If you feel like running your business is lonely – YOU DON'T HAVE TO! Building a community is a fabulous way to build friends and clients!

Put on those headphones before you start your walk, connect your phone to your car radio before your long drive, and listen to this incredible episode of EmpowHering Coffee Convos with Shannen Stewart the Founder and CEO of Heels + Handshakes – “How to Build Next-Level Connections with like-minded Women in Business”

There’s a moment most women in business can relate to.

You walk into a room where you technically belong…
…but emotionally, you feel like you’re standing on the edge.

You don’t know who to talk to. You don’t know if you’re “successful enough” to be there. And you’re quietly wondering if everyone else got the memo you missed.

That’s why community matters.
And that’s why spaces built intentionally — not transactionally — change everything.

I recently had the chance to sit down with Shannon Stewart, founder of Heels and Handshakes, and her story hit home in a way that goes far beyond networking events or business cards.

This is about belonging.
This is about impact.
And this is about building rooms where women don’t have to perform to be accepted.

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Why Connection Isn’t Optional (Especially for Women)

Most women aren’t looking for more noise.

They’re looking for:

• A sense of belonging
• A place to be honest about where they actually are
• A way to grow without burning themselves out or shrinking to fit

Shannon built Heels and Handshakes after experiencing what so many of us have: starting over in a new city, feeling isolated, and realizing how rare it is to find spaces that feel safe and ambitious.

One of my favorite details? At events, they encourage attendees to meet four new people before they even grab a drink.

Not to pitch. Not to impress. Just to connect.

That small shift changes the entire energy of a room.

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Safe Spaces Change the Depth of the Conversation

Here’s what happens when women feel safe:

They talk about money — honestly.
They talk about mental health — without shame.
They admit when things feel heavy, uncertain, or messy.

And that vulnerability? It’s not weakness. It’s trust.

Heels and Handshakes was built on the idea that you don’t need to have it all together to belong — and that belief alone creates deeper, more sustainable relationships.

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Celebrating Wins (Without Minimizing Yourself)

One of the most powerful rituals in the community is something called The Strut.

It’s simple: women are invited to share a win — out loud.

Sometimes it’s a huge milestone.
Sometimes it’s surviving a hard season.
Sometimes it’s just showing up when it felt impossible.

And here’s why that matters:
So many women are conditioned to downplay success to stay palatable.

The Strut does the opposite. It normalizes celebration. It dismantles impostor syndrome. It reminds you that progress counts — even when it doesn’t look flashy.

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Growth Comes With Fear — That’s Not a Red Flag

Shannon talks openly about the fear that came with expanding into larger cities, including Chicago.

Not fear because she wasn’t capable — fear because growth stretches identity.

That resonated deeply.

Every meaningful expansion I’ve ever experienced — personally or professionally — came with doubt attached. Not because it was wrong… but because it mattered.

The key isn’t eliminating fear. It’s not letting fear make the decisions.

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Relationships Over Transactions (Always)

One thing I deeply respect about Heels and Handshakes is their refusal to make networking purely transactional.

This isn’t:

• “What can you do for me?”
• “Who can I extract value from?”
• “How fast can this pay off?”

It’s:

• Who do I genuinely connect with?
• Who do I trust?
• Who do I want in my corner long-term?

That mindset builds legacies — not just leads.

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You Are More Than Your Title

One phrase Shannon shared stuck with me:

“You rent your title — but you own your character.“

Read that again.

So many women tie their worth to:

• Revenue
• Roles
• Recognition

But titles change. Businesses evolve. Seasons shift.

Character is what stays.

When communities reinforce who you are, not just what you do, women grow healthier, more confident, and more grounded — in business and in life.

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Choosing the Right Rooms Matters

Not every room is meant for you.
And not every season requires the same kind of space.

Instead of asking:

• “How many events should I attend?”

Try asking:

• “Does this space align with who I am becoming?”
• “Do I feel energized or depleted after being here?”
• “Am I allowed to show up as myself?”

Quality beats quantity — every time.

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Final Thought

The right community doesn’t just help you grow your business.
It helps you grow yourself.

Spaces like Heels and Handshakes remind us that success isn’t just about numbers — it’s about impact, integrity, and who’s standing next to you when things get real.

If you’ve been craving deeper connection, more honesty, or a room that feels like exhale instead of pressure — trust that instinct.

You don’t need more hustle. You need the right people. And those relationships? They change everything.