Episodes

Start a Consulting Business and Build a Career You Love

October 19, 2026

Thinking about leaving your corporate job to start a consulting business? Your years of professional experience may be the foundation for your next chapter. If you’ve spent years building a successful corporate career but find yourself dreaming about becoming your own boss, you’re not alone. Many women reach a point in their careers when they […]

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The Second Act Success Blog features articles to help inspire you as you navigate your second act career and business journey. My hope is that these quick reads will offer advice and comfort knowing you are not alone on your path towards second act success.

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Thinking about leaving your corporate job to start a consulting business?

Your years of professional experience may be the foundation for your next chapter. If you’ve spent years building a successful corporate career but find yourself dreaming about becoming your own boss, you’re not alone. Many women reach a point in their careers when they begin asking themselves, What’s next? Is there something more I could be doing with my experience?

The good news is that starting a business doesn’t always mean starting from scratch.

In this episode of the Second Act Success Podcast, I’m joined by Risa Seelenfreund, founder of LightSpark Leadership, to discuss her transition from a corporate career into entrepreneurship and what it takes to build a consulting business using the skills you’ve developed throughout your career.

Whether you’re considering a midlife career change, exploring entrepreneurship after 40 or 50, or simply wondering how to turn your corporate experience into a business, this conversation offers inspiration for taking that next step.

Listen to episode #278 of the Second Act Success Podcast about this topic below…

Listen on Apple | Spotify | Amazon | YouTube

Why More Women Are Considering a Career Change into Entrepreneurship

There comes a time when even a successful career can stop feeling fulfilling. Maybe you’ve climbed the corporate ladder, earned promotions, and accomplished everything you thought you wanted professionally. Yet something is missing.

You might be craving more flexibility, greater control over your schedule, the opportunity to pursue meaningful work, or the freedom to make your own decisions. For many women, especially those navigating a midlife career transition, entrepreneurship offers the possibility of creating a career that better aligns with their current priorities.

But here’s something I always remind my business coaching clients: You don’t have to throw away everything you’ve built professionally to start something new. In fact, your career experience might be your greatest business asset.

Start a Consulting Business and Build a Career You Love | #278

From Corporate Employee to Business Owner: Risa Seelenfreund’s Second Act

Risa Seelenfreund’s journey from the corporate world to launching LightSpark Leadership is an example of how professional experience can become the foundation for entrepreneurship.

Rather than abandoning the knowledge and skills she’d developed throughout her career, Risa found a way to apply her experience to a business focused on leadership development. Her career transition offers an important reminder for women who are considering leaving corporate America.

You already have skills, knowledge, and experience that other people and businesses may be willing to pay for.

Sometimes the biggest challenge isn’t developing new skills. It’s recognizing the value of the ones you already have. And that’s where your second act can begin.

Identify the Transferable Skills You Already Have

One of the first steps in starting a consulting business is identifying what you know and how that expertise could help others. Think about your corporate career.

What problems have you solved? What projects have you led? What challenges have you helped your company overcome?

Maybe you’ve spent years managing teams, developing marketing strategies, improving operations, handling finances, or leading organizational change. Those experiences could translate into services you offer as an independent consultant.

For example:

A corporate marketing director might start a marketing consulting business.
A human resources professional might become a leadership development consultant.
A finance executive might offer financial strategy services to small businesses.
A project manager might help entrepreneurs streamline operations.
A corporate trainer might create workshops and professional development programs.

You don’t necessarily need to reinvent yourself to become an entrepreneur. You may simply need to repackage your expertise into a service that solves a specific problem for a specific audience.

Understand the Difference Between Being an Employee and an Entrepreneur

Transitioning from a corporate career to business ownership requires more than changing your job title.

As an employee, you’re typically working within an established organization with existing systems, resources, and responsibilities.

As an entrepreneur, you’re responsible for creating many of those systems yourself.

Suddenly, you’re not just delivering your expertise. You’re also marketing your services, finding clients, setting prices, managing finances, and making decisions about the direction of your business.

This is why I encourage women to approach their career transition strategically. Before you quit your job to start a consulting business, consider:

Who is your ideal client?
What specific problem will your consulting services solve?
How will you find and attract paying clients?
What will you charge for your expertise?
How much money do you need to earn to support your lifestyle?
What financial runway will help you transition comfortably?

You don’t need every answer before you begin exploring entrepreneurship, but having a plan can help you make more confident decisions.

Build a Consulting Business Around Your Experience

One of the advantages of starting a consulting business after years in corporate America is that you may already have the professional expertise needed to deliver valuable services.

Unlike certain businesses that require inventory, equipment, or a physical location, many consulting businesses can begin with relatively low startup costs.

However, expertise alone doesn’t guarantee a successful business. You still need to identify your target market, validate demand, and create an offer that potential clients understand.

Start by asking yourself three questions:

What am I really good at?

Think about the skills people consistently come to you for, the responsibilities you’ve enjoyed, and the professional accomplishments you’re most proud of.

Who could benefit from my experience?

Consider the businesses, organizations, or individuals who might need your knowledge.

What problem can I help them solve?

This is where your business idea starts becoming a viable offer. Instead of selling your experience in general terms, focus on the specific results you can help clients achieve.

For example, rather than simply calling yourself a leadership consultant, you might help growing organizations develop stronger managers and improve team communication. The clearer your offer, the easier it becomes for potential clients to understand why they should work with you.

Start Building Your Business Before Leaving Your Job

One of the biggest misconceptions about entrepreneurship is that you have to quit your job before you can begin. You don’t. In fact, I often recommend that women begin exploring and validating their business ideas while they’re still employed.

This allows you to research your industry, test potential offers, build relationships, and understand what running a business might look like before making a major financial commitment.

Depending on your employment agreement and any conflict-of-interest restrictions, you may be able to start laying the groundwork for your consulting business while continuing to earn your regular paycheck.

Some practical first steps include:

Researching your potential consulting niche
Talking with prospective clients about their challenges
Developing a simple service offering
Building your professional network
Creating a business budget and financial transition plan
Testing your idea through a small pilot project

Remember, you don’t need a resignation date. You need an exit strategy. That’s one of the most important lessons I share with women who want to transition from employee to entrepreneur.

Is Starting a Consulting Business Right for You?

If you’re thinking about leaving your corporate career to start a consulting business, begin by exploring the possibilities.

You don’t have to make a dramatic career move tomorrow. Instead, take some time to reflect on your professional experience, your personal goals, and the type of work you would genuinely enjoy doing.

Ask yourself:

Do I enjoy solving problems and advising others?
Is there a specific area where I have valuable expertise?
Am I comfortable building relationships and finding clients?
What kind of flexibility and income do I want from my business?
Am I willing to learn the business skills required to become an entrepreneur?

Starting a consulting business isn’t the right path for everyone, but for women who want to leverage their experience and create more independence in their careers, it can be an exciting opportunity.

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Lightspark Leadership

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