Why You're Not Landing Public Health Consulting Clients | The Dr. Des Show
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About this episode
Register for the Public Health Consulting 101 Training on June 16th & 17th: https://www.publichealthclub.com/public-health-consulting-training
Join The Public Health Club | publichealthclub.com
Why You Haven't Landed Your First Consulting Client | The Dr. Des Show
If you're a public health professional who keeps applying for contracts and coming up empty, the problem probably isn't your qualifications — it's a few fixable mistakes you don't even know you're making. In this solo episode, Dr. Des breaks down the real reasons public health consultants struggle to land their first client or build consistent work: writing proposals like federal grants, leading with credentials instead of outcomes, and showing up without a portfolio that actually proves what you can do. She also shares how to use AI tools to sharpen your one-sentence pitch and why getting out of the house to network might be the most underrated move in consulting right now.
In This Episode, You'll Learn
- Why treating a nonprofit proposal like a federal grant application is costing you contracts — and what to do instead
- How to lead with your expertise (not your degrees) when you're in the room with potential clients
- The one-sentence pitch formula that makes your services instantly clear to non-technical buyers
- How to use AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT to build a client-specific portfolio fast
- Why your resume and portfolio need to be outcomes-based — not task-based
- The mindset shift around rejection that keeps Dr. Des applying even after "no"
Resources Mentioned
- Subcontracting to Six Figures — Dr. Des's consulting course; join the waitlist at the link below
- The Public Health Club — publichealthclub.com (7-day free trial; RFP opportunities, workshops on demand, mentorship sessions)
- Claude — AI tool Dr. Des uses for proposal writing, portfolio building, and pitch refinement (claude.ai)
- ChatGPT — voice recording feature recommended for dictating and refining your one-sentence pitch
- Wisper — AI voice-to-text tool for recording your pitch in any software; installable on desktop
About The Dr. Des Show
The Dr. Des Show is the go-to podcast for public health career development, consulting, and entrepreneurship. Hosted by Dr. Desiree "Dr. Des" Strickland — DrPH, public health CEO, and founder of The Public Health Club.
Connect with Dr. Des:
- Join The Public Health Club: publichealthclub.com
- Instagram: @DesireeCourtneyJ | @the_publichealthclub
- LinkedIn: Dr. Desiree Strickland | The Public Health Club
https://www.drdesshow.com/
https://www.publichealthclub.com/
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