Business by Referral Podcast

Virginia Muzquiz

Join Virginia Muzquiz, The Referral Diva and her guests as they explore the benefits and challenges of networking to grow and scale business.

  1. 2 days ago

    Episode 221: Turning Connections Into Clients with Shirley Sutton

    Shirley Sutton's BIO: Shirley Sutton is a Leadership Coach, People & Culture professional, and founder of Ascendly Coaching. With a background in talent acquisition, HR, leadership development, and organisational transformation, she has spent years helping organisations identify and develop high-potential leaders. Shirley is the creator of the Manager to Leader Authority Shift Program, designed to help emerging leaders build confidence, influence, and leadership presence. Through her signature Authority Shift Method, she empowers professionals to overcome self-doubt, strengthen their personal brand, and step into leadership with clarity and impact.   In this episode, Virginia and Shirley talked about: Shirley's journey from corporate to coaching Building authority as a new leader Getting clear on your ideal client Growing through your existing network Using conversations to create opportunities   Takeaways:  You need to find out what works for you. It really all starts with that awareness piece. Just give it a go and give it a try. There's really no such thing as failure.   Connect with Shirley on her social media platforms to learn more about her work and insights into networking effectively: Website: www.ascendly.online  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shirleysutton/    Connect with Virginia: https://www.bbrpodcast.com/   Download my Business by Referral Blueprint and create consistent revenue! https://mktg.masterconnectors.com/business-by-referral-blueprint

  2. 7 Sept

    Episode 220: Turning Your Unique Gifts Into Referrals and Revenue with Kathleen Baker (Nandin)

    Kathleen Baker's BIO: Kathleen Baker (Nandin) — Flutist, Composer & Meditative Music Guide There's a moment in every Nandin performance when the room seems to exhale. That's the gift Kathleen Baker has spent a lifetime cultivating. Raised in Calgary and classically trained at the University of Calgary and the Royal Conservatory of Music, Kathleen began her career on symphony stages—performing with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and studying under flute masters Robert Aitken, Marcel Moyse, Julius Baker, and Jeanne Baxtresser. But her path soon widened beyond the concert hall. For decades Kathleen—known to her students and listeners as Nandin—has woven together music and stillness. She's taught at Universities, recorded with beloved artists like Deva Premal & Miten, Manish Vyas, Chinmaya Dunster, and Harry Manx, and created cherished albums, including Zen Spa, Celestial Spa, and Reiki Meditations. Her healing path runs just as deep. Nandin trained directly with B.K.S. Iyengar in India and became an accredited Iyengar Yoga teacher, later studying Reiki, Shiatsu, Cranio-Sacral Therapy, and Emotional Freedom Technique—practices she now folds into the events and performances she offers. Today, you'll find her leading "Meditative Music Making" sessions, crafting original guided meditations, and sharing her Experience Oneness workshop with audiences worldwide—most recently at the 2025 National Flute Convention in Atlanta. Nandin invites you not just to listen, but to arrive—fully, gently, present. In this episode, Virginia and Kathleen talked about: Laura's journey from marketing to mentoring Building genuine referral relationships Creating trust before asking for referrals Why networking is a long-term strategy Using authenticity to strengthen relationships Takeaways:  You have to really be there to play. People have to know you. You find yourself sort of by dropping yourself. You can't hang on to it. You just have to be there.   Connect with Kathleen on her social media platforms to learn more about her work and insights into networking effectively: Website: https://nandinmusic.com  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nandin-kathleen-baker-360a6220/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/nandin.baker Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nandin.baker/   Connect with Virginia: https://www.bbrpodcast.com/ Download my Business by Referral Blueprint and create consistent revenue! https://mktg.masterconnectors.com/business-by-referral-blueprint

  3. 1 Sept

    Episode 219: Building Relationships That Lead to Referrals with Laura Lorenz

    Laura Lorenz' BIO: Laura Lorenz is the founder of Top Floor Mentoring, a leadership development and business mentoring company dedicated to helping people achieve their greatness. With more than 35 years of real-world business and leadership experience, Laura brings practical insight, honest guidance, and a deeply personal approach to her work. She helps organizations develop emerging leaders into confident, effective managers by strengthening their communication, decision-making, accountability, time management, and team leadership skills. Laura also works with business owners and professionals who want greater clarity, stronger direction, and a practical plan for achieving their goals. Known for her warm, straightforward style, Laura combines encouragement with accountability. She does not believe in one-size-fits-all solutions; instead, she meets people where they are and helps them move forward with greater confidence and purpose. Laura is also the co-author of Do Leadership: A Step-by-Step Approach to Doing Thought Leadership. In this episode, Virginia and Laura talked about: Laura's journey from marketing to mentoring Building genuine referral relationships Creating trust before asking for referrals Why networking is a long-term strategy Using authenticity to strengthen relationships Takeaways:  Connect, ask, and serve. Build those relationships. We forget the ask. If you're looking for instant, you're doing the wrong thing Connect with Laura on her website to learn more about her work and insights into networking effectively: www.topfloormentoring.com   Connect with Virginia: https://www.bbrpodcast.com/ Download my Business by Referral Blueprint and create consistent revenue! https://mktg.masterconnectors.com/business-by-referral-blueprint

  4. 25 Aug

    Episode 218: From Revenue Plateau to Predictable Growth with Lena Khais

    Lena Khais' BIO: Lena Khais is a business strategist, money mindset expert, and speaker who helps entrepreneurs grow their businesses without working themselves into the ground. With more than 25 years of Fortune 500 leadership experience and a master's degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Lena blends business strategy, human behavior, and energetics in a way that is practical, relatable, and refreshingly free of fluff. As the founder of Atlas Paradigm, she works with established entrepreneurs who feel stuck at the same revenue level despite doing all the things. Her approach helps them uncover hidden energy leaks, make more confident decisions, attract better-fit clients, and build businesses that actually support the lives they want to live. Lena is also the creator of Life by Design VIP and Bank on Energy, and she is a published author, workshop facilitator, and podcast guest. She is known for making big personal development concepts simple, actionable, and often a little funny. She is a published author, workshop facilitator, and podcast guest. She is known for making big personal development concepts simple, actionable, and often a little funny. Her core belief is simple: success is not about doing more. It is about becoming the person who can create more with greater ease. In this episode, Virginia and Lena talked about: Breaking through revenue plateaus Turning referrals into trusted business Finding complementary referral partners Building relationships through podcasts Growing without doing everything yourself Takeaways:  No is actually an invitation to dive deeper. You don't need to figure out the how all the time. Sometimes you need to find the right who. Revenue is not random, it's a response. Connect with Lena Khais on her social media accounts to learn more about her work and insights into networking effectively: LinkedIn URL https://www.linkedin.com/in/lenakhais/ LinkedIn URL  https://www.facebook.com/elena.alexis.khais/ Instagram URL https://www.instagram.com/lenakhais/   Connect with Virginia: https://www.bbrpodcast.com/ Download my Business by Referral Blueprint and create consistent revenue! https://mktg.masterconnectors.com/business-by-referral-blueprint

  5. 17 Aug

    Episode 217: From Best-Kept Secret to Referral-Ready with Melissa Sierra

    Melissa Sierra's BIO: Melissa Sierra is an executive coach, strategic growth advisor, speaker, and founder of Focal Point Coaching. She helps executives, founders, and leadership teams navigate growth, AI transformation, and organizational change by turning complexity into clarity and strategy into measurable results. Drawing on more than 15 years of executive leadership experience, Melissa works with organizations to strengthen leadership capability, accelerate commercial growth, and build resilient teams prepared for the future of work. She is the creator of the Opportunity Flywheel™, a leadership framework that helps professionals and businesses create sustainable momentum through strategy, visibility, relationships, execution, and results. Melissa is a sought-after speaker on leadership, organizational transformation, and the human side of AI. She has been featured in CEO Weekly and the Associated Press, serves as a member of the Forbes Communications Council, and has contributed thought leadership on executive leadership, business growth, and emerging workplace trends. Her insights have been shared on national stages and podcasts, where she challenges conventional thinking about career growth, leadership identity, and creating lasting impact. Through her podcast, Holding the Room: Leadership, AI, and the Human Edge, Melissa equips leaders with practical frameworks to lead with confidence, make better decisions, and create more opportunity in an increasingly complex world. Her mission is simple: help leaders build businesses, careers, and legacies that create meaningful impact long after the next promotion, product launch, or quarterly result. In this episode, Virginia and Melissa talked about Melissa's work in leadership and growth Clarity as the foundation for referrals Building opportunity through relationships Becoming known for the problem you solve Using your network to create business momentum Takeaways:  You do need to build your network in a new light. Being a solopreneur is truly hard We all wanted to be seen and heard. Clarity becomes the opportunity. Being able to use AI as your super strategic framework is your superpower. Connect with Melissa Sierra on her social media accounts to learn more about her work and insights into networking effectively: LinkedIn URL melissasierra.focalpointcoaching.com LinkedIn URL  www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-sierra Instagram URL instagram.com/MelissaSierra.Coach   Connect with Virginia: https://www.bbrpodcast.com/ Download my Business by Referral Blueprint and create consistent revenue! https://mktg.masterconnectors.com/business-by-referral-blueprint

  6. 28 July

    Episode 216: How to Build a Powerful Network That Creates Wealth and Opportunity

    Michael Rebelo's BIO: Michael Rebelo is the Founder of Ever Forward Capital Partners, a multifamily real estate investment firm focused on helping investors build long-term wealth through apartment investing. After becoming passionate about financial education and entrepreneurship at a young age, Michael chose to pursue business and real estate instead of the traditional college path. His journey was inspired by watching his mother work tirelessly while facing many of the same financial challenges millions of Americans experience today, including retirement uncertainty and inflation. That experience fueled his commitment to helping others better understand investing, ownership, and financial freedom. Today, Michael has helped raise nearly $2 million in investor capital, been involved with 216 apartment units, and spoken on podcasts and stages across the United States. Through Ever Forward Capital Partners, he focuses on investor education, capital raising, relationship management, and helping individuals and families create long-term wealth through multifamily real estate. Michael is passionate about sharing lessons on entrepreneurship, investing, relationship-building, and the importance of making disciplined decisions that compound over time. In this episode, Virginia and Michael talked about Michael's journey into multifamily real estate Building wealth through passive investing Growing a network from the ground up The value of mentorship and relationships Networking with curiosity and authenticity Takeaways:  Build yourselves better and bigger every day. Always move forward. Be 1% better. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Connect with people better than you.   Connect with Michael Rebelo on his social media accounts to learn more about his work and insights into networking effectively:   LinkedIn URL https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-rebelo-045024299/ https://www.everforwardcapitalpartners.com/  Facebook URL https://www.facebook.com/michael.rebelo.2025/    Connect with Virginia: https://www.bbrpodcast.com/ Download my Business by Referral Blueprint and create consistent revenue! https://mktg.masterconnectors.com/business-by-referral-blueprint

  7. 8 June

    Episode 215: How to Build a Business That Thrives Without You with Todd Krause

    Todd Krause's BIO: Todd A. Krause is the owner of The Cleaning Authority – Fishers, where he grew the business from $1.8 million in revenue to more than $4 million while building a diverse team and a thriving workplace culture that prioritizes people, performance, and long-term success. His leadership approach has earned multiple industry recognitions, including Franchisee of the Year honors. Todd holds an MBA and is a Certified Public Accountant, with more than three decades of experience leading and growing businesses across multiple industries. Over the course of his career, he founded and scaled a fund administration firm managing more than $2 billion in assets under administration, helped launch and grow a major bank business unit that reached $14 billion in assets, and led organizations ranging from startups to complex global enterprises. Today, Todd is the founder of Silversun Consulting, a firm dedicated to solving the growth challenges that keep home-service businesses stuck. Through his consulting, speaking, and writing, he shows business owners how to build companies that grow sustainably by combining strong leadership, effective systems, and positive, culturally competent workplace environments. Todd's work centers on a simple belief: when businesses create caring, positive workplaces where employees thrive, they retain great people, deliver exceptional service, and build companies that grow faster, become more profitable, and operate with less owner stress. He is an author, TEDx speaker, keynote presenter, and passionate advocate for leadership that uplifts employees, strengthens businesses, and improves lives in the communities they serve. In this episode, Virginia and Todd talked about Todd's background in finance Todd's entry into business ownership Business growth vs. business scale Secrets to developing your human capital Leadership advice for solopreneurs Takeaways:  Your goal as a business owner is to build an asset. Bonus the people who help grow your business. Toxic culture = employee turnover and loss of clients. Being a solopreneur doesn't mean that you are working solo and doing everything. Get out of your comfort zone. That's where growth happens. Connect with Todd Krause on his social media accounts to learn more about his work and insights into networking effectively: LinkedIn URL https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddakrause/ Facebook URL https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554499613120 Instagram URL https://www.instagram.com/toddakrause/   Connect with Virginia: https://www.bbrpodcast.com/ Download my Business by Referral Blueprint and create consistent revenue! https://mktg.masterconnectors.com/business-by-referral-blueprint

  8. 11 May

    Episode 214: How to Build Wealth, Resilience, and Demand for Your Business with Joel Salomon

    Joel Salomon's BIO: Joel is a Finance, Mindful Money Expert and Prosperity Coach who helps others overcome obstacles standing in the way of their financial freedom. He's an award winning TEDx speaker, workshop facilitator and frequent television and podcast guest. As a former manager of a $700 million portfolio, the creator of his own successful hedge fund and the author of three best-selling books, he has learned that the true foundation of wealth is a mindset of gratitude, love and service.   In this episode, Virginia and Joel talked about How Joel became a professional money manager - despite the discouragement How Joel weathered the financial storms The myths of building a coaching practice from scratch Joel's definition of financial freedom Beliefs that sabotage success   Takeaways:  Secret to success: don't give the naysayers power If you build it, they won't come... unless you pre-build demand Take inspired ACTION Play hurt - don't allow life to stop you Practice doing hard things - it builds resilience   Connect with Joel Salomon on his social media accounts to learn more about his work and insights into networking effectively: LinkedIn URL https://www.linkedin.com/in/joel-salomon/ Facebook URL https://www.facebook.com/JoelProsperitySalomon Instagram URL https://www.instagram.com/joelprosperitysalomon/   Connect with Virginia: https://www.bbrpodcast.com/ Download my Business by Referral Blueprint and create consistent revenue! https://mktg.masterconnectors.com/business-by-referral-blueprint

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Join Virginia Muzquiz, The Referral Diva and her guests as they explore the benefits and challenges of networking to grow and scale business.

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