Change Champions

Riley McGhee and Pedram Parasmand
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Navigating change, overcoming hardship, or trying to become the best version of yourself? Learn how top coaches and consultants across industries help people or organizations make significant positive change.

  1. 3D AGO

    Why Most Sales Calls Feel Awkward (And What We Do Instead) | Ep 42

    In this behind-the-scenes episode of the Change Champions podcast, Riley and Ped unpack the consultative sales process we use inside our own business — and teach inside Network & Sell and Leverage Accelerator. This conversation was sparked by a graduating client who said our sales process was one of the most valuable parts of working with us. Not because it was flashy. Not because it was aggressive. But because it gave her clarity. We break down: Why “pitch first” is usually the wrong moveWhat we mean by value, value, pitchHow discovery conversations can build trust instead of pressureWhy great sales calls feel collaborative — not coerciveHow to guide decision-making without being pushyIf you’re a coach, consultant, trainer, or facilitator who wants to sell your services in a way that feels aligned with your values — this episode will give you a practical structure you can start using right away. Newsletter for stories, tips and resources: leverageaccelerator.co Community to create more sales opportunities using relationship-first business development habits: networkandsell.com Timestamps: 00:00 Why we’re talking about sales behind the scenes 01:10 A client’s surprising biggest takeaway 03:20 What “consultative sales” really means 03:50 Value, value, pitch — the 3-part structure 06:00 Why pitching too early backfires 06:40 The first value: discovery that actually helps 10:00 The emotional layer most people skip 11:50 The second value: sharing your expertise 15:10 Why clients often ask about working together 16:40 Decision-making vs being “sold to” 19:30 The weight of making decisions as a business owner 20:30 Why some people love being sold to 21:00 Being transparent about what the call is 22:10 Funnels, pipelines, and rapport 23:00 Dividing the 9-step process across calls 24:00 Leaving calls with goodwill — client or not 25:00 Sales as an act of service

    26 min

  2. 5D AGO

    From Corporate Authority to Market Authority: What Most Coaches Miss | Ep 41

    Many experienced leaders leave corporate roles expecting their experience to translate naturally into a successful coaching or consulting business. But something strange often happens. They stay busy… yet struggle to become truly in demand. In this video, Riley McGhee explains why experienced coaches, consultants, and founders can quietly drift into irrelevance after leaving corporate leadership roles. Inside an organization, authority is often borrowed from titles, teams, and structures. Outside of it, authority must be intentionally constructed. Riley shares the hidden “identity gap” many leaders face when they step into entrepreneurship, why effort alone rarely fixes the problem, and the three structural shifts that help experienced professionals turn their expertise into sustainable demand. You’ll learn: If you're a coach, consultant, or founder who left corporate to build something meaningful, this conversation will help you rethink how authority and demand actually work outside an organization.Timestamps: 00:00 Why experienced coaches become replaceable 00:30 Leaving corporate isn’t the hard part 01:06 The identity gap after leaving leadership roles 01:39 Authority inside vs outside an organization 02:05 Why entrepreneurship feels heavier than expected 02:43 The emotional reality of early business volatility 03:15 Freedom from work vs freedom to create 03:50 Why freedom without structure leads to drift 04:27 How coaches accidentally make themselves replaceable 05:31 The real problem isn’t credibility 06:05 Why working harder doesn’t solve it 06:45 The structure that fixes drifting businesses 06:50 Package your expertise around outcomes 07:15 Build a repeatable opportunity engine 07:50 Design collaborative sales conversations 08:15 What happens when these three pieces align 08:30 Choosing to steer your own story

    10 min

  3. MAR 4

    Where Your Next Coaching Client Is Actually Coming From | Ep 40

    Most coaches eventually hit the same wall. Referrals slow down. Word of mouth dries up. And the quiet pressure to “post more content” starts creeping in. In this episode, Riley explains why posting more rarely fixes the real problem and what actually creates a steady flow of clients. You’ll learn why outbound conversations trigger inbound demand, how to identify the people most likely to become clients, and the simple system that stops warm opportunities from slipping through the cracks. This is a practical breakdown of how coaches, consultants, and facilitators can build a predictable client pipeline without becoming content machines or relying on luck. If you’ve ever wondered where your next client is coming from, this episode will change how you think about visibility, outreach, and momentum. Newsletter for stories, tips and resources: leverageaccelerator.co Community to create more sales opportunities using relationship-first business development habits: networkandsell.com Timestamps: 00:00 – Why posting more content doesn’t create clients 00:20 – How outbound actually creates inbound 00:30 – Real client examples of outbound triggering momentum 01:30 – The real question most coaches avoid asking 02:10 – Why building the right list matters more than visibility 03:10 – The Three Bs framework explained 04:30 – Before, Beside, and Behind: who belongs on your list 06:00 – The biggest mistake coaches make with their network 07:00 – Why outbound stops feeling awkward when the list is right 07:20 – Where your warmest prospects are hiding 08:30 – The four layers of your existing network 10:50 – How to spot real opportunities inside your relationships 11:40 – Why systems matter more than motivation 12:00 – What a CRM actually does for your pipeline 13:20 – Why trying to remember everything costs you clients 14:20 – The three benefits of tracking your pipeline 16:00 – Your next step for building a predictable pipeline

    13 min

  4. FEB 18

    How To Design A Business Partnership (Before It Breaks) | Ep39

    Most business partnerships don’t fail because of skill or ambition. They fail because of the conversations that never happened. In this behind the scenes episode of Change Champions, Riley and Ped share how they went from a client relationship to a deliberate, values-led business partnership. And why they spent months designing it before committing to anything. We talk openly about: How we tested whether a partnership even made senseThe uncomfortable topics most partners avoid until it’s too lateWhy clarity on roles, money, conflict, and exits matters more than chemistryThe real pros and cons of building a business with someone elseHow trust, accountability, and shared decision-making actually get builtIf you’ve ever considered a business partner — or wondered whether going it alone is really the best option — this episode gives you a grounded look at what partnership looks like when it’s designed intentionally, not rushed. For weekly stories, tips, and resources on how to grow you coaching or consulting business delivered straight to your inbox, join the newsletter at leverageaccelerator.co To learn relationship-first business development habits and create more sales opportunities without feeling salesy, join the community at networkandsell.com

    34 min

  5. FEB 3

    What actually goes into growing a values-led coaching business | Ep 38

    In this behind-the-scenes episode of Change Champions, we share what we’ve been working on inside the business over the past few months. And what it’s really taken to do it well. We talk openly about three things we’ve just gone through for the first time together: running a fully funded scholarship and live event, launching our first long-term partnership pilot, and carefully expanding the team using people from within our own ecosystem. This isn’t a highlight reel. It’s a practical look at the time, focus, emotional weight, and trade-offs that come with building something sustainable. Especially if you care about values, relationships, and doing work you actually enjoy. If you’re a coach, consultant, or facilitator trying to grow without turning your business into something you don’t recognise, this episode will resonate. For stories, tips, and resources we don’t share anywhere else, subscribe to the newsletter:leverageaccelerator.co To explore relationship-first business development and see the roadmap we referenced in the episode, join the community here:networkandsell.com Timestamps: 00:00 Why we’re sharing the behind-the-scenes, not just outcomes01:25 The fully funded scholarship and why it mattered personally03:55 Paying it forward and the emotional weight of offering support04:30 Designing the live giveaway event to serve everyone, not just the winner05:35 What it actually takes to plan, promote, and run a live event06:10 Attendance, prep work, and what surprised us07:40 The real time cost behind “one simple idea”09:00 Focus, momentum, and why unfinished projects quietly fail11:10 Shifting from solo growth to partnership thinking12:20 How our first long-term partnership came together14:05 Mission, values, and why alignment matters more than speed16:00 Abundance vs scarcity in entrepreneurship17:30 Building an ecosystem where everyone benefits19:40 Turning lived experience into teachable systems20:30 Expanding the team without building an empire23:00 Hiring from within the community and why it works25:10 Staying hands-on while still growing27:00 Sustainable growth vs performative success30:20 Freedom, autonomy, and choosing your own version of “enough”32:40 Final reflections and where to explore next

    33 min

  6. JAN 23

    The messy middle of building a business that actually fits you | Ep 37

    In this behind-the-scenes coffee hour, Riley and Ped unpack what’s really happening inside the business right now. They talk openly about experimenting with a new giveaway, living with mistakes and typos, and why clarity in business rarely comes from thinking harder. It comes from doing, noticing, and adjusting. This episode is for coaches, consultants, and facilitators who feel stuck trying to “figure it out” before taking action — and who want a more honest, human path to building momentum. You’ll hear why imperfection isn’t a liability, how real clarity emerges through experimentation, and what they’re learning as they test new ideas inside the Leverage Accelerator ecosystem. Newsletter for stories, tips and resources: [leverageaccelerator.co](http://leverageaccelerator.co/) Community to create more sales opportunities using relationship-first business development habits: [networkandsell.com](http://networkandsell.com/) Timestamps: 00:00 – A very human mistake and why it matters less than you think 02:00 – Building a giveaway as an experiment, not a tactic 04:20 – Typos, credibility, and showing you didn’t outsource your voice 09:30 – Wabi-sabi, broken mugs, and the beauty of imperfection 12:10 – Why experiments are the real path to business clarity 17:10 – Designing incentives that reward relationships, not hype 20:10 – Clean shoes, messy paths, and how progress actually happens 24:20 – Why clarity only comes after you talk to real people 26:20 – Action, redesign, repeat: how we actually find our way

    30 min

  7. JAN 14

    Beyond Buttons and Logos: Strategic Design for High-Growth Founders with Carolina Poll | Ep 36

    In this episode of Change Champions, we spotlight Carolina Poll, a Strategic Digital Product Designer who partners with early-stage SaaS founders to turn complex product ideas into intuitive, user-centered experiences. With over 17 years of experience across branding, UX, and product leadership—including leading teams of 25+ designers—Carolina shares how design goes far beyond visuals. She unpacks how startups can avoid costly missteps by aligning their product strategy with real user needs. Whether you're a coach supporting founders or a consultant building your own productized offer, this conversation is packed with insights on how design thinking drives traction, clarity, and growth.

    27 min

  8. JAN 7

    Still Not Getting Leads? Find Them in 24 Minutes | Ep35

    If you’ve been posting consistently but your calendar still isn’t filling up, the issue probably isn’t your content. In this episode, Riley and Ped explain why visibility alone does not create clients. Conversations do. Drawing from over 30 years of combined experience building service based businesses and helping more than 100 coaches and consultants do the same, they break down the real difference between lead generation and lead nurture. You will hear why inbound strategies like content and referrals often stall, how outbound fits into a healthy pipeline, and what it actually takes to build a dream client list that converts into real opportunities. This conversation cuts through common myths about algorithms, virality, and personal branding, and replaces them with a practical, human approach to finding warm, high intent leads without cold DMs, funnels, or paid ads. In this episode you will learn: Why posting great content does not automatically lead to clientsThe critical difference between lead generation and lead nurtureHow outbound connection supports inbound strategiesWho should be on your dream client list and why most coaches target the wrong peopleHow simple systems like a CRM stop warm leads from falling through the cracksIf you feel like you are doing everything right online but still not seeing traction, this episode will help you rethink where your effort goes and how to turn connection into consistent business growth. Timestamps: 0:00 – Content Is Not the Problem 1:11 – Content vs Conversations 2:06 – Lead Generation vs Lead Nurture 3:01 – Visibility vs Opportunity 4:17 – Building a Business, Not a Brand 6:28 – Why Outbound Matters 7:28 – Who You Should Be Talking To 8:14 – The 3Bs Framework 9:29 – Why Most Coaches Target the Wrong People 12:52 – Where to Find Ideal Clients 14:22 – The Follow-Up Problem 15:31 – Why Coaches Lose Warm Leads 17:15 – Using a CRM as a Care System 20:17 – Follow-Up Builds Trust 23:30 – Taking Control of Your Pipeline 24:12 – Final Takeaway

    25 min
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About

Navigating change, overcoming hardship, or trying to become the best version of yourself? Learn how top coaches and consultants across industries help people or organizations make significant positive change.

Information

  • Creator
    Riley McGhee and Pedram Parasmand
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    43
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Riley McGhee and Pedram Parasmand
  • Show Website
    Change Champions