Lori McDowell's BIO:

Dr. Lori McDowell is an international speaker, best-selling author, and founder of Reimagine U Strategies. She inspires audiences worldwide with talks that blend personal story, mindset mastery, and actionable clarity—helping others lead with purpose, courage, and joy. Lori is also the creator of Done-For-You Transformational Retreats, partnering with heart-centered coaches to design powerful, soul-aligned experiences without stress or overwhelm. With decades of experience in engineering, leadership, and event design, she brings a unique mix of strategy, creativity, and heart to everything she does. Lori's mission is to help others build extraordinary lives—for themselves and those they serve.

In this episode, Virginia and Lori talked about:

• From engineering to entrepreneurship
• Principles of reinvention
• How to deal with negative emotions
• The journey to soul alignment
• How Lori is getting clients from her network

Takeaways:

1. If you are stuck, reinvent yourself!
2. Help is available if you'll just ask
3. Declutter your internal environment
4. Build your business around what you're good at and what you love
5. Enthusiasm=Energy

Connect with Lori on social media accounts to learn more about her work and insights into networking effectively:

LinkedIn URL : https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorimcdowell/

Facebook URL: https://www.facebook.com/lori.mcdowell.5/

Instagram URL: https://www.instagram.com/lori.mcdowell.5/

Connect with Virginia:

https://www.bbrpodcast.com/

Harvey Mitchell's BIO:

As a broker at Crane Agency and founder of Church Risk Advisors, I specialize in guiding organizations with complex needs through the insurance process with clarity, care, and confidence. Whether I'm working with a ministry, a pain management clinic, or a contractor, my goal is always the same: deliver protection that fits your mission.

In this episode, Virginia and Harvey talked about:

• Harvey's entrepreneurial journey
• Bridging the gap between business and ministry
• Building the courage to build relationship
• Loading your pipeline
• How to be a good referral partner

Takeaways:

1. The hard conversations can lead to the best partnerships
2. What would you do if we were about to lose it all?
3. The bar of entry to entrepreneurship might not be as hard as you think
4. FIGURE IT OUT!
5. Don't limit yourself to what you know.

Connect with Harvey on LinkedIn to learn more about his work and insights into networking effectively:

LinkedIn URL : https://www.linkedin.com/in/harvey-mitchell-jr-21808845?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Connect with Virginia:

https://www.bbrpodcast.com/

Melissa Miranda's BIO:

Melissa Miranda is a Certified Public Accountant and the owner of Step By Step Accounting, a Woodard Top 50 Accounting Practice. Step By Step is a fully cloud based, teaching-oriented accounting and advisory firm. Melissa's mission is to empower 100,000 entrepreneurs to have financial success and mental health. She speaks about how businesses can be even more successful by covering cash flow planning, pricing strategies, and business financial foundations. She has been named a US Top 100 QuickBooks ProAdvisor for the past 2 years, and with her team of 12, provides QuickBooks consulting and Fractional Controller services to small business clients.

In this episode, Virginia and Melissa talked about:

• How Melissa earned a Woodward Top 50 Accounting Firm

• What makes Melissa unique in the industry

• Why do you NEED an advisory service?

• Mental health and entrepreneurship

Takeaways:

• Plan for your success

• Networking Up? Be of Service First

• Referrals come from doing a good job

• Tell people, "This is what I'm doing"

• Authenticity creates stronger connections

Connect with Melissa on her social media accounts to learn more about her work and insights into networking effectively:

LinkedIn URL : https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissalmirandacpa/

Instagram URL : https://www.instagram.com/melissa.l.miranda/

Connect with Virginia:

https://www.bbrpodcast.com/

Deidre Sirianni's BIO:

Deidre Sirianni is an International Best Selling Author, TEDx Speaker, and Founder of Radically Aligned Life Academy where Impact Driven Entrepreneurs, Visionaries, and Leaders come to master their inner world and make a bigger impact in the world with their gifts.

She helps people who are ready to step into higher levels of leadership and impact the world, release self-sabotage, heal trauma, and go all in on their vision and purpose without compromising when it comes to matters of the heart. She believes the foundation of success and fulfillment comes from stepping into Radical Alignment in all areas of life.

Her work has been featured in: Alive Magazine, Novus TV, The Good Men Project, Impact Festival, Addicted To Success Magazine and more where she talks about fulfillment, purpose, impact, entrepreneurship and leadership.

In this episode, Virginia and Deidre talked about:

• Why Deidre chose entrepreneurship
• How Deidre helps people tell their story to grow their business.
• Creating alignment in business and life
• How Deidre is building her business

Takeaways:

1. Decide who you want as a client and go for it
2. Every success requires a price. What are you willing to give up?
3. We need to give ourselves permission to evolve.
4. When you support someone else to achieve their goals, they naturally want to support you.
5. Stages lead to stages if you play your cards right.

Connect with Deidre on her social media accounts to learn more about her work and insights into networking effectively:

LinkedIn URL : https://ca.linkedin.com/in/deidre-sirianni-a2a27528

Facebook URL : https://www.facebook.com/radicallyaligned/

Instagram URL : https://www.instagram.com/iamdeidresirianni/

Connect with Virginia:

https://www.bbrpodcast.com/

Wendy Melrose's BIO:

Wendy Melrose is the founder of Resilience Press, an innovative publishing company dedicated to empowering survivors to share their powerful stories of triumph and victory. With over 20 years of entrepreneurial experience and a deep passion for storytelling, Wendy specializes in guiding authors from initial concept to published book, enabling them to make a meaningful impact in the lives of readers.

Wendy's journey began when the Lord reignited her gift for writing after years of self-doubt. Her personal experiences overcoming significant obstacles fueled her mission to support others in finding clarity, courage, and purpose through writing. Known for her warm, faith-driven approach, Wendy's guidance has helped numerous authors release transformational books that inspire healing and resilience.

Committed to expanding her impact, Wendy recently launched her podcast, Healed. Whole. Called., a vibrant platform dedicated to amplifying the voices of victorious women who have overcome trauma and tragedy. Each episode highlights authentic conversations, practical wisdom, and powerful testimonies designed to uplift listeners and affirm their own journeys toward wholeness.

Grounded in Proverbs 16:3, Wendy daily dedicates her work to the Lord, trusting Him to guide each project and conversation. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Wendy's greatest joy comes from her family and her unwavering faith. Her compassionate spirit, coupled with her professional expertise, positions Wendy as a trusted facilitator and mentor, passionately committed to illuminating the strength and beauty in every survivor's story.

In this episode, Virginia and Wendy talked about:

1. Wendy's leap from insurance to Resilience Press
2. Storytelling as healing and opportunity
3. Legacy writing vs. business goals
4. Wendy's process with authors
5. Faith, referrals, and community in business

Takeaways:

• Your story saves lives.
• Healing happens when you share.
• Let your mess become your message
• Turn pain into purpose.
• Write it. Heal from it. Share it.

Connect with Wendy on her social media accounts to learn more about her work and insights into networking effectively:

LinkedIn URL : https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendymelrose/

Facebook URL : https://www.facebook.com/wendycmelrose/

Instagram URL : https://www.instagram.com/wendy_melrose/

Connect with Virginia:

https://www.bbrpodcast.com/

Nikki Green's BIO:

Nikki Green is a Life & Business Resiliency Expert who has been in the international business industry for over 25 years and is a 7x published author. Nikki is an avid traveler, visiting 16+ countries and completing 7 marathons and dozens of triathlons across 3 continents. Nikki has dedicated her life to assisting others reduce their fear and go after their dreams. Nikki's greatest passion is empowering people to reach their full potential.

In this episode, Virginia and Nikki talked about:

1. Nikki's entrepreneurial journey
2. Major mistakes newer entrepreneurs make and how to avoid them
3. Foundational Business Basics
4. How to automate your business for $14 a month with Google Workspace
5. How to use AI to take your business to the next level

Takeaways:

• Success comes from overcoming
• Revenue does not equal income
• Focus on process over tools
• Finance should be at the heart of your business

Connect with Nikki on her social media accounts to learn more about her work and insights into networking effectively:

LinkedIn URL : https://www.linkedin.com/in/TheNikkiGreen/

Facebook URL : https://www.facebook.com/TheNikkiGreen

Instagram URL : https://www.instagram.com/_thenikkigreen/

Connect with Virginia:

https://www.bbrpodcast.com/

Steve Koch's BIO:

Steve Koch is a CPA and the founder of Primary Care Financial, where he helps solopreneurs & small businesses get clarity on their business finances — from bookkeeping and taxes to big-picture strategy. After years of working in corporate finance and watching small business owners get left behind, Steve decided to bring Wall Street-level insight to Main Street entrepreneurs.

He specializes in translating financial jargon into plain English, helping business owners finally understand their numbers and use them to make smarter decisions. Whether it's setting up a first bookkeeping system or advising a six-figure business on how to pay themselves and plan for taxes, Steve's approach is practical, relatable, and just a little bit fun.

When he's not knee-deep in spreadsheets, you'll find him playing hockey, cracking dad jokes, or cheering on Michigan's local small business scene.

Learn more at www.pcfdetroit.com.

In this episode, Virginia and Steve talked about:

1. Steve's start as an entrepreneur
2. Accounting mistakes solopreneurs make
3. Challenges and benefits of AI
4. Making the jump from corporate to solo-entrepreneurs
5. Hidden elements of effective marketing

Takeaways:

• Growth and Sales should be your main focus
• Don't be scared to call your accountant
• Prompt-engineer is a skill you need!
• Your prospect wants to be seen, heard and understood
• Be proactive in networking spaces

Connect with Steve on his social media accounts to learn more about his work and insights into networking effectively:

LinkedIn URL : https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-koch39/

Facebook URL : https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559786093836

Instagram URL : https://www.instagram.com/smallbizmoneycoach/

Connect with Virginia:

https://www.bbrpodcast.com/

Shelby Hansen's BIO:

Shelby Hansen is a certified life coach, speaker, and chronic fatigue recovery expert.

After going into kidney failure as a young mom of three—and giving birth to her fourth child while pregnant on the transplant list—Shelby believed her transplant would be the answer to everything. But even after surgery, the exhaustion, pain, and overwhelm continued.

Her healing truly began when she discovered the connection between chronic fatigue and the nervous system. Through learning to regulate her stress response, shift lifelong patterns of people-pleasing, and rebuild trust with her body, Shelby experienced a full transformation—and knew she had to help other women do the same.

Today, she helps women with chronic fatigue stop feeling like a burden and start living vibrant, purpose-filled lives. Her approach combines nervous system healing, mindset coaching, and compassionate support to help women regain energy, ease, and joy—without relying on endless supplements or impossible routines.

Shelby is a kidney transplant recipient, Air Force wife of 20+ years, mom of four, and host of the Get Your Energy Back podcast. She believes healing gets to be gentle, empowering, and deeply personal—and that energy is just the beginning.

In this episode, Virginia and Shelby talked about:

1. The importance of cultivating courage
2. The power of visualization in the face of (negative) facts
3. How Shelby started her business
4. How to become your future you

Takeaways:

• Do it scared
• If it's not working, think something different
• The Universe will never tell you "no".
• Sometimes you just have to focus on the potential
• Live in your results

Connect with Shelby on her LinkedIn account to learn more about her work and insights into networking effectively:

LinkedIn URL : https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelby-hansen-41434425a/

Connect with Virginia:

https://www.bbrpodcast.com/