How to Network Effectively as a Woman in Business: Our Dames CEO on the SNDW Podcast

From burnt-out beginnings to building a global business accelerator, Meghann Conter, founder of The Dames, shares the truth about what women really need to thrive.

In this candid episode of Sales Is Not a Dirty Word Podcast, Meghann joins host Aleasha Bahr to talk about how women entrepreneurs can network without overwhelm, and what it means to grow through collaboration, not competition.

Traditional Networking Comes With an Expiration Date… And It’s Long Overdue

When you think of networking, what comes to mind?

• Slimy sales tactics?
• Forced smiles?
• Endless elevator pitches?

These events are packed with professional coffee drinkers and business card stabbers. And far too often, women arrive in perfection mode—painting over their struggles with an unblemished mask.

No wonder so many of us are tired of attending. The energy is low, the strategy is nonexistent, and the connections rarely go beyond surface level.

How can we be met, if we can't even take off our masks?

It’s like a bulletin board: layers of business cards fighting for the top spot, riddled with pin holes from the hustle.

Many of us are barely making ends meet—and still expected to perform success flawlessly.

It’s Not You. It’s the Room.

Instead of retracting and going it alone, imagine being surrounded by women who get it. No clawing and no competition required.

When Meghann created The Dames, she was ready to retire from her career as a full-time coffee chat scheduler.

She heard from other women who felt the same: they wanted something deeper. A place where vulnerability is encouraged. Where success isn’t about appearances. And where the messy middle is welcome.

At The Dames, we start remembering how we're all:

• Wickedly smart
• Wildly resourceful
• Deeply capable

These rooms give us the space to ask without pressure, learn from each other without posturing, and grow without grinding ourselves to the bone.

How to Network Effectively as a Woman in Business: The Dames Way

The Dames' “Ask” is a mindset rooted in clarity and reciprocity.

It’s not about chasing clients, though, yes, it often leads to more; its core is about generous collaboration. After all, when women lead with an abundant mindset, growth becomes inevitable.

The Dames' "Ask" helps identify power partners – those women who already have relationships with our ideal clients. It’s about creating thoughtful bridges that make referrals easy and meaningful for everyone involved.

Instead of shouting louder, we share smarter.

This model invites women to support each other’s clients in ways that extend beyond their own offers, creating a well-rounded experience for everyone we serve.

Think of it as a ripple effect, or a collaborative ecosystem that lifts us all.

As Our Businesses Grow, So Do the Questions We’re Asking

There’s a natural shift that happens as our businesses scale. We move from asking, “How do I find more clients?” to “How do I grow a team that supports my vision?” or “What’s the system that’s keeping us stuck?”

Whether you’re refining your offer, hiring your first team member, or exploring new markets, the women beside you get it—because they’re navigating their own next level too.

Inside these rooms, we create space for those next-level conversations. And because we’re supported at every stage, we’re focusing on more than revenue goals. 

Every Business Grows at Its Own Pace – and That’s the Point

One of the biggest mistakes in business communities? Mixing everyone together.

A woman at $100K in revenue has vastly different needs than a woman at $500K or $1M. And giving advanced advice to someone still laying their foundation? That’s not empowering—it’s overwhelming.

Picture it:

Everyone else is nodding along like it’s obvious, meanwhile, you’re still trying to figure out what the question was. That disconnect will make you feel inadequate and it only deepens the shame spiral.

At The Dames, we structure our Think Tank Circles by business stage so every woman receives relevant, supportive, and actionable insights.

Because when you’re surrounded by peers walking a similar path, you realize:

• You’re not behind
• You’re not doing it wrong
• You’re not a failure
• You’re exactly where you’re supposed to be    

As the founder of The Dames, Meghann Conter is redefining what success looks like for women entrepreneurs, scaling sustainably through strategy, sisterhood, and collaboration instead of burnout and hustle.

Listen to the Full Episode:

How to Be Better at Networking on the Sales Is Not a Dirty Word Podcast. 

Apply to join The Dames today and scale your business with joy, strategy, and support.