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Professional Networking Essentials – Women Founders’ Advice - Part 12
Updated: 2 hours ago
In the Professional Networking Essentials Series, we feature the insights of 10 women founders who share their lessons on building meaningful relationships, creating supportive communities, finding mentors, and confidently stepping into new opportunities. Their experiences highlight that professional networking is not simply about making connections, but about building trust, learning from others, collaborating, and creating relationships that support long-term growth. From asking for help and speaking up to embracing discomfort and building credibility through action, their advice shows how strong networks can become a powerful foundation for both personal and professional growth.
Featured Women Founders
ASTHA JAIN My advice to aspiring or early-stage women founders is simple: build competence before confidence.
Lori Haverty Build community, not just a business.
Kelly Hughes Build relationships early and intentionally.
Nidhi Sharma Build strong relationships and networks, because opportunities, partnerships, and growth often come through people, not just strategies.
Jennifer Aubrey As women, we are independent - sometimes stubbornly so.
Lelia Patricia Fallon My advice to aspiring or early-stage women founders is to back yourself and embrace opportunities, even if they take you outside your comfort zone.
Renay Gramberg My advice to aspiring or early-stage women founders is simple: start before you feel ready, and trust that clarity comes through action, not before it.
Shobha Chanchlani To aspiring and early-stage women founders: Embrace your second innings fearlessly, regardless of age or prior field—my shift from 30+ years in government education to co-founding AgriVijay proves it's never too late.
Ritu Mishra Don’t let the noise around you define what you can’t do.
Karole-Anne Gagnon 1) Build credibility through execution, not perfection.
ASTHA JAIN – My advice to aspiring or early-stage women founders is simple: build competence before confidence.
Company– AYUVYA & imfresh
Website: AYUVYA.COM, IMFRESH.IN
Advice
My advice to aspiring or early-stage women founders is simple: build competence before confidence. Confidence grows naturally when you deeply understand your product, numbers, and consumer.
Don’t wait for perfect conditions or external validation to start. You may not have access to large funding, networks, or immediate support — but clarity of purpose and consistency matter more in the long run.
Focus on solving a real problem. Trends fade quickly, but genuine consumer pain points create sustainable businesses. Be financially disciplined from day one. Understand your cash flow, margins, and repeat metrics — these fundamentals protect you during uncertain phases.
Also, don’t let stereotypes define your leadership style. You don’t need to be louder, tougher, or different to be taken seriously. Authenticity builds stronger teams and long-term trust.
Lastly, build a strong support system — mentors, peers, or co-founders who balance your strengths. Entrepreneurship can be isolating, and resilience often comes from community.
Lori Haverty – Build community, not just a business.
Company– Tread LLC.
Website: treadreading.com
Advice
Build community, not just a business.
Tread grew because women showed up for each other. Create a space where people feel seen, supported, and part of something bigger.
Kelly Hughes – Build relationships early and intentionally.
Company– Foster Love Project
Website: https://www.fosterloveproject.org/
Advice
Build relationships early and intentionally. Community, mentorship, and collaboration will sustain you long before systems and funding are fully in place.
Be willing to grow alongside your organization. Leadership requires constant adaptation — moving from doing the work yourself to building teams, systems, and boundaries that allow the mission to thrive. Asking for help and investing in your own development is not a weakness; it is responsible leadership.
Finally, pace yourself. Sustainable impact is built over time, not through burnout. Protect your energy, define success on your own terms, and remember that meaningful work deserves care — including care for yourself.
Nidhi Sharma – Build strong relationships and networks, because opportunities, partnerships, and growth often come through people, not just strategies.
Company– Guni SMS
Website: www.gunisms.com.au
Advice
Build strong relationships and networks, because opportunities, partnerships, and growth often come through people, not just strategies. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, seek mentors, or step into rooms where you may feel out of place. Confidence grows through experience, not before it.
Most importantly, stay resilient. There will be setbacks, slow periods, and moments of doubt, but consistency, clear thinking, and a long-term vision are what separate founders who start from those who actually build something lasting.
Jennifer Aubrey – As women, we are independent - sometimes stubbornly so.
Company– Jaffa Creative
Website: www.jaffacreative.com.au
Advice
As women, we are independent - sometimes stubbornly so. My advice would be to find the right group of people and build a network of 'advisors/experts' in areas you are not. Work WITH each other, empower each other, learn and grow together.
Lelia Patricia Fallon – My advice to aspiring or early-stage women founders is to back yourself and embrace opportunities, even if they take you outside your comfort zone.
Company– Rochford Solicitors
Website: www.rochfordsolicitors.com.au
Advice
My advice to aspiring or early-stage women founders is to back yourself and embrace opportunities, even if they take you outside your comfort zone. Throughout my career, I’ve navigated significant transitions—moving between cities, shifting from operational roles into law, and stepping into leadership positions.
Each challenge has taught me the value of resilience, adaptability, and continuous learning. Don’t be afraid to seek out mentors, build your network, and ask for support when you need it. Most importantly, trust in your abilities and remember that your unique perspective is a strength. The journey may not always be easy, but it is absolutely worth it.
Renay Gramberg – My advice to aspiring or early-stage women founders is simple: start before you feel ready, and trust that clarity comes through action, not before it.
Company– R.G. Hypnotherapy
Website: www.rghypnotherapy.com.au
Advice
My advice to aspiring or early-stage women founders is simple: start before you feel ready, and trust that clarity comes through action, not before it.
Many women wait until everything is perfect—until they feel more confident, more qualified, or more certain. But confidence is not a prerequisite for success; it is a result of showing up, taking action, and proving to yourself over and over again that you are capable.
Back yourself, even when doubt is present. Doubt is normal. Growth always involves stepping into unfamiliar territory. What matters most is not the absence of fear, but your willingness to move forward anyway.
Focus on progress, not perfection. Build strong foundations, deliver genuine value, and prioritise consistency over intensity. Small, aligned actions taken daily will compound into powerful momentum over time.
Surround yourself with supportive people. Community is invaluable. Mentors, peers, and networks can accelerate your growth, strengthen your resilience, and remind you of your capability when you momentarily forget.
Most importantly, do not underestimate the power of your intuition. Women possess extraordinary emotional intelligence, creativity, and adaptability. These are not weaknesses in business—they are profound strengths.
There will be challenges. There will be moments of uncertainty. But there will also be moments of pride, freedom, and deep fulfilment that make every step worthwhile.
You do not need permission to build something meaningful. You only need to begin—and continue.
Shobha Chanchlani – To aspiring and early-stage women founders: Embrace your second innings fearlessly, regardless of age or prior field—my shift from 30+ years in government education to co-founding AgriVijay proves it's never too late.
Company– AgriVijay
Website: www.agrivijay.com
Advice
To aspiring and early-stage women founders: Embrace your second innings fearlessly, regardless of age or prior field—my shift from 30+ years in government education to co-founding AgriVijay proves it's never too late.
Leverage your unique experiences as strengths, build resilient networks for mentorship and funding, focus on purpose-driven impact like rural empowerment through green tech, and persist through societal barriers with unwavering self-belief.
Ritu Mishra – Don’t let the noise around you define what you can’t do.
Company– Visotonics
Website: https://www.visotonics.com/
Advice
Don’t let the noise around you define what you can’t do.
Be ready to work your ass off. Dream big.
Speak up during networking sessions—even if it feels uncomfortable. Growth begins outside your comfort zone.
No Question is STUPID
Karole-Anne Gagnon – 1) Build credibility through execution, not perfection.
Company– Accelia property management
Website: gestionaccelia.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/karole-anne
Advice
1) Build credibility through execution, not perfection.
You don’t need to “feel ready” to start. Move with a clear plan, deliver consistently, and let your results create your confidence. Progress is more persuasive than potential.
2) Don’t negotiate against yourself.
Early on, many women underprice, overgive, or over-explain to be accepted. Be clear on your value, set boundaries, and charge for outcomes not for your time alone.
3) Find mentors and a network that raises your standards.
Surround yourself with people who have done what you want to do and who will challenge you. A strong community reduces learning curves and keeps you accountable when it gets hard.
4) Systems will save you.
Talent and hustle are not scalable. Build processes early how you sell, deliver, follow up, manage finances, and make decisions. Systems reduce stress and protect quality as you grow.
5) Protect your energy like it’s a business asset.
Your nervous system is part of your leadership. Sleep, training, structure, and emotional regulation are not “extras” they’re what keeps you stable enough to lead and make good decisions.
6) Be brave enough to be visible.
Your voice is part of your business. Share what you’re learning, teach what you know, and speak before you think it’s perfect. Visibility creates opportunities especially when you lead with service, not ego.
7) Choose long-term respect over short-term approval.
Not everyone will understand your ambition. That’s fine. Build something you’re proud of, stay ethical, and play the long game. The right people will follow consistency and integrity.
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