213: Coping with the Fallout from Your Former Toxic Workplace with Catherine Mattice
Seven Figure Consultant with Jessica Fearnley
Release Date: 11/25/2025
225: Client Showcase: Throwing Out the Rulebook and Creating Your Own Dashboard for Life and Business with Catherine Hamilton
Seven Figure Consultant with Jessica Fearnley
In this episode of the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast, originally broadcast in June 2023, Catherine Hamilton, the visionary behind Trestle Solutions, and I discuss what it looks like to consciously break your own rules and create the business and life you truly desire. Catherine initially sought my guidance as a business coach two and a half years ago, and it has been a privilege to support her business and personal growth since then. We delve into the challenges impeding women from creating a business and the restrictive rules that hinder their happiness once they have established their...
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224: Client Showcase: Finding Your Zone of Genius with Betsy Kauffman
Seven Figure Consultant with Jessica Fearnley
In this episode of the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast, originally broadcast in January 2023, I am joined by Betsy Kauffman. Betsy is a globally recognized Leadership and Organizational Agility Consultant with more than 20 years of experience working with Fortune 500 companies. Betsy helps companies solve the big problems keeping them from achieving agility, collaboration, alignment, and innovation. Tune in to learn about Betsy’s entrepreneurial journey from starting her business to surviving the pandemic. In This Episode: [01:00] Betsy shares her background. [07:00] Entrepreneur life &...
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223: Client Showcase Episode: From Big to Small to Big Again with Patty Caballero
Seven Figure Consultant with Jessica Fearnley
In this episode of the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast, originally broadcast in September 2022, Patty and I talk about the impact of wealth dynamics on your role and energy. Patty Caballero believed in herself enough to take the risk to leave the large corporate world to start her own small consulting business and recalls what surprised her when making the shift and some significant breakthrough moments in the process. You don’t want to miss this episode as Patty shares some impactful pieces of advice for women looking to start their seven-figure consultant journey and answers the important...
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222: Creating the Roadmap for Your 7 Figure Consulting Business
Seven Figure Consultant with Jessica Fearnley
In this episode of the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast, originally broadcast in November 2022, I'm talking about what happens when we shift from the “what” to the “how” with getting your consulting business to seven figures and maybe even eight figures. I’ll talk all about how to accomplish the milestones you set for your business and how to create the action plan to get there. Tune in to this episode to learn more! Key Takeaways: Setting micro goals and milestones along the journey of your business can be a great way to help you eventually achieve your...
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221: Being Seen - Women, Leadership & Visibility at Work with Antonia Taylor
Seven Figure Consultant with Jessica Fearnley
In this week's episode of the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast, I talked to Antonia Taylor, a PR, communications and content strategist with over 25 years' experience specialising in thought leadership and women's professional visibility. Antonia is the author of the powerful new report ‘Being Seen: Women, Leadership & Visibility at Work’ - a research-led exploration of how female leaders navigate professional visibility while driving systemic, sustainable change. This is our very first International Women's Day episode, and I couldn't think of a better conversation to mark the...
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220: Turning the Tables - A Conversation About Ambition, Legacy and ‘Too Much’ with Sharath Jeevan
Seven Figure Consultant with Jessica Fearnley
In this week's episode of the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast, we're doing something a bit different! My guest Sharath Jeevan, Founder of The Generational Success Lab at Oxford’s Said Business School, is interviewing me as we approach the one-year anniversary of my book ‘Too Much’. If you've ever felt like your ambition was ‘too much’ for the world around you, or if you left corporate because you needed a bigger playing field to run on, this conversation is for you. Sharath and I explore how I went from a rebellious teenager who wanted to be a rock star to building a seven-figure...
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219: Creating Your Strategic Exit: Your Corporate-to-Consultant Blueprint
Seven Figure Consultant with Jessica Fearnley
In this week's episode of the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast, I'm pulling back the curtain on something I've been quietly doing over the past year - helping senior executives design their strategic exit from corporate into B2B consulting. The market is noisy right now, full of ‘replace your corporate salary in 90 days’ promises. But here's the truth: if you've been quietly exploring the idea of consulting for years, if there's a layoff on the horizon, or if that big birthday milestone is making you ask ‘is this really what I want for the next 10-20 years?’, you don't need to...
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218: What New Consultants Need to Know to Get Their Consulting Business Off the Ground with Joanna Lott
Seven Figure Consultant with Jessica Fearnley
In this week’s episode of the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast, originally broadcast in June 2025, I spoke to Joanna Lott about the realities of building a coaching or consulting business from the ground up. We explored the challenges new entrepreneurs face, from defining a niche and mastering marketing to overcoming visibility fears and developing a strong money mindset. Joanna also shared practical advice on leveraging personal connections, adapting to client needs, and embracing the messy, rewarding journey of entrepreneurship. Whether you’re just starting out or refining your approach,...
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217: Tell Yourself a Better Story in 2026
Seven Figure Consultant with Jessica Fearnley
This episode was such a popular episode last year so we're repeating it to kick off 2026! In this week’s episode of the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast, I’m talking about how we can get in the zone for the new year! So much of what we do as women entrepreneurs and B2B consultants relies on our mindset, and the new year is the perfect time for a mindset check-in and reset. In this episode, I talk about the importance of mindset and strategy in achieving our business goals, plus how you can let go of scarcity beliefs and reconnect with abundance so you can tell yourself a better...
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216: Becoming Limitless as a Seven Figure Consultant
Seven Figure Consultant with Jessica Fearnley
In this episode of the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast, originally broadcast in February 2023, I want to share how I learned how to coach women to realize their own unique abilities so they can help you grow. Learn more about my Limitless Coaching Plan as I explain how I can coach you to achieve your full potential and earnings and help you break the glass ceiling and truly be limitless in your business. In this episode: [01:00] My business and coaching evolution. [05:00] Using your unique abilities and skills as a woman in business. [12:00] Finding the right support for your business....
info_outlineIn this week’s episode of the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast, I talked to Catherine Mattice, the founder/CEO of Civility Partners, an organizational development firm focused on helping organizations create respectful workplace cultures and specializing in turning around toxic cultures.
If you left corporate because of a toxic boss or workplace culture, and you're now building your consulting business while still carrying that weight, this episode is for you. Many consultants who transition from corporate are unknowingly shaped by the trauma they experienced, and it shows up in how they price, set boundaries, and show up with clients.
In this episode, we unpack what really happens after you leave a toxic environment, why shame keeps so many consultants stuck, and the practical steps you can take to stop letting your former workplace control your new business.
In This Episode:
[00:01:27] Catherine's origin story: From being bullied by a toxic peer in HR to founding Civility Partners and writing four books on workplace culture
[00:09:30] The invisible symptoms: How workplace trauma manifests as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and physical illness - even after you've left
[00:13:15] Why consultants who experienced toxicity struggle with boundaries, overdeliver, and undercharge with clients
[00:17:45] The fawning response: Understanding why you might say yes to everything and how it's keeping you from premium positioning
[00:21:30] Taking your power back: Practical advice on therapy, boundary-setting, and rebuilding your relationship with work
[00:28:09] The first step to healing: Why acknowledging what happened (without shame) is essential before you can move forward
Key Takeaways:
- Workplace trauma doesn't end when you leave. Research shows that prolonged workplace bullying creates symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and physical illness that persist long after you exit the toxic environment. Your body doesn't automatically know you're safe just because you changed jobs.
- Fawning is a trauma response - and it's costing you clients. If you experienced a toxic workplace, you may have developed a fawning response (people-pleasing, overdelivering, avoiding conflict). This shows up in your consulting business as underpricing, saying yes to everything, and failing to set boundaries with clients, which undermines your ability to position as a premium strategic advisor.
- Your consulting business is your chance to do it differently. You have the opportunity to create a business that doesn't mirror the toxic environment you left. This means consciously designing boundaries, workflows, and client relationships that honor your wellbeing - not replicating the overwork and undervaluation you experienced in corporate.
Quotes:
"I think for a lot of people it's hard to sort of admit that their workplace caused so much drama and real trauma for them." - Catherine Mattice
"Start changing your self-talk - admit that this happened and that it's not something to be ashamed of. It happens to lots of people. That's why I have a book." - Catherine Mattice
"If you don't like what you used to have, don't create a business that mirrors the exact same environment. Aim for more. Know that more is always out there." - Jessica Fearnley
Useful Links
Catherine:
Book: Navigating a Toxic Workplace for Dummies
Read actionable insights on the Civility Partners blog
Jessica:
Buy Jessica’s book, Too Much, on Amazon
Get in touch with Jessica to discuss your consulting business
Leave a rating and review for the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast
Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn
Guest Bio
Catherine Mattice, MA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, is the founder/CEO of Civility Partners, an organizational development firm focused on helping organizations create respectful workplace cultures and specializing in turning around toxic cultures. Civility Partners’ clients range from Fortune 500's to small businesses across many industries. Catherine is a TEDx speaker and an HR thought-leader who has appeared in such venues as USA Today, Bloomberg, CNN, NPR, and many other national news outlets as an expert. She’s an award-winning speaker, author and blogger, and has 50+ courses reaching global audiences on LinkedIn Learning. As a keynote speaker, Catherine's insights have transformed CEO’s of multinational companies, leaders of all levels in the US Marines and US Navy, and professionals in companies of all shapes and sizes. Her fourth book Navigating a Toxic Workplace for Dummies (Wiley) is available on Amazon and where all books and audiobooks are sold.