From humble side-hustle to multiple $60K retainers
How CCA helped Jessie lay the foundation for a thriving consultancy business
“I was struggling with the order of how to do things. What systems to use, how to market myself, how to package my services… all the core pieces.”
JESSIE KATZ, ZIV PHILANTHROPY
When Jessie Katz left her full-time job to start her own fundraising consultancy, she didn’t yet have steady clients, proper systems, or a clear roadmap—just a handful of side projects and a strong desire to build something of her own that reflected her vision and values. Jessie knew she could deliver results for clients, but turning that into a business felt like trying to assemble a puzzle without the picture.
"I was really struggling with the order of how to do things. Where do you even begin? What systems to use, how to market myself, when to make a website, how to package my services… all the core pieces.”
When she learned about Creative CEO Academy, it felt like the right move at exactly the right time.
"I had worked with Chava and I trusted her. I knew Chava was very good with systems. And that she would know how to guide me in the direction that I needed to position myself and my business for success.”
“Chava helped me focus on building out the fundamentals of my business first, which was invaluable.”
JESSIE KATZ, ZIV PHILANTHROPY
One of the first things Jessie realized inside Creative CEO Academy was that her instinct to jump straight into branding—designing a website, crafting a logo, building a visual identity—wasn’t actually the smartest next step. That single redirection saved her countless hours and helped her avoid a major early pitfall.
"Chava helped me not rush into all of that and actually focus more on building out the fundamentals of my business first, which was invaluable.”
From there, Jessie began to build real structure. CCA helped her assemble a tailored tech stack that gave her consulting business a clean, professional backbone right from the start.
"Chava has a whole tech stack that she recommends—my proposal software, my payroll software, my invoicing software, all my project management stuff was heavily influenced by Chava and what she teaches in the program."
Jessie especially valued Chava’s hands-on guidance and the support of peers at similar stages—an ideal mix that helped her apply what she learned right away and see fast results.
“I've streamlined and I’ve systematized. I now spend less time thinking about stuff and more time doing.”
JESSIE KATZ, ZIV PHILANTHROPY
During the 10-week program itself, Jessie landed her first three retainer clients—each signing 12-month contracts—while actively applying the tools, strategies, and advice inside Creative CEO Academy. It was a breakthrough that didn’t just validate her business; it proved that with the right structure, support, and mindset, real results could come fast.
”The first two were at a certain number and they signed immediately, and Chava gave me the advice to raise my prices based on the level of value I was providing. So I pitched a third one 15 percent higher, and they said yes."
At the same time, Jessie was building the back-end structure that would support this growth. By implementing key systems and automations from the program, Jessie dramatically cut down on busy work and freed up more time for high-value client work. With CCA’s support, she even hired and on-boarded her first virtual assistant—something that had felt out of reach just months earlier.
Jessie says her biggest shift has been in her mindset—trading nervous uncertainty for clear, strategic thinking. She’s gone from survival mode to fine-tuning her offers, targeting ideal clients, and planning for long-term growth.
"I've streamlined and I've systematized. I now spend less time thinking about stuff and more time doing, which is great, and that’s thanks to Chava and CCA.”
“CCA provides the resources and foundational support to help propel any business owner to success, NOW, not in five years. Chava is the mentor you want by your side.
JESSIE KATZ, ZIV PHILANTROPHY
Today, Jessie continues building on the strong foundation established through Creative CEO Academy. For others considering a similar journey, Jessie offers this advice:
"CCA provides the resources and foundational support to help propel any business owner to success, NOW, not in five years. Chava is the mentor you want by your side. I recommend her to everyone."