Why Collaboration Beats Competition Every Time

Traditional networking feels like a grind - passing business cards, chasing referrals, and walking away drained. That was exactly where Meghann found herself before she created The Dames.

On Determined to Succeed podcast with Dawn Mullarney, Meghann shares her journey from entering the “networking witness protection program” to building an international community where women lift each other higher.

Instead of customizing herself out of her genius or chasing every shiny opportunity, she discovered the magic of power partners—women who don’t just exchange referrals but actively collaborate, celebrate, and evolve together.

From Networking Burnout to “Witness Protection”

In the early days, Meghann played by the usual networking rules: collect as many cards as possible, support others in hopes they’d return the favor, and say yes to everything.

The result? Burnout. Surface-level conversations. Low-vibe habits. Running nonstop with nothing to show for it.

So, she walked away and straight into what she calls the “networking witness protection program.”

What she craved wasn’t more activity, it was depth. A space where women could mastermind, swap real challenges, laugh until their cheeks hurt, and be inspired by women who were reaching higher, too.

Collaboration Over Competition

The shift came when Meghann realized that other businesses weren’t competitors, but rather women already working with her ideal clients, just from different angles of expertise. Together, they could complement each other instead of competing.

That’s the spark behind power partners.

• Serving each other first, not just clients.
• Sharing wisdom so no one repeats the same mistakes.
• Celebrating wins and milestones like business besties.
• Redirecting clients to the right fit instead of stretching beyond your zone of genius.

A Power partner is so much more than a referral source.  

She’s an ally

She’s an advisory member.

She’s sharing an abundance mindset where everyone grows.

Power Partners are about lifting each other, evolving as leaders, and celebrating milestones side by side.

Proof that when women choose collaboration over competition, the ripple effects go way beyond individual businesses.

Stay in Your Zone of Genius

Trying to be everything for everyone is a beginner’s trap.

As Meghann points out, customizing every contract or working outside your expertise slows you down; it dilutes your strengths and shortchanges your clients. 

Staying in your zone of genius allows you to deliver transformational work without burnout.

And when power partners are in your corner, you don’t need to fake expertise or force yourself into areas that don’t fit. You can redirect, collaborate, and trust there’s more than enough business to go around.

Growth Always Begins on the Inside

Collaboration and strategy matter, but they only work when paired with personal growth. Entrepreneurship will always mirror what’s happening inside.

Focus only on professional skills, and eventually you’ll hit a ceiling.

For years, Meghann thought scaling meant cloning herself, hustling harder, and chasing mass exposure. The truth? She needed to embrace her creativity, listen to her intuition, and prioritize what mattered most.

“If you don’t prioritize yourself and the things you value, nobody else can do it for you.”

That shift, paired with collaboration, took her from a six-figure side hustle to leading hundreds of  

Today, Meghann blends sketch comedy with transformational business lessons on stage. Through mastermind circles and live events, she shows women how to grow both personally and professionally—and to stop trying to do it all alone.

Power partners prove that when women collaborate instead of compete, everybody rises. This episode of Determined to Succeed shows what’s possible when we stop chasing and start connecting with the right women, in the right ways.

If you’re ready to scale with strategy, humor, and a whole lot more joy, explore The Dames today.