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Lauren Calloway, a prominent organizer and business developer, joins us to elucidate the significance of cultivating supportive environments for entrepreneurs. This episode centers on the vital role of community in fostering vulnerability and addressing pressing inquiries faced by business owners, whether they are nascent or well-established. Lauren shares her extensive experience in orchestrating events that facilitate meaningful connections among entrepreneurs, thereby enhancing their professional journeys. Notably, she emphasizes her multifaceted contributions in marketing, event coordination, and strategic consulting, which collectively empower individuals to navigate the complexities of business ownership. Through her insights, we gain a profound understanding of the essence of collaboration and support within entrepreneurial ecosystems. Lauren Calloway, a prominent figure in the realm of entrepreneurship, articulates the essence of creating supportive environments for budding and established business owners. Throughout our dialogue, she elucidates the importance of fostering vulnerability within entrepreneurial communities, thereby enabling individuals to confront their challenges candidly. The discussion emphasizes that such spaces not only facilitate networking but also serve as incubators for innovative ideas, where entrepreneurs can solicit and receive guidance on their most pressing inquiries. Calloway's insights reflect her extensive experience in organizing events, particularly those that cater to women in business. Her collaborative efforts with other like-minded individuals underscore the significance of partnership and shared vision in entrepreneurial endeavors. As she recounts her journey of connecting with fellow organizers, the narrative reveals the organic nature of collaboration born out of mutual respect and aligned values. As a business developer with nearly a decade of experience, Calloway further shares her multifaceted role in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. She delineates her responsibilities, which span from event planning to providing consulting services, all aimed at empowering individuals to navigate the complexities of business ownership. Her emphasis on actionable steps and tangible outcomes demonstrates a commitment to not only conceptual coaching but also practical support. The discussion touches upon her current position at the Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership, where she aids businesses in preparing for capital acquisition. This role complements her independent consulting efforts, allowing her to leverage her expertise to maximize the potential of her clients. Calloway's fervor for entrepreneurship is palpable, as she expresses a genuine desire to witness others achieve their goals and realize their aspirations. Moreover, the episode delves into Calloway's personal motivations and the fulfillment she derives from her work. She articulates a profound sense of purpose in assisting others, which transcends mere professional obligation; it is a calling that invigorates her spirit. The atmosphere of the event serves as a backdrop to her reflections, illustrating how communal support invigorates her passion and reinforces her commitment to the entrepreneurial community. As the conversation draws to a close, Calloway extends an invitation for those seeking strategic guidance to connect with her, emphasizing her approachable nature and willingness to collaborate. This episode encapsulates not only the practical aspects of entrepreneurship but also the emotional and psychological dimensions that are often overlooked in discussions of business development, making it a rich resource for aspiring entrepreneurs seeking both inspiration and actionable advice.

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Takeaways:

1. Lauren Calloway emphasizes the importance of creating a supportive community for entrepreneurs.
2. The event organized by Lauren serves as a platform for entrepreneurs to ask pressing questions.
3. Lauren's experience spans nine years in business development, showcasing her expertise in various fields.
4. As a business coach, Lauren assists clients in navigating the complexities of business ownership.
5. She collaborates with a nonprofit organization to prepare businesses for capital acquisition.
6. Lauren's multifaceted role includes marketing, graphic design, and event coordination, demonstrating her versatility.

All right.

Welcome to the Charlotte Business podcast booth.

We are broadcasting live from Entrepreneurs Connect.

Look at that smile.

You can catch us on wherever you get your podcast.

Charlotte Business podcast booth, Apple, Spotify, and of course YouTube.

You can see me, my pretty face.

And of course my lovely guest, Ms. Lauren.

Lauren is one of the organizers of this event here.

Yeah.

What are we all.

What is this about?

This is really about creating a space for entrepreneurs.

They're starting out or they've been a business for a while.

A space where they can really get vulnerable and lean into community and really have their burning questions answered.

Okay, how did you get up with Brittany and Inaya?

How did you guys come together?

I'm kind of known for putting on events here in Charlotte.

I've been here for four years.

I've put on women's events, business events, all the things.

And so someone had said this girl has a networking group and she needs somebody to kind of help.

So I ended up finding Brittany on LinkedIn and reached out and we're both faith based women and so I said, hey, someone dropped your information in my lap and that's how it started.

Okay, how.

How long ago was that?

Three, four months?

I think you said it like it was about to be years or something.

It feels like it.

I think we have a great connection.

And then on top of it, you know, I've been doing this so long, you know, so.

So what is your actual role in these events?

Yeah, I kind of.

So the space we're in is actually the co working space I rent for my office.

So you'd hook up?

Yeah, so I'm the hookup to the space.

Yeah.

So you know, I love my city vibe, rooftop vibes.

So yeah, this is my space here that we kind of run out and work with other organizations and so I help with the marketing.

I create some of the graphics on the videos on the back end.

I do some of the business consulting a little bit when she has questions about the organization and what it should do.

And then I kind of do a lot of the back end work while we're here, getting the guys checked in, making sure everybody feels happy and safe.

Running around, up and down.

Yeah.

Elevators.

Do you run to social media also?

I do, I create a lot of the graphics.

We get some of the video content from you guys being here as well.

But I do, I do some of the graphic design work.

Okay, so talk about yourself and you and what you do.

Yeah, I've been a business developer for nine years and so it started in IT Solutions reprogramming computers and phones and then went into building websites, then graphics design, marketing, and then events.

And I've been a business coach for nine years.

So I really just help navigate the waters of owning a business.

And so we really sit down and figure out what the next steps are.

We create those actionable steps and then I help, you know, just stick by your side while you're getting through it.

In other words, you're a nerd.

Big time.

I studied engineering in college, so I'm where at?

In Maryland.

Studied aerospace engineering.

So I'm a big science nerd.

But I, I love all things tech and I love all things people and I'm always really grateful to just cultivate these spaces.

So are you self employed as a business in business development and all that?

I actually work for a nonprofit full time.

It's called Eiffel, the Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership.

It's a lot to say, but we help businesses get capital ready.

So we go through their financial projections, their pitch decks and then we put them in front of capital opportunities.

So that's my 9 to 5 consulting job.

And then I have all my clients outside of that as well.

So what do you get out of this?

Yeah, I get an uplifted spirit.

I think more than anything it really satisfies my soul to make sure other people are just hitting the goals that they want to hit.

And so, you know, just spending quality time.

You know, I wasn't feeling well yesterday and I feel great today being here in such a great atmosphere.

And so for me that's really all it's about.

See another succeed.

I always use this time for people to tell how people can find you.

I guess I don't know what it is.

Do you want people to find you?

Yeah, you can find me.

If you feel like you need a strategist who's really going to take you to that next level, I'm more than happy to talk and see if we work well together.

You can follow me on Instagram.

That's going to be your best bet.

It's C A L L O W A Y.

The number four president.

So that's Callaway for president.

You can find me there.

You said strategist.

Do you consider yourself like coaching?

Yeah, I mean I've been a business coach.

I've been certified in business coaching for nine.

So yeah, really taking your ideas, your goals, your dreams, and making sure that the steps are actionable, achievable, and then I again stick by your side to make them happen with you.

So I got this beef with coaches.

Sure.

And you were.

You said nine years, so that you probably outside of that.

But I think Covid did something to the coaching people.

Everybody was a coach.

Everyone's a coach.

I know I'm a little different because I actually build websites.

I actually do graphic design.

I actually create marketing plans.

I actually help you put on events and market them.

So I coach you as I help you in all those other avenues.

You can actually do the stuff that you're talking about.

I can do the work.

That's good.

Lauren, it was a pleasure speaking to you.

I love it.

Thank you.