How to Turn Strategy Into Action, Natalie Trotta on Building a Consulting Career
Off Script
In this episode of Be Anomalous, Natalie Trotta joins me for a conversation about nonlinear careers, curiosity, and what it really looks like to build a path that doesn’t follow a script.
Natalie describes herself as someone who translates strategy into action — helping founders and leadership teams take the ideas in their heads and turn them into something real.
But the way she arrived there wasn’t linear.
Natalie grew up in Ohio and knew from a young age that she wanted to build a life in New York. That intuition eventually led her to Pace University in the financial district, where she began building a career across multiple industries.
Over the past decade, she has worked across fashion, beauty, tech startups, neuroscience research, climate initiatives, and higher education, gaining a rare perspective on how different industries operate and how innovation actually moves from idea to reality.
After completing her MBA at Columbia Business School, Natalie eventually launched her own consulting practice, working with founders and emerging brands to turn big visions into executable strategies.
But this conversation goes far beyond career milestones.
We talk about curiosity as a career compass, the power of staying in motion when you don’t yet know the destination, and how working across industries can become one of your greatest strategic advantages.
Natalie also shares the practical systems she uses to run her consulting business, how she structures her days to stay productive when no one is managing her time, and why quitting the wrong things can be essential to focusing on what truly matters.
This episode is for anyone navigating career uncertainty, exploring entrepreneurship, or trying to figure out how to turn their ideas into something real.
If you’ve ever felt pressure to follow a traditional career path, this conversation is a powerful reminder that the most interesting careers are often the least linear.
🎧 Listen to the Episode
[Spotify] | [Apple] | [YouTube]
What You’ll Learn
Why nonlinear careers can become a strategic advantage
How to translate big ideas into real execution
The real value of an MBA and when it makes sense
How Natalie built her consulting business through relationships and network
Practical systems for managing your time when you work for yourself
Why curiosity can be a better career guide than rigid planning
How founders can stay resilient when things don’t go as planned
Why quitting the wrong things can unlock real progress
Favorite Quote
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
— Maya Angelou
A powerful reminder that impact often has less to do with titles or achievements and more to do with how we show up for others.
Favorite Books
📖 Quit — Annie Duke
A compelling exploration of why strategic quitting is often necessary for meaningful progress.
📖 Big Magic — Elizabeth Gilbert
A thoughtful look at creativity, courage, and learning to follow curiosity without fear.
📖 10x Is Easier Than 2x — Benjamin Hardy & Dan Sullivan
A counterintuitive approach to growth that challenges how we think about scaling work and ambition.
In This Episode, We Cover
(00:00) Introduction and Natalie’s early ambition to move to New York
(05:00) Growing up in Ohio and building independence early
(10:00) Internships, early career exploration, and learning across industries
(16:00) Moving from fashion and beauty into tech and innovation
(20:00) Why Natalie decided to pursue an MBA at Columbia
(28:00) Lessons from business school and building a powerful network
(32:00) Starting a consulting practice and formalizing the business
(36:00) Systems for productivity and time management as a founder
(42:00) Working with founders and translating strategy into action
(47:00) Reframing failure and learning from uncertainty
(50:00) Advice for anyone trying to figure out their next step
Referenced in This Episode
Consulting and founder strategy
MBA career paths and executive education
Startup and founder productivity systems
Career pivots across industries
Building a consulting business
Time management for entrepreneurs
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