#1: Networking Isn’t What You Think It Is

☕ Grab your favorite caffeinated beverage and join us for today's episode where we're going behind the brew of issue #11: If ‘networking’ feels like speed dating… you’re doing it wrong.

A typo on a website. A networking group I didn't think I belonged in. And a guy who believes in culture over conversions.

This is the story of how Bernie and I went from "nice to meet you" to "let's build a podcast together" and how one weekly Zoom call turned into the biggest business opportunity I've ever had.

In this episode, we're pulling back the curtain on how a “puppy entrepreneur” with 97 LinkedIn connections and a former corporate education trainer ended up here, co-hosting a show about what it takes to keep a business going long after the excitement of launch phase is over.

If you've ever wondered whether networking actually pays off, grab your coffee and settle in. This is where it all started.

About your hosts:

Alison Leigh Simmons (The Caffeinated Entrepreneur) is the founder of Lead Smarter Co. She helps established service-based founders clean up their backend, build smart systems, and use AI in a way that actually reduces the day-to-day chaos.

🌐 www.leadsmarterco.com

✉️ [e-mail]

🤝 https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-leigh-simmons/

Bernie DeSantis (The Man Behind the Mustache) is a virtual event producer and owner of Insignia Training Partners. He helps businesses plan and run high-quality virtual events that feel smooth, professional, and human, without making it a whole stressful production.

🌐 https://insigniatraining.com/

✉️ [e-mail]

🤝 https://www.linkedin.com/in/badiii/