This week, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Melissa Snow, the founder of Powerful Women Rising. Melissa and I have one of those "we just know each other" connections—probably from an event we both attended years ago, but honestly, time isn't real.In our conversation, Melissa shared her journey from an unexpected start in entrepreneurship—taking over a fully loaded client list overnight—to realizing that networking is the most underrated, sustainable way to grow a business. She helps entrepreneurs—introverts, extroverts, socially awkward folks, and everyone in between—learn how to network like a human and not like a salesy weirdo.She built Powerful Women Rising, an online community for female entrepreneurs who want to grow their businesses through meaningful connections, support, and referrals. And yes, it’s global! Melissa hosts a virtual speed networking event every month, which draws women from all over the world.We dug deep into what networking really is (spoiler: it’s not just showing up to events), how introverts like us can make it work, and why trusting your own journey in business is crucial. She also shared her own challenges, like the time she overheard women talking about her at an event and how she reframed that experience into fuel for creating a more inclusive and supportive space.If you’ve ever felt awkward about networking, thought you needed all the "business stuff" (like a website) before making real connections, or just want to find a way to build your business authentically, this episode is packed with insight.Melissa’s Powerful Women Rising speed networking events happen on the second Thursday of every month, and first-timers can attend for free using the promo code firsttime. You can connect with her at PowerfulWomenRising.com (https://powerfulwomenrising.com) or follow her on Threads, where she’s been building a vibrant and engaged community.And of course, you can always find me on Instagram @lifejennsway (https://instagram.com/lifejennsway) or at jennsway.com (https://jennsway.com).