Lyndsay Mitcheson's BIO:

Lyndsay’s journey is one of resilience, creativity, and transformation. After losing her leg to an MRSA infection, she set out to design a walking stick she could feel proud to use. What began in her kitchen became Neo Walk, a bold brand of stylish, colourful acrylic walking sticks that empower people living with disabilities to embrace their mobility with confidence and pride.

Neo Walk now ships to over 28 countries and offers a wide range of designs—from sleek classics to light-up statement pieces—redefining what mobility aids can look and feel like. Lyndsay’s mission is simple but powerful: to make walking sticks that people want to use.

In 2023, Neo Walk received both a National Diversity Award and a Women in Business Award, and its unique designs have even appeared on red carpets through collaborations with Hollywood stylists.

Lyndsay’s story is a powerful reminder that personal challenges can spark meaningful change—and that mobility aids can be more than functional; they can be beautiful, bold, and proudly carried.

In this episode, Virginia and Lyndsay talked about:

1. How Lyndsay turned personal adversity into a thriving global brand
2. The power of word-of-mouth and networking in building a business
3. Why brand credibility starts with authentic relationships
4. Leveraging strategic partnerships to reach new markets
5. Balancing purpose, service, and profitability in entrepreneurship

Takeaway:

• Your challenges don’t define you, your response does.
• Strategic relationships can open doors, marketing can’t.
• Word-of-mouth is still one of the most powerful growth tools.
• Your brand’s credibility is built through connection not just promotion.
• Visibility creates possibility. Be seen to inspire the next generation.

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

Facebook URL: https://www.facebook.com/neowalk.neowalk/photos/

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

Connect with Virginia:

https://www.bbrpodcast.com/

Brian Parana's BIO:

Brian Parana is not merely a health coach; he is a transformative catalyst who comprehends the intricate balance between professional achievement, personal well-being, and family responsibilities.

Brian’s over two decades of helping 1,000’s of clients0 in the nutrition and fitness industry serve as a testament to the importance of consistency and dedication in impacting individuals’ lives.

His experience comes from owning 2 CrossFit gyms for years, online speaking opportunities, and serving busy professionals globally as a health & lifestyle coach. Weight loss and improving poor health situations are just the start of his coaching. Notably, he has had the privilege of coaching a 2-time Olympian and CrossFit World Champion.

With 15+ years of entrepreneurship, while raising a young family, Brian blends using science-back strategies to empower his clients to regain control and confidence through building a sustainable lifestyle with the relentless demands of managing a successful business and, more importantly, supporting a family.

He married his high school sweetheart, Amber, for nearly two decades, while raising 4 children, ranging in age from 15-9: 3 boys and 1 girl. The Paranas share a passion for travel, exploring all 50 states and 3 continents. Their next BIG goal is to visit all 7 continents!

In this episode, Virginia and Brian talked about:

• How Brian started his fitness journey
• How to balance business, family and fitness
• Motivation vs. Will Power
• Why AI might be ruining your referrability
• Why it’s so hard to get results

Takeaway:

-If your body wears out, who will run your business?

-Who’s in your “Me Team”

-In the absence of structure, habit always wins (Jay Fiset)

-People helping other people..that’s just business.

-We are in a trust recession - slow down and build relationships.

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

LinkedIn URL

https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachbrianparana/

Facebook URL

https://www.facebook.com/coachbrianparana

Instagram URL

https://www.instagram.com/coachbrianparana/

Connect with Virginia:

https://www.bbrpodcast.com/

Tim Hyde's BIO:

Tim Hyde is the founder of Win More Clients, a leading marketing automation and CRM consultancy dedicated to helping service-based businesses scale smarter. With over 30 years of experience in strategy, technology, and sales systems, Tim is a master at transforming chaos into clarity.

Having worked with more than a thousand business owners, Tim has a proven track record of streamlining marketing systems, boosting conversions, and building sustainable growth strategies without the burnout.

When he's not fixing funnels or architecting scalable pipelines, you’ll find Tim in the kitchen cooking up a storm, skiing through deep powder, cracking dad jokes over board games, and most importantly, hanging out with friends in the JVMM.

In this episode, Virginia and Tim talked about:

• How Tim got started in referrals and tech
• How to create a mature marketing funnel
• Four kinds of marketing channels you should be employing to scale your business
• The intersection of CRM and referral partnerships
• How The Dunbar Formula relates to networking
• Tim’s Quest Framework

Takeaways:

• Word-of-Mouth and Referrals are a marketing channel
• Practice the art of test and measure
• Without a system, there’s no success
• A great partner does the selling for you!
• Intimacy is the key to referral and sales success!

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

LinkedIn URL - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-hyde-crm/

Connect with Virginia:

https://www.bbrpodcast.com/

Janet Krebs' BIO:

Janet Krebs is a speaker, strategist, and 4X best-selling author who empowers families and influencers to lead with confidence, self-reliance, and heart. Drawing from her background in consulting, HR, and education—as well as 14 years as "Commander Krebs" in a space flight simulator guiding over 65,000 students—she blends practical leadership tools with real-world parenting strategies. Her greatest accomplishment? Her two adult children, Benjamin and Elisa.

In this episode, Virginia and Janet talked about:

• Why Janet jumped into entrepreneurship
• The importance of leadership in parenting
• How Janet is building her business
• The importance of messaging to your ideal, right fit client

Takeaways:

1. You are your own biggest challenge
2. Do your business in a way that makes you joyful
3. Integrity matters more than scale in your business
4. Parenting is personal development in disguise
5. Influence begins at home, not in the boardroom

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

LinkedIn URL - https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetkrebsri/

Facebook URL - https://www.facebook.com/jkrebs3/

Connect with Virginia:

https://www.bbrpodcast.com/

Candy Barone's BIO:

Candy Barone is a Leadership Alchemist and Human Design Guide, empowering visionary leaders and changemakers to unlock their true leadership potential and lead with clarity, purpose, and alignment. With over 30 years of experience in leadership and business strategy, Candy specializes in helping leaders break free from outdated paradigms, reconnect with their soul’s blueprint, and create transformative impact that lasts. Through her work, Candy blends the power of Human Design and Gene Keys with relational intelligence to guide clients in activating their unique leadership voice. She believes leadership isn’t just about strategy; it’s about cultivating heart-centered connections, fostering deep relationships, and leading with authenticity.

Candy’s approach goes beyond conventional leadership. She helps clients shed limiting beliefs and step into bold, unapologetic leadership that aligns with their core essence, allowing them to make lasting, aligned impact in their businesses and beyond. Candy has helped countless leaders tap into their full potential and create a Living Legacy that reflects their deepest values and vision. Whether through 1:1 mentoring, Human Design readings, Gene Keys insights, or strategic frameworks, Candy offers a unique, soul-led approach to leadership that’s both transformational and sustainable. When she’s not guiding visionary leaders, Candy is dedicated to igniting a leadership revolution that’s deeply connected, empowering, and purpose-driven.

In this episode, Virginia and Candy talked about:

• How Candy blended her engineering background with Quantum energetics

• Why human design helps us understand how we operate in the world

• Candy’s non-traditional way of building business and transforming her clients

• Divine feminine and Divine masculine

• How to create more functional partnerships in business

Takeaways:

1. Let your clients learn from your experiences
2. What is your living legacy?
3. Leadership is a team sport
4. Focus on Return on Impact
5. The best relationship helps you grow.

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

LinkedIn URL - https://www.linkedin.com/in/candybarone/

Facebook URL - https://www.facebook.com/CoachCandySpeaks

Instagram URL - https://www.instagram.com/candy_barone/

Connect with Virginia:

https://www.bbrpodcast.com/

Mason Brunsmann's BIO:

Mason Brunsmann is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® with Sirius Wealth Management, known for delivering comprehensive financial planning and investment management strategies tailored to the unique needs of business owners and families. His specialties include comprehensive financial planning, investment management, risk management, and income & tax planning. Mason is dedicated to helping clients work toward their financial goals through personalized, strategic guidance.

Mason holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Business Administration with a finance emphasis from the University of Missouri–St. Louis. He also earned a graduate certificate in Financial Technology from the same institution, as well as a graduate certificate in Financial Planning through Kaplan College of Financial Education. Mason maintains FINRA Series 7, 9, 10, 63, and 66 licenses, equipping him with a deep understanding of the financial services landscape.

With over a decade of experience, Mason is committed to helping clients navigate the complexities of building and protecting wealth across every stage of life.

In this episode, Virginia and Mason talked about:

• How Mason uses social media to create visibility

• Mason’s journey to financial planning

• Mason’s unique take on building wealth

• Mason’s financial planning pet peeves

• The value of networking for improving client retention

Takeaways:

1. You need to always “Know a guy who”

2. It’s better to create a network that is an inch wide and a mile deep, than a mile wide and an inch deep

3. Focus on building trust and the money will follow

4. Don’t chase 1,000 connections—nurture the right 10.

5. Reciprocity isn’t always instant, but it’s always real.

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mason-brunsmann-cfp-financialadvisor/

Connect with Virginia:

https://www.bbrpodcast.com/

Laura Ballerini's BIO:

Perspective shifter, Laura Ballerini is an accomplished designer who has been running a thriving communications firm for over 25 years. She started her creative journey in the Advertising Department of The Calgary Herald—during the heyday of newspapers. Ballerini has a degree in Visual Communications from The Alberta University of the Arts and is a recipient of numerous awards. While she’s a quiet and introverted creative, Laura has recently found her inner badass and radiates her “quietly fierce” disposition in her work and in her personal life.

As author of The Green Velvet Chair, Laura gathered a collection of heartfelt stories depicting how art and design influence us and spur creativity in our everyday lives. The essays are viewed through her unique creative lens.

Running her own design boutique over many decades has enabled Laura to work with a variety of clients from many industries. She deliberately chose to ensure her client base was diverse and sees this as her strength. Laura comes to the table with fresh eyes and approaches every project with unique interest and expertise.

Ballerini lives in Calgary, Alberta, with her husband, children, and a pretentious cat named Gooey.

In this episode, Virginia and Laura talked about:

• Laura’s background as a designer

• The transition from print to digital media

• Networking as an introvert

• Laura’s new book The Green Velvet Chair

• The Power of Thought leadership

Takeaways:

1. Know Your Audience

2. Learn to tell your story

3. Flip the networking narrative

4. Ask great questions and listen intensely for networking success.

5. Commit to your vision even when no one else see it

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauraballerini/

Connect with Virginia:

https://www.bbrpodcast.com/

Alison's Bio:

Alison C. Jones is a leadership transformation speaker and coach, and the founder of Wellness Society LLC. She’s the best-selling author of Character Leadership, a book focused on building healthy leadership from the inside out. With a master’s in industrial/organizational psychology, multiple certifications in wellness, change management, and leadership, and decades of hands-on experience, Alison is on a mission to blend leadership and wellness into one powerful, purpose-driven path. She helps leaders and organizations reduce burnout, elevate culture, and lead with greater clarity and care. Known for her grounded presence and thoughtful insight, Alison brings heart and strategy to her work—helping leaders find clarity, connection, and renewed purpose. Outside of work, she’s an avid reader, sports enthusiast, music lover, and a passionate advocate for elephant and rhino conservation.

In this episode, Virginia and Alison talked about:

• Alison’s origin story

• How to lead from your centered self

• Alison’s GLOW program

• How to lead with light

• 5 steps of authentic leadership

Takeaways:

1. Nothing sustainable starts outside—it begins within

2. We lead by who we become

3. Don’t confuse humility with invisibility

4. Resilience isn’t found—it’s cultivated

5. Purpose isn’t a someday thing—it’s a today thing

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

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alison-c-jones

Connect with Virginia:

https://www.bbrpodcast.com/