On-Ramp to Advising and Consulting

Cohort 2

Cohort 1

Cohort 3

Turn your executive expertise into a thriving consulting practice that gives you freedom, impact, and control.

Amanda Schwartz Ramirez

On-Ramp to Full-Time Advising and Consulting for Busy Execs

Consultant

(Ex-) CEO

Product Consultant / Advisor / Fractional PM

Head of Financial Planning and Analysis

Fractional CFO / Advisor

Vice President of Product 

Consultant 

I frequently speak with busy execs—from Fortune 500s to high-growth startups—who are ready for their next chapter. They want to leverage their hard-won expertise across multiple companies while building a life on their own terms. If you're reading this, you may be one of them. The thing is, while you recognize this path exists, you also have really good questions: - How, exactly, do you find clients without an existing network of founders?- How many clients can you really serve at once before quality suffers?- How do you price your expertise when transitioning from salary to consulting?- Do you need to be a "thought leader" to succeed?- Can you really replace your executive compensation with this model? Beyond the practical, there are deeper emotional questions as well: - I'm really uncomfortable with sales—will that be a problem?- I'm scared I'll struggle with boundaries when every hour could mean more revenue.- How do you protect your time?- How do I spot red flags with potential clients before signing contracts?- I thrive with structure and clear goals. Can I stay motivated without them?- Am I really expert enough when everyone seems to be consulting these days? After 15 years operating in both startups and Fortune 500s (and three kids later), I took a leap that let me control my time while staying on the steep learning curve I've always loved. In full-time advisory and consulting, I've constructed a work-life grounded in variety, strategic choice, and continuous learning. Every day, I'm expanding my network, sharpening my expertise, and creating optionality for whatever comes next. I now serve a small portfolio of companies simultaneously, each benefiting from the patterns and insights I bring from the others.This path offers extraordinary freedom and impact, and it may be available to you. But let's be real: Building a consulting practice is an entrepreneurial pursuit requiring testing, iteration, and hustle. The income variability and ambiguity surrounding engagements can trigger real anxiety—especially in your first year. This course is for executives ready to navigate these challenges, who find energy in building something of their own, and who want to multiply their impact across organizations.

Get a step-by-step guide for making the transition to full-time consulting.

Course syllabus

For Cohort 1: we will meet bi-weekly on Fridays, from 8 - 9:30am PT, for 5 weeks. There will be 3 live classes, with 1 async kick-off leading in. For Cohort 2: we will meet weekly on Thursdays, for 3 weeks. There will be 3 live classes, with 1 async kick-off leading in.

Live Sessions

Every class will have a clear next-step, allowing you to take action and make progress in your transition. Tools and templates will be provided.

Actionable Steps

For Cohort 1: I will host two one-hour Office Hours, for any student to join with questions or materials to review. For Cohort 2: I will host one one-hour Office Hour, with one 1:1 coaching session for each student.

Office Hours (Optional)

Course schedule

Execs with years of experience in the midst-of or ready to transition into full-time advisory or consulting work.

Seasoned leaders looking for diversification, impact across companies, and freedom while hitting the ground running.

This isn't for you if you're looking for guarantees of seven-figure contracts in six weeks or if you're unwilling to put in the work.

Who is this course for

What you’ll get out of this course

Learn to articulate your unique value in ways that resonate with today's clients who need strategic judgment, not just another pair of hands. Position yourself where human expertise matters most—especially as companies navigate increasing complexity and AI adoption.

Turn your executive track record into a differentiated consulting position that commands premium rates. 

Focus on warm outreach and relationship activation without getting salesy. Lean on your network (connections, former colleagues) to find paying clients using a clear, repeatable playbook.

Build a sustainable pipeline using your existing network as the foundation.

Access the exact templates, pricing models, and operational frameworks I use to manage my clients. Skip the expensive mistakes around contracts, scope creep, and underpricing that trap most new consultants.

Accelerate past 18 months of costly trial-and-error with battle-tested systems. 

Learn alongside peers navigating the same transition who understand the unique challenges of leaving corporate life. Exchange leads, pressure-test positioning, and find accountability partners for the journey.

Join a curated community of executives who become your advisory board and referral network. 

Work with someone who's successfully made the transition and will share the unvarnished truth. Understand the real trade-offs between corporate security and consulting freedom to make an informed decision.

Gain clarity and confidence about whether this path aligns with your goals. 

Position Your Expertise for Consulting in the AI Era

Prev. VP, now full-time Advisor | Founder, Garden Labs est. 2022

Map your unique expertise against market needs to find your consulting sweet spot

Turn your executive expertise into a differentiated position

Craft positioning that resonates in the AI era by emphasizing human judgment, strategic taste, and relationship capital

Develop a compelling value proposition

Examine the benefits and drawbacks of this setup, apply it to your personal situation, and identify concrete next steps

Clarify your path in the evolving consulting landscape

Impact from the outside: advisor vs consultant vs fractional

Advisor and Consultant, former Strategy & Ops exec at PayPal and Dapper Labs.

Understand the key differences in how fractional leaders, consultants and advisors engage with company leaders.

Dissect the various ways you can serve a company externally

Gain perspective on what drives companies to seek external support in each of these models.

Diagnose the needs of companies who look for each

Know the benefits and drawbacks of each type of engagement, for both you and the company you're serving.

Gain a sense of the pros and cons of operating in each role

How to decide if you should shift from Exec to Consultant

Full-time Advisor and Consultant, former Strategy & Ops exec at PayPal and Dapper Labs. Currently serving 9 cos at Garden Labs. Mom of 3.

Dissect the top reasons why seasoned execs are venturing out as full-time advisors and consultants.

Distill why you would choose to go solo as a consultant.

Hear a first-hand account of the experience and backdrop required to succeed as a solopreneur.

Deconstruct what it will take to succeed as a consultant.

Examine the benefits and drawbacks of this setup and apply it to your personal situation.

Learn directly from On-Ramp to Advising and Consulting

On-Ramp to Advising and Consulting

Courses

On-Ramp to Full-Time Advising and Consulting for Busy Execs

Lightning Lessons

Position Your Expertise for Consulting in the AI Era

Impact from the outside: advisor vs consultant vs fractional

How to decide if you should shift from Exec to Consultant