What if your most powerful growth strategy was about having meaningful conversations and building connections?

In this episode, Suzi chats with Jules Brooke, founder of She's the Boss, who shares how podcasting became her most effective tool for building influence, connection, and opportunity — without needing a massive audience.

Jules didn't start with a grand strategy. What began as a love of interviewing women has evolved into a powerful platform that has connected her with hundreds of founders worldwide.

Along the way, she's built not just a network — but genuine relationships that have led to collaborations, clients, friendships, and unexpected opportunities.

One key takeaway is that podcasting flips traditional networking on its head. Instead of awkward small talk or transactional conversations, a podcast creates space for deeper, more meaningful connections.

It gives you:

• A reason to reach out to influential people
• A structure for the conversation
• A natural way to build rapport and trust

And importantly, it removes many of the barriers that make networking feel uncomfortable—especially for introverts.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why a podcast can open doors that cold outreach never could
• The surprising reason audience size matters less than you think
• How to turn conversations into collaborations, clients and long-term allies
• The difference between "being visible" and being known for something meaningful
• A smarter way to approach networking (especially if you're an introvert)
• What to do if your podcast—or your visibility strategy—feels scattered or unfocused

But this isn't about creating content for content's sake.

Jules makes a clear distinction between "noise" and "meaningful visibility." It's not about how many people see you—it's about being seen by the right people, consistently, for what you want to be known for.

She also challenges the idea that a podcast needs a huge audience to be worthwhile. In fact, she argues the real value lies in the doors it opens—the people you meet, the credibility you build, and the conversations that wouldn't otherwise happen.

If you've ever thought about starting a podcast—or wondered how to make your existing one more strategic—this episode will give you a new lens on what's possible.

Mentioned in This Episode:

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How to Become a Woman of Influence Online Course

Marketing often feels like a chaotic trial-and-error — jumping between strategies, trying everything, starting things and stopping things and wondering why nothing seems to stick. If that's how you've been feeling, this is a must-listen episode.

In this #AskSuzi episode, I'm answering one of the most common questions I get from women business owners: "How long should I stay focused on one marketing strategy to actually see results?"

We're breaking down why so many small business owners abandoned strategies before they work, what's really underneath the wish-washy changes, how to tell the difference between a strategy that isn't working and one that isn't working yet… and get my C.O.R.E. Marketing model to make simpler and smarter marketing decisions.

What You'll Discover in This Episode:

• Why marketing chaos is so common right now — and why it's getting worse
• What healthy experimentation actually looks like (hint: it's not "try everything and hope something sticks")
• The most common knee-jerk reactions business owners have when a campaign flops — and why it's sabotaging your work
• The real reasons we keep switching strategies (it's more layered than you think)
• The one word that completely changes how you think about your marketing
• How long a marketing strategy actually needs to run before you can fairly assess it
• The difference between "this isn't working" and "this isn't working yet" — and why it matters
• The 3 foundational reasons a campaign genuinely fails (and what to do about each one)
• The C.O.R.E. Marketing Model — four things, done consistently, done well

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review wherever you listen. It helps more women business owners find the show and find their community.

Mentioned in This Episode:

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Reviewer - Rhonda Garvin, Palmtree Learning

If you've ever felt like your message no longer quite fits your business—even though everything looks "successful" on the outside—this episode will resonate deeply.

In this conversation, Patrice Poltzer, creator of My Story Pro, explores a subtle but critical shift that happens as businesses grow: the story that once built your momentum may no longer carry your leadership.

In the early stages, your founder story is often everything. It's personal, relatable, and powerful. It helps people connect with you in a crowded market. But as your business evolves—growing in team, complexity, and impact—that same story can start to feel incomplete.

Not wrong. Just… outdated.

Patrice introduces the idea of moving from a founder-led story to a mission-driven story. One that still honours where you began, but expands to reflect what you now stand for, who you serve, and where you're going.

We also explore:

• Why messaging becomes "blurry" as your business grows
• The difference between content that creates noise vs. authority
• Why so many women feel they're constantly repeating themselves—and what's missing
• What sustainable visibility looks like (especially if you don't want to be "on" all the time)
• How to use AI as a tool without losing your voice

One of the most powerful takeaways is this: your story is not just about your past—it's a tool to help you step into your future.

And yet, many women hesitate to fully own their story. Not because they lack experience—but because they question whether it's "worth" sharing.

Patrice challenges that directly.

Your story is your unique IP. It's the one thing no one can replicate. And in a world increasingly shaped by AI-generated content, your humanity is your greatest advantage.

This episode is an invitation to rethink how you show up—not just as a business owner, but as a leader.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Apply to Join the HerBusiness Network

Meet our reviewer - Lydia Dyhin, Calma Lifestyle

Start your 7-Day Trial of Patrice's My Story Pro Software

If your business looks successful on paper—but feels anything but freeing—this episode will land close to home.

In this powerful episode, Suzi Dafnis introduces the concept of the Identity Gap™— the space between the business owner you've been and the leader you need to become to reach your next level.

Many women business owners don't struggle because they lack strategy, skills, or systems. In fact, they've often done everything right. They've built thriving businesses, grown teams, and generated consistent revenue. And yet… they feel stuck. Overwhelmed. Pulled back into the day-to-day.

Suzi explains why this happens.

At the heart of it is a subtle but critical mismatch: you're still operating as the operator—the capable, hands-on doer—when your business now requires you to step into the role of leader.

That gap? It's costing you more than you think:

• Time spent solving problems others could handle
• Revenue ceilings due to over-reliance on you
• Constant mental load and decision fatigue
• And perhaps most importantly… your joy

Through real stories from HerBusiness Network members, you'll hear how this shift shows up in real life—and what becomes possible when you begin to close the gap.

Suzi also shares her L.E.A.D. Method™, a four-part framework to help you transition:

• Liberate yourself from your old identity
• Enrol others into your vision
• Allow support and imperfection
• Delegate outcomes, not just tasks

This isn't about doing more. It's about becoming someone different.

Because the truth is: you can't think your way into a new level of leadership—you have to step into it.

If you've ever felt like your business is running you instead of the other way around, this episode offers both clarity and a path forward.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Apply to Join the HerBusiness Network

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The Leadership Lab

"I can't rely on anyone else in my business. It's easier if I just do it myself."

In this #AskSuzi episode, we are tackling one of the most common (and most misunderstood!) challenges women business owners face: feeling like you're the only person you can truly rely on in your business.

It seems like your team keeps dropping the ball. If you want tasks done right, you have to do them yourself. You're constantly picking up the pieces and patching the leaks.

THAT is not leverage.

In this episode, I talk about the reason you're having team struggles, how to fix them, and how to lead a team that runs with clear direction (so you can do more of what YOU do best).

What You'll Discover in This Episode:

• The four real reasons you feel like you can't rely on your team (and why only one of them is actually about your team members)
• Why the identity that built your business might be the very thing keeping it stuck
• The secret to delegation (and why most people get it wrong)
• What healthy leadership actually looks like
• Why business owners are hesitant to step into leadership (and the misconceptions we have on what being the 'boss' means)
• The reason your team needs vision more than you realise — and how to loop them in on your business big picture
• Three practical places to start making changes TODAY to create a team that you can finally rely on
• What life looks like when you have people around you who can help carry the load of the business

Mentioned in This Episode:

Apply to Join the HerBusiness Network

Reviewer Susan Bell, of Susan Bell Research

Episode 345 – The Secrets to Speaking with Impact, Confidence, and Presence as a Small Business Owner with Anne Maree Wilshire

If you started your business because you're brilliant at what you do — you're not alone.

Most business owners don't begin their journey dreaming of managing a team. They start because they're passionate about their craft, their expertise, or the impact they want to make.

But eventually, something shifts.

You reach a point where the business grows beyond what you alone can do. And the next stage of growth doesn't come from working harder — it comes from learning how to lead.

In this week's episode of the HerBusiness Podcast, I sat down with leadership expert and entrepreneur Shivani Gupta to talk about one of the most important transitions a founder can make: moving from doing the work to leading the people who do the work.

It's a transition many founders struggle with.

Shivani shared that early in her career, she believed success meant working longer hours and doing everything herself. But over time, she discovered something surprising — the more she learned to let go, delegate, and focus on her "zone of genius," the more successful her businesses became.

In this conversation, we explore:

• The critical mindset shift founders must make to grow beyond themselves
• The hidden cost of losing a team member (it's far more than recruitment)
• Why your highest performers are actually the most at risk of burnout
• The hiring mistake many small business owners make when they're in a hurry
• And the leadership skill most founders were never taught — but absolutely need

One insight that stood out for me was Shivani's perspective on leadership as a coaching role.

When founders learn how to ask better questions, support their team's thinking, and empower others to take ownership, something powerful happens: the team grows, the business grows, and the founder finally gets the space to lead.

And that's ultimately what building a business is about — creating something that works with you, not something that depends entirely on you.

If you're building a team, or thinking about building one, this episode will give you practical insights you can start using right away.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Apply to Join the HerBusiness Network

Learn more about Shivani's services

Check out Shivani's book Getting Your People to Step Up: 7 Simple Strategies to Attract and Keep Your Key Talent

Katie Balogh, Bright Point Research (review/commenter)

In business, there are seasons when everything seems to flow effortlessly.

Ideas land.
Clients say yes.
Momentum builds.

And then there are the other seasons.

The ones where you feel like you're doing all the things… yet somehow getting nowhere.

If you've ever found yourself staring at your laptop, wondering whether you've forgotten how to run your business, you're not alone.

In this episode of the HerBusiness Podcast, Suzi Dafnis explores the very real cycles that most business owners experience — from soaring growth to frustrating plateaus — and why those slower seasons might actually be laying the groundwork for your next leap forward.

You'll also hear how to tell the difference between a temporary hard week and deeper burnout, why doing less isn't always the solution, and how to recognise when your business model may no longer be aligned with who you've become as a leader.

Because often when things feel stuck, it's a sign of a transition.

And transition is where meaningful growth begins.

In This Episode You'll Discover:

• Why it's normal for businesses to move through cycles of momentum and stagnation
• What it really means when you feel like you're "getting nowhere"
• The key difference between a tough week and true burnout
• How misalignment in your business model can lead to exhaustion
• Why doing less isn't always the answer to burnout
• How to recognise the work that creates energy versus the work that drains you
• The difference between maintenance work and momentum work
• A powerful question to ask when you feel overwhelmed in your business
• How identity shifts influence the way you lead your next chapter

A Few Questions to Reflect On

As you listen, you might like to ask yourself:

• Where am I constantly forcing myself in my business?
• If I were building this business from scratch today, would I design it the same way?
• What work consistently gives me energy?
• What work drains me every time?
• What is the one thing that would make everything else easier right now?

Often, clarity doesn't come from doing more.

It comes from creating space to think.

Join the HerBusiness Network:
If you're ready to grow a sustainable business surrounded by other ambitious women business owners, the HerBusiness Network is where strategy, community and support come together.

Apply to join us here:
https://www.herbusinessnetwork.com

Mentioned in This Episode:

Apply to Join the HerBusiness Network

Episode 330: Why "White Space" is the Secret to Getting Unstuck in Business

Review by Davina Borrow-Jones, The Mumpreneur Lawyer
Davina specialises in drafting custom contracts and reviewing existing agreements to help protect your business.
Website: https://mumlawyer.com.au/

So many smart, capable women in business are working hard — but not seeing the profit to match.

They're busy.
They're delivering.
They care deeply about their clients.

And yet they're exhausted, stretched and under-earning.

In this episode, Suzi unpacks the Invisible Work Trap — the work that feels productive and responsible but doesn't directly increase revenue or profitability — and what to do instead.

In This Episode, You'll Discover:

• What "invisible work" is and why it keeps women busy but not profitable
• Why adding more to your offer can actually dilute its value
• The rule of "Revenue Before Refinement"
• How over-customising reduces scalability and margins
• The hidden cost of over-functioning for clients
• How to use a simple profitability filter before adding anything new

You don't need to prove your value by exhausting yourself.

You need clarity, boundaries and a commitment to profitable action.

If this episode resonated, share it with another woman in business who might be stuck in the Invisible Work Trap.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Apply to Join the HerBusiness Network

Reviewer: Lydia Dyhin, Calma Lifestyle

Episode 328: 4 Systems That Saved My Sanity as a Business Owner