Advertise on podcast: The Network Build Grow Podcast: Relationships that Scale

What if the person you're pitching at a networking event isn't a prospect at all, at least not yet? And what if your best networking move has nothing to do with your own business? In this warm and practical episode of the Network Build Grow Podcast, host Melissa Taylor sits down with Lisa Gifford, a non-legal estate planning educator and the founder of Signature Line Legacy Partners. Lisa went to law school, built her own estate plan, and found out how confusing and expensive the process is for everyday families. She shares how networking led her to her key business partner, why she connects people even when there's nothing in it for her, and why the best relationships are a long game. Top Takeaways Not everyone is a prospect right now — The most common mistake Lisa sees is trying to sell immediately. People have different needs at different times, so get to know them first. Ask "What brings you here?" — Skip "What do you do?" and the weather talk. This one question opens a real conversation. Take it offline — When someone could be a good fit, don't take over their time at the event. Follow up later, point back to something they said, and suggest coffee or a Zoom call. Everything is networking — Opportunities come up at lunch, on the sidelines of a kids' soccer game, and anywhere else people talk. They aren't limited to business events. Play the long game — Like estate planning, networking has layers. A connection might not pay off for you today, but it could help someone else down the road. About Lisa Gifford Lisa Gifford is the founder of Signature Line Legacy Partners and a non-legal estate planning educator. She helps families move from intention to execution through estate planning education, document facilitation, notarization, and trust-funding support. By making straightforward estate planning more understandable and approachable, Lisa helps families get their houses in order before their "what-ifs" become their loved ones' "now what." Her guiding belief is simple: your family will either inherit peace from you or inherit problems, and her mission is to help them inherit peace. Resources & Links 🌐 Network Build Grow Community: networkbuildgrow.com 📜 Signature Line Legacy Partners — Estate planning education, document facilitation, notarization, and trust-funding support: https://signaturelinelegacypartners.com Subscribe & Connect If this episode reminded you that networking is about relationships, not quick sales, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow entrepreneur, business owner, or anyone who needs a nudge to get their estate plan in order. 👉 Not yet part of our community? Visit networkbuildgrow.com to join us. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on networking, leadership, branding, and business growth  🌐 Join the Network Build Grow community at networkbuildgrow.com 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on networking, leadership, branding, and business growth  🌐 Join the Network Build Grow community at networkbuildgrow.com

In this candid episode of the Network Build Grow Podcast, host Melissa Taylor sits down with Leann Coleman-Waters, founder of LCW Advisory Group and a fractional Chief of Staff who spent two decades leading marketing and communications teams in corporate before going out on her own this year. Leann calls her work "calming the chaos" — and she's been living her own version of it. She walks through her first months as a new founder: how she went from decision to open doors in about a month, why she said yes to every room at first, and how she figured out which ones were actually hers. Top Takeaways Decision to doors in one month — Once she committed, she moved fast. A career coach pushing her to "just post it" and a strong support system to sanity-check her messaging accelerated everything. Your messaging will change, that's the point — She sounds completely different now than when she launched. The repetition and trial-and-error of networking is what sharpened it. Go to everything at first, then narrow hard — Several events a month early on wasn't about collecting contacts. It was reconnaissance: learning which rooms felt genuine and which didn't. You'll usually know after one visit — If a group clearly isn't a fit, she doesn't force a second try. If it's just uncertain, two or three visits is fair before calling it. One quality connection is a successful event — Ask her what a good night looks like and the number is one. Depth of trust beats volume every time. Trade some coffees for 15-minute Zooms — After months of in-person lunches, she's moving first meetings online to protect her time — and it works, as long as you come with real questions and a genuine desire to help. About Leann Coleman-Waters Leann Coleman-Waters is the Founder of LCW Advisory Group and a fractional Chief of Staff who helps small and midsize businesses navigate growth, change, and organizational complexity with clarity and confidence. With more than two decades of experience in strategic communications, operations, and organizational transformation, she brings a rare blend of analytical insight and human-centered leadership. She describes her work simply as "calming the chaos" — stepping in as the right hand for owners who are stretched too thin, typically in businesses of five to twenty-five people, though she also supports solo operators who need high-level strategy to reach the next level. Through her advisory practice, Leann partners with leaders to strengthen communication, align teams, and build the systems that support sustainable, meaningful progress. She's based in Fort Mill, in the greater Charlotte area. Resources & Links 🌐 Network Build Grow Community: networkbuildgrow.com 💼 LCW Advisory Group — Fractional Chief of Staff services for small and midsize businesses: https://lcwadvisorygroup.com Subscribe & Connect If this episode gave you permission to start before you feel ready — to walk into the room as yourself, skip the rehearsed pitch, and stop measuring success by how many hands you shook — please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a founder in their first year. 👉 Not yet part of our community? Visit networkbuildgrow.com to join us. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on networking, leadership, branding, and business growth  🌐 Join the Network Build Grow community at networkbuildgrow.com 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on networking, leadership, branding, and business growth  🌐 Join the Network Build Grow community at networkbuildgrow.com

In this funny, refreshingly honest episode of the Network Build Grow Podcast, host Melissa Taylor sits down with Brian Lafontaine — screen actor, voiceover artist, improviser, MC, public speaking coach, and creator of Speak Easy in Charlotte. After three decades of auditions, sets, and the question every actor lives with ("is today the last time my phone rings?"), Brian rebuilt his business around teaching other people to speak. He brings a performer's ear to networking: listen first, get genuinely curious, and never let a conversation turn into two monologues. Top Takeaways The skill set transfers — most people just can't see it. Brian spent 30 years convinced his acting career had no application outside entertainment. One conversation with his sister-in-law changed that. Presence, intention, and reading a room are business skills. "What do you do?" turns dialogue into two monologues — He never opens with it. He leads with something personal instead: an accent, an earring, anything that tells him who the person actually is. The part you hide is the part that sets you apart — Most speakers bury their humor and personality as "not professional." That's usually the exact thing that would make them memorable. Different rooms serve different purposes — Some rooms are full of clients. Some teach you how to run a business. Some just have people you genuinely like. Knowing which is which saves a lot of frustration. About Brian Lafontaine Actor. Speaker. Coach. Be Seen. Be Heard. Be Unforgettable. Brian Lafontaine has spent over 30 years as a professional actor, with roles in Ozark, Stranger Things, Outer Banks, The Hate U Give, Homeland, Nashville, and The Vampire Diaries. He's played doctors, dads, and dudes with dark secrets. But his real superpower is helping people communicate with clarity, confidence, and authenticity — on a stage, in a boardroom, or on Zoom with the camera off. As a public speaking coach and event host, Brian brings a blend of performance training, storytelling mastery, and deeply human insight to individuals, teams, and companies. His style is playful, inspiring, and no-nonsense, with a healthy dose of humor and heart. He's also the creator and host of Speak Easy, a live event series in Charlotte for speakers who want to practice being seen in a new way. Brian helps people stop "presenting" and start connecting. Because your message matters — but only if people believe you when you say it. Everyone has a story, and everyone's story is worth hearing. Resources & Links 🌐 Network Build Grow Community: networkbuildgrow.com 🎙️ Brian Lafontaine — Public speaking coach and event host: brianlafontaine.com 🥃 Speak Easy — Live event series for speakers, first Monday of every month at VisArt Video, Charlotte Subscribe & Connect If this episode gave you permission to stop pitching and start actually talking to people — to get curious, find your rooms, and let your personality do the work — please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow entrepreneur, business owner, or anyone who has ever frozen up at "so, what do you do?" 👉 Not yet part of our community? Visit networkbuildgrow.com to join us. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on networking, leadership, branding, and business growth  🌐 Join the Network Build Grow community at networkbuildgrow.com 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on networking, leadership, branding, and business growth  🌐 Join the Network Build Grow community at networkbuildgrow.com

In this episode of the Network Build Grow Podcast, host Melissa Taylor sits down with Emily Furfaro, founder of Dark Sky Creative Agency. After ten years at NASA, where she watched brilliant scientists struggle to communicate world-changing work, Emily left in 2025 to help business owners find their core message. One year in, she shares how she built her client base entirely on word of mouth, how she pushed herself into in-person networking, and why curiosity beats confidence when you're new to the room. Top Takeaways Start with the network you already have — Emily's first move was a LinkedIn post and virtual calls with former colleagues. Word of mouth is networking. Lead with curiosity, not the ask — Reaching out to old contacts to "learn how the commercial world differs" spreads awareness of your business without feeling salesy. Ask for introductions the low-pressure way — "Do you know anyone I could talk to to learn more?" works even when you're not naming a specific person. Listen more than you pitch — Mentors, SCORE advisors, and the person in front of you all teach you something if you stop reciting your 30-second speech. Quality over quantity — including coffees — Not every connection needs a follow-up meeting. Let how the conversation went decide who gets your energy. Follow up the next day — Connect on LinkedIn, send an email within 24 hours, and track it all (even a spreadsheet works until you're ready for a CRM). About Emily Furfaro Emily Furfaro is a digital strategy executive, communications leader, and co-founder of Dark Sky Creative Agency. She knows firsthand what it takes to communicate compellingly in complex, high-stakes environments, having spent a decade leading digital strategy for NASA Science before launching Dark Sky with three fellow senior NASA communicators. Now she works with businesses and organizations across industries to clarify their messaging, sharpen their brand, and turn their work into smart strategy and storytelling that drives real outcomes. Her work has earned Emmy and Webby Awards, main belt asteroid 188800 2005 WO62 was renamed "Emilyfurfaro" in honor of her contributions to science communication. Resources & Links 🌐 Network Build Grow Community: networkbuildgrow.com  🌌 Dark Sky Creative Agency — Messaging, web, social, video & PR for growing businesses www.darkskycreativeagency.com   Subscribe & Connect If this episode reminded you that networking starts with curiosity — not a perfect pitch — please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow entrepreneur, business owner, or anyone making the leap from a big organization to their own. 👉 Not yet part of our community? Visit networkbuildgrow.com to join us. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on networking, leadership, branding, and business growth  🌐 Join the Network Build Grow community at networkbuildgrow.com 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on networking, leadership, branding, and business growth  🌐 Join the Network Build Grow community at networkbuildgrow.com

In this raw, deeply human episode of the Network Build Grow Podcast, host Melissa Taylor sits down with Domenica Robbins, founder of Legacy Paws Rescue. After a car accident and brain injury ended her nursing career, Domenica bought five acres and started rescuing the dogs nobody else would take. A year and a half and seventeen dogs later, she realized passion alone wasn't going to make it outlive her and started networking for the very first time. Top Takeaways Doing it alone has a price — Financial, emotional, physical. The turning point was asking what it would take for the mission to outlive her: a team with the same integrity. Your first event fear is universal — She walked in expecting judgment and found humans. The person she was most scared to be judged by became the reason she stayed. Isolating businesses need networking most — She could stay on her five acres forever. Being involved is what keeps the burnout from winning. Show the middle, not just the before and after — Rescues post the shocking photo and the adoption photo. The healing in between is the part that actually matters. About Domenica Robbins Domenica Robbins is the Founder and Executive Director of Legacy Paws Rescue, a veteran-owned, no-kennel dog sanctuary on five acres in Catawba, NC. She spent her nursing career in psychiatry and addiction, showing up for the people most systems pass over. When a brain injury from a car accident ended that career, she finally gave a name to what she'd been doing her whole life... rescuing the castaways. Legacy Paws takes in dogs facing euthanasia for being misunderstood, rehabilitates them, and places them with intention, while working to prevent surrenders before they happen. She'll be the first to tell you she's learning as she goes, and that none of this works without a community of kindness, where people and pets rescue each other. Resources & Links 🌐 Network Build Grow Community: networkbuildgrow.com 🐾 Legacy Paws Rescue — Five-acre nonprofit rescuing misunderstood and at-risk dogs www.legacypawsrescue.org Subscribe & Connect If this episode reminded you that you don't have to build it alone — that asking for help is the strategy, not the surrender — please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a founder, nonprofit leader, or anyone doing hard work in isolation. 👉 Not yet part of our community? Visit networkbuildgrow.com to join us. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on networking, leadership, branding, and business growth  🌐 Join the Network Build Grow community at networkbuildgrow.com 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on networking, leadership, branding, and business growth  🌐 Join the Network Build Grow community at networkbuildgrow.com

What if the reason you come home from vacation exhausted is that you never actually saw anything? And what if the same rushing that ruins a trip is exactly what's ruining your networking? In this warm, wandering episode of the Network Build Grow Podcast, host Melissa Taylor sits down with Jo Wise-Ames, speaker, storyteller, and founder of Wild and Free Journeys. After traveling slowly through more than 70 countries, Jo built a business around the opposite of the ten-day cram — and brings that same patient, curious approach to every room she walks into. Top Takeaways If you need a vacation from your vacation, you did it wrong — Five countries in five days is exhausting, and you're not really seeing any of them. Two days in London isn't England — See the landmarks, then get out to the villages, the country pubs, the narrow lanes of Devon and Cornwall. Step back from the Eiffel Tower and you'll find where Parisians actually get their coffee. Following the flag means missing the trip — In big tour groups, people watch the back of the person in front of them. Stand still in a square for two minutes and you'll see more than you would sprinting past Buckingham Palace. Influencers have flooded the hidden gems — When exact coordinates get posted, a tiny back alley with a great view over Porto turns into a queue. The upside is exposure; the downside is those local spots losing what made them worth finding. Slow travel reconnects you to your people, not just the place — Jo traveled with her teenage daughter for four months and had conversations they'd never have found time for at home. Stop asking "what do you do?" — Jo's opener is "what's the most interesting thing happening in your business right now?" It sparks something she can actually act on. Always say why you're connecting two people — A LinkedIn intro that just says "you two should know each other" leaves both parties fishing. Jo sets up a three-way chat, explains the fit, then steps out of the conversation. Watch the edges of the room — She looks for the person standing alone while everyone else clusters, and brings them in. It's the highest-value thing a member can do at an event. Don't expect results on day one — Nobody's booking a trip with a stranger. Build the relationship, book the one-to-ones, take good notes, then let it grow from there. About Jo Wise-Ames Jo Wise-Ames is a speaker, storyteller, and the founder of Wild and Free Journeys. After spending years traveling slowly through more than 70 countries, she discovered that the greatest gift of travel isn't simply seeing new places — it's reconnecting to ourselves. Today, Jo helps people slow down, see differently, stay curious, and reconnect with what matters most. Through her stories, photography, and experiences from around the world, she encourages us to look beyond the obvious and find possibility in unexpected places. Resources & Links 🌐 Network Build Grow Community: networkbuildgrow.com  ✈️ Wild and Free Journeys — Slow, small-group travel experiences: wildandfreejourneys.co Subscribe & Connect If this episode made you want to slow down — on your next trip and in your next networking room — please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow entrepreneur, business owner, or anyone who's ever come home more tired than they left. 👉 Not yet part of our community? Visit networkbuildgrow.com to join us. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on networking, leadership, branding, and business growth  🌐 Join the Network Build Grow community at networkbuildgrow.com 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on networking, leadership, branding, and business growth  🌐 Join the Network Build Grow community at networkbuildgrow.com

In this practical, myth-busting episode of the Network Build Grow Podcast, host Melissa Taylor sits down with Deb Hanson of Zen Advisors, who helps small business owners, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits adopt AI without the jargon, the overwhelm, or the fear. Deb shares the exact system she uses to turn a stack of cards into a working CRM and why none of it replaces the human part of the relationship. Top Takeaways AI won't take your job but a bad process will still sink you — Deb points to research suggesting AI will be used by roughly 70% of businesses, without taking over 70% of the business. Amplify a broken process and you just fail faster. 85% of people haven't even tried AI — That's not a threat, it's a doorway. If you're already curious, you're ahead of most of your competitors. Relationships are not a numbers game — Show up consistently, ask how you can contribute, follow up. The relationship comes before the business conversation, every time. Stop trying to sell. Start listening — When you understand someone's actual problem, you can solve it. Solve it and the referrals come on their own — even if the solution is an introduction to someone else. Let AI do the part you hate — Photograph the cards, upload them, let AI build the spreadsheet, drop it into your CRM (Deb uses GoHighLevel). No CRM? A spreadsheet is fine,  just put it somewhere you'll actually find it. Best advice for anyone new to networking: just go — You don't need a perfect pitch. Show up and smile. Everybody gets energy from a smile, and once you cross the threshold, the hard part's over. About Deb Hanson Deb Hanson is the founder of Zien Advisors, an AI advisory and training consultancy based in Charlotte, NC. She helps small business owners, solopreneurs, and nonprofits cut through the noise and actually put AI to work - through workshops, one-on-one training, and automation builds. Her mission is simple: make AI accessible to the organizations that need it most, without the jargon or the overwhelm. Resources & Links 🌐 Network Build Grow Community: networkbuildgrow.com  🧠 Zen Advisors — AI adoption, training, and speaking for small businesses and nonprofits: zienadvisors.com   Subscribe & Connect If this episode gave you a reason to finally deal with that pile of business cards — and permission to use AI without losing the human part of your network — please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow entrepreneur, business owner, or anyone still afraid to type their first prompt. 👉 Not yet part of our community? Visit networkbuildgrow.com to join us. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on networking, leadership, branding, and business growth  🌐 Join the Network Build Grow community at networkbuildgrow.com

What if the reason your networking feels flat is that you're running a script nobody asked for? And what if the skill that fixes it isn't a better elevator pitch  It's learning to listen like an improviser? In this energizing episode of the Network Build Grow Podcast, host Melissa Taylor sits down with Dayna Gowen, founder of Improvly Speaking, recovering nervous speaker, and self-described "long-form content girly." After ten-plus years in corporate, a coast-to-coast move, and a whole lot of terrible presentations, Dayna has a simple thesis: conversations aren't scripted, so stop treating them like they are. Top Takeaways Prepare fully, then release the notes — Toastmasters made her polished; improv made her dynamic. The difference is being with the audience instead of behind your slides. A check-the-box sales presentation loses the client — If you never ask "how does this relate to your work?", they're checking email while you talk. Make it a conversation, not a one-way speech. Measure the right thing — Her guiding question isn't "how many people did I meet?" It's did I meet a cool person, and did I leave lit up or drained? Follow up whenever you follow up — Two days, a week, a month: it's not too late. She's honest that systems are her struggle point, but personal beats polished — long emails, handwritten notes, no AI. Listening is your superpower — Less is more. Give people space to talk and they'll remember feeling seen, which is the only thing networking is actually for. About Dayna Gowen Dayna Gowen is the founder of Improvly Speaking, where she helps nervous speakers find the fun and joy in public speaking. After more than a decade in the corporate world — and a public speaking fear intense enough to involve real tears — she used Toastmasters to become polished and improv to become dynamic. She now works with professionals, leaders, and sales teams on getting out of their heads and out of judgment mode so they can bring a playful, genuine energy to any room, from a full auditorium to a Tuesday morning team meeting. She built the business as a side hustle for three and a half years in Los Angeles before moving to Charlotte in August 2025 and going all in. Her mantra word for 2025 was discovery; for 2026, it's possibilities. Resources & Links 🌐 Network Build Grow Community: networkbuildgrow.com  🎤 Improvly Speaking — Speaker coaching and improv-based training for presentations, meetings, and sales conversations with Dayna Gowen https://www.improvlyspeaking.com/ Subscribe & Connect If this episode made you want to close the notes app, ask a better question, and actually listen — please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow entrepreneur, business owner, or anyone who still opens with "so what do you do?" 👉 Not yet part of our community? Visit networkbuildgrow.com to join us. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on networking, leadership, branding, and business growth  🌐 Join the Network Build Grow community at networkbuildgrow.com 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on networking, leadership, branding, and business growth  🌐 Join the Network Build Grow community at networkbuildgrow.com

In this candid, energizing episode of the Network Build Grow Podcast, host Melissa Taylor sits down with Lu Tandazo, founder of Dream Into Success, speaker, and coach who helps business owners navigate imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and people-pleasing through life and business transitions. A self-described introvert who once had to be paid to attend a networking event, Lu shares the identity work and mindset shifts that turned networking from something she dreaded into her biggest source of growth. Top Takeaways Networking is not about you — The discomfort comes from self-focus; get curious about the other person and it stops being about how you're coming across. Two or three real conversations is a successful event — Networking is relationship building, not a numbers game. Your goals demand a new version of you — Bolder decisions, different choices, a different circle. Comfort destroys success. Collaborate with different skill sets, not competing ones — Look for people who bring value you can't, then create events and experiences together that are worth more than either of you alone. Follow up at the right speed — Same-day text for a potential client, within three days for a strategic alliance. About Lu Tandazo Lu Tandazo is the founder of Dream Into Success, born out of her own story of using personal development to transform her personal and professional life. She works with business owners and professionals on confidence, imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and people-pleasing — helping them navigate life transitions and grow into the next version of themselves. Believing that most of us stop at the dream because fear gets in the way, Lu serves as the guide who helps clients turn that dream into something real. She works one-on-one and in small groups capped at eight, and also hosts collaborative events with other experts. Resources & Links 🌐 Network Build Grow Community: networkbuildgrow.com ✨ Dream Into Success — Coaching on confidence, imposter syndrome & becoming your next version (one-on-one and small groups) https://www.dreamintosuccessnow.com/ 📧 Reach Lu directly: [email protected] Subscribe & Connect If this episode gave you a new way to walk into a room curious instead of self-conscious, building relationships instead of collecting cards. Please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow entrepreneur, business owner, or anyone who's been quietly avoiding the next networking event. 👉 Not yet part of our community? Visit networkbuildgrow.com to join us. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on networking, leadership, branding, and business growth  🌐 Join the Network Build Grow community at networkbuildgrow.com 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on networking, leadership, branding, and business growth  🌐 Join the Network Build Grow community at networkbuildgrow.com

What if the biggest networking mistake isn't talking too much, but talking too little? And what if the connection you've been chasing for two years is just one ten-minute conversation away? In this episode of the Network Build Grow Podcast, host Melissa Taylor sits down with Ragi Riad, CPA and founder of Riad CPA PC. Ragi moved from Egypt to the States alone at nineteen and rebuilt his career from his garage after a layoff. Today he's a behavioral tax strategist who serves as an advocate, coach, and mentor helping business owners gain clarity and confidence in their finances. Top Takeaways Be an advocate, not a transactional CPA — understand the "why" behind every dollar you spend. One relationship beats two years of cold outreach — one Network Build Grow member made a connection in ten minutes that years of emails couldn't. The three networking mistakes — selling too hard, talking too much, and the one nobody mentions: talking too little. Give without expecting anything in return — Ragi books free insight sessions monthly, knowing most may never become clients. Networking can become "not working" — be intentional, pick the right rooms, and follow up on every card you collect. Play the long game — one fifteen-minute discovery call became a client two years later. Stay in touch. About Ragi Riad Ragi Riad is a CPA, behavioral tax strategist, and founder of Riad CPA PC. His philosophy: be intentional about every connection, stay humble, and ask, "How can I impact and bless someone today?" Surround yourself with leaders who push you forward success takes time, commitment, and discipline. 📊 Riad CPA PC: https://www.riadcpa.com 🌐 Join the community: networkbuildgrow.com 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on networking, leadership, branding, and business growth. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on networking, leadership, branding, and business growth  🌐 Join the Network Build Grow community at networkbuildgrow.com

What if the best business manager you could hire isn't a person at all and costs about as much as a streaming subscription? And what if you could build a six-figure business with zero traditional marketing, from an RV, while raising five kids? In this high-energy episode of the Network Build Grow Podcast, host Melissa Taylor sits down with Alison Simmons, founder of Lead Smarter Co. A former high school math teacher and mom of five, Alison went from stay-at-home side-hustler to online business manager to AI strategist all while her family sold everything they owned and traveled the country in an RV. Today she teaches entrepreneurs how to use AI as a strategic thought partner, not just a content creator, and how to build "AI employees" inside Notion that run your business for around twenty-four dollars a month. Top Takeaways AI is a strategic partner, not a content creator — Alison hit a breaking point managing four clients' businesses and turned AI into a true thinking partner for strategy and systems, not just Instagram captions and brainstorming. Hire "AI employees" instead of an expensive business manager — Her whole model now: build your AI-powered business inside Notion, where a full team of AI assistants costs about twenty-four dollars a month. Networking — not marketing — built her six-figure business — In two and a half years, one networking group spread her name across four hundred members and keeps the introductions flowing. Traditional marketing? Zero. Measure your networking ROI — Great people aren't enough. If six months go by without a single introduction, insight, or dollar that moves your business forward, it's not the right room — no matter how much you like the people. About Alison Simmons Alison Simmons is the founder of Lead Smarter Co, where she teaches entrepreneurs and business owners how to run their businesses with AI instead of hiring an expensive online business manager. A former high school math teacher and mom of five, Alison spent fifteen years as a serial side-hustler before launching her freelance and online business management career — then sold everything, moved her family into an RV, and built her business on the road. Today she offers a twelve-week program, one-on-one coaching, and VIP intensives, with a special focus on building AI-powered systems inside Notion. Her next mission: bringing practical AI education to high schools and colleges so the next generation graduates ready to amplify — not lose — their creativity. Resources & Links 🌐 Network Build Grow Community: networkbuildgrow.com 🤖 Lead Smarter Co — AI-powered business management programs, one-on-one coaching, and VIP days. [www.leadsmarterco.com](http://www.leadsmarterco.com) Subscribe & Connect If this episode showed you what's possible when you pair real relationships with smart systems — building a business through genuine connections and letting AI handle the busywork — please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow entrepreneur or business owner who's still doing everything the hard way. 👉 Not yet part of our community? Visit networkbuildgrow.com to join us. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on networking, leadership, branding, and business growth 🌐 Join the Network Build Grow community at networkbuildgrow.com 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on networking, leadership, branding, and business growth  🌐 Join the Network Build Grow community at networkbuildgrow.com

What if AI isn't a shortcut, but a system and the businesses actually winning with it are the ones willing to trust the process? And what if adding AI to your business doesn't make you less human, but frees you up to be more human than ever? In this systems-minded episode of the Network Build Grow Podcast, host Melissa Taylor sits down with Steven Edwards, an AI-Powered Business Optimization Coach and Fractional Chief AI Executive. With two decades as a CPA specializing in internal audit behind him, Steve brings a framework-first, top-to-bottom mindset to everything he touches whether that's a client's business systems or his own approach to networking. He walks Melissa through why AI should be treated as one piece of a complete system rather than a stand-alone tool, how he's building out his own AI "org chart" one agent at a time.  Top Takeaways Think systems, not tools — Steve maps a business from the top (objectives) down to where things are leaking, then brings in AI as a thinking tool to diagnose the gaps and, often, as part of the fix. AI is a vital component of the system never the whole system. Start with your "one thing" — Rather than throwing AI at everything at once, Steve identifies the single most impactful problem or outcome first and builds from there, expanding only after that starting point proves out. AI gives you more time to be human — Steve's reframe on the "AI feels robotic" fear: AI handles the logistics in the background, which frees up time for more human connection, not less. Build your own AI org chart — Steve is building out a team of AI agents with defined roles, starting with "Pam," his AI chief of staff, who will supervise other specialized agents. Steve stays the human in the loop, doing the final checkoff on everything. About Steven Edwards Steven Edwards is an AI-Powered Business Optimization Coach and Fractional Chief AI Executive. With over 20 years as a CPA specializing in Internal Audit, Steven developed a deep expertise in frameworks, systems, and business optimization. He later spent a decade in real estate and coaching, where he discovered his passion for helping people think clearly and perform at a higher level. In late 2022, he discovered AI and saw an opportunity to combine everything he had learned. Today, he helps professionals and business leaders turn AI from a source of confusion into a practical, results-driven advantage by designing simple, structured workflows that deliver measurable ROI. Resources & Links 🔗 Connect with Steven Edwards: https://linktree.youraibusinessguy.com/ 🌐 Network Build Grow Community: networkbuildgrow.com Subscribe & Connect If this episode gave you a new way to think about bringing AI into your business — as a system built one deliberate step at a time, not a shortcut — please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow entrepreneur or business owner figuring out where AI fits. 👉 Not yet part of our community? Visit networkbuildgrow.com to join us. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on networking, leadership, branding, and business growth 🌐 Join the Network Build Grow community at networkbuildgrow.com 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on networking, leadership, branding, and business growth  🌐 Join the Network Build Grow community at networkbuildgrow.com

What if you could launch a business in the middle of a pandemic, no events, no handshakes, no clients and grow it into year six on nothing more than three genuine conversations a week? And what if the nervous-looking person in the back of the room is actually the best networker there? In this warm, down-to-earth episode of the Network Build Grow Podcast, host Melissa Taylor sits down with Bonnie Corwin, founder of Corwin Bookkeeping, a virtual bookkeeping firm helping small business owners finally understand their numbers. As a proud introvert who'd rather be home with her spreadsheets than at an event with hundreds of people, Bonnie shares how she networked her way from zero clients in September 2020 to a thriving firm with small goals, real conversations, and zero sales pitches. Top Takeaways The 3-people-a-week rule - Before she had a single client, Bonnie set one goal: tell three people a week about her business. Family, old friends, anyone. No selling, just practice saying what you do out loud. That tiny habit built her entire client base. Networking isn't just networking events — Bonnie has landed clients through family visits and casual chats at her daughter's school. Your retired in-laws won't hire you, but they know people who will. If your extended family doesn't even know you own a business, start there. Go in as your introverted self — Before every event, Bonnie reminds herself: no performance required. She doesn't have to be overly energetic or extroverted — just herself. The right clients are attracted to the real you. Talk to the wallflowers first — Her go-to move in any room: greet the people she knows, then find the person who looks new, nervous, or unsure what to do next — because she's been in that boat. Making others comfortable takes the pressure off you and wins hearts instantly. Choose structured events over free-for-alls — Happy-hour mingles drain her; events with a speaker or guided questions play to her strengths. Pick formats built for real conversation. About Bonnie Corwin Bonnie is the owner of Corwin Bookkeeping - a virtual bookkeeping business she launched in September 2020. Originally from the Midwest (Indiana/Iowa), Bonnie has called North Carolina home for the last 10 years. She is celebrating 12 years of marriage to her husband Chris and they have one daughter, Abigail.  A self-proclaimed math nerd, Bonnie loves helping business owners stay organized behind the scenes while helping them understand what their numbers say about their business. When she is not working, Bonnie loves spending time with her family, traveling, reading a good book, and drinking good coffee.  Resources & Links 🌐 Network Build Grow Community: networkbuildgrow.com 📊 Corwin Bookkeeping — Virtual monthly bookkeeping for small business owners who want clean books and clear numbers - www.corwinbookkeeping.com Subscribe & Connect If this episode reminded you that you don't have to be the loudest person in the room to grow a real business — that three genuine conversations beat a hundred business cards — please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow entrepreneur, business owner, or anyone who gets nervous walking into a networking event. 👉 Not yet part of our community? Visit networkbuildgrow.com to join us. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on networking, leadership, branding, and business growth 🌐 Join the Network Build Grow community at networkbuildgrow.com 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on networking, leadership, branding, and business growth  🌐 Join the Network Build Grow community at networkbuildgrow.com

What if the loudest person in the room is doing networking completely wrong and the quiet one smiling in the corner is the one building a real business? And what if "working the room" is exactly the habit that's leaving you drained and empty-handed? In this grounded, refreshing episode of the Network Build Grow Podcast, host Melissa Taylor sits down with Tami Robinson, certified yoga therapist, integral associate coach, founder of Wellness with Tami, and lead instructor for the Great Yoga Wall. As a proud introvert who serves first and sells last, Tami shares how she approaches networking like a practice: with presence, warmth, and zero interest in handing out business cards like Halloween candy. Top Takeaways Networking is a practice, not a performance — Tami treats every room like her yoga practice: smile, be warm, get to know the person, and stay present. No pitching, no taking over the conversation. Protect your energy if you're an introvert — She schedules buffer time before and after every event, takes the pressure off "how many people can I meet," and looks for "warm-eyed" people instead of working the whole room. Serve first, sell last — In the wellness world there's a taboo around talking money. Tami's answer: nurture the relationship, give something helpful in the moment, and only transition to "I'd love to work with you" after you've genuinely served. Your approachability factor is everything — A smile breaks the ice faster than any opener. So does open body language — off your phone, facing the room, not turning your back. Many people walk in with a serious face and wonder why no one approaches. Lead with a low-key, non-business opener — "Is this your first time at this event?" beats "Here's what I do." Get the human conversation going before anything else. Choose events where you can serve, not just show up — Tami favors formats where she can speak, ask questions, and create real give-and-take — not a "mad crush" of people exchanging names and nothing else. Sponsorship is networking too — From inviting people to experience the Great Yoga Wall to donating sessions for nonprofit auctions, she meets people where they are and lets them say yes when they're ready. Drop the brag mode — The fastest way to lose her: turn the first conversation into a highlight reel or a name-drop. Mutual sharing builds trust; a pitch right away kills it. About Tami Robinson Tami Robinson is a certified yoga therapist and integral associate coach, and the founder of Wellness with Tami, where she helps people feel better in body, mind, and heart. Rather than large studio classes, she works one-on-one and in small, specialized groups to help clients build support, stability, and ease  decompressing from the hustle, whether they're solopreneurs, corporate high-performers, or parents under pressure. She's also the lead instructor for the Great Yoga Wall company, training teachers and students to use the prop system safely and effectively. Through "traction," the Great Yoga Wall works with gravity to deepen stretches and make postures accessible to people who never thought they could do yoga. Resources & Links 🌐 Network Build Grow Community: networkbuildgrow.com  🧘 Wellness with Tami — Yoga therapy & coaching for body, mind & heart (one-on-one and small groups) https://www.wellnesswithtami.com 🧱 The Great Yoga Wall — Prop system for deeper, more accessible practice; teacher training available Subscribe & Connect If this episode gave you permission to network as your authentic, introverted self  to serve first, protect your energy, and build real relationships instead of collecting contacts. Please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow entrepreneur, business owner, or anyone who dreads "working the room."  👉 Not yet part of our community? Visit networkbuildgrow.com to join us. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on networking, leadership, branding, and business growth  🌐 Join the Network Build Grow community at networkbuildgrow.com

Ever come home from a networking event having met thirty people and wondered if a single one of them will ever matter? What if the secret isn't working the whole room, but having two or three real conversations and letting trust do the rest? In this heartfelt episode of the Network Build Grow Podcast, host Melissa Taylor sits down with Fernanda Brasileiro — a 20-year supply chain leadership veteran turned founder of two businesses: a people-development consultancy helping companies fix team dynamics, trust, and culture, and Filled Cups, a Charlotte social-connections brand built to fight the loneliness epidemic. Fernanda is candid about being on a learning journey with networking, and she shares how she went from "business card shark" to building genuine, lasting connections. Top Takeaways Trade quantity for quality — Fernanda used to try to meet everyone in the room and left exhausted. Now she goes deep with two or three people and the connections actually last. Trust is the foundation of everything — Borrowing from Patrick Lencioni's pyramid: without trust at the base, teams (and relationships) have nothing to build on. Connection is how you get there. Choose events that match your needs — At this stage, Fernanda prioritizes groups that offer real learning and professional development, not just mixers. Know what you actually need before you go. Open with humor — Her go-to icebreaker is a light joke about the situation a drink, the room, an awkward moment to make the first exchange feel human, not transactional. Build a simple follow-up system — A Google Sheet "informal CRM" captures every card, with a formula flagging anyone she hasn't spoken to in three months so they land in her outreach queue. Lead with active listening — Be genuinely interested, ask curious follow-up questions, and make the other person feel heard. (Melissa's "X Games" expand, explain, give an example are an easy way to remember it.) Be a connector, not a taker — Fernanda follows up to offer help and introductions, not to extract something. Generosity is what makes networking feel good and work long-term. Failure is tuition — An earlier e-commerce side hustle didn't survive, but it taught her marketing, time management, and how many hats running a business really takes lessons she carries into both ventures today. About Fernanda Brasileiro Fernanda Brasileiro is the founder of a people-development consultancy that helps medium and large companies improve team dynamics, engagement, culture, and trust through workshops, training programs, onboarding, coaching, and fractional learning-and-development support. Drawing on 20 years of corporate supply chain leadership, she now works as a thought partner and advisor rather than a full-time employee. She's also the founder of Filled Cups, a Charlotte-based social-connections brand that hosts monthly social and singles events to combat the loneliness epidemic having helped 200+ people form genuine friendships since launching in November 2024 and hosts the Connectedness podcast on relationships, friendship, and personal growth. Resources & Links 🌐 Network Build Grow Community: networkbuildgrow.com  🧑‍💼 People Development Consultancy — Leadership development, team training, onboarding & fractional L&D FernandaBrasileiro.com 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on networking, leadership, branding, and business growth  🌐 Join the Network Build Grow community at networkbuildgrow.com