The 2x2 Podcast for Independent Consultants

Lauren Wambold Patel
  • 5.0 (3)
  • CAREERS

If you’re an expert executive considering independent consulting—or already running your own thriving practice—this podcast is for you. The 2x2 Podcast for Independent Consultants goes beyond the usual business advice. We talk to real-life practitioners—strategists, deep thinkers, and multi-hyphenates who thrive on autonomy, intellectual curiosity, and portfolio careers. Whether you're exploring the leap from corporate, navigating a career transition, or scaling from solo consulting to a microfirm, we dig into how top independents build, grow, and sustain their businesses. Hosted by Lauren Wambold Patel, a seven-figure consultant who learned the game the hard way, this show brings you candid conversations with independent consultants and fractional executives who are building successful businesses on their own terms. We go deep—breaking down their strategies, pricing models, niche positioning, client acquisition, and how they balance working on their business with running it internally. This isn’t theory—it’s the real playbook. Subscribe now to The 2x2 Podcast for Independent Consultants and take your expertise up and to the right.

  1. 6D AGO

    How Leslie Elliott Raised a 12-Year-Old CEO

    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.

    53 min

  2. DEC 11

    Bottling Your Secret Sauce with Wes Wheless

    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.

    41 min

  3. DEC 3

    How to Build a Fractional Life You Love with Anna Wondany

    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.

    47 min

  4. NOV 27

    The Business of Generosity with Pradnya Haldipur

    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)

    50 min

  5. NOV 20

    Preparing for Black Friday and Sales Seasons With Scott LaBoda

    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.

    23 min

  6. NOV 14

    Finance Leader Nicki Monson on Why Cash (Still) Rules Everything

    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.

    52 min

  7. NOV 7

    Nail Your Niche With Terry Chevalier

    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.

    27 min

  8. NOV 7

    Cooper Wechkin’s ESG for Consultants and Small Businesses

    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.

    43 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

If you’re an expert executive considering independent consulting—or already running your own thriving practice—this podcast is for you. The 2x2 Podcast for Independent Consultants goes beyond the usual business advice. We talk to real-life practitioners—strategists, deep thinkers, and multi-hyphenates who thrive on autonomy, intellectual curiosity, and portfolio careers. Whether you're exploring the leap from corporate, navigating a career transition, or scaling from solo consulting to a microfirm, we dig into how top independents build, grow, and sustain their businesses. Hosted by Lauren Wambold Patel, a seven-figure consultant who learned the game the hard way, this show brings you candid conversations with independent consultants and fractional executives who are building successful businesses on their own terms. We go deep—breaking down their strategies, pricing models, niche positioning, client acquisition, and how they balance working on their business with running it internally. This isn’t theory—it’s the real playbook. Subscribe now to The 2x2 Podcast for Independent Consultants and take your expertise up and to the right.

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