6 Tips to Prepare for High Stakes Meetings Without Anxiety

How I Plan the Next 12 Months in Business

In episode 4 of The Kindred Social Podcast [https://thekindredsocial.com/podcast], I’m sharing the three-part process I use to review my business, check for alignment, and create a strategy for the next 12 months. I recorded this in the middle of prepping for international travel with my kids, which honestly feels like a reflection of real life as a founder — things are rarely perfectly calm or polished. But this is the work I come back to every year, usually starting in mid-November and carrying through Q1. I walk you through how I check in with myself first, before looking at any numbers, and how that internal alignment often ends up reflected in the data. Then I share exactly what I review across financials, engagement, email, and web traffic, and how I use that to shape my decisions. Finally, I take you inside how I build my 12-month strategy — from refreshing brand identity and messaging to setting goals, doing market research, and defining the direction of my content and offers. This process also led me to make some bigger shifts in my business this year, including closing my digital membership and refocusing on what feels most aligned and sustainable moving forward. If you’re in the early stages of building your business, or transitioning from corporate into entrepreneurship, this episode provides a way to step back, assess what’s working, and move forward with confidence. In This Episode: * Why I start with an internal check-in before looking at any numbers * The questions I ask to assess alignment and recognize what needs to evolve * What stats I actually review across my business (financials, email, engagement, web traffic) * How I balance intuition and data when making decisions * How I structure my 12-month planning process * What goes into refreshing my brand identity, messaging, and positioning * How I approach keywords, language, and using AI without losing my voice Who This Episode Is For * Corporate leaders who are transitioning into entrepreneurship * Early-stage founders who want more clarity and direction * Founders who feel misaligned in parts of their business but aren’t sure what to change * Entrepreneurs who want to build in alignment with their purpose, not just react to trends * Anyone looking to create a long-term strategy that reflects both their life and business goals An Invitation For You If you’re building a business alongside real life and want thoughtful, strategic support, I offer a small number of 1:1 coaching partnerships through The Kindred Social. Together, we focus on moving your ideas into structure and execution — refining your positioning, building visibility, and creating a business that reflects your strengths, experience, and the way you want to live and work. You can learn more and apply to work together here [https://thekindredsocial.com/services]. /// I’m speaking at the Inside the Inbox summit March 23-26 and you can sign up to listen to the audio only event for free here now [https://www.skool.com/online-biz-growth/about?ref=deedfc37211a4a5a8a5655dafbaec1bf]. Speakers are sharing about how they are growing their businesses without relying on social media. Links & Resources * Learn more about working together through The Kindred Social [https://thekindredsocial.com/] * Join the upcoming event on growing your business without social media [https://www.skool.com/online-biz-growth/about?ref=deedfc37211a4a5a8a5655dafbaec1bf] * Subscribe to my work on Substack [https://thekindredsocial.substack.com/] * Listen to more episodes of The Kindred Social Podcast [https://thekindredsocial.com/podcast] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thekindredsocial.substack.com [https://thekindredsocial.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

6 Tips to Prepare for High Stakes Meetings Without Anxiety

High-stakes meetings used to leave me feeling buzzy, rushed, or walking away wishing I had said something differently. Over the years, both in my corporate career and as a founder, I learned that how I prepare matters just as much as what I say. Preparation is not about control. It’s about grounding my energy so I can communicate clearly and stay present. In episode 3 of The Kindred Social Podcast [https://thekindredsocial.com/podcast], I share the six practices I rely on before important conversations. I talk about why spending even 30 minutes preparing changes the entire dynamic of a meeting, how visualizing a conversation ahead of time helps calm my nervous system, and why protecting quiet time before meetings has become non-negotiable for me. I also share how movement, time outside, and simple breathing techniques help me release stress and enter conversations with a neutral, steady energy. When I prepare this way, I’m able to receive feedback without becoming defensive, articulate what matters to me, and leave meetings without regret. If you’re navigating high-pressure conversations that feel pivotal for your career or business, this episode offers a calmer, more intentional way to show up. In This Episode: * High-stakes meetings feel very different when I prepare my energy, not just my talking points. * Spending time researching who’s in the room helps me feel clear and confident before I speak. * Visualizing the conversation ahead of time reduces anxiety and emotional reactivity. * Protecting quiet time before meetings helps me reset and focus. * Movement and time outside help release stress before important conversations. * Breathing deeply during meetings keeps me grounded and present, even when emotions come up. An Invitation For You If you’re building a business alongside real life and want thoughtful, strategic support, I offer a small number of 1:1 coaching partnerships through The Kindred Social. Together, we focus on moving your ideas into structure and execution — refining your positioning, building visibility, and creating a business that reflects your strengths, experience, and the way you want to live and work. You can learn more and apply to work together here [https://thekindredsocial.com/services]. Links & Resources * Learn more about working together through The Kindred Social [https://thekindredsocial.com/] * Subscribe to my work on Substack [https://thekindredsocial.substack.com/] * Listen to more episodes of The Kindred Social Podcast [https://thekindredsocial.com/podcast] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thekindredsocial.substack.com [https://thekindredsocial.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

The First 90 Days of Business What I Wish I Knew Sooner

During the first 90 days of building Wanderwild Family Retreats, I had no roadmap and no mentor guiding me through the early stages of becoming a founder. What I did have was intuition, corporate foundations, a notebook full of ideas, and a growing belief that this work mattered. In this episode, I share the real behind-the-scenes of how I structured those first months — from creating the original 90-day GANTT chart to mapping out financial plans, clarifying my niche, and building the foundation that still supports my business today. In episode 2 of The Kindred Social Podcast [https://thekindredsocial.com/podcast], I talk about the creativity that surfaced during maternity leave, the brand story that came to life through collaboration, and the community that grew one DM at a time. You’ll hear why I focused so deeply on branding, how I approached hiring and outsourcing with strategy, and the lessons I learned about visibility, email lists, and what actually moves a business forward. Whether you’re just starting or rethinking your path, these reflections offer a grounded look at what truly matters in the early stages of entrepreneurship, structure, alignment, and a deep connection to your mission. In This Episode: * Why creating a structured 90-day plan brings clarity, reduces overwhelm, and supports sustainable business growth. * How early market research and niche clarity shaped the foundation of Wanderwild Family Retreats. * The role a cohesive brand story and website play in building trust before your first offer is even launched. * Why personal community engagement matters more than follower count when starting a business. * The lessons learned from investing in paid ads and influencer partnerships versus shifting toward earned visibility. * How outsourcing with intention helps founders protect their energy and maintain brand integrity. * The importance of reflection, boundaries, and reconnecting with creativity to stay aligned. An Invitation For You If you’re building a business alongside real life and want thoughtful, strategic support, I offer a small number of 1:1 coaching partnerships through The Kindred Social. Together, we focus on moving your ideas into structure and execution — refining your positioning, building visibility, and creating a business that reflects your strengths, experience, and the way you want to live and work. You can learn more and apply to work together here [https://thekindredsocial.com/services]. Links & Resources * Learn more about working together through The Kindred Social [https://thekindredsocial.com/] * Subscribe to my work on Substack [https://thekindredsocial.substack.com/] * Listen to more episodes of The Kindred Social Podcast [https://thekindredsocial.com/podcast] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thekindredsocial.substack.com [https://thekindredsocial.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

My Journey from Corporate Leader to Founder

Stepping away from a stable corporate career to become a founder has been one of the most courageous transitions of my life. In episode 1 of The Kindred Social Podcast [https://thekindredsocial.com/podcast], I open my heart and share the full story of how I went from leading global operations across 26 countries to creating Wanderwild Family Retreats and now launching The Kindred Social, a coaching space for corporate leaders becoming entrepreneurs. I talk about the skills I carried from years of managing complex teams, the moment I realized there was a real market gap in family wellness travel, and what it actually looked like to build a brand from the ground up while raising two young children. I also share why I believe corporate leaders are uniquely prepared for entrepreneurship, how to identify the strengths you’ve already built in your career, and the role of ethical AI in creating sustainable systems that support founders in the early stages. If you’ve ever felt the pull toward something more: a business idea you can’t let go of, a desire for meaningful work, or the call to build a brand that reflects your story, this conversation will meet you right where you are. I’m sharing the truth, the challenges, and the deep sense of purpose that comes with turning an idea into something real. In This Episode: * How I transitioned from a global corporate career into entrepreneurship * The moment I recognized a real market gap in family wellness travel * The early days of building Wanderwild with two young children * The corporate skills that translate directly into becoming a founder * How to identify your strengths and apply them to a new business * What it looks like to bring an idea from vision to execution * The power of ethical AI in supporting simple and sustainable workflows * Why I created The Kindred Social for corporate leaders becoming early stage founders An Invitation For You If you’re building a business alongside real life and want thoughtful, strategic support, I offer a small number of 1:1 coaching partnerships through The Kindred Social. Together, we focus on moving your ideas into structure and execution — refining your positioning, building visibility, and creating a business that reflects your strengths, experience, and the way you want to live and work. You can learn more and apply to work together here [https://thekindredsocial.com/services]. Links & Resources * Learn more about working together through The Kindred Social [https://thekindredsocial.com/] * Subscribe to my work on Substack [https://thekindredsocial.substack.com/] * Listen to more episodes of The Kindred Social Podcast [https://thekindredsocial.com/podcast] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thekindredsocial.substack.com [https://thekindredsocial.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]