#135: Real Talk on Capitalism, Consulting, and Client Work

In this unfiltered and wide-ranging conversation, Marina Martinez-Bateman returns to share what it actually looked like to survive one of the most volatile years many nonprofit professionals have ever experienced. From losing clients week after week to rebuilding her business from the ground up, Marina pulls back the curtain on resilience, burnout, and what it takes to keep going when the systems you rely on start to fail.This episode is a must-listen if you’ve ever felt like the rules of business, or the economy, suddenly stopped making sense. Marina challenges the narratives around capitalism, nonprofit funding, and “professionalism,” while also offering a powerful reminder: building something sustainable often means doing it differently, with integrity, and alongside people who actually share your values.Key Takeaways: The nonprofit industry is carrying a burden it was never meant to hold alone. When systems fail, nonprofits step in, but that model is fragile and deeply underfunded.Economic instability hits unevenly, and nonprofits felt it first. Many organizations and professionals experienced rapid loss, burnout, and even paralysis in the face of constant change.You don’t have to fit into broken systems. Marina’s perspective on being “unemployable” highlights how some people are simply not built for dysfunctional hierarchies, and that can be a strength.Integrity-driven businesses operate differently. Paying fair wages, prioritizing people, and building collaboratively may not be the fastest path, but it’s often the most sustainable.Not all consulting is created equal. Marina calls out the gap between performative strategy and actual impact, and why that disconnect harms businesses.Authenticity is a business advantage. Trying to fit a mold (especially around “professionalism”) can distance you from the clients who actually value your work.You don’t need to work with everyone. The sooner you find alignment with your clients, the easier and more effective your work becomes.Diverse perspectives create stronger outcomes. Healthy conflict and varied experiences lead to better decisions and fewer blind spots.There’s another way to lead and manage. Marina’s Decolonizing Management program explores how to build teams and organizations outside of traditional, harmful systems.Guest & Host Information:Guest, Marina Martinez-Bateman, Founder of New Coyote Consulting Co-Host, Ashlan Glazier-Anderson, Owner of AshbeanPDX MarketingCo-Host, Victoria (Tory) Proppe, Owner of Imagine Marketing StrategiesConnect with Marina:On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marinaisgo/ On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marina-martinez-bateman/ On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/marinaisgo.bsky.social Follow New Coyote on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newcoyotecomms/ Follow New Coyote on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/newcoyote Explore Marina’s Decolonizing Management Cohort: https://decolonizing.management/ Connect with us:On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TaketheLeap-Today On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taketheleap_today Find Ashlan on Instagram & LinkedIn: https://www.instagram.com/ashbeanpdxmktg https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashlan-glazier-anderson Find Tory on Instagram & LinkedIn https://www.instagram.com/imaginemarketingstrategies https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriaproppe Like our content? Be sure to subscribe and review! Want to keep in touch? Find us on:YoutubeInstagram