From Corporate Life to Becoming A Dubsado Certified Specialist
Leaving Finance for Life as a Dubsado Expert
If you’ve been around here a minute or two, then you know I’m all about creating elevated client experiences that fill your calendar and make space for more ease, thanks to smart automation and streamlined systems in Dubsado.
But how did I become a Dubsado Certified Specialist and Client Experience Strategist in the first place?
Let’s rewind.
My path to entrepreneurship might sound similar to yours. I started in the corporate world, working a steady 9–5 as an account manager in Canada’s finance industry. But as my family grew, so did my desire for something different.
After my first child, I pivoted into headhunting, hoping a career change would bring more balance. It helped, but not enough. By the time my second arrived, I was ready to build something on my own terms.
For me, the leap into freelance consulting was about creating a business that brought freedom, flexibility, and joy.
Like most entrepreneurs, I figured it out as I went: testing, tweaking, learning what worked (and what absolutely didn’t). That messy middle? It’s what brought me to Dubsado.
The Do-It-All Phase Before I Became a Dubsado Expert
When I launched my business, I was a one-stop shop for consultants who needed help getting organized. I did everything from building presentation decks and managing invoices to developing courses and creating business strategies.
My goal was simple: help service providers run their business smoothly. And that meant finding the right tools to support their systems—CRMs, project management platforms, whatever it took to make things flow.
I wasn’t just offering advice. I was working alongside my clients to build systems that supported the way they actually worked, and the lives they wanted outside of their business.
It was during this deep-in-the-weeds work that I realized Dubsado was the system that could keep up with my clients’ needs.
Why I Became a Dubsado Certified Specialist (and Why I Still Am)
Discovering Dubsado was a turning point in how I approached business systems strategy.
It started when a client asked me to find the best CRM for their needs. I tested them all—Honeybook, 17hats, Moxie, Hubspot. But Dubsado stood out for its automation power, flexibility, and price point.
Learning Dubsado was like picking up a new language (that makes English, French, and Dubsado for me). But this language came with fewer headaches and resulted in happier clients. The more I explored, the more I saw how it could transform the way small businesses operate.
So I got *officially* certified! And not just once.
Staying a Dubsado Certified Specialist means regular recertification through hands-on exams, full setups, and real-world case studies.
It’s work—but it’s worth it. Certification helps me stay sharp, keep up with Dubsado’s updates, like their mobile app and upcoming 3.0 version, and make sure my clients get systems that support their business.
Why Client Experience Strategy Became Part of My Dubsado Services
Expanding into client experience strategy wasn’t on my vision board, but it was something my clients (busy designers, photographers, and copywriters) asked for, over and over again.
In 2023, I started noticing a shift.
More clients were coming to me with questions about how to structure their client journey—not just so it “works,” but so clients actually enjoy the process and want to come back (or send friends).
I’d offer insights during Process Mapping Sessions, but it became clear this needed its own space in my work. So I carved out a dedicated hour inside my Dubsado VIP Week, focused entirely on client experience strategy.
During that time, we look at the full picture of your client experience, from first inquiry to final offboarding, and figure out where things could run smoother, where clients might feel confused or overlooked, and what changes could make the experience feel seamless and supportive.
These strategy sessions are different for everyone, but here’s what often comes up:
- Bottlenecks: Parts of your process that slow you down or create extra work behind the scenes
- Breakpoints: Moments where clients feel unclear, lost, or unsure of what’s supposed to happen next
- Gaps in experience: Steps that technically work, but could feel smoother, more personal, or more aligned with your brand
Because exceptional client experience isn’t a nice extra. It’s the thing that keeps your clients coming back, raving about you, and referring others.
Focusing on VIP Weeks Made Me a Better Dubsado Specialist
I won’t lie. Committing fully to Dubsado in the early days felt like a risk.
I was still figuring things out: finding clients, learning the platform inside and out, and managing life with two kids. Most nights, I was deep in Dubsado, testing what worked and what didn’t.
Back then, I was juggling multiple projects at once, each with a 4–6 week timeline. And honestly? The constant switching was draining. My focus was scattered, and I knew my clients deserved more.
That’s when I shifted to the VIP Week model. One client. One week. Full focus. It’s given me space to go deeper, work faster, and deliver systems that fit you, without me burning out.
Blair Woerfel, of BW Studio Events, loved the short timeline, saying, “I was hesitant I’d have to wait 10-12 weeks before I’d have final products, but Martine got us up and running so quickly! It was fantastic!”
If you’re ready for a streamlined, done-with-you Dubsado setup—without dragging it out over weeks—I’d love to work with you inside a VIP Week.
You bring the vision. I’ll build the system that brings it to life.