I launched a LinkedIn newsletter!

Vol. 1

​So, I decided to launch a newsletter! I've been feeling this nudge lately and I don't want to ignore it any longer. I have so much I want to share with you, and I hope you find my curated insights, brand spotlights, and event opportunities to be helpful. It won't be an exhaustive list of everything going on in the Richmond region, but I will showcase the events that I am personally attending, along with why I think you should, too. This newsletter will serve as my monthly nudge to you, and my nod to the event industry that it's time to get back to meeting in person. Many of us have already ventured back to crowded ballrooms and tradeshow floors, but there are plenty of you still waiting in the wings. My goal is to share the events that I plan to personally attend so that you #1 know where to go to get a real hug in real life, and #2 so I can introduce you to great people who could become your next new friend, client, or business coach. I'll throw in some voiceover shenanigans to keep you in the loop on how I'm growing that segment of my business, too. Consider this inaugural issue as a teaser for what's to come. I welcome and appreciate your feedback as I kick everything off.

STRONG

The "STRONG" section of my newsletter is reserved for those stories and insights that have been weighing on me or have piqued my interest lately. This month has been all about connection. I get my energy from being around great people and I've had some wonderful opportunities to satisfy my "joiner" tendencies by attending rooftop planning sessions, client meetings, networking mixers, and hosting a Girl Scout camp out in my own backyard. Something hit me last night, though, after attending a lovely networking event for professional women put on by The WOW Collaborative...I finally felt like I had arrived. Let me explain...

My career was so tied to the hospitality industry and the venue that I marketed, that it cemented my public identity for a decade and a half. Now, when I walk into a room, people know me, but they recognize that I'm no longer that pigeon-holed sales director, but a creative professional who decided to make a go of it by starting her own business. I knew more than half of the women in the room last night and I had no preconceived notion of what to expect from that event. It was kismet from the moment I walked in the door. From seeing dear old friends to connections made during the pandemic, to current and potential clients. I left that event feeling so filled and energized. A friend and colleague told me early on in my career that Richmond is a "tough nut to crack," and that it would take some time for me to build relationships and make a name for myself. She was 1000% right (Thanks, Linda)! Bopping around the room and catching up with so many wonderful people gave me a deep sense of pride that I hope to carry with me for quite some time. For the first time in a long time, I felt resilient, important, and strong.

BRAND

The "BRAND" section of my newsletter will shine a spotlight on brands that I have a personal connection with or those that I love to follow. I'll also share some marketing insights and trends that I feel will be helpful given the season and/or quarter we're in. Early next month, I will be sharing a holiday gift list filled with the brands of my talented friends. Stay tuned!

This month, I'd like to shine a spotlight on Liza Pruitt Art. Liza is a local art broker who has curated a brilliant collection of emerging artists for an extended fall show, and I'd love for you to check it out. Please share the link with all of your art-loving friends, family, and colleagues. These pieces are great for residential and corporate settings. Once you're on the show's page, you'll be able to sort and search by category. This is an online shopping experience. Have fun filling your walls!

Liza Pruitt Art's Emerging Artist Show

VOICE

The "VOICE" section of my newsletter will recap where my voice has been heard over the past month and where you can catch it next. I would love to be able to report that I am the voice of Kellogg's or M&M's, but I have not achieved national TV or radio airtime status just yet. I am the voice of a local med spa, a sports travel hotline, an HVAC company, and a truck rental outfit in the Midwest. I was also the "Voice of God" for a statewide association's hospitality awards banquet earlier this month. Know a company that's seeking a voice talent for their next project? I appreciate every lead and referral I receive. To hear my voice in real life, you'll need to attend an event or two.

Won't you join me for these fabulous occasions?

Liza Pruitt Art’s Emerging Artist Show - October 19 - December 1, 2022
Calling all art lovers! Scoop up great deals on pieces large and small from an extremely talented group of up-and-coming artists. Art makes the perfect gift! This is an online event so you can shop in your pjs!

Meeting Professionals International - Virginia Chapter - November 3, 2022
Topic: Convening with a Cause: Infusing Sustainability and Social Impact into Meetings and Events with Meredith Flanagan, CMP, CMM, CPCE. We could all use a refresher on how to make our events more sustainable and socially responsible, so join me and let's share some best practices while enjoying the ambiance of the Richmond Marriott Downtown!

Girl Scout Troop 752 - Coats for Kids Collection - November 6, 2022
My daughter's Girl Scout troop will be collecting coats for the Puritan Cleaners Coats for Kids program. We'll be accepting kids' sizes in new and gently used condition from 1:30-5:30 pm during our regular troop meeting. If you'd like to donate coats, please message me to discuss the location and details. We truly appreciate your support. We'll be taking our collected coats to Puritan's culminating event on November 19th at The Diamond, and our troop has been offered guaranteed airtime on CBS6 for their efforts! This confirms that my daughter and her friends will be TV-famous before I will!

RebelleCon - November 9-10, 2022
An annual boutique conference produced by a dynamic professional coach and connector who believes strongly in creating safe spaces for professional women to connect and collaborate. This year's theme is "Be Well," and we'll be exploring that topic on a variety of levels. There are singular keynotes, panel discussions, mentor breakout sessions, a retail market, a kick-off cocktail party, and lots of time for networking and relationship building. To say this community of women inspired me to start my business is an understatement. If you can see it, you can be it, and RebelleCon is THE networking event of the season! The fall edition of Rebelle Magazine will be released to all attendees at the conference, and yours truly has a full-page ad in this issue. Who dis???
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That's a wrap, folks! I look forward to sharing more insights, holiday gift ideas, and events next month. Go ahead and register for everything I've noted above, and I'll save you a seat!

Yours truly,
~Linné