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

What if the reason your business isn’t growing is that you’re still doing everything yourself? And what if AI could handle the routine work, leaving you free for the one job no tool can do: building relationships? In this practical episode of the Network Build Grow Podcast, host Melissa Taylor sits down with Dameon Proctor, Business Transformation Executive, Fractional Chief AI Officer, and founder of Sierra Kru Consulting. Dameon helps growing businesses find their operational bottlenecks and build AI-powered systems to scale. In this conversation, he explains how founders can map their processes, let go of control, and keep their focus on revenue and relationships. Top Takeaways Map before you automate — Start by mapping every process in the business. Find what’s broken, then fix whatever gives the highest return first. Founders own revenue and relationships — Everything else can be handed to systems, automation, or the right people. Control comes back through visibility — Dashboards, KPIs, and weekly or biweekly operations meetings let owners step back from daily work without losing sight of it. AI can’t do relationships — It can tell you who to meet and why, but the connection itself is still yours to make. Tag contacts by where you met them — In his CRM (GoHighLevel), tags show who he met at each event and who he hasn’t followed up with yet. Networking isn’t prospecting — Showing up hunting for a deal brings the wrong energy. Show up to meet people, and opportunities come up on their own. About Dameon D. Proctor Dameon D. Proctor is a Business Transformation Executive, Fractional Chief AI Officer, and the founder of Sierra Kru Consulting. He helps growing businesses scale by finding operational bottlenecks, redesigning inefficient processes, and building AI-powered systems that raise performance and capacity. His AI work has cut parts of a real estate development consulting firm’s research and reporting from weeks to minutes. It has also reduced a mining firm’s engineering compliance analysis time by 80%. Dameon brings more than 20 years of executive experience building mission-critical national security systems. That includes technology controlling $1 billion in Navy unmanned aircraft, responsibility for $200 million in business operations, and P&L leadership of a $100 million business unit. He is a Penn State electrical engineer with a Johns Hopkins MBA and an M.S. from the University of Maryland Global Campus, and he began his career designing missile-launcher electronics. The name Sierra Kru honors his African ancestry, which traces to Sierra Leone and the Kru tribe of Liberia. Resources & Links 🌐 Network Build Grow Community: networkbuildgrow.com  💼 Sierra Kru Consulting — Operational transformation and AI systems for growing businesses: https://www.sierrakru.com 🛠️ GoHighLevel — the all-in-one CRM Dameon uses for pipelines, outreach, and contact tracking Subscribe & Connect If this episode helped you see what to automate and what to keep personal, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow entrepreneur or business owner who’s trying to scale without losing the human touch. 👉 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 stress keeping you up at night isn’t really about your business at all? And what if the fear holding you back started long before you ever opened your doors? In this honest and encouraging episode of the Network Build Grow Podcast, host Melissa Taylor sits down with Shiniqua Lee, licensed therapist and founder of Behind the Smile. She helps people address what they hide behind their smile. She shares how she launched her practice “kicking and screaming,” why she waited until year three to start networking, and how business owners can spot the old patterns driving today’s stress. Top Takeaways Your business stress may be older than your business — Perfectionism, fear of failure, and imposter syndrome often begin in childhood. Business pressure just makes them louder. Don’t wait until you can’t function — Most people only reach out once they’ve stopped sleeping, eating, or functioning. You don’t have to hit that wall first. It’s okay to kick and scream and keep going — Shaniqua doubted herself the whole way into private practice. Fear doesn’t mean stop. Ask for help and be honest about where you are. Networking isn’t just for clients — Community normalizes the struggle and teaches you what you don’t know. She wishes she’d started in year one instead of year three. Choose groups that feel right — Skip superficial rooms and groups that add quotas to your already full plate. If networking still hurts, you’re probably in the wrong group. Comfort comes from familiar faces — Like riding a bike, it feels shaky at first, then muscle memory takes over and it becomes almost enjoyable. Take relationships face-to-face — Use email to schedule, then meet over coffee or lunch. That’s where real alignment and collaboration happen. Don’t hide in the corner — The most common networking mistake is standing in the background with your coffee and not talking to anyone. About Shiniqua Lee Shiniqua Lee is a licensed therapist with about six years of experience and the founder of Behind the Smile, a mental health practice now in its third year. She specializes in helping adults heal from childhood trauma that still shapes their relationships, thinking, and daily lives. She has also built a team of clinicians with a range of specialties. Based in Charlotte and originally from New Jersey, she runs a fully virtual practice that serves clients across North Carolina, and she is personally licensed in five states. Her next goals are group sessions, speaking engagements, and a retreat. Resources & Links 🌐 Network Build Grow Community: networkbuildgrow.com 🧠 Behind the Smile: Virtual therapy for adults healing from childhood trauma, anxiety, depression, and life transitions Subscribe & Connect If this episode reminded you that it’s okay to struggle, ask for help, and build your business and your network one honest step at a time, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow entrepreneur, business owner, or anyone quietly carrying more than they let on. 👉 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’ve hit every career goal and still feel like something’s off? And what if the networking skills that worked in corporate are exactly what’s holding you back now that you’re on your own? In this honest, practical episode of the Network Build Grow Podcast, host Melissa Taylor talks with Kellie Grutko, an ACC-accredited coach, speaker, and founder of Purposeful Pivot™. After 35 years in marketing at large corporations and brands, Kellie hit every goal and then asked, “Now what?” That question became her business. She shares what nobody tells you about leaving corporate to go solo, how she networks without ever walking in looking for a client, and why being a solopreneur means you’re suddenly the marketer, the finance team, and the person buying the trash can. Top Takeaways Networking is not prospecting: Kellie never goes into a room looking for a client. She looks for people who’ve been where she’s been, or who might want to build something together. Pick a few rooms and keep showing up: Joining every group leads to overwhelm and forgotten memberships. Choose a few, get involved, and be consistent. Collaborate with people who serve your audience differently: Her “Mindset, Money and Menopause” webinar paired her with a finance coach and a menopause professional. Each brought their own expertise and their own network. Add value by connecting people: Kellie introduces people she thinks could collaborate or help each other. She remembers how much it meant when others did that for her. Let the business conversation come slowly: She has many conversations first and learns people’s pain points. Then she offers a no-pressure chat or discovery call, and only if she can really help. About Kellie Grutko Kellie Grutko is an ACC-accredited coach, speaker, and founder of Purposeful Pivot™. She helps organizations retain their high performers and helps accomplished women navigate post-success reinvention with clarity and purpose. After 35 years in corporate marketing with large corporations and brands, she hit every goal and found herself asking, “Now what?” That turning point became her life’s work. Through her PIVOT framework (Prepare your mindset, Identity exploration, Vision crafting, Opportunity mapping, and Tailoring your path), she guides clients through one-on-one coaching, group cohorts, retreats, and corporate workshops. Resources & Links 🌐 Network Build Grow Community: networkbuildgrow.com 🔄 Purposeful Pivot™: coaching for post-success reinvention and high-performer retention (one-on-one, group cohorts, retreats, corporate workshops): https://www.purposefulpivot.net Subscribe & Connect If this episode gave you permission to rethink what’s next, and to network as the person you’re becoming rather than the title you left behind, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow entrepreneur or anyone navigating their own career pivot. 👉 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 people aren’t choosing you has nothing to do with your service and everything to do with the story you’re not telling? And what if the best networkers in the room are the ones doing the least talking? In this warm, story-driven episode of the Network Build Grow Podcast, host Melissa Taylor sits down with Taurin Hurley, photographer, filmmaker, and co-founder of Recalibrate Media, a digital media agency based in Charlotte, North Carolina. With more than 25 years of telling stories through video, photography, and design, Taurin shares why “you are the product,” how to draw out the story a business owner doesn’t realize they have, and how a self-described non-extrovert networks by listening first. Top Takeaways You are the product. Anyone can buy a cake anywhere. A unique story is what makes someone choose to buy it from you. Build stories, not just content. Recalibrate Media focuses on pieces that last, for your website and pinned posts, so people get to know you before they ever meet you. Listen more than you talk. If you’re talking more than the other person, you’re probably not getting their whole story. Follow-up is simply remembering. A quick email or text saying “great meeting you” lets people know you remembered them. If coffee comes up, put it on the calendar. About Taurin Hurley Taurin Hurley is a photographer, filmmaker, and lifelong creative with over 25 years of experience telling stories through video, photography, and design. He is the co-founder of Recalibrate Media, a digital media agency based in Charlotte, North Carolina, built on the belief that great content starts with real people and authentic stories. His work spans video production, photography, motion graphics, live production, and brand storytelling. At the heart of it all is a simple idea: everyone has a story worth telling, and the right creative approach can help that story connect with the people who need to hear it. Resources & Links 🌐 Network Build Grow Community: networkbuildgrow.com 🎬 Recalibrate Media: brand storytelling through video, photography, and design. https://recalibratemedia.com Subscribe & Connect If this episode reminded you that your story is your biggest asset, and that listening beats pitching every time, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow entrepreneur, business owner, or anyone who struggles to explain why they do what they 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

What if the best thing you can bring to a networking event isn't a product or a pitch, but a cause people want to be part of? And what if the connections that grow your mission come from simply showing up and having real conversations, not from prospecting? In this heartfelt episode of the Network Build Grow Podcast, host Melissa Taylor sits down with Ashley Nydish of Bags of Hope. This Mecklenburg County nonprofit provides weekend food bags for K–12 students facing food insecurity. What started in 2012 as a hands-on church backpack ministry now feeds 950 students every week across 34 schools, with 10 more on a waitlist. Ashley shares how word of mouth, a good reputation, and a relationship-first mindset grew Bags of Hope. She also explains why a nonprofit still has to think and network like a business, and how to build win-win partnerships when you have no product to sell. Top Takeaways Networking is relationship-building, not prospecting. Ashley skips the "what can I get out of this room today?" mindset. She looks for like-minded people and asks how they can help each other. Start with the circle you already have. Bags of Hope first reached out to the schools her own kids attended. Those were her contacts, and that's where the growth began. Word of mouth is your best marketing. Counselors, social workers, and principals kept telling each other about Bags of Hope. The nonprofit hasn't had to reach out to a single school since before COVID. Be confident and be yourself. Small talk is fine. Once your first conversation is going, the next introduction comes naturally. Try several groups before you commit. Every room has its own vibe, like walking onto a college campus. Give each one a real chance before deciding where you fit. About Ashley Nydish Ashley Nydish leads Bags of Hope, a nonprofit serving students across Mecklenburg County, with reach into Cabarrus and Iredell Counties. Born and raised in Charlotte, Ashley grew up hearing her mom, a local schoolteacher, worry about students who were struggling. She was raised in a family that valued volunteering and giving back. In 2012 she helped launch a backpack program at her church. In 2017 it joined forces with two other church programs and became Bags of Hope, a nonprofit. That step let it pursue grant and foundation funding and serve far more students. Ashley runs the organization lean so that donated dollars go straight to the students and families it serves. Resources & Links 🌐 Network Build Grow Community: networkbuildgrow.com 🎒 Bags of Hope provides weekend food bags for K–12 students facing food insecurity: https://www.bagsofhopelkn.com 📧 Contact Ashley: [email protected] Subscribe & Connect If this episode reminded you that networking is about people, not pitches, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow entrepreneur, nonprofit leader, or anyone looking for a mission to support. A cause can open doors, and win-win partnerships can change a community. 👉 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 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