Jodie Willmer - LinkedIn case study

Jodie is a leading business mentor and consultant for not-for-profits, consultants, small businesses and government. 

Her book, Package, Promote, Scale teaches consultants and business owners how to grow business revenue and impact without the overwhelm. 

Jodie recently launched the Package Promote Scale membership, taking you through her proven nine-step system for business growth. Together with her business partner Rob Nagy, Jodie also offers bespoke workshops, training and consulting through their company, Happy Changemakers. 

Jodie joined my Show Up School Membership in May 2025 and also booked a 1:1 VIP day with me in August 2025. 

In our chat, Jodie shares: 

• why she was avoiding LinkedIn: "I thought I had to be a really good writer, and that's not my superpower" 
• why she booked in with me: "I realised that I needed to be on LinkedIn because that's actually where a lot of my networks are." 
• how she changed her perspective on LinkedIn: "I was thinking I had to be someone I'm not. And having worked with you I realise that I actually just need to show up and be myself." 
• how she feels about LinkedIn now: "I am not embarrased to tell people to connect with me any more
• how she's selling her offers on LinkedIn: "I have sold spaces in my four week program, which is an exciting change of direction for us" 

Listen to the audio 

Here's the transcript of our chat

Kate (00:03):

Hi Jodie. Thanks for getting together. Appreciate your time.

Jodie (00:06):

Thank you. Great to see you.

Kate (00:08):

No, we're going to talk about you and me and LinkedIn and just share with me. So tell me where were you at with LinkedIn before you were working with me

Jodie (00:18):

Was, so I had a profile that was on the internet that I didn't really give any love or attention to and I spent most of my time avoiding it because I thought I needed to be a really good writer and that's not an area where I feel is my superpower. And so I spent a lot of time thinking that is really something I need to do, but avoided.

Kate (00:44):

That's interesting. And you were thinking about it for a while. I think everyone's got something on that to do list that's just been on there forever. And that was for you? For LinkedIn?

Jodie (00:53):

Yeah, definitely. I was more comfortable on Facebook because that seemed to be more social and I could just be myself and show up. And then over time, as our businesses evolved and changed, I realised that I needed to be on LinkedIn because that's actually where a lot of my networks are and also potential people who I could connect with. So I've really felt as well with algorithm changes and things like that, it was really time for me to grow up a bit and get on LinkedIn and actually get my head around it so that it wasn't going to be so daunting.

Kate (01:27):

Yes, very sensible. And what made you choose me?

Jodie (01:32):

Well, you're fabulous, of course. And that was not my reason. No, I've actually been following you and that sounds a bit stalkerish, but I had seen your posts and I could see a different way of doing things and how you just show up in yourself and that the breadth of content you were sharing or commenting on appealed to me because I thought actually I didn't feel like you were trying to be someone else who you're not. And for me, I want to be authentic. I want to be a true version of myself. And I thought, well, maybe you are someone who I could learn from. And I was right. Yeah,

Kate (02:09):

It's so true. A lot of people say, I need to be professional, and they put this kind of fake veneer over their content and the way they show up and that can be very exhausting. And it's generally quite bland, I find.

Jodie (02:21):

Yeah, exactly. And I think from having come from a role when I was a CEO of a not-for-profit and then left without a plan and a job to go to, I sort of had a bit of a career crisis. And when my partner Rob and I started our own business Happy Changemakers, we realised that actually the more we could be just ourselves, the happier we were or are and the more amazing clients we attract and we enjoy the work we do, as opposed to sort of feeling like you've got to put on this facade and be someone who we are not. And I think my reservation about LinkedIn was definitely thinking that I had to be someone who I'm not. And now having worked through with you, I now realise that actually I just need to show up and be myself,

Kate (03:02):

Be your own weird self.

Jodie (03:04):

That's correct.

Kate (03:05):

That's correct. And what was it like working with me? So you joined the membership and you also booked a VIP day, so what was that like?

Jodie (03:13):

Yeah, so I dipped my toe in the water, so to speak, with the Show Up School and really enjoyed your regular sharing of content and tips and certainly the Facebook group with accountability posts. I think that was helpful for me to, I guess get a bit motivated and say, okay, I don't have to revolutionize the world. Maybe I just have to take one little step. So that was useful, but I didn't really spend a lot of time in the group or with the group due to other commitments. And then when I saw your VIP offer, which is with you in a day, I thought, now this actually gives me that accountability that I need to, I can't escape and I have to get the thing done.

Kate (03:53):

Yeah, we do it all together in the day, so it's done.

Jodie (03:56):

Exactly. That's right.

Kate (03:57):

It's a nice feeling to just tick off a to-do list.

Jodie (04:00):

Yeah, exactly. I had to tick it off the to-do list, but also not feel like I was then coming away with a whole bunch of things that were going to add extra work and effort and I dunno about you, but sometimes when you're learning, it's a learning curve. And so I was worried that I would have to spend a huge amount of time and that I wouldn't be able to work it out, but that wasn't the case at all. It was a lot of fun. We got a lot of great things done.

Kate (04:27):

And one thing I made you do was go and have a nice time when you do your content planning and you have been, haven't going up to the local cafe and having a coffee and doing your content.

Jodie (04:40):

Yeah, that's right. I mean, I had no shortage of ideas, but I think what was helpful with you, Kate, was when you gave me a structure about the frequency of doing certain posts. So sales post once a week, that's not the primary focus of all the content or the affinity post. And also then the other thing I learned was using or utilising comments on other people's posts, not detracting from what they're doing, not trying to take the limelight, but just sort of connecting. And that has resulted in some really good connections with some great people. Some of those people are now working with us in our own program for consultants. So I can really see now how it's starting to translate.

Kate (05:25):

Oh, that's really good. So my next question was about what results you've seen. So you've grown your connections, what else?

Jodie (05:31):

Yeah, well certainly I'm not embarrassed to tell people to connect with me on LinkedIn anymore, whereas in the past it was like its big shopping list of all the things that we could or have done. Also, I've noticed that people who I haven't connected with for a while in person or online have come across my LinkedIn profile and either made comments or they've said, oh yeah, I've seen there's some changes. So that was quite heartening because part of the other reason I needed to update my LinkedIn was that we've just recently published a book called Package Promote Scale. So what we've noticed is that there's been a lot more interest in that beyond our normal networks and people have been sharing posts and comments as well.

Kate (06:17):

And you've sold some offers, haven't you, from LinkedIn?

Jodie (06:21):

We have, yeah. So we created a four week program for consultants to build their confidence in talking about what they do so that people get it. But we've also created an online community on school and other platforms. So this is really exciting change of direction for us.

Kate (06:38):

Oh, so glad. Obviously I'm biased here and I'm putting it under the pressure to say, would you recommend working with me? But maybe it's more, who do you think it would be best for?

Jodie (06:49):

I think working with you would be best for people who have had LinkedIn on their to-do list for a long time and have thought that it's too hard. And in fact the way you approach things and your great experience makes it a lot easier and less daunting. And I think for people who feel that they know that they have good things to talk about and even controversial things that matter to them and their values and the way that they live their life and run their business or their work that you've helped me identify ways I can do that in a new way. So I think anyone who is thinking about it should actually do it.

Kate (07:30):

Oh, thank you very much. And just last question, do you have any tips for people? It's a bit of an investment. I know that you've done really well and that you've taken all the action we've agreed on and you've done things so that you've made good value on the investment that you've made. So what are your tips for people if they are going to invest in say, a VIP day to actually feel like it's a good investment down the track?

Jodie (07:54):

Yeah, I mean, we can all spend money on programs or educational content or coaching or things that are valuable, but we don't take the action. And what I would say as the biggest tip is the benefit is in the doing. It's not in the consuming the content and listening to 50 bajillion different people. It's actually listening to someone like you who actually knows it about this stuff, and you are held in high regard and people want you to come talk at their events and all the things rather than muddling around and trying to DIY it because that clearly is not working. So what's the choice here? I think people would, if you really want to fast track your results, but do it in a way that's fun and engaging, then I'd say sign up and work with Kate.

Kate (08:46):

Oh, thank you. I think that's all we need to say. We'll leave it there. Thank you, Jodie. Thanks for your time. Pleasure. Thank you.