Deena Priest

Corporate Pivot Accelerator

Helping experienced corporate leaders build high-impact consulting and coaching businesses for freedom and fulfillment.

https://deenapriest.org/corporatepivotaccelerator

Stage 1: Explore
The Clarity Sprint
Get clear on your vision and niche.

Stage 2: Engineer
Client Magnet System
Build a roadmap to 6-7 figures with premium positioning, a signature offer, and systems.

Stage 3: Execute
Authority Amplifier
Unlock predictable leads and referrals via LinkedIn thought leadership, partnerships, and other marketing channels.

All underpinned by accountability and the elimination of imposter syndrome.

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Client  Successes:

Kitty left a 20 year sales career and is now a 6-figure executive coach to CROs.

Peter, ex-corporate COO, replaced his salary within 90 days and works three days a week.

Glen, HR Director, secured two paid consulting clients before leaving corporate.

Laura, lawyer, runs an executive coaching practice with a thriving group program.

Rachel, left the Big 4 and runs her own risk advisory practice alongside her other passions.

Founder  | Executive Business Coaching

Deena Priest Coaching & Consulting

Helping Corporate Professionals (35+):

✅ Escape burnout, stagnation, and career traps
✅ Gain clarity on your next chapter
✅ Maximize income and visibility with a strong personal brand.
✅ Build a future-proof career with more autonomy, purpose & peace

Executive Coach 

Corporate workshops and keynote presentations on future of work and workplace culture.

Speaker

Purpose & Pay Newsletter

Try it free: https://deenapriest.org/join-purpose-and-pay

Strategies and frameworks for leaving corporate and building a coaching or consulting business.

Writer

Parentaly

Transforming the false tradeoff between career and parenthood  into a win-win.

Coach

Serco

Coach Mentor

Accenture

Led digital strategy projects for consumer goods, retailers and professional services businesses.

Managed and led project teams for large-scale digital transformation, change management and innovation programs.

Part of the team that shaped Accenture's AI proposition for Consulting.

Facilitated workshops for Accenture's Innovation Centre -> helping key clients plan their future strategies.

Managed several key client accounts Client Account Lead -> helping scale Accenture's footprint across Consulting, Digital, Outsourcing & Strategy services.

Digital Transformation & Client Account Director

Part of the Change Management & Talent Consulting function.

Helping PwC client's implement large scale change and transformation programs from a people perspective.

Programs included:

(i) Target Operating Model changes for financial services clients.
(ii) Business recovery consulting for a Global Bank who collapsed during the economic crisis
(iii) Talent advisory for consumer goods businesses.

People & Organisational Transformation Manager

Various Companies

Lawyer

Executive Coach | Accelerating Careers Without Burnout & Designing Smarter Exits | ex-PwC & Accenture Leader | Former Lawyer 🇺🇸🇬🇧🇦🇺

I coach ambitious corporate professionals (15+ years experience) to build businesses or portfolio careers — with their health, wealth, and credibility intact.

👋 Who are you?

You’re a high-achieving corporate professional or leader with 15+ years of experience.

But now you're burned out, boxed in, or simply done with the politics, pace, and pressure.

➤ You want freedom without losing income
➤ You want to work with purpose, on your terms
➤ You want to build something of your own with clarity, confidence, and control

👋 Who am I?

I’m Deena Priest.

I spent two decades in  high-pressure industries including law, consulting, and commercial leadership. 

I’m the founder of the SAVVY Framework™, a step-by-step method to exit corporate and build entrepreneurial freedom without the chaos.

🎯 What You Can Expect to Achieve

➤ Clarity and a sharp vision for what’s next
➤ A market-relevant offer that clients will pay for
➤ An authority-driven personal brand that opens doors

💼 This is the heart of the Corporate Pivot Accelerator Program.

A high-touch, high-impact coaching experience for ambitious professionals ready to design and launch their next chapter.

📅 Join the January Waitlist:
👉 https://deenapriest.org/corporatepivotaccelerator

Coach  - Mentor

I used to think success meant saying yes to every opportunity.

(Thanks to my friend, James Ware, for the inspiration behind this post. Follow him.)

Saying yes gave me epic experiences: 

✅ Becoming a citizen of the US, UK + Australia 
✅ A ski season in Colorado (when I couldn’t ski) 
✅ Solo adventures to India and the Egyptian pyramids

But I also said yes when I shouldn’t have: 

❌ 80-hour work weeks 
❌ Projects that pulled me from my kids 
❌ Work that drained my health and happiness

Warren Buffett said it best: 
"Really successful people say no to almost everything."

Because they relentlessly focus on what matters most.

When we’re unclear on our vision, we default to being reactive. 

That was me. 

And it was taking my time and energy away from what I really wanted to be doing: Starting my business.

Here’s what helped me reset:

1️⃣ I got help defining my vision and values 
→ So I had a compass to guide every decision.

2️⃣ I became better at assessing what was key
→ I'd think "by saying yes to this, what am I saying no to?"

3️⃣ I became more candid with my “No” 
→ Especially with people I usually overaccommodated.

4️⃣ I wrote a Not-To-Do list 
→ A clear line between what moves me forward and what doesn’t.

5️⃣ I paused before replying 
→ Bought myself space to make conscious choices.

As Steve Jobs said: "You can have millions of ideas, but you can't pursue them all."

Clarity empowers you to say no to whatever doesn't move the dial.

What’s one thing you’re saying no to right now?

♻️ Repost to help others focus. 
🔔 Follow Deena Priest for more.

Turning senior corporate leaders into in-demand consultants + coaches | Exceed your old salary | Win premium clients | 150+ coached (SAVVY™ method) | ex-Accenture & PwC

When someone close to me passed away, 
their employer only cared about two things:

1️⃣ Proof it had really happened. 
2️⃣ Whether they were liable.

(Yes and no were the answers.)

A few weeks later, a new replacement sat at their desk.

That’s when it really became apparent: 

In the corporate world, you are always replaceable at work.

It isn’t personal. It’s just business. 

But it should change how we all live and work.

After that, I ran my decisions through a different filter:

1. Do I have freedom and autonomy?
2. If I leave on time, who will care/remember? 
3. Am I being present when I am with my kids?
4. What are the consequences of cancelling my vacation?
5. Does saying “yes” mean "no" to something important?
6. Will late-night emails really make me indispensable?
7. If I sacrifice weekends, will I progress or burnout? 

It was the driver for me to leave corporate and start my own business.

And the reason I am a strong advocate for having a fall-back business or income stream (without relying on a single source salary.)

Because as the current market is showing us - everyone is replaceable at work.

Does this mean you shouldn't work hard and do your best?
Of course not.

It means that you should never lose sight of your key priorities.

Your health, relationships and financial security.

Making different choices in the moment means you stop trading the irreplaceable for the replaceable.

Deena Priest

Even senior executives suffer from imposter syndrome.

All of my client's building businesses ask: "What if I fail?"

My response: "What if you succeed?"

When I started my coaching business, I had zero entrepreneurial experience.

I came from a family of academics: Lawyers, engineers, judges, doctors. 

So the idea of becoming a business owner was a big leap of faith. 

I told myself:

I  wasn’t ready.
I didn’t know enough. 
I needed 5 more qualifications.

Now I see the same mindset stall brilliant, seasoned leaders. 

They have the skills. 
The network. 
The ambition. 

But they still doubt themselves.

Here’s what I’ve learned: 

→ Confidence comes after action, not before. 
→ All skills are learnable. Business is no different. 
→ You don’t need more validation. You need action.

Double down on your strengths. 
Close your gaps.
Execute.

And start before you feel ready.

That’s how legacies are created.

♻️ Repost to remind that action builds confidence.

➕ Follow Deena Priest for more.

I help current and ex-senior corporate leaders build profitable coaching & consulting practices | Structured framework to replace or exceed corporate income | 150+ execs coached | ex-Accenture & PwC

When my kids were born, I decided my loyalty was to them not my 80-hour corporate role.

So I started a flexible, high-impact business. 

Loyalty to a business can be your biggest career risk after 40.

It can keep you stuck in a role where your potential outpaces your reality.

We’re raised to believe loyalty is a virtue.

And it is. But only when it doesn’t harm you.

Here’s when loyalty becomes a liability:

• You put all your eggs in one basket 
• You stay in a role that’s burning you out 
• You are loyal to a company that lays you off
• You are loyal to a boss that doesn’t see your potential

That kind of loyalty isn’t noble. It’s costly.

I’ve seen it too many times:

• High performers afraid to start a business 
• Leaders staying because “the team needs me” 
• Talented professionals pushing themselves to burnout

Here’s what healthy loyalty looks like:

✅ Loyalty to your values 
✅ Loyalty to your wellbeing 
✅ Loyalty to your future, growth, and purpose

When you start directing that loyalty inward, everything shifts:

✅ You realise your potential
✅ You stop tolerating sub-par cultures

In 2025, there are thousands of other ways to earn.

Definitely don't stay loyal to a paycheck.

♻️ Repost if this hit home. 
➕ Follow Deena Priest  for more.

And if you are leaving corporate to start a business, 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀: https://lnkd.in/e4c_nEp7

I help senior corporate leaders launch coaching & consulting practices | Structured, de-risked path to replace income | 150+ execs coached | ex-Accenture & PwC

It's a good time to start a solo consultancy.

Everyone asks:  “But how do I compete with the Big 4 or other big consultancies?”
 
You don’t.
 
You differentiate. 
 
One of my clients (a two-person business) just beat a global player to win a major operating model project.
 
Another launched a solo risk advisory consultancy from scratch.  She’s now leading global engagements.
 
Another Ex-CRO now earns double his corporate salary, running a sales strategy consultancy.
 
These aren’t anomalies.  
They are the new normal. 
 
Why?  
 
Because clients want trusted, specialized advisors who solve painful problems. Fast.
 
Here's how to get started:

1. Define your profitable niche and offer
2. Work out your market positioning and messaging
3. Use LinkedIn as a platform to build your authority
 
You don’t need to be a “big” consultancy.  

You need to be a right-fit one.

Anyways:

In all Ernst (and Young): 

If you want to know what's PwC (Possible Without Corporate),

I'd be Deloitted to speak to you. 

Let's KPMG (Kick-off Profitable, Meaningful Growth.)😉

Take the diagnostic to see if you're ready to build a profitable solo business: https://lnkd.in/eyJx78uv

Deena Priest

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Image credit: wallstreetoasis on IG

Are you overcomplicating your goal of starting a business?
 
If your 2025 goal was to launch your consulting or coaching business…
 
Let me save you from the “analysis paralysis” phase.
 
But first, here's what's not needed:

❌ A website  
❌ An MBA 
❌ A 38-page business plan 
 
And here's what is.
 
𝟱 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗹𝗲 (and will help you replace your corporate salary):
 
𝟭. 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲, 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿.  
→ Choose ONE urgent problem you solve for ONE decision-maker.  
→ Package it as a high-value outcome.
 
𝟮. 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝘆 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝟭𝟬 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘀.  
→ Use your network, warm intros, or alumni groups.  
→ Ask: “Is this a real pain point?”
🚫 No pitching. 
 
𝟯. 𝗥𝘂𝗻 𝗮 ‘𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗺 𝘃𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆’ 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝟭–𝟯 𝗽𝗶𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀.  
→ Offer part of your service in exchange for feedback.  
→ Focus on delivering a fast, tangible win.  
 
𝟰. 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳.  
Turn that one win into a before/after story, a testimonial, a content post.
 
𝟱. 𝗜𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵.
Develop a real go-to-market-plan. 

Voila.
 
Your 2026 goals sorted. 

Action > Analysis.
 
👇 Which of the above are you stuck on?

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➕ 𝗧𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲  "𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗼 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿" 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘇 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀: https://lnkd.in/eAMqzJ-Q

Follow Deena Priest for more.

From laid-off corporate exec to high 6-figure consultant in 6 months.

This is the new world of work.

Reinvention has become a critical life skill.

In this market:

Job security is gone. 
AI is reshaping industries. 
New career paths are emerging.

(Forbes predicts that 70% of professionals will have portfolio careers by 2030.)

The future belongs to those who can adapt, reposition, and pivot.

Start building your consulting or coaching business whilst still in your corporate job.

This is how I did it:

1️⃣ Monetize Your Expertise
↳Start solving real problems outside your 9–5. 
↳Test offers. Validate your niche. 
↳Don’t wait until you're “ready”

2️⃣ Build Your Personal Brand 
↳If you can't post publicly because of your employer, build (real) relationships behind closed doors.
↳Start showing up where your future clients are. 
.
3️⃣  Stop trading time for money. 
↳Turn your skills into scalable offers—like workshops, strategy days, or advisory retainers.
↳Corporate = capped earnings.
↳Consulting = the sky is your limit.

4️⃣ Create Time Leverage 
↳You don’t need more hours, you need a better system. 
↳Use evenings and weekends to build assets.
↳Automate what you can. Focus only on high-return activities.

5️⃣ Build a new CEO mindset
↳You’re not a “former director”
↳You’re a leader and a trusted advisor solving meaningful problems. 
↳Own it.

“𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥.”— Benjamin Franklin

Reinvention isn’t about restarting.

It’s about leveraging all you've already built to build something better. 

And the best time to start?

Before you have to.

Follow Deena Priest for more.

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🔥𝟮 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘁:

1. Download the guide: "𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀.": https://lnkd.in/epwykXmZ
   
2. Try the newsletter for 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀: https://lnkd.in/e4c_nEp7

I used to think employment was the safe path. 

But no one’s saying that anymore.

Amazon just laid off 14,000. 
TCS – 19,000. 
Accenture – 3,000. 
Microsoft – 7,000.

Even the most “secure” jobs are changing.

When I took the risk to start a business, I was terrified.

I’d worked so hard to climb the ladder.

But I reached a point where staying felt riskier than leaving.

Still..I didn’t leap blindly. 

Here's what helped me move forward in a de-risked way:

✅ I built a roadmap 
✅ I surrounded myself with others doing the same 
✅ I turned my expertise into an offer with market value.

And here’s what surprised me most. 

Confidence didn’t come before the plan.

 It came because of it.

And now I recommend people start building this path whilst they are STILL in employment.

Because job security is quickly disappearing.

That’s why I built the Corporate Pivot Accelerator: https://lnkd.in/e8F7Z2BQ

Join the January waitlist.

For corporate leaders ready to build a coaching or consulting business with a community of peers and without risking everything they’ve worked for.

Curious what a structured, low-risk path could look like for you? 

Drop a 🔥 or DM me “PLAN”.

Follow Deena Priest for more.

Coached 150+ Corporate Execs To Build 6-Figure Coaching & Consulting Businesses | x-Accenture & PwC | Commercial + Consulting Leader

Fear of failure haunts corporate leaders who exit to start a coaching or consulting business.

And if I am honest, many do fail.

Because you leave corporate thinking your reputation will carry you.

It's not enough.

When I left corporate, I thought 20 years of experience would speak for itself.

But instead of clients lining up… I was scrambling to figure out how to consistently generate revenue.

(And then I noticed 20 year olds creating $10m ARR businesses. 🤔)

It was a kick in the teeth and a steep learning curve.

I questioned everything: 

• Was I even cut out for this? 
• How long could I go without income? 
• Would I have to go back to an employed job?

Many years and lessons learned later...

I now teach my clients how to build sustainable income:

Here's how:

𝟭. 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆
→If you can’t explain your offer in one sentence, clients won’t buy it. 
→We build your signature offer: ✔️ The pain you solve ✔️ The result you deliver ✔️ How it’s packaged 

𝟮. 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆
→Hourly rates and “free sessions” scream uncertainty. 
→You’ll price for outcomes, not time so your clients value you from day one.

𝟯. 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 & 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆
→Client acquisition is a professional skill.
→We ditch vague posting and networking and build thought leadership authority.
→You’ll learn how to attract and convert the right buyers.

𝟰. 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁 = 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁
→If you’re still operating like a corporate exec, you’ll build a job not a business. 
→We rewire how you think, market, and show up so clients see you as the solution.

The coaches and consultants earning real money aren’t more talented than you.

They have learned how to be a successful entrepreneur so they never need to return to corporate.

𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝘂𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: https://lnkd.in/eyJx78uv

Follow Deena Priest for more.

"I’ll build my business when I have more time.”

This is the biggest blocker to exiting corporate. 

Most people think a salary is the most important thing.

It’s not. It’s your time

The one currency you’ll never get back.

If you’ve spent 20+ years building:
✔️ Deep expertise
✔️ A strong reputation
✔️ Financial stability

You may have built money
But not time or financial freedom.

When I worked 80 rigid hours in corporate, I missed:

> My son’s football matches
> My own health check-ups
> Most of my vacation allowance

“Flexibility” was just a corporate buzzword.

The reality:

99 percent of my time was eaten up by admin, egos,politics etc.

Maybe 1% of my week was focused on real impact.

Use your money and knowledge to map your exit and build your high-impact business. 

Here’s how I did it:

1. Buy clarity before you build
> Invest in someone who’s walked the path.
> Shortcut months of second-guessing with a clear map and mirror.

2. Extract the value from your career
> You don’t need reinvention. Just repositioning.
> Package what already works and make it profitable.

3. Buy back hours with expert thinking
> Ditch the PDFs and random LinkedIn posts.
> Use frameworks that actually move you forward.

4. Build a premium offer that respects your time
> No low-ticket time traps.
> High-trust work with high-calibre clients on your terms.

5. Learn while you earn
> Start now, while still employed.
> Gain clients and confidence before you ever hand in your notice.

Your knowledge built your salary.
Now it can build your exit.

But only if you start treating your time
like your most valuable asset.

P.S - Time is not the issue. Clarity is. Once you're clear on what your business does and how to build it, you find the time to drive things forward.

Deena Priest

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Many ex-corporate leaders turned coaches underprice.  

Not because they’re new.  
Because they’re still thinking like employees.
 
One client came to me after 20+ years leading multimillion-dollar teams.  

He was coaching for free.  

I asked him why.
 
“I wanted to prove I could help.”
 
Here’s the problem:  
When you undercharge, you don’t prove your value.  

You prove you don’t believe in it.
 
And I see this every week:
 
• Free = devalued
• Cheap = not trusted
• Underpriced = underchosen
 
Your pricing isn’t about greed.  

It’s about energy, equity, and transformation.
 
You don’t need to charge like a hedge fund.  

But you do need to:
 
𝟭/ 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻  
A CRO I coached dropped “leadership coaching” and positioned her offer around a $10M sales leak.  

She landed a retainer within weeks at 4x her original rate.
 
𝟮/ 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲  
One ex-COO came in charging $300/hr.  
We repackaged her expertise into a 90-day delivery ops engagement.  

First deal. $25K. 
 
 𝟯/ 𝗥𝗲𝘄𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁
A public sector leader told me, “I don’t want to be seen as greedy.”  

After working through that belief, she doubled her rates and signed two clients in a month.
 
 𝟰/ 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗮 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁  
One ex-MD was still asking, “Am I allowed to charge that much?”  

That question vanished the moment she got a “yes” on a $150K proposal.
 
Because you’re not here to play “pretty woman.”
 
You’re here to build a business that respects your decades of work.  
 
Price accordingly.

KR,
Deena Priest

When Sarah left her executive role to become a growth consultant, she didn't earn.

She had decades of experience. 
A solid network. 
A desire to be her own boss.

But three months into her business, she was signing low-value contracts. 

She was trading time for money. 
Back on the same treadmill she’d tried to escape.

Why?

She followed conventional advice:

→ Launch a website 
→ Post on LinkedIn 
→ Create an offer

Her calendar was full of non-value-add tasks… not traction.

When we looked deeper, the problem wasn’t her capability. 

It was her sequence.

She’d started with visibility. 

But what she needed was value and proximity.

Here’s what we changed:

✔ Prioritized quality conversations over content 
✔ Reworked her value proposition from the ground up 
✔ Priced for outcomes not effort or retainer norms

Within 8 weeks, she signed a $50K client.

From activity → traction. 

From corporate expert → trusted advisor.

If you’re in motion but not gaining momentum,  it might be time to reassess your roadmap.

📌Join my free newsletter for strategies to go from Corporate →Entrepreneur: https://lnkd.in/e4c_nEp7.

Follow Deena Priest for more.

I left a 6-figure corporate career in my 40s and started a business.

The identity shift was real.  

But all my clients in their 40s and 50s have that pull toward 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵?
 
By now, many have:  

• Grown-up kids  
• Respected networks  
• Paid-down mortgages  
• 20+ years of wisdom, leadership
 
It 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴 like the right time to make a change.

They don't want to climb the ladder anymore.
 
They want to use their expertise to gain more freedom, fulfillment, purpose, legacy.

But here’s what often stalls them:
 
• Clarity: “I’m not sure how to do it”  
• Fear: “What if I fail and have to go back?”
• Financials: “What if I can’t replace my salary?”    
 
👆 All of it? Just fear of the unknown.
 
Here’s what helped my clients and I all move forward:
 
1️⃣ Roadmap 
– A step-by-step plan to replace and exceed your salary

2️⃣ Structure 
– Clarity on what to offer, who to serve, how to get clients  

3️⃣ Community 
– Others walking the same path (so you're not doing this in isolation)
 
𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗜 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗣𝗶𝘃𝗼𝘁 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿™
The system for corporate professionals to launch consultancy or coaching businesses that are credible, profitable, and purpose-led.
 
Turn your expertise into a profitable business without risking income or reputation.
 
👥 Join the waitlist now to get first access and details: https://lnkd.in/e8F7Z2BQ
 
Or send me a message and I will share more details.

Deena Priest

If you're at stage 3, it may be time to start your business.
 
The stats are brutal:  
• Executives spend ~23 hours a week in meetings.  
• Around half of them are totally unproductive.
 
That’s calendar captivity.
 
It’s stopping you from doing the high-impact work that actually gives you energy and fulfilment.
 
When you build your own consulting / coaching business:  

• You get paid for outcomes, not attendance.  
• You spend your time on high-ROI, high-impact work.
• You decide which meetings exist (and who’s in them).  

Here’s how to start shifting out of stage 3:
 
1️⃣ 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀   
→ Don't let others' priorities run your calendar.  
→ Ring-fence 2–4 hours a week for planning and doing.
 
2️⃣ 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿  
→ Start thinking in problems solved.  
→ Who do you help → what do you fix → what changes?  
→ That shift to “I solve this” is the bridge to becoming a business owner.
 
3️⃣ 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀  
→ Prioritize conversations with those who benefit from your expertise.
→Their challenges will literally point to where your future business fits.
 
Free up your time → Make an impact → Earn well. 

If every meeting leaves you thinking, 
"I could be doing something better with my time”… 

Your next chapter is probably not another promotion.  

It’s a business.
 
Deena Priest

📌Join for strategies to go from Corporate → Profitable consultant or coach: https://lnkd.in/e4c_nEp7

I missed a billion-dollar opportunity.

In 2005, someone approached me about building a coaching subscription platform. 

Back then, almost no one knew what that even was.

We sketched out the vision. Mapped the model.

It had real potential. But I hesitated.

“I don’t know how to build tech,” I told myself. 
“Maybe later.”

Someone else moved. 

That same idea is now a billion-dollar business.

It’s not about the money.

It’s the hesitation. The self-doubt. The fact that I didn’t back myself.

Sir Richard Branson said it best:
“𝘐𝘧 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘥𝘰 𝘪𝘵, 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘺𝘦𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘪𝘵 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳.”

Because the cost of hesitation is real: 
Regret. Time. Momentum. Income. Relevance.

If you’ve been:
• Laid off
• Restless
• Sitting on 20 years of wisdom
  
And have wanted to start a business, here's your chance:

𝟭. 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 
If not you, someone else will do it.

𝟮. 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻-𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 
Get clear on what problem you solve better than anyone else.

𝟯. 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝘁 
This is the biggest gap for most ex-corporate leaders and the most powerful shift.

𝟰. 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁  
The right roadmap and peer group changes everything.

I’ve seen clients land deals within 3 weeks of doing this.

Not all opportunities knock twice. 

Some slip by quietly. 

And one day, they belong to someone else.

Don’t let action come too late.

P.S - What’s one opportunity you still think about?

♻️ Repost to encourage action over perfection.

Follow Deena Priest to exit corporate and build a coaching or consulting business.

Your coaching and consulting clients won’t always know what they want.

This is true of both B2C and B2B clients. 

They’ll tell you symptoms: 
“We need clarity.” “We want to grow.” “We’re stuck.”

But if you take that at face value,
you risk selling the wrong thing. 
Delivering the wrong result. 

And ending up with a client who’s “meh” at best or disappointed at worst.

That has a cost: No referrals. No renewals. Damaged reputation.

When I first started consulting, I made this mistake. 

Jumped to strategy. Skipped the deep work. 

And built solutions for problems they hadn’t fully committed to solving.

Everything changed when I redesigned my discovery process.

Now I use 2 core frameworks to uncover what clients really need:

𝟭. 𝗦𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗗 (𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝟮𝗖 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀)
Uncovers both logical and emotional needs, wants and drivers.

𝗦𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 
– What triggered the conversation? 

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺 
– What’s not working day-to-day? 

𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 
– What’s it costing them to stay stuck? 

𝗖𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 
– What’s really underneath it? 

𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 
– What do they say they want?

𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 
– What will make them feel this was worth it?

--------

𝟮. 𝟱𝗗 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 (𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝟮𝗕 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴)
Use this when the ask is big, political, or vague.

𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗿𝗲 
– What do they truly want? 
– Often the request is surface-level. 
– Dig for what’s driving it. Reputation? Revenue? Legacy?

𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 
– What’s in the way? 
– Uncover both external blockers (budget, regulation) and internal ones (silos, resistance).

𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 
– What does success actually look like?
–  Push for tangible outcomes across 3, 6, and 12 months.
 – Not just “more alignment” or “better culture.”

𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 
– What could derail it? Who needs to buy in? 
– What priorities, politics, or hidden agendas exist?

𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 
– What do they actually need? 
– Co-create the solution based on what you’ve now uncovered.

The best consultants and coaches ask sharper questions. 

They define the real problem and co-create the solution.

Client success = Your success.

What's your go-to discovery framework for coaching or consulting?

-----
I'm Deena Priest. I help corporate professionals and executives with 15+ years experience build 6-figure coaching and consulting businesses.

When I first launched my coaching business, I was overwhelmed.

Not by the work but by all the advice.

Endless noise. Conflicting strategies. 

No wonder it felt like I was drowning.

Here’s what I learned:

𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗿𝘂𝘀𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱. 𝗟𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.

1️⃣ Decide what is important

→ What do you want to build and why?
→ How much money do you need?
→ What are you 𝘯𝘰𝘵 willing to sacrifice?

You don’t need 100 steps. You need a filter. 

2️⃣ 𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 

If you can’t see it, you can’t steer it. 

Turn your intentions into milestones:
→“Validate my offer in 30 days”
→“Land 2 paid clients before I leave”
→“Dial in my positioning by next quarter”

This stops you spinning.

3️⃣ 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻

Warren Buffett said it best:
“A genius without a plan is no match for an idiot with a plan.”

Build a plan that is 70% of the way there that will keep you focused. 

→ When will you finalise your offer?
→When will you implement your sales and marketing strategy?
→ What skills or support do you need?

4️⃣ 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 

This is the part most people skip. 

They 𝘢𝘤𝘵 busy… but avoid the real work. 

→ Like posting on LinkedIn 
→ Or selling before the brand is perfect 
→ Or reaching out to possible clients

Execution reveals your mindset. 
It shows you where fear is disguised as “strategy.”

Overwhelm becomes momentum with a simple, sustainable strategy.

 If you've exited corporate to start your business, take the 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 to see where you might be holding yourself back: https://lnkd.in/eyJx78uv

Follow Deena Priest for more.

7 years ago, I was afraid to leave my corporate job.

Today, I’m afraid of my 10-year-old daughter.

(She’s brutally honest. Zero filter. No mercy.) 😬

But seriously... we all need someone like that.

Because the more senior you are...  the less truth-tellers you have around you.. the more you ignore the voice in your head that says "do something purposeful."

Has anyone ever sat you down and asked:
“Why are you still grinding 80+ hours a week… for someone else’s dream?”

Nope. Didn't think so. 

But if deep down, you’ve felt:

The uneasy question: “Is this really it?”
The itch to start something of your own 
The frustration that you're capable of more 

Then maybe it’s time to stop ignoring it.

Ask yourself:

1. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸? 
→Is it time? Security? Identity? 
→Or is it fear disguised as “being realistic”?

2. 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻? 
If so, from whom? And is it worth it?

3. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆, 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘂𝘀, 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆? 
(Were you, like me, taught that promotions = prosperity?)

4. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝗿? 
Is there a market for that?

5. 𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲?
Smart people overthink everything.

One of my clients had 25 years in global leadership. 

Brilliant. Respected. Burnt out. 

He kept saying, “I’ll start something of my own when the timing is right.”

Then came the layoff.
Suddenly, someday became now.

Today, he runs a solo sales advisory business that brings in multiple 6 figures.

Most knowledge workers could turn their skills and knowledge into a business. 

But mindset eats strategy for breakfast.

You need to believe it's possible or nothing will happen.

Do you have an honest truth-teller in your life?

Follow Deena Priest for more.

📌Join my free newsletter "Purpose & Pay" for strategies and frameworks to go from Corporate → Entrepreneur: https://lnkd.in/e4c_nEp7

7 Pieces of Business Growth Advice I Ignore.

(And my coaching business still grew).

I’ve worked with some brilliant business advisors. 

But here’s what no one ever tells you when it comes to business: 

Trust your instincts.  

Here’s the common advice I 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 follow:

1. 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼’𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 
   → I trust myself. I know their world better than any guru.
   
2. 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗱𝗮𝘆 
   → If AI can generate it, it doesn’t add value. 
   → I share lived lessons.
   
3. 𝗕𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 
   → I chose 1-2 that actually work for me. 
   → That’s more than enough.
   
4. 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 
   → I built a message that attracts action-takers.
   → No cold pitching required.
   
5. 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 
   → I write how I speak. 
   → Human > expert.
   
6. 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 
   → Clients don’t buy your method. 
   → They buy solutions to their pain.
   
7. 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳𝗶𝗲𝘀 
   →  I mix it up. 
   → Insights > image.
   
Truth is…

When you run a business, the advice can be overwhelming.

But real traction comes from trusting what actually works for you and your ideal clients.

⚡Understand your market. 
⚡Test and refine your approach.

And never outsource your instincts.

P.S - What's been your biggest business lesson?

If you're leaving corporate to start a coaching or consulting business, join the free newsletter for strategies: https://lnkd.in/e4c_nEp7

Follow Deena Priest for more.

I see 3 terrible pieces of advice for consultants and coaches on LinkedIn.  

Especially for those who've recently started their businesses. 
 
Here they are:
 
𝟭. “𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱.”
 
It sounds smart and feels productive.  

But here’s the reality:

A personal brand won’t save you if your offer and positioning are vague.
 
I know people with 100K followers…  who post daily…  who go viral…  and are still broke.
 
Because branding without a clear offer = attention without income.
 
Build your offer and positioning first.  
Speak to real humans second.  
Build your brand last.
 
 
𝟮. “𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁.”
 
No. 
 
Niche is discovered not guessed.
 
You can’t “think” your way to clarity.  

You test and validate with discussions.

Conversations > assumptions.
 
 
𝟯. “𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹.”
 
Not at the start.
 
Funnels don’t work without trust.  

Trust doesn’t come from ads or emails.  

It comes from conversations.
 
Momentum > funnels.
 
 
Most of the advice out there is recycled, misapplied, or shared by people who aren't actual consultants or coaches. 
 
You don’t need hacks.  

You need trust and proof.
 
How do you build that?
 
You guessed it:
 
Conversations.
 
What’s the worst piece of advice you had to unlearn?

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