Mitch Axelrod's BIO:

A 47 year entrepreneur, speaker, trainer, advisor and 5 time #1 Wall St. Journal, Barnes & Noble and Amazon best-selling author of The NEW Game of Business™, The NEW Game of Selling™ and the forthcoming book, The NEW Game of Service™.

Mitch has delivered 4,000 seminars, workshops, keynotes, executive briefings, webinars and coaching clinics to a million people on business, entrepreneurship, sales, leadership, values, life skills and intellectual property. His clients include IBM, AT&T, Citibank, Prudential, MetLife and thousands of small, medium and home based businesses, professionals and solo practitioners. They have generated $4 billion of revenue.

Mitch shared the stage with Jack Canfield, Les Brown, Denis Waitley, Brian Tracy, Mark Victor Hansen, Jay Abraham, Barbara Corcoran, Michael Gerber and Dan Kennedy.

Featured on media including WABC, Best-Seller TV and Sales Talk Radio, Mitch has taught at NYU, USC, Notre Dame and is faculty at Harvard's Executive Leadership Conference.

In 2020 Mitch suffered a stroke and brain aneurism that left him paralyzed on his right side. He had to learn to walk and talk again. His inspirational story of resilience, rebound and recovery has been written about in books and featured on TV shows.

In this episode, Virginia and Mitch talked about

• How Mitch got into selling
• The new game of business
• Big shift in how successful people sell
• How to turn service into a profit center
• Marrying sales & service as a holistic system
• Rejection-proof networking

Takeaways:

1. Be the trusted voice of choice

2. Sell them the BEST solution for THEM

3. Your job is to find the hungry fish

4. Your qualified buyer is either ready or getting ready

5. The most important question: Why did you buy from us?

Connect with Mitch Axelrod on his social media accounts to learn more about his work and insights into networking effectively:

LinkedIn URL

https://linkedin.com/in/mitchaxelrod

Facebook URL

https://www.facebook.com/mitchaxelrod

Instagram URL

https://www.instagram.com/mitchellaxelrod

Connect with Virginia:

https://www.bbrpodcast.com/

Leah Kuhlmann's BIO:

Leah Kuhlmann, RDN, is redefining what it means to thrive—365 days a year.

As the founder of YouThrive365, Leah brings over two decades of clinical expertise and entrepreneurial drive to the forefront of health and wellness. She's not here to promote fad diets or temporary fixes. Her mission is clear: to help individuals take back control of their health through practical, personalized nutrition rooted in real food, functional science, and long-term results.

Leah's approach is deeply personal. After witnessing loved ones battle cancer, she made it her life's work to empower others to prevent and even reverse chronic disease—not with band-aid solutions, but by addressing the root causes through food, lifestyle, and mindset.

Her philosophy is simple but powerful: Food is medicine, and optimal health is possible—without restriction, confusion, or overwhelm. Through her signature non-diet, holistic framework, Leah has helped thousands improve their energy, manage chronic conditions, and elevate their quality of life. She combines evidence-based nutrition with compassionate coaching to create strategic, sustainable health transformations.

Whether she's speaking to teams, consulting with clients, or leading wellness workshops, Leah's message is clear: health is your greatest asset—and you deserve to thrive.

In this episode, Virginia and Leah talked about

• Leah's motivation for starting her business

• Leah's passion for education and personal transformation

• Top tips for transformation in life + business

• Creating long-term transformation through simple habits

• Growing confidence through networking and visibility

Takeaways:

1. Surround yourself with people who have already walked your path
2. Start small and build better habits one step at a time
3. Stay hydrated! Hydration is key to energy and focus
4. Know your "why" before making any change
5. Keep taking consistent action and the results will follow

Connect with Leah Kuhlmann on her social media accounts to learn more about her work and insights into networking effectively:

LinkedIn URL

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-kuhlmann-rdn-ld-74236915/

Facebook URL

https://www.facebook.com/leah.kuhlmann.7

Instagram URL

https://www.instagram.com/youthrive_365/

Connect with Virginia:

https://www.bbrpodcast.com/

Dr. Ivan Misner's BIO:

Dr. Ivan Misner is the Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of BNI (Business Network International), the world's largest business networking organization, with more than 11,000 chapters in 76 countries worldwide. Widely recognized as the "Father of Modern Networking," he has dedicated his life to helping business professionals build meaningful, relationship-driven networks that create both profit and impact.

He holds a PhD from the University of Southern California and is a New York Times bestselling author who has written numerous books on networking, business growth, referrals, and leadership. His work has influenced millions of entrepreneurs and professionals around the world, and his teachings continue to shape how people think about relationship marketing, collaboration, and legacy.

In addition to founding BNI, Dr. Misner co-founded the BNI Charitable Foundation and has been honored internationally for his humanitarian efforts, leadership, and lifelong commitment to service. His message centers on the power of long-term relationships, contribution, and living a life of intentional legacy.

In this episode, Virginia and Dr. Ivan talked about

• Why networking is a marathon, not a sprint
• The value of following a proven system
• Legacy and living intentionally
• Scaling a business through delegation
• Relational vs. transactional networking

Takeaways:

1. Success comes from repeating what works
   
   
2. Deep relationships generate bigger results than shallow networks
   
   
3. Giving and receiving must work together
   
   
4. You cannot scale if you refuse to let go
   
   
5. Your legacy is how you show up in people's lives

Connect with Dr. Ivan Misner on his LinkedIn account to learn more about his work and insights into networking effectively:

Connect with Virginia:

https://www.bbrpodcast.com/

Stacy Heisey-Terrell's BIO:

As a Career Ownership Coach, Stacy helps individuals explore career possibilities that align with who they are and what they want from both their personal and professional lives. After nearly 30 years navigating the corporate rollercoaster in Human Resources across industries including legal, healthcare, insurance, environmental/chemical, local government, and energy, she experienced firsthand the frustrations many professionals face—long hours, broken promises, lack of opportunity, fear of change, and even unexpected layoffs. Those lessons inspired her to take control of her own path, create a balanced lifestyle, and build the work environment she had always envisioned.

Now, Stacy brings that experience and passion to coaching others who are ready for a change but aren't sure where to begin. She guides clients toward their "Career 2.0"—a future of greater fulfillment, autonomy, and purpose.

Stacy lives in the Philadelphia area with her husband, Christopher, and their four teenage daughters. She holds an MS in Organizational Development and Human Resources Management. Outside of coaching and family life, she dedicates time to her church's food pantry, where she leads teens in serving their community.

Life may be messy and wild, but Stacy believes your career doesn't have to be. She's here to help you make work work for you.

In this episode, Virginia and Stacy talked about

• Exiting the Corporate Rat Race
• The difference between being an employee & becoming an entrepreneur
• The shift from corporate networking to networking to build a business
• How to make a living doing Joint Ventures
• Moving from the passenger seat to the driver's seat of your career

Takeaways:

1. Entrepreneurship: Be your whole self

2. Maybe the corporate path isn't your final destination

3. Career ownership starts when you move into the driver's seat

4. Your next chapter may require courage before clarity

5. You can build income by connecting people, not just selling to them

Connect with Stacy on her social media accounts to learn more about her work and insights into networking effectively:

LinkedIn URL

www.linkedin.com/in/stacyheiseyterrell

Facebook URL

https://www.facebook.com/people/Stacy-Heisey-Terrell-The-Entrepreneurs-Source/100093328212010/

Website URL

www.mylifemybiz.com

Connect with Virginia:

https://www.bbrpodcast.com/

Miriam Angulo's BIO:

Miriam Angulo is a Business & Life Mastery Consultant, spiritual mentor, and transformational leader with over 26 years of experience in business management, leadership, healthcare operations, and personal development. She helps purpose-driven coaches, consultants, and entrepreneurs build profitable, sustainable businesses—without sacrificing their peace, values, or freedom.

Miriam blends strategic business coaching with soulful guidance. Her signature programs—Business Mastery Accelerator, Soulbird's Inner Peace Alliance, Quantum Alchemy Activation Inner Circle, and the Money Max Method—help clients turn their strengths and passions into scalable income, meaningful impact, and legacy-driven success.

Miriam has guided individuals in creating clarity, building revenue, developing systems, forming strategic partnerships, and aligning spiritually with their business goals. Whether through high-impact workshops, VIP retreats, or group coaching, she empowers her clients to achieve real results and lasting transformation.

At the heart of her work is a belief: you can grow your business, elevate your income, and live with peace and purpose—all at the same time.

In this episode, Virginia and Miriam talked about

1. The biggest challenges certified coaches face as they start their businesses
2. How to get comfortable asking for the sale
3. The power of the 100% close ratio
4. How to build a community that creates cash flow
   

Takeaways:

• Your success is already within you
• People are the ones who are going to pay you—CALL THEM!
• What would you do if selling felt easy?
• Remember your life story.

Connect with Miriam on his social media accounts to learn more about his work and insights into networking effectively:

LinkedIn URL

https://www.linkedin.com/in/miriam-angulo-4a519b74/

Facebook URL

https://www.facebook.com/xlk.angulo.7677

Instagram URL

https://www.instagram.com/miriam_angulo_1/

Connect with Virginia:

https://www.bbrpodcast.com/

JP Maroney's BIO:

JP Maroney is a serial entrepreneur, media producer, and business strategist who builds systems that help entrepreneurs and Main Street businesses grow, scale, and sustain long-term success. Over the past three decades, he has founded and led ventures across media, marketing, software, and education—developing a reputation for transforming complex ideas into simple, scalable systems that generate predictable, recurring revenue.

In this episode, Virginia and JP talked about:

1. JP's background in partnerships, referrals, and deal-making

2. Overcoming phone phobia and fear of rejection

3. Why curiosity and asking better questions build stronger relationships

4. Selling outcomes and ROI instead of hours or processes

5. Letting the market guide offers, pricing, and growth

Takeaways:

• Successful people learn from the mistakes of others.
• People think they know the solution, but they don't understand the problem.
• The person who asks the questions controls the conversation.
• Most businesses are founded on failed assumptions.
• People hate to be sold, but they love to buy.

Connect with JP on his social media accounts to learn more about his work and insights into networking effectively:

LinkedIn URL

https://jpmaroney.com

LinkedIn URL (copy)

https://linkedin.com/in/jpmaroney

Facebook URL

https://facebook.com/jpmaroney

Instagram URL

https://instagram.com/jpmaroney

Connect with Virginia:

https://www.bbrpodcast.com/

Mary Kennedy Thompson's BIO:

Mary Kennedy Thompson has more than 30 years in franchising. She has led businesses and franchises of all sizes. She has extensive experience in global expansion, high-growth organizations, integrations, and leadership. Prior to starting at BNI in 2024, she served as the Chief Operating Officer at Neighborly, the world's largest home services company, where she worked since 2006. Her tenure at Neighborly included roles as the Executive Vice President and the President of Mr. Rooter, their largest brand.

Her career began as a multi-unit franchise owner at Cookies By Design (formerly Cookie Bouquet), where she excelled in market penetration and sales—essentially becoming the brand's corporate president after successfully selling her locations. While a multi-unit franchisee, she joined BNI in 1994, just a few years before Virginia.

Her passion for helping business owners completely aligns with Business Network International's mission to support its members and franchisees, marking her appointment as CEO as a transformational opportunity for BNI—and it has been.

In this episode, Virginia and Mary talked about:

1. Mary's entrepreneurial journey

2. How to create operational excellence

3. The power of trust for generating referrals

4. Keys to pinnacle leadership

5. How to build trust

Takeaways:

• Be operationally excellent!

• Be clear on your customer and put them first

• Deliver consistently

• Building trust builds your business

• Lead yourself first—then others.

• Consistency and discipline drive referrals.

Connect with Mary on her LinkedIn account to learn more about her work and insights into networking effectively:

LinkedIn URL : https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-thompson-cfe-22074410/

Connect with Virginia:

https://www.bbrpodcast.com/

Clarence "CJ" Carter's BIO:

Clarence "CJ" Carter is a Marine Corps veteran turned business strategist who helps entrepreneurs transform their expertise into scalable income. As the creator of Digital Marketing to Millions, CJ specializes in building automated business systems that save time, reduce overwhelm, and multiply revenue. Drawing from his experience leading business intelligence for major organizations and coaching entrepreneurs across industries, CJ brings a unique blend of discipline, humor, and strategy to every stage he steps on. His mission is simple: help business owners work less, earn more, and build businesses that fuel both profit and freedom.

In this episode, Virginia and Clarence talked about:

• CJ's entrepreneurial journey
• The power of travel to influence mindset
• The power of language
• Why we need mission clarity
• How to handle when people fail to follow up

Takeaways:

1. Maybe the traditional path isn't for you
2. Your words create (or deflate) your influence
3. Remain on mission even when things go off the rails
4. Leveraging technology will set you apart

Connect with Clarence on his LinkedIn account to learn more about his work and insights into networking effectively:

LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarence-carter/

Connect with Virginia:

https://www.bbrpodcast.com/