Is Consulting Your Escape from Academic Burnout? What Happens When You Stop Doing Free Labor

You’re overworked, underpaid, and doing way too much "service" for zero recognition. Burnout isn’t a surprise—it’s the system. So what if the real problem isn’t you, but the way academia exploits your labor?

In this episode, former professor Rachel LaTouche shares how she went from a traditional tenure-track path to launching a thriving consulting business. She didn’t even know what "consulting" was at first—and now she's booked out, well paid, and finally working on her own terms.

Rachel started small—on Upwork. But one client turned into a department-wide contract, and that pivot away from free labor in academia led to a sustainable business. Her story is proof that you don’t need it all figured out to begin.

If you’re finally realizing that you've been unfairly giving away your time and energy for free, this conversation will open your eyes to what’s possible outside academia. Consulting might be the post-academic path you didn’t know you needed.

🎧 Listen now to hear:

How Rachel realized her "side projects" were actually consulting gigs

The questions she asked to get started—without a website

How she booked her first clients (and how you can, too)

The difference between B2B and B2C consulting—and how to choose

Want to end burnout and become an academic editor or coach? Go to AcadiaEditing.com/map

Resources mentioned:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rlatouche/

https://www.hireraretalent.com

Registration for Rachel's program opens Feb 1, 2026! Go to her website for more info!

2:17 - Researching Workplace Culture

4:29 - Why Grad Students Need Support

5:20 - Faculty Life Challenges

6:17 - Discovering Consulting

8:37 - Navigating the Pandemic Pivot

10:17 - Landing Your First Client

13:57 - Evolving Your Consulting Business

18:57 - The Consulting Futures Lab

20:34 - Program Structure & Goals

22:08 - Embracing Your New Identity

24:05 - Valuing Your Expertise

25:12 - Setting Business Boundaries

26:34 - The Power of Talking About Yourself

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