

The Biz of Nonprofit Consultants
Natalie Eckdahl, MBA
Are you a Nonprofit Consultant pulled between making an impact and running a profitable business? Join Natalie Eckdahl, MBA, on a podcast crafted just for you.
With 25 years of diverse experience as a management consultant, market researcher, small business owner and business coach, Natalie shares practical strategies to balance purpose and profit.
Through engaging discussions, trainings, and client stories, Natalie covers everything from pricing and proposals to maintaining client boundaries and tackling hiring and leadership hurdles. Her talent for simplifying complex ideas ensures you'll leave each episode with actionable insights to propel your consultancy forward.
But it's not all about numbers – Natalie also stresses the importance of mindset and resilience as a small business owner. As a mom of 3 and caregiver, she cherishes time with loved ones. With her guidance, you'll gain the confidence and clarity to overcome obstacles and reach your business goals while creating a fulfilling personal life.
Whether you're a seasoned consultant or an accidental entrepreneur, this podcast is your roadmap to success. Tune in and let Natalie help you unlock your full potential as a Nonprofit Consultant – and maybe even skip a step or two along the way.
With 25 years of diverse experience as a management consultant, market researcher, small business owner and business coach, Natalie shares practical strategies to balance purpose and profit.
Through engaging discussions, trainings, and client stories, Natalie covers everything from pricing and proposals to maintaining client boundaries and tackling hiring and leadership hurdles. Her talent for simplifying complex ideas ensures you'll leave each episode with actionable insights to propel your consultancy forward.
But it's not all about numbers – Natalie also stresses the importance of mindset and resilience as a small business owner. As a mom of 3 and caregiver, she cherishes time with loved ones. With her guidance, you'll gain the confidence and clarity to overcome obstacles and reach your business goals while creating a fulfilling personal life.
Whether you're a seasoned consultant or an accidental entrepreneur, this podcast is your roadmap to success. Tune in and let Natalie help you unlock your full potential as a Nonprofit Consultant – and maybe even skip a step or two along the way.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 30, 2024 • 24min
30: Hiring a Micro-Position
Are you at CAPACITY in your business, where you can’t really grow unless you start taking more off your plate, BUT the business can’t afford to hire the person you think you really need? In this episode, I share a workaround. A way to start delegating small tasks in your business so you can focus on your zone of genius and increase your capacity without overwhelming your time or your bank account. 👉 Enter – The Micro-Position! Today I’m covering the benefits and steps of hiring for micro-positions in your business, including how to determine what tasks you can delegate to give yourself more time to focus on clients. Connect with Natalie on LinkedIn - tell me if you need to hire a micro-position! 📋Do you have our free guide on the 5 Mistakes Even the Smartest Consultants Make? 💫 1:1 Coaching with Natalie Eckdahl, MBA Ready for a Coach and Mentor who provides a customized approach to your stage of business AND life? Step one, submit and application. Step two, we hop on a zoom call, so we can determine if it's a mutual fit.

Sep 23, 2024 • 19min
29: Build a Lean Dream Team
My clients do NOT yearn to have a massive team, but they DO want to hire some support so they can focus on their zone of genius -- the work that they love and is most highly valued by clients. In fact, you can build a highly profitable consulting busines with a LEAN DREAM TEAM! This often includes a combination of help at home and in the business including at least one team member who shares the client workload (so you can go on vacation or navigate life's curveballs). The challenge in leading a small business, is that EVERY team member needs to be high performing. Listen for all the details. Remember your team includes anyone you pay to support you — either in your business, or in your personal life. In this episode, we define a Lean team and share how to rate your team members to determine if you have a Dream team as well as some ideas of what to do if your team is not working. 💫 Learn More About 1:1 Coaching with Natalie Eckdahl, MBA Ready for a Coach and Mentor who provides a customized approach to your stage of business AND life? Step one, submit and application. Step two, we hop on a zoom call, so we can determine if it's a mutual fit. Connect with Natalie on LinkedIn - tell me if you are building a lean, dream team! 📋Do you have our free guide on the 5 Mistakes Even the Smartest Consultants Make?

Sep 16, 2024 • 56min
28: Embracing Thought Leadership with Tania Bhattacharyya
What do you think of the term “thought leader”? Almost every client I work with needs to create MORE visibility for their business to attract and nurture clients. My hope is that this episode will help you embrace your own thought leadership because the world NEEDS your voice and your point of view. I'm joined by Tania Bhattacharyya who helps social impact leaders and organizations share their thought leadership on LinkedIn. We tackle self-doubt, the power of personal narratives, and the courage to share your unique perspective. We also discuss how cultural nuances influence self-promotion, particularly for women, immigrants, and minorities. I also open up about my own journey, including the hurdles I faced and how it took me 150 episodes to record my first solo podcast. This episode is packed with practical advice to help you confidently embrace and project your thought leadership. Listen to Tania's podcast The Campfire Circle Connect with Natalie on LinkedIn Connect with Tania on LinkedIn 📋Do you have our free guide on the 5 Mistakes Even the Smartest Consultants Make? 💫 Learn More About 1:1 Coaching with Natalie Eckdahl, MBA Ready for a Coach and Mentor who provides a Customized Approach to your stage of business AND life? You are cordially invited to apply today so we can determine if we are a mutual fit to work together. I can't wait to host a ☎️call with you!

Sep 9, 2024 • 27min
27: What to Post on LinkedIn
It can be tricky to get started posting or to RESTART posting on LinkedIn. Perhaps you are a perfectionist worried about getting each post just “right”. Or maybe you don’t want to seem like a “know it all” or step on another expert’s toes. Ready for some actionable tips? We break down five types of posts that work wonders ,, but first we help you navigate any mindset issues which might be holding you back. I’m joined by Elizabeth Cook, who coaches with me in our group coaching programs, and our mission is to help you show up and shine. The world needs to hear about your area of expertise from YOUR point of view. Connect with Natalie on LinkedIn Connect with Elizabeth on LinkedIn 📋Do you have our free guide on the 5 Mistakes Even the Smartest Consultants Make? 💫 Learn More About 1:1 Coaching with Natalie Eckdahl, MBA Ready for a Coach and Mentor who provides a Customized Approach to your stage of business AND life? You are cordially invited to apply today so we can determine if we are a mutual fit to work together. I can't wait to host a ☎️call with you!

Sep 2, 2024 • 22min
26: LinkedIn for Nonprofit Consultants
🔑Unlock the power of LinkedIn for Nonprofit Consultants! We dive into strategies for enhancing your profile, creating a captivating headline, and leveraging your network to attract ideal clients. You will hear real-world examples and expert tips to help you navigate LinkedIn more effectively. Let’s elevate your LinkedIn strategy today! ☝️And before you head to another episode, pop on over to LinkedIn and connect with us (and tell us you are a podcast listener). Connect with Natalie on LinkedIn Connect with Elizabeth on LinkedIn 📋Do you have our free guide on the 5 Mistakes Even the Smartest Consultants Make? 💫 Learn More About 1:1 Coaching with Natalie Eckdahl, MBA Ready for a Coach and Mentor who provides a Customized Approach to your stage of business AND life? You are cordially invited to apply today so we can determine if we are a mutual fit to work together. I can't wait to host a ☎️call with you!

Aug 26, 2024 • 58min
25: [client success] Authentic Business Development with Trina Willard
Have you ever felt intimidated or disconnected from the word "Sales"? Does your stomach clinch at the thought of "working a room"? My client Trina Willard, an introvert at heart, has turned her nature into a 💪superpower for her management consulting firm. She’ll reveals how she maintains meaningful connections and fosterslong-term relationships that drive mutual success. Trina's authentic aproach to nurturing relationships with quick touchpoints and a true heart of service keeps momentum going at her company Knowledge Advisory Group, which provides research and evaluation services to nonprofit clients. Be sure to note any specific tactics Trina shares that feel authentic to YOU and implement them into your weekly routine to deepen connections with ideal clients and referral partners. 🤝Join us on LinkedIn for a discussion about Authentic Business Development. Connect with Trina on LinkedIn Trina's Website Connect with Natalie on LinkedIn 💫Learn More About 1:1 Coaching with Natalie Eckdahl, MBA Ready for a Coach and Mentor who provides a Customize Approach to your Stage of Business and Stage of Life? The first step is to apply so we can determine if we are a mutual fit to work together. I can't wait to host a call with you!

Aug 19, 2024 • 19min
24: Sales Strategy for Nonprofit Consultants
Ever wondered how the flow of money differs in nonprofits compared to for-profit companies? It’s essential to understand this ecosystem you are operating within. We discuss how identifying the source of funding for your consulting project matters. Also we share how the 🔌 power of leaning into relationship marketing creates a winning sales strategy for our clients. ⭐️⭐️APPLY FOR 1:1 COACHING WITH NATALIE⭐️⭐️ Connect with Natalie on LinkedIn 📋 Get our new guide to the 5 Mistakes Even the Smartest Consultants Make!

Aug 12, 2024 • 26min
23: Managing Overwhelm: Brain Dumps, Breaks, and Low Power Mode
Feeling overwhelmed? You're not alone. Running a business is not for the faint of heart and combine that with parenting, caregiving, volunteering, a challenging relationship or #alltheabove and it is enough to paralyze even the most productive and high-functioning consultants. Join my colleague Elizabeth Cook and me as we share ideas, tactics and strategies to navigate business and personal overwhelm including: Brain Dumps Slow Mondays Taking Breaks White Space Low Power Mode and more!! ⭐️⭐️APPLY FOR 1:1 COACHING WITH NATALIE⭐️⭐️ Connect with Natalie on LinkedIn Connect with Elizabeth on LinkedIn 📋Get our new guide to the 5 Mistakes Even the Smartest Consultants Make!

Aug 5, 2024 • 13min
22: Just Because You Can, Doesn't Mean You Should
Seizing every opportunity that comes your way isn't always the best strategy. Doing all the tasks you “can” do in your business and home, may inhibit your business growth and lead to overwhelm. But how do you know what tasks to do and what not to do? How do you decide what opportunities to say yes to and what to decline? Elizabeth Cook, who coaches alongside me in our programs, joins me as we discuss practical filters for assessing opportunities, the importance of strategic thinking, and even provide scripts for gracefully declining offers that don’t align with your goals. If you’re striving to build an enduring business while keeping your mission front and center, this episode is a must-listen! Are you looking for more support to grow your business beyond this podcast? 💫 Learn more about the Impact Collective Mastermind for nonprofit consultants with $10K+ a month in revenue, who want to have More Impact while working Fewer Hours. Connect with Natalie on LinkedIn Connect with Elizabeth on LinkedIn 📋 Snag our new guide on the 5 Mistakes Even the Smartest Consultants Make! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Let us know what you think about this new podcast by leaving a review.

Jul 29, 2024 • 21min
21: What to Focus On After You Delegate Client Work?
When you’re no longer doing client work or have delegated a majority of it, what should you focus on next? Elizabeth Cook, who coaches alongside me in our programs for nonprofit consultants, joins me to discuss four key activities that founders should focus on after delegating client work. Our mission is to help you gain more time for these pivotal activities, so you can continue to grow and sustain a thriving consulting business! Need support as you grow your consulting practice? Our Impact 💫 Collective Mastermind program is open for applications. We help established nonprofit consultants create more impact while working fewer hours. Connect with Natalie on LinkedIn Connect with Elizabeth on LinkedIn 📋 Snag our new guide on the 5 Mistakes Even the Smartest Consultants Make! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Let us know what you think about this new podcast by leaving a review.