When you’re a nonprofit leader and consultant juggling an executive director role, advisory work, and creative writing projects, the last thing you need is a complicated website platform draining your time and budget. Bernadette knew exactly what she needed, a simple, professional online home that represented who she is today and made it easy for people to connect with her. And she needed it fast.
This is the story of how we transformed Bernadette’s expensive, underperforming Kajabi site into a streamlined, strategic resume website design in just one day.
The Challenge
Bernadette came to me with a problem I see all too often. She had a website on Kajabi that was costing her money every month but wasn’t serving her needs. The platform was designed for course creators and membership sites, loaded with features she didn’t need and would never use. More importantly, it didn’t feel like her.
As the Executive Director of Gem Legacy and a trusted advisor to nonprofit leaders, Bernadette needed something different. She wasn’t selling courses or running a membership program. She needed a professional online presence that could serve multiple purposes, a place where potential clients could learn about her work, a digital resume that showcased her 25 years of nonprofit experience, and a simple way for people to connect with her and join her mailing list.
The Kajabi site wasn’t doing any of that well. It was expensive to maintain, complicated to update, and honestly, it just didn’t represent the clear, strategic advisor that Bernadette is. She needed something fresh that reflected where she is in her career today, not where she was when she first set up that platform.
Here’s what wasn’t working. The platform was overkill for her actual needs, costing her monthly fees for features she never touched. The site didn’t reflect her current focus and positioning as a nonprofit advisor. There was no clear path for visitors to take action, whether that was reaching out for advisory work or joining her mailing list. And perhaps most frustrating, she knew she’d eventually want to expand her site, but the Kajabi platform wasn’t the right foundation for that growth.
Understanding What Leaders Need Online
Having spent much of my career in the nonprofit world myself, I completely understood where Bernadette was coming from. Nonprofit professionals wear so many hats. You’re responsible for programs, fundraising, communications, board relations, and about a dozen other things. The last thing you want is a website that requires constant attention or technical expertise to maintain.
What leaders and consultants like Bernadette really need is a resume website design that works like a digital business card. It should be professional, clear about what you do and how you can help, and make it incredibly easy for the right people to reach out. It doesn’t need to be complicated. In fact, the simpler and more strategic, the better.
I know that your website needs to do several things at once. It needs to build credibility quickly by showcasing your experience and expertise. It should make your value immediately clear to potential clients or partners. And it absolutely must provide simple, obvious ways for people to take the next step, whether that’s scheduling a call, sending an email, or joining your mailing list.
The beauty of a well-designed single-page website is that it does all of this without overwhelming visitors or requiring constant maintenance from you.
The Strategy
Bernadette and I had worked together before on a project, so we already had that foundation of trust and understanding. When she reached out about needing a new website quickly, I knew my Design in a Day service would be perfect for her situation.
Here’s the thing about Design in a Day. It’s exactly what it sounds like. We design and build your entire website in one focused workday. But here’s what makes it work so well. It’s not rushed or thrown together. It’s strategic, intentional, and completely custom to you. The key is having a clear vision of what we’re creating before we start building.
For Bernadette, we knew exactly what we needed to accomplish. Create a clean, professional single-page website that positioned her as the experienced nonprofit advisor she is. Make it incredibly easy for potential clients to understand what she does and how she works. Provide clear pathways for people to connect with her via email or LinkedIn. Build in a simple email list signup for her monthly updates. And design it on a platform (WordPress) that would be easy for her to update herself and could grow with her as her needs evolved.
The timeline was straightforward. We had one focused day where I designed and built her entire site from scratch. Bernadette provided the content and direction upfront, so there was no back and forth during the build day. I created a custom design that felt professional, clear, and completely aligned with her brand. And by the end of the day, we had a fully functional website ready to launch.
One of the biggest advantages of working with someone like Bernadette is that she knew exactly what she wanted. As an experienced communications professional herself, she came prepared with clear messaging and a strong vision. My job was to take that vision and bring it to life in a way that was both beautiful and strategic.
The Solution
The website I created for Bernadette at bernadettemack.com is the perfect example of how powerful simplicity can be. It’s a single-page site that tells her complete story while making it incredibly easy for visitors to take action.
Here’s how we structured the site to maximize its effectiveness.
The homepage opens with a clear, compelling headline that immediately tells visitors exactly what Bernadette does. “I work with nonprofit leaders facing complex decisions, around strategy, communication, governance, or change, when the stakes are high and they need a clear, trusted thought partner.” No guessing, no confusion. Just clarity.
We organized the content into clear sections that guide visitors through understanding Bernadette’s value. The “What I Do” section explains her work at the intersection of fundraising strategy, communication, and systems, and mentions her writing work in both nonfiction and fiction. The “How I Work” section sets clear expectations about her availability and the types of projects she takes on. And the “About” section shares her extensive nonprofit background and current role as Executive Director of Gem Legacy.
One of my favorite strategic decisions was including a testimonials section. We featured testimonials from two different perspectives, one from Alejandro at VIP Tours of New York talking about her strategic consulting work, and one from me sharing my experience working with her. This builds credibility from multiple angles and shows the range of her expertise.
The contact section is beautifully simple. There’s her email address front and center, a link to connect on LinkedIn, and an email signup form for her monthly mailing list. No complicated contact forms creating barriers. Just clear, direct ways to reach her.
From a design perspective, we kept everything clean, professional, and easy to navigate. The site uses a calming color palette that feels sophisticated without being cold. We included strategic white space to make the content easy to read and digest. The navigation menu uses smooth scrolling to different sections, making it easy to jump to exactly what you need. And of course, the entire site is fully responsive, looking great on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.
One of the things Bernadette specifically wanted was the ability to grow the site as her needs evolved. By building on WordPress instead of Kajabi, we gave her that flexibility. When she’s ready to add a blog, showcase her writing portfolio, or create additional pages for specific services, the foundation is there. But for now, she has exactly what she needs, nothing more, nothing less.
The Results
Bernadette loved the design I created, which honestly is one of the best parts of my job. When a client sees their vision come to life and it just clicks, that’s the magic moment. She had only minor tweaks, which we handled quickly, and the site went live exactly as planned.
But more importantly, the site is doing exactly what it’s supposed to do. It represents Bernadette as she is today, an experienced, strategic nonprofit advisor with clarity and confidence. It makes it easy for potential clients to understand her value and reach out. And it gives her a professional online home that she can share proudly, whether she’s networking, speaking, or simply introducing herself to new connections.
From a practical standpoint, Bernadette is saving money every month by moving off Kajabi. She’s no longer paying for a platform with features she doesn’t need. And she has the peace of mind knowing that when she does want to expand her site, it’s built on a solid foundation that can grow with her.
One of the things I love most about this project is how it demonstrates that your website doesn’t have to be complicated to be effective. In fact, sometimes the most powerful websites are the simplest ones. They know exactly what they need to accomplish, and they do it well.
Key Takeaways for Leaders and Consultants
If you’re a leader or consultant thinking about your own website, here are some lessons from Bernadette’s project that might help you.
You don’t need a complicated platform. If you’re not selling courses, running a membership, or managing complex eCommerce, you probably don’t need platforms like Kajabi, Teachable, or Squarespace. A custom WordPress site gives you all the flexibility you need without the monthly fees for features you’ll never use.
A single-page site can be incredibly powerful. If your goal is to showcase your expertise, build credibility, and make it easy for people to connect with you, a well-designed single-page website might be all you need. It’s easier to maintain, less overwhelming for visitors, and can be just as professional as a multi-page site.
Clarity beats clever every time. Bernadette’s site works because it’s crystal clear about what she does and how she can help. There’s no industry jargon, no vague positioning, no confusion. Just straightforward, honest communication about her work and her value.
Make it easy for people to take action. Whether it’s an email address, a LinkedIn profile, or a mailing list signup, give visitors clear, obvious ways to connect with you. Don’t hide behind contact forms or make people jump through hoops. The easier you make it, the more likely people are to actually reach out.
Your website should represent who you are today. One of Bernadette’s biggest frustrations with her old site was that it didn’t reflect where she is in her career now. Your website should evolve with you. If your site feels outdated or doesn’t represent your current work, it’s time for a refresh.
Speed doesn’t have to mean sacrificing quality. Bernadette needed a website quickly, but that didn’t mean settling for something mediocre. With the right process and clear vision, you can create a high-quality, strategic website in a short timeframe. My Design in a Day service proves that every time.
If you’re in leadership or consulting and you’re frustrated with your current website, I’d love to help you create something that actually works for you. Whether you need a simple single-page site like Bernadette’s or a more comprehensive online home, the goal is always the same to create a website that represents you well, makes it easy for the right people to find you, and doesn’t require a tech degree to maintain.
Ready for Your Own Professional Resume Website Design?
If Bernadette’s story resonates with you, let’s talk about creating a website that truly represents your expertise and makes it easy for people to connect with you.
For Leaders and Consultants: I understand the unique challenges you face. You need a professional online presence, but you don’t have time to fuss with complicated platforms or constant updates. Let me create a strategic website that positions you as the expert you are and works for you around the clock.
Design in a Day: If you need a website quickly and you have a clear vision of what you want, my Design in a Day service might be perfect for you. We can create your entire website in one focused workday, just like I did for Bernadette.
Not Sure Where to Start? Book a discovery call and let’s chat about your goals, your challenges, and what kind of online home would serve you best.
Want to Improve Your Current Site? If you already have a website but it’s not quite working for you, consider a website audit where I’ll give you specific, actionable recommendations to make it better.
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Your website should make your professional life easier, not harder. It should open doors, not create barriers. And it should represent the expert you are today. If that’s not happening with your current site, let’s change that together.
Ready to create your own professional online home? I’d love to help you make it happen.
