rebuild a legacy business from the ground up?

Not everyone can, but Deborah Whitby did.

Rebecca McDowell and I sat down with the Austin Plumbery CEO to talk about our stories. We discussed the real-life highs and headaches of building a business.

From branding and pricing to hiring and customer experience, we swapped lessons on growth, lifestyle, and what it really takes to run something that lasts.

How many tools and platforms do you use in your practice?

Do you have a graveyard of unused subscriptions, or do you still do everything manually?

I think you only need four essentials – every one of them useful for everyday tasks.

Anything else you add should pass the ultimate efficiency test: Reach the least number of clicks to get sh*t done. 

Fractional work looks simple – and exciting – from the outside.

You leave corporate, land a client, and price your time.

You breathe easier because you do the work you’re passionate about. In many ways, it’s wonderful.

But here’s what doesn’t get talked about enough: The real challenge of fractional life shows up in about six months.

In a bonus episode of The 2x2 Podcast, Anna Wondany – founder of Hey CMO – walked me through the network she built to support fractional leaders. 

👉 Join Hey CMO here: https://hey.heycmo.com/a/2148165011/4NwoMab9

👉 Watch the FREE Demo here: https://youtu.be/Jem1f7y3tCY

Every consultant can build a deck. But only a few can run the room.

Ryan O’Toole spent his entire career inside rooms a lot of us only hear about – PE board rooms and PE-backed leadership teams.

He’s been the consultant, the operator, and the advisor.

This makes him unusually good at explaining how boards actually work. In this interview, we’re talking about everything you and I need to know about boards. 

What can real estate brokers teach consultants?

A LOT.

So I sat down with Luisa Mauro to trade notes on building trust, earning referrals, and staying authentic in a competitive market.

We talked about prospecting, team building, and why genuine care—not just strategy—is what keeps a business growing.

There’s a version of indie consulting that isn’t talked about openly. 

Not the glamorous ‘build your personal brand and land dream clients.’ But the actual mechanics of how many consultants find work: through hiring companies and curated networks that connect talent with clients. 

And depending on who you ask, those companies are either a shortcut or great opportunities – or middlemen taking cut of your revenue. 

The truth is much more nuanced than that. 

How long does it take to reach true mastery?

Johan Sauer is an experienced independent consultant who worked with over 200 companies over the course of his career.

In this episode, we talk about the evolution of brand management and the importance of creativity and mentorship in consulting.

We also discuss the challenges faced in the consulting industry, the significance of continuous learning, and the path to achieving true mastery.

Can we actually trust AI outputs?

I sat down with Usman Lakhani, an AI governance expert, to talk about what responsible AI looks like — and why independent consultants need to get literate fast.

We covered practical frameworks for aligning AI with strategy, the role of data governance, and how trust, ethics, and risk management all show up in real-world implementation.

This 2026, I have a challenge for you: take home $400K in revenue.

Did that number scare you? Or does it sound like a piece of cake?

I think $400k is the mark of a successful consulting practice – it means you live a financially comfortable lifestyle without burying yourself with work.

Are you up for the challenge?

We've always been told the same story about building a business: network hard, move fast, say yes to every opportunity. 

Sudeshna Sen believed it too – until she left corporate and tried to build something of her own. 

That’s when she realized the playbook we know isn’t always the answer. 

What she found, after slowing down and actually listening to other founders, was that their problem ran deeper than tactics. Women founders were surrounded by communities, events, and connections – but still felt completely alone when things got hard. 

Because support wasn't there when it counted. That gap is what Pionyr is built to close. 

In this conversation, Sudeshna talks about what it really took to build something you’re proud of – and why going slow was never the setback people thought. 

👉 Join Pionyr: https://joinpionyr.com/

How do you keep a product relevant when the market won’t sit still?

I sat down with Kris Hardy to talk about product refresh cycles, why customer insights matter more than ever, and how smart collaboration between product and sales teams can drive real innovation.

I get the same questions over and over from people starting out.

And I get it – because I asked all of them too. Only I had to figure things out on my own, either by Googling things, asking around, or trying out stuff to see if they stick.

So instead of overcomplicating it, I’m just going to walk through the ones that matter most and give you the straight answers I wish I had when I started. 

The more your money you make, the more complicated it gets to manage it.

Think taxes, structure, payroll – and a whole set of decisions no one teaches you how to make.

But Lorie Jones, founder of Fearless Financial Advisors, has built her career helping founders manage what comes next financially.

In this conversation, we go deep into the three stages every founder goes through – and how to navigate each one. 

Parm Sidhu is what most consultants say they want to be: an operator and an advisor at the same time.

While working at Deloitte, Parm built Student Storage into a 20-campus business across Canada. It’s an impressive feat, especially this early in his career.

And it’s also why my conversation with Parm matters.

Because once you’ve run something yourself, you don’t think – or advise – the same way again. 

What if your AI avatar works, while you enjoy life?

I sat down with Natalie Monbiot to talk about digital twins, how they differ from deep fakes, and what a virtual human economy might look like.

We got into the ethics, the tech, and how AI clones could reshape communication and expand what’s possible in business.

Nothing is ever 'just data.'

Last year, we started featuring the worst charts and visuals the internet has to offer.

We've racked up a fair amount in our collection, so we invited chart champ Amelia Waters to critique some bad charts and give us a few pointers on how to do it right.

Watch the full episode in our YouTube channel next week: youtube.com/channel/UC5DlEn-4CszFJw-aCTcTopQ/