The Academy:
The program for consultants ready to unlock their next revenue level
Create a sales and marketing playbook that gets you more of the right clients – and gets you paid more for your work – without having to sacrifice your time.
Welcome to your more profitable
consulting business.
And when we say profitable, we mean your money and your time…
At this point, you’re out of “startup mode” – you know your business can work.
Now it’s about building the business you envisioned: doing more of the work you love and getting paid handsomely for it, so your business supports your life, not the other way around.
You’ve gotten this far through word of mouth and referrals. You haven’t done much marketing because, frankly, you didn’t need to. But we both know referrals aren’t a long-term solution.
You’ve got a good idea of what to do. But how to do it is a whole different matter.
You wish you had a system. To make the money you want without working all the time. To smooth out the revenue ups and downs. And to free you up, so you can spend more time with the people who matter most to you.
You’ve gotten this far without a strategy… imagine what would happen if you had one that worked?
You could get the clients you want, not just the ones you can get.
You could get paid for your value, not your time.
You could have a business that’s profitable and fulfilling.
That’s what you’ll do in The Academy.
We’re currently enrolling for our next group in The Academy. When you click the button above, you’ll answer a few questions about your business, then schedule a 15-minute call with a member of our team to see if The Academy is a good fit for you.
Purpose-built for women consultants in The Messy Middle
The Academy is for consultants in The Messy Middle: after that “first wave” of clients runs its course. At this point, you’ve probably already done some work on your ideal client, or your messaging, or your pricing. Something you’ve been doing has worked.
You’ve gathered most of the ingredients, now you need the recipe.
Unfortunately, this is where many consultants get stuck, wasting months or years hoping for things to change.
In The Academy, we help women consultants like you gather your ingredients, and follow a proven recipe so you know exactly what to do at every stage to get the outcome you want. It’s about seeing what’s working, making it even better, and filling in the gaps with the knowledge, tools, and strategies you need. And you get help to make sure it comes out perfectly.
If you’re ready to stop trying to do this on your own, being stuck in your head, and not getting anywhere…
And if you’re ready to start using an actual sales and marketing playbook, knowing what to do at each step, feeling confident, and seeing results….
You’re in the right place.
“All my career, I have been looking for something like this. I’ve been so reactive, and to be proactive makes all the difference.”
Connie C, startup food consultant
What you’ll you be able to do
You’ll create a system in your business that allows you to do five key things:
1. Position your work for value
It can be challenging to communicate your value to clients, and it makes it hard to stand out from others in your space. You’ll learn how to position your work as THE solution to your clients’ #1 problem, so they understand your value even before they get on a call with you, and they trust that you’re an expert in your field.
2. Fill your pipeline with the right clients
You’ve gotten most or all of your clients through referrals, but the truth is, you’ve probably only scratched the surface of people who should work with you. At the same time, you know referrals aren’t sustainable. You’ll learn how to bring the right clients into your orbit, from within your network and outside of it, so you can fill your client pipeline.
3. Scope and price your work for value, so you’re paid for your value, not your time
Charging more doesn’t mean having to work more. You’ll learn how to implement Value-Based Pricing so you can price your work for value and get the price you asked for.
4. Comfortably and confidently lead a sales process to a “yes”
When you’re selling in to companies and organizations, it’s not as simple as a quick yes and swiping a credit card; it takes an actual sales process and getting the work sold in. You’ll be able to lead a sales process from the first conversation, all the way to a signed contract. If selling is like fishing, you’ll be able to catch fish no matter where you go fishing. And you won’t ever feel like you’re “making it up every time.”
5. Do it repeatably, so you always have a way to get new clients, and you can stay consistent
No more “random acts of business development”. You’ll have a repeatable system so you can stay consistent in your marketing and consistent in the sales process, so you’ll feel confident in this part of your business.
We also answer questions like:
- How do I get clients from outside my network?
- How do I stand out from others in my industry?
- How do I write proposals faster, and write them so they get a yes?
- How do I lead great sales conversations that move the ball forward?
- How do I balance doing business development, even when I’m busy with client work?
- How do I set and keep boundaries with clients?
- How do I sell more of the strategic thought work and less of the execution work?
- How do I make more money with fewer clients so I have better balance and more free time?
If answering these questions would help your business, apply for The Academy below.
We’re currently enrolling for our next group in The Academy. When you click the button above, you’ll answer a few questions about your business, then schedule a 15-minute call with a member of our team to see if The Academy is a good fit for you.
“The things that we thought we knew, and then realizing that’s maybe not the right way to do it, has been hilarious for me. How did we not partner with Leah sooner?”
Christine L, learning & development consultant
“I didn’t realize how many missing pieces I had!“
Lisa H, leadership consultant
Here’s how The Academy works
We teach you the system, we help you implement it, and we stay with you to make sure it works
The Academy system is built around a proven success path that’s individualized to your business, your clients, and the way your clients buy. It’s a high-touch environment where you and your team get the support you need to overcome roadblocks, build confidence, and get results. And you do it alongside super smart, ambitious women consultants running serious B2B businesses, just like you.
Step 1: Create your foundation
You’ll set a strong foundation by identifying your best clients, dialing in your positioning, and structuring/pricing your services so you’re earning more while working less. With these pieces in place, you’ll build your marketing and sales playbook.
Step 2: Build a Marketing Playbook to attract your Ideal Clients
You’ll begin your marketing and sales playbook by learning our foundational strategies to fill your pipeline, and create a marketing plan that allows you to continually plant seeds with your ideal clients, and stay consistent in your marketing.
Step 3: Assemble your Sales Toolkit
You’ll learn how to confidently and expertly lead a successful sales process from start to finish, navigating the twists and turns along the way.
Step 4: Build the system to nurture potential clients to readiness
You’ll put the finishing touches on your Marketing Playbook so you can generate new opportunities and take potential clients from cold, to ready to work with you.
Here’s how we do it
High-touch coaching, so you get it right the first time and overcome roadblocks
Our team stays closely connected you and your progress, so you have a partner to help you along. There’s always a coaching option that fits where you are: office hours, real-time sales coaching, topic-based coaching sessions, peer advice, live feedback and 1:1 coaching when you need it.
Every tool, template, guide, and framework you need, so you make progress faster
Every strategy we teach comes with a complete set of templates, tools, and guides. You don’t have to make anything up from scratch, so you can implement it faster.
Live feedback so you can refine, course-correct, and build confidence
Get rapid, actionable feedback on the things you’re working on, at any time. Bring your emails, proposals, messaging, and more to the Feedback Forum and get feedback so you can fix, refine, get right, and get it out the door.
Real-time sales coaching to help you navigate every sales situation
Whether you’re talking to a new client or selling in additional work to a current client, get expert help for every step of the sales process, in real time, so you know you’re making the right next move and you can get them signed.
Accountability, so you stay consistent and keep moving forward
Set weekly and monthly goals, and let Academy coaches and members give you the resources you need to reach them, and cheer you on.
An incredible community of your peers, so you’re never alone
Business owner isolation can make you feel alone and drive imposter syndrome. When you join our incredible community of women running consulting businesses, you feel less alone, more inspired, and more motivated.
Your team members are welcome, so you don’t have to do it all yourself
Whether you have a VA or a whole team, anyone who you want to have access to the trainings, live coaching calls, or our community gets full access at no additional charge. This way it’s not all on you to implement, which will make you more successful.
Take the guesswork out of getting consulting clients
Unfortunately, you can’t Google your way out of this.
You could try to string this information together from resources on the Internet or advice from community groups, but honestly, is that the best use of your time?
You’ll get there much faster and build more robust, effective systems, if you have someone who’s done it showing you the way.
You’ll know exactly what to do at every stage
Rather than wasting time second-guessing that email, or not knowing how to answer that question from your prospect, you’ll know exactly what your best next step is.
You get sales coaching in real-time, so we guide you on exactly what to do that will work, and we give you the tools to do it.
So you can take a breather and let an expert help you. You don’t have to decide it on your own.
So whether it’s, “What do I do in this client situation?” or “Does this pricing sound crazy?” to “Can someone read this email before I send it?” that’s the support you get in The Academy.
Will I really get to work with Leah?
Yes! When you’re a member of this program, you’ll get 1:1 calls with me, see a lot of me in coaching calls, leading live trainings, and the Slack community. Of course, my team members are there to support you in their specific areas of expertise, like using LinkedIn, perfecting your marketing copy, or setting up your tech operations.
Unfortunately, I know it’s common to sign up for a program, only to find out once you’re inside that the actual leader is no longer directly involved and leaves all the coaching to her team. That’s not the case here.
In addition to working directly with me, you and your team have:
A Pipeline Coach to help you get visible and fill your pipeline with the right clients.
A Copy Coach to review your emails, lead magnets, and LinkedIn posts, and other marketing materials and make sure they position you for value.
An Operations & Tech Strategy Coach to help you operationalize the strategies and techniques in your business.
An Accountability Coach to help you stay consistent and keep moving forward.
Whatever you’re working on, there’s a coach who specializes in that area who can make sure you’re doing it right, and help you overcome any stumbling blocks.
Here’s what you’re NOT going to do
Our methodology doesn’t involve any of the following:
- No cold calling, cold emailing, or cold LinkedIn messaging
- No pitching
- No pushy sales tactics
- No automated sales funnels or tactics that only work for B2C
- No Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, or Tik Tok
- No spending money on ads
- No spending money on technology
- No changing your services, creating packages, or creating an online program
What are you going to do? Use your smarts to get you seen, sell in a way that feels organic, build strong client relationships, and get you paid more, using a methodology that feels organic and comfortable. Apply below and learn how.
We’re currently enrolling for our next group in The Academy. When you click the button above, you’ll answer a few questions about your business, then schedule a 15-minute call with a member of our team to see if The Academy is a good fit for you.
What if you had a business development strategy that worked?
Enter the number of clients you’d like in the next few months, and the average amount you’d be paid for each one.
Then press Calculate to see what’s possible for you.
What would that amount allow you to do? How would it feel to be able to make that happen?
“When I worked with you, it paid for itself almost immediately!”
Lindsay N, accounting firm owner
Est. ROI
$67,500
Wondering if it’s for you?
The Academy is for you if …
- You work with your clients through direct consulting or services
- Your clients are businesses (small businesses, mid-size, or large companies) or nonprofits
- You’ve been running your business for at least two years
- You’re smart, intellectually curious, and ambitious. You’re not afraid of doing the work, you just want to make sure it’s the right work.
- You want to hang out with other smart, ambitious women consultants who are running real businesses
- You’re already successful and want to achieve better balance, increase your income, and have more time off
If you’re smart, ambitious, eager to learn, and want to grow your business, we’d love to work with you.
Unfortunately, The Academy is not a fit for your business if:
- You work with your clients via a course, online program, group program, or physical or digital products
- Your clients are individuals (i.e health coaches, resumé writers, etc.)
- You’re just getting started, or you haven’t sold anything yet
- You are looking for an automated sales funnel or get rich quick scheme
We’re currently enrolling for our next group in The Academy. When you click the button above, you’ll answer a few questions about your business, then schedule a 15-minute call with a member of our team to see if The Academy is a good fit for you.
This is the community of your peers
In The Academy, we only work with women independent consultants who have been in business for at least two years, and are already bringing in at least $100K in revenue. At this point, you’re not new to your business. And neither are the women here.
They aren’t hobbyists, or coaches who coach coaches. There’s nobody asking how to start an LLC. (We have so much love for newbies, but this isn’t the program for that stage). There are no #girlbosses or #bossbabes here.
The Academy community is comprised of super smart, ambitious women consultants running serious B2B businesses. Women who are actually doing the work.
We have women who came out of very senior positions, in companies that are household names.
If you’re a woman running an independent consulting business, these are your people.
Academy members are running consulting businesses in:
- Marketing consulting, marketing strategy, digital marketing
- Branding consulting, brand strategy
- PR consulting
- Leadership consulting, executive coaching
- Management consulting
- Organizational development consulting
- Nonprofit communications consulting, nonprofit fundraising consulting
- Business strategy consulting, business consulting
- HR consulting, diversity & inclusion consulting, workforce consulting
- Sustainability consulting
- And many more …
“This community is amazing. All of the women here are really, truly, amazing. They’re supportive, kind, and generous with their knowledge.”
Mariela C, marketing consultant
“One of the HUGE values is the community. Lifelong friendships and support form.”
Susan B, leadership consultant
“A huge reason that I love this program is because of the community! Even when I’m not using it every day, I know it’s there, which is so reassuring.”
Stephanie N, nonprofit technology consultant
“I feel like I have co-workers again!”
Sarah S, leadership consultant
We’re currently enrolling for our next group in The Academy. When you click the button above, you’ll answer a few questions about your business, then schedule a 15-minute call with a member of our team to see if The Academy is a good fit for you.
How to get in
Joining The Academy starts with an application so we can learn about your business. That’s because we only accept people into The Academy who we know we can help. There’s no obligation to purchase when you apply.
To apply, enter your email address below and we’ll ask a few questions about your business. You’ll be invited to schedule a 15-minute call with a member of our team to see if we’re a good fit.
This call is all about you – there’s nothing you have to do or buy, and if we can’t help you, we’ll let you know right there on the call.
We’re currently enrolling for our next group in The Academy. When you click the button above, you’ll answer a few questions about your business, then schedule a 15-minute call with a member of our team to see if The Academy is a good fit for you.
It’s not just about money. It’s about living up to your potential.
“This has made me feel like a real business owner. It’s the combination of these tools and resources that has given me the confidence to say, “Ok, I can really do this.”
Maya B, corporate wellness consultant
“I would say the biggest thing that I’ve taken away that you can’t really put a price on, is my confidence in my ability to sell in a way that feels very authentic to me.”
Amanda G, leadership consultant
“This course has brought me so much clarity. Since I know what to do, I don’t second-guess myself or have all of that self-doubt. So without all that space taken up by trying to “figure things out,” not only do I have much more mental space to create, I also feel more at peace.”
Valentina F, startup consultant
We’re currently enrolling for our next group in The Academy. When you click the button above, you’ll answer a few questions about your business, then schedule a 15-minute call with a member of our team to see if The Academy is a good fit for you.
When is the right time to join
The Academy?
In most business coaching, you look for a coach when things aren’t going well. That’s not true for B2B.
The best time to prepare for growth is when things are going well, not when you’re scrambling to get your next client.
Think of it like fixing the roof while the sun is shining. The sales methodology we teach is designed around how clients make purchasing decisions, and that process can take anywhere from 3 to 18 months.
This means that if you’re waiting until you need clients now, it’s already too late to start implementing these strategies. Even if we generate some potential client conversations quickly, you’re still months away from signed contracts.
But if you’re proactive about learning how to secure higher-paying clients before you need them, you’ll never find yourself in the uncomfortable position of needing clients yesterday.
So, when is the right time to work with us?
If you’re a B2B-based woman consultant, making $100k+ per year, you’re talking to a few potential clients, and your business looks “OK/fine” but you crave more – more security, more revenue, more high-quality clients, more professional growth – then it’s the perfect time to join us.
You don’t have to have everything figured out yet (like your messaging, positioning, pricing, or services)—we’ll work on that together.
But if you’re committed to unlocking the next revenue level in your business and want to ensure you’re never scrambling for clients, we’d love to work with you.
In The Academy, we don’t want your business to be “fine.” We’re committed to making it “fantastic!”
“Here’s the deal: you invest in yourself, you partner with amazing women who own dynamic businesses, and there’s structure but room to customize. And… it has a shelf life. Years later, I return to the concepts and community time and again. It keeps on giving!”
Ilene R, marketing consultant
“Working with you was the best investment I ever made in my business. I only wish I did it sooner!”
Caroline G, PR consultant
We’re currently enrolling for our next group in The Academy. When you click the button above, you’ll answer a few questions about your business, then schedule a 15-minute call with a member of our team to see if The Academy is a good fit for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Academy just for women?
It’s for anyone who identifies as a woman or gender non-binary person.
I’m just a year or so into my business. Is The Academy a good fit for me?
Almost! We typically work with consultants in the “messy middle” – after at least 18 months to two years, when most consultants find that the first wave of clients slows down and they need a strategy to continue getting clients. When you hit the 18 month mark, we’d love to talk to you!
I’ve been running my business for a while. Is The Academy a good fit for me?
Yes! You’ve been doing this long enough to know that getting higher-paying clients isn’t as easy as you thought. You probably have the ingredients to make a very profitable business that gives you free time, we’ll give you the recipe and help you bake the cake.
I don’t have my messaging / positioning / ideal client / services all figured out yet. Do I have to figure it out before I join?
Nope! We’re going to work on your messaging, positioning, ideal client, and communicating the value of your services. You don’t have to have them figured out before you join the program where you’ll figure them out.
Can my admin or team member join with me?
Yep! Anyone on your team that you want to have access to the portal, the Slack group, the coaching, and the events will get access at no additional cost.
I don’t want to build an agency or make an online course. Is this program going to force me to do that?
Nope! The Academy teaches you how to build a sustainable consulting business, in the way that you want, not in one one-size-fits-all way. You don’t have to build an agency, create a low-cost online course, or change your services in any way. If you would like to build an agency, the system you’ll learn in The Academy will help you land the clients that will fund new hires and scale up.
Can I join if I believe Trump won the 2020 election (and I'm happy he's back in office)?
No. Trump lost in 2020 and now he’s destroying democracy. Honestly though, if you’re happy about that, you will hate what I have to say about a lot of other things.
I have another question that’s not addressed here.
No problem, just email us at team@smartgetspaid.com.
We’re currently enrolling for our next group in The Academy. When you click the button above, you’ll answer a few questions about your business, then schedule a 15-minute call with a member of our team to see if The Academy is a good fit for you.
Still have questions? Get in touch.
Drop me a line, a member of my team will get back to you
within one business day.
About Leah
Hi, I’m Leah Neaderthal. I help women land higher-paying consulting clients.
I remember when it was hard for me to land new clients too. I had built my career in corporate marketing, and as soon as I started my business, I realized that even though I had been a rock star in marketing, I didn’t actually know how to get clients.
And what’s worse, I was embarrassed that I couldn’t do it.
I realized that if I was going to succeed in running my own business, I had to learn how to land new clients.
But not the salesy way I had seen before. I wanted a way that felt right for me.
I decided to teach myself. Over the next four years, I read everything I could get my hands on about selling. 65 books, to be exact. I tried nearly every sales strategy and approach with my own clients.
Anything that felt salesy, I ditched. Anything that felt comfortable, I kept.
The approach I developed over four years now gives me a 92% win rate… and I’ve sold over $3MM in work. Now I teach others how to do it in a matter of weeks.
Here’s the thing: I’m not a salesperson.
I’ve never been in sales. I’m an entrepreneur and a total introvert who’d much rather be in the background doing the work. But I learned how to land new clients, and now it’s second nature to me.
That’s how I know you can do it too. All you need is to know what works and get guidance to help you put it into practice in your business.
Whenever you’re ready to start landing higher-paying clients in your business, I’m looking forward to working with you.
Ready to unlock the next revenue level in your consulting business?
Answer a few questions about your business, then you’ll be invited to schedule a 15-minute call with a member of our team to see if The Academy is a good fit.