#3: Champagne Clients, Beer Budgets, and the Cost of Staying Stuck with Vanessa Shaw
Feeling stuck at the edge of burnout while building a business that’s supposed to set you free? This episode is your wake-up call—and your roadmap.
Today, I’m joined by international business strategist Vanessa Shaw, founder of The Business Growth Academy and champion of women-owned law firms. With experience across the U.S., Europe, and the U.K., Vanessa brings real talk and proven strategies that help female attorneys scale with purpose, profit, and personal freedom.
Together, we dive into:
The essential mindset shift from lawyer to CEO—and why avoiding it is costing you more than just time
The hidden cost of tolerating too much in your firm (wait ‘til you hear the $500K wake-up call)
Why time and overwhelm aren’t the real problem—and how to reclaim both without burning it all down
How to identify your “champagne clients” and stop settling for beer-and-wine work
What a “business reset” looks like—and how to renovate your firm without starting from scratch
If you’re in the messy middle of growth—hitting a revenue ceiling, maxed out on hours, and unsure how to scale without losing yourself—this conversation is for you.
Vanessa doesn’t just talk business; she redefines what success can look like for women in law.
This episode is your permission to pause, rethink, and rebuild. You don’t need to do it alone—and you certainly don’t need to keep grinding just to get by.
Vanessa Shaw is an international business strategist with experience across the USA, UK, and Europe. She’s held leadership roles at top organizations including the UN, World Economic Forum, KPMG, Oracle, and CMS, where she pioneered a cross-border virtual coaching program for attorneys in 2006.
Today, as founder of The Business Growth Academy, Vanessa helps women-owned law firms scale with purpose, profit, and personal freedom. Her proven Business Acceleration Model combines strategic growth with authentic leadership, empowering female attorneys to build sustainable practices that reflect their values and deliver exceptional client value.
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