Donna Leyens

President and Co-Founder, Pumpkin Plan Your Biz

Donna Leyens is a distinguished business growth strategist whose methodologies have reshaped how entrepreneurs approach sustainable business development. 

Her partnership with Mike Michalowicz, author of several influential business books including "The Pumpkin Plan" and "Profit First," led to the development of the Pumpkin Plan methodology. This system has gained recognition for its unique approach to identifying and nurturing a business's most profitable opportunities while eliminating resource-draining activities.

Her signature presentations encompass strategic client selection and market positioning, systematic approaches to organic business growth, creating scalable business models, developing efficient operational systems, and building sustainable profit models. She excels at helping entrepreneurs master time management and operational efficiency.

The Pumpkin Plan Academy, under her leadership, has evolved into a comprehensive business growth platform that combines strategic planning tools with practical implementation guides. Her certification program has trained coaches across multiple continents, creating a global network of Pumpkin Plan certified strategists.

Before co-founding Pumpkin Plan Your Biz, Donna's career included significant experience in investment banking and business operations. She served as President of Provendus Group, a business strategy consulting firm, demonstrating her ability to implement practical growth strategies across diverse industries.  

Today, Donna is celebrated for delivering actionable insights on business growth strategy, breaking down complex business concepts into digestible steps, and sharing real-world case studies from the thousands of entrepreneurs she's coached. Her engaging style combines authentic, practical teaching with humor and relatable examples to illustrate business principles.

A distinctive aspect of her presentations is the integration of her dog Sparky, who has become an unofficial mascot for her virtual training sessions, adding a personal touch that helps participants feel more connected and engaged. 

Sessions

Market Strategy Session

Standing Out in an AI-Driven Consulting World

Donna Leyens

11:00 AM - 11:45 AM CT

In a market flooded with AI solutions, how do you make your consulting practice indispensable? In this transformative session, Donna Leyens, Co-Founder of Pumpkin Plan Your Biz, reveals how to find and nurture your business's "Sweet Spot" – the powerful intersection of your Top Clients, Unique Offering, and Scalable Systems.

Drawing from 15+ years of helping consultants escape the chaos of unfocused growth, Donna will show you why having just two out of these three critical elements isn't enough in an AI-driven market.

Learn why finding your Sweet Spot isn't just about differentiation—it's about creating organic growth that makes business expansion feel effortless rather than exhausting.

Key Takeaways

  • Master the Sweet Spot Framework – Learn to identify and align your top clients, unique offering, and systems for exponential growth.
  • Avoid the Two-Out-of-Three Trap – Understand why missing even one element of the Sweet Spot keeps you stuck competing on price or unable to scale.
  • Build Systematic Growth – Create scalable processes that let you grow without dependency on any one person - including yourself.

Who Should Attend

This session is perfect for consultants and service-based business owners who:

  • Feel stuck trading dollars for hours
  • Struggle to stand out in an increasingly AI-driven market
  • Can't take a vacation without their business suffering
  • Want to stop competing on price and start commanding premium fees

Why You Can't Miss This

If you're ready to stop working harder and start working smarter, this session is crucial. Learn how to find your Sweet Spot and transform your business from constantly struggling to organically growing.