When we engage in public discussions, we’re not just representing ourselves, we’re also shaping how others perceive our community and values. 

While promoting an upcoming SpeedNetworking event on Facebook, I received some unexpected hostility. My initial reactions were predictable: 

❌ Defend myself in a public back-and-forth to "prove them wrong" 

❌ Assume two negative voices represented the entire area 

❌ Feel embarrassed by the public criticism - There are several likes!

❌ Question what I had done wrong 

But after stepping back, I reframed the situation: 

✔️ Negative comments from strangers don’t define my experience or love for our area 

✔️ Their reaction was more about their own frustrations than my post. 

✔️ I had control over how I responded, and I made a choice not to escalate. 

Instead of engaging in an unproductive exchange, I simply acknowledged the comment with a “like”, and moved on.
No defensiveness, no energy wasted. This approach sent a clear message...

A fresh and flexible update to the events included in memberships is here!

Every 5th Monday of the month is "Social Monday". Members get together informally and discuss something specific. The 31st of March Social Monday was all about sharing our favourite business apps that make life easier, and asking others what solutions they had for areas we want a solution for.

From streamlining workflows to managing contacts, we exchanged on go-to tools, filling in the gaps for each other, and turning to chat GPT as a group for ideas on the spot! 🤝

We walked away with a fantastic list, packed with practical solutions! Here are three interesting tips we came up with that you might want to check out too:

✅ Sync.me:  A smart way to gather contacts & keep track of them pre "CRM" phase of your business 📞
✅ LinkedIn Helper:  Automate networking, support those you select & grow connections effortlessly 🔗
✅ Zapier: Connect and automate your favorite apps for a smoother workflow ⚡

It’s amazing what happens when like-minded entrepreneurs come together. Everyone leaves with ne...

There’s something really special about supporting people at the beginning of their business journey. 

You can feel their passion; it’s genuine, real, and full of heart 💛

They care deeply about what they do.
They want to get it right ✅
They’re listening, learning, adapting 📚🔄
And because of that, they often offer an exceptional experience, one that’s personal and thoughtful 🤲

I’ve found that people in the early stages are incredibly open.
💬  They value feedback 
 ❓ They ask great questions that require some thought to answer, thereby already helping you!
 💡 They genuinely want to hear your perspective

You can build a real, meaningful partnership with them, one where both sides grow together 🤝🌿

It takes me back to my own early days...
To the people who gave me a chance, when I was still finding my feet 👣
Who forgave the beginner's missteps 🙈
And chose to trust me, not just for what I was offering, but for who I was trying to become 💫

Some of them had more faith in me than I had in...

I get told I’m good at networking, and it always surprises me.
I’m a huge Introvert at heart and I will often be the first to leave an event because I’ve had a great time, met wonderful people, but I feel my battery is flat and it’s time to go.

Why am I always surprised that I am told I’m good at networking?

Because I feel like I never actually do it.

And THAT is exactly the secret.

I have found so many ways in which to “trick” myself into networking that somewhere along the line I didn’t realise I was doing it amymore, I was too busy having fun.

Here are a few of the strategies I use to make things more fun not just for me, but those I’m speaking to as well.

• Arrive early. Take advantage of the stillness to speak to those there in a relaxed way, while you are “waiting” for the event to start. Often, that very first connection you make is the one you will circle back to before leaving and make sure you stay in touch with because you had such a nice discussion
• Off
...

I wrote a post for LI, all on my own 😂, then ran it through Chat GPT with the question:

“Does this add value to the LI community?”

Convinced I was going to get a

“Yes, good job Mandy.”
Pat on the back.

Obviously that didn’t happen.

Here is what it told me instead

Your post has a reflective and personal tone, but its value to the LinkedIn (LI) community depends on its alignment with professional insights, leadership lessons, or business takeaways. Here’s an evaluation: 

### **Strengths:** 

✅ **Authenticity**

✅ **Emotional Intelligence**

✅ **Conflict Resolution**

### **Areas for Improvement:** 

🔹 **Lack of clear professional tie-in**

🔹 **Clarity & Structure** – The message meanders a bit.

🔹 **Less Defensive Tone** – While your response is measured, some phrases can still come across as defensive.

### **Does It Add Value to LinkedIn?** 

**Partially.**

Great! I meander and I’m defensive 🙊

I suppose Chat GPT has just become my psycologist ...

It was always going to be fun creating our vision boards, but when music, wine and a whole lot of laughter was added to the mix it turned positively therapeutic! 

Judith led us through the process by first inviting us to reflect on or goals and getting very specific about our priorities. The discussions were insightful in themselves and helped clarify things already. 

The next step is to trust our intuition when going through the images an without overthinking Strat to gather what resonates the most. 

It was mostly laughter from there!

Here are a few impressions from the session:
"I’m laughing all over again looking at the pictures. Thank you so much for holding this session for us, it was wonderful."

"Judith - yesterday was great! Thank you very much for the organisation. I had a lovely time with all of you and feel inspired! I come out of this with all the fun vibes and I look forward to seeing it come to life!"

"Thank you so much for this fun evening and what a pleasure it has been...

🚀 What a Night! It was a Full Bär at our SpeedNetworking event 🎉

The room was buzzing with energy as entrepreneurs and professionals came together for an evening of meaningful connections. It was the first time we implemented a SpeedNetworking concept and it was a hit! Laughter, insights, and unexpected discoveries filled the air! Our ears were ringing slightly from the noise levels, but the vibe was energising. 

Phones at the ready for a quick QR code scan to stay connected in the LinkedIn world and then the bell was ringing for people to move on to a new partner!

I loved this comment "Thanks again for organising Great opportunity to meet & greet and network like crazy 🤪"

People left inspired by the stories they heard, pleased and the unexpected common ground that was found very quickly and, and excited about the new connections made. Collaborations sparked, ideas flowed, and networks were expanded!

👉 Join a next event! Have a look at the events page here and jump onboard for...

Triana is a passionate Art Historian and Literature lover looking to create human connections above all.

She is a part of the "OMM" online MasterMind  and has been a member since January 2025. 

One of the things that draws Triana to her field is how artwork can awaken emotions and become objects closely linked to a family or art institutions history. There is an element of identity carried from the artist to the owner making them intricately connected.

As Art Advisor she provides consulting services on cataloging strategies for collectors and software companies in art. Her areas of focus include collection management, acquisitions, art handling, and conservation, ensuring collections are aligned with current standardised practices.

"I definitely believe that not only knowledge and skills are necessary for success, but the most important is following one's intuition."

Next time you meet Triana at an event, as her how she got into her field of expertise and feel the passion t...

You might have been reading our member profiles one by one. Here is the collection. Whose name do you see pass by but you've never met? 

Who is in an area of interest and you might have synergies with? 
Have a look at what everyone is up to. Connect on LinkedIn and find each other's contact details in the WhatsApp community chat. 

Here is a list of who you will find in our community chat in no particular order! :-)


Diana Urbina - "I'm a Dynamic HR professional interested in building meaningful connections"


Diana is a dynamic HR professional interested in building meaningful connections and creating impact through intentional work. She thrives in environments where she can engage deeply, whether that’s through strategic projects, one-on-one conversations that spark insight, or cross-cultural experiences that broaden perspective.

Her love for strength-building sports keeps her grounded and focused, while her curiosity for discovering cultures through food fuels my creativity and empathy. She...