Join us for an intimate gathering of women business owners
Comfort, Connection, Confidence:
Three Intimate Gatherings for
Women in Business
Small, in-person gatherings (limited to 12) for women who find big networking rooms intimidating. Start with comfort in a small group, and build the confidence to speak up about your business anywhere- even the big rooms.
Presented in partnership with:
Three Gatherings, three Dates
Each gathering has its own day and time, limited to 12 people so you can find comfort and the time that best fits your schedule.
Register for one, or come to all three and save
Coffee & Comfortable Conversations
Tuesday, August 11th
For Custom's Sake- 1065 E High St. Mundelein
9:30am - 11:00am
The Art of Real Conversation
Thursday August 13th
The Tranel Financial Group- 1509 N Milwaukee Ave. Libertyville
12:30pm - 2:00pm
Find the Words
Tuesday, August 18th
For Custom's Sake- 1065 E High St. Mundelein
2:00pm - 3:30pm
TICKET DETAILS:
Individual Days: $19
All Three Days: $51
Why These Gatherings Matter...
I get it. You didn't start your business because you love working a room full of strangers. You started it because you're good at something and you care about it- and somewhere between "I love doing this" and "now go tell everyone about it," things get hard.
After interviewing women who self-identify as introverted, I have found it's not that you're missing confidence- having the courage to start a business already proves you have that! What you're missing is comfort- in new rooms, with strangers, having to describe your own worth out loud without it sounding like a pitch.
My goal is to help you find that comfort, and I decided to try something different. Three small gatherings, no more than 12 women each, designed to build comfort first- because that's what everything else grows out of. No pitching. No forced networking. No pressure to become louder or more polished than you actually are!
What You'll Learn
Day 1: Tuesday, August 11th
9:30am - 11:00am
For custom's sake, Mundelein
Coffee and Comfortable Conversations
Coffee, quiet conversation, and a warm, personal welcome the moment you arrive
Paired conversations, not group performance — no elevator pitch required
Zero pressure to network or exchange business cards
A morning built entirely around one goal: feeling genuinely seen
Day 2: Thursday, August 13th
11:00am - 12:30pm
Tranel Financial Group, Libertyville
The Art of Real Conversation
A short, practical lesson on relationship-based listening- not sales tactics
Guided conversation prompts that go past "so, what do you do?"
Help finding one or two women in the room worth staying in touch with
A working session in the one networking skill nobody ever teaches you
Day 3: Tuesday, August 18th
2:00Pm - 3:30pm
For custom's sake, Mundelein
Finding the Words
A guided, low-pressure exercise for putting your business into one honest sentence
Practice saying it out loud- first quietly, then with growing confidence, never cold
A room that claps for you, not one that critiques you
Leave knowing exactly what to say when someone asks what you do
Meet Your Host
Hi, I'm Malinda
Founder of Grateful Connections, and a die-hard cheerleader for women in business. During my 25 years of corporate healthcare sales career, I dreamed about working for MYSELF instead of some large corporation, and for almost as long, I told myself that keeping "entrepreneur" as a someday-fantasy was safer than actually trying and maybe failing.
I tried things on the side for years- different businesses, different ideas- none of which stuck enough to let me walk away. Then about three years ago, corporate life stopped being something I could suck up and push through. It felt more transactional than I could handle, more hurdles than tools, and the thought of starting all over at another company made me feel like my insides would shrivel up. I just could NOT do it. So I gave my notice, and the golden handcuffs came off for good.
As a true extrovert and photographer, I needed to get out to network and meet like-minded women. When I looked at the networking groups already out there, most of them only let in one of each kind of business owner- one photographer, one realtor, one everything. Since I really believe in collaboration over competition, I decided to build my own community and personal branding photography business instead. That's Grateful Connections: a place built on Comfort, Connection, and Confidence- for women figuring out their own definition of success through gatherings, education, and branding photos that help them connect with their ideal client.
Meet Your Sponsors:
FCS is a full-service apparel printing studio specializing in high-quality, custom-made designs created with commercial grade equipment and materials.
From concept to completion, every project is produced in house- no outsourcing, no middlemen, giving total control over quality, durability and detail.
FCS offers:
Custom apparel design for individuals, teams, schools, businesses, and events
In house printing
Bulk order fulfillment with consistent quality across every piece
A hands-on Design Studio experience, where customers can book creative sessions for team-building events, birthdays, girls' nights, school projects, sports teams, family gatherings, and more
For Custom's Sake is built on craftsmanship, creativity, and community- turning ideas into meaningful, wearable art.
Your Experienced Financial Planner in Libertyville, serving Chicago and surrounding suburbs since 1988
The Tranel Financial Group is a fiduciary financial planner serving clients across Chicago, Vernon Hills, Buffalo Grove, and surrounding suburbs. As a respected financial advisory firm, we specialize in personalized financial solutions tailored to your unique needs.
What You'll Walk Away With
A clear, honest way to talk about your business- without sounding salesy or shrinking yourself
One or two real connections, not a stack of business cards you'll never look at again
The confidence that comes from proof, not pep talks- because you did it in the room, out loud
Ticket Options
Individual Days: $19
All Three Days: $51
Limited to 12 entrepreneurs to keep things intimate and safe - don’t wait to claim your seat!
Questions? Email Malinda at [email protected]
