Network = Networth

Dalene Allen
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Join the "Network = Networth" podcast as The Networking Queen, Dalene Allen, interviews successful business professionals who share their stories of how chance encounters have led to meaningful relationships. Our aim is to highlight the importance of building connections and expanding your network, not only for business growth but also for personal fulfillment.  During each episode, our guests will discuss their background, what drew them to their careers, and the pivotal moments and connections that have shaped their success. We ask our guests to share their top tips for networking and building strong relationships to close each episode. Tune in to gain insights and inspiration for taking your own career and personal life to the next level!

  1. 14H AGO

    Betting on Vision: How Nicholas Mac. Knew His Business Would Work

    In this episode, we sit down with Nicholas Mac, founder of Nicholas Mac. Mobile Optician, to talk about the leap from licensed optician to entrepreneur, and the mindset that told him his business would be embraced by the community. Originally from Moncton, New Brunswick and a graduate of Oulton College, Nicholas shares how launching a mobile eyecare service in Halifax in October 2024 allowed him to meet people where they are, literally, while solving real accessibility challenges for busy professionals and those with mobility barriers. Our conversation explores the power of networking, building trust from day one, and how youthful optimism paired with technical expertise can open doors faster than you might expect. Nicholas also reflects on the mentors and philosophies that shaped his approach, including guidance from Helen Whitaker of the International Opticians Association and inspiration from Barbara Stegemann’s book The 7 Virtues. This episode is a candid look at betting on yourself, creating a service people didn’t know they needed, and building a business rooted in integrity, relationships, and community impact. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a healthcare professional, or someone curious about unconventional career paths, Nicholas’s story offers both practical insights and a refreshing dose of motivation. You can find out more about Nicholas here! Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook or Connect on Linkedin

    28 min

  2. FEB 23

    From Burnout to Blueprint: Rebuilding Work with Amanda Johnson

    Amanda Johnson is an operations strategist and systems builder who helps overwhelmed entrepreneurs create calmer, more sustainable ways of working. After decades of trying to succeed in high-pressure environments that left her burned out, Amanda’s move to Uruguay, and a later autism diagnosis, reframed her entire career. She realized she hadn’t been failing; she had been navigating systems never designed for how she thinks and works. With a 30-plus-year career spanning medical IT and complex system implementation, Amanda has a gift for bringing structure to chaos, clarity to complexity, and stability to the people behind essential work. Today, she partners with solopreneurs and small business owners who are exceptional at what they do but exhausted by the operational side of running a business. Amanda designs practical, low-friction systems tailored to how her clients think, helping them move from scattered and overwhelmed to focused and energized. Her clients often describe an immediate sense of relief, as if their business can finally breathe again. Through her work, Amanda is on a mission to prove that success doesn’t have to come at the cost of well-being, and that the right systems can give people their spark back while building businesses that truly support the human behind the work. You can learn more about Amanda here! Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook or Connect on Linkedin

    44 min

  3. FEB 16

    From Barrier to Breakthrough: How Jen Vey Builds Opportunity Beyond Traditional Work

    In this powerful episode, we sit down with Jennifer Vey, Founder and CEO of Temporary Experts SE, to explore how personal adversity can spark transformative change. Jennifer shares her journey navigating life with a disability and the frustrating reality of being highly capable yet shut out of traditional employment models. Instead of accepting those barriers, she set out to redesign the system itself. What emerged is Temporary Experts, a social enterprise connecting skilled professionals seeking flexible, project-based work with organizations that need experienced talent without the constraints of conventional hiring. Our conversation dives into the hidden workforce of educated, capable people sidelined by health challenges, care responsibilities, and capacity shifts, and why rethinking work isn’t just compassionate, it’s smart business. We talk about the future of work, the myth that profit and empathy can’t coexist, and how organizations that lead with flexibility will gain a lasting competitive edge. Jennifer’s story is one of resilience, innovation, and a bold vision for an economy where inclusion drives value. If you care about entrepreneurship, accessibility, leadership, or building a more humane workplace, this episode will change how you think about talent, productivity, and what it truly means to participate in the workforce. You can learn more about Jen and Temporary Experts here! Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook or Connect on Linkedin

    27 min

  4. FEB 9

    The ABC's of Money: Redefining Financial Freedom With Ayo Akande

    In this episode, we’re joined by Ayooluwa Akande, better known as Ayo (Joy), a Financial Services Coordinator with the Government of Nova Scotia and the founder of ABC of Money. Born and raised in Nigeria, Ayo moved to Canada in 2019 to pursue a Master’s in Finance at Saint Mary’s University. What began as a deeply personal journey toward financial wholeness in 2022 evolved into a clear mission: helping people understand money in a way that feels simple, human, and empowering. Through her LinkedIn content, workshops, and speaking engagements, Ayo breaks down financial concepts so people can make confident, values-aligned decisions. She has shared her story as a panelist with the Saint Mary’s University Women in Business Society and has collaborated with the Black Business Initiative Society through the Barrier Breakers Youth Program. Ayo is also the host of The Freedom Podcast, where she explores balance in a world of extremes. Her work is grounded in her core values, SERVE: Simplicity, Excellence, Real, Value, and Exchange. This conversation is an honest and refreshing look at money, mindset, and what financial freedom can really mean. You can find out more about Ayooluwa here! Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook or Connect on Linkedin

    30 min

  5. FEB 2

    Designing for Humans in a Digital World: Digital Insights with Jamie Gerard

    In this episode, we’re joined by Jamie Gerrard, Founder and Principal Consultant at 20/20 Digital. With more than 20 years of experience across product, service, and UX design, Jamie helps organizations untangle complex software and service ecosystems, and redesign them around the people who actually use them. Jamie’s recent work focuses on enterprise software and services across banking, healthcare, law, higher education, tech, and government, with earlier experience in travel and tourism. We explore how thoughtful design can transform complex systems, improve usability at scale, and drive better outcomes for both organizations and their users. If you’re interested in design, digital transformation, or making complex systems feel more human, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. You can find out more about Jamie and 20/20 Digital here. Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook or Connect on Linkedin

    35 min

  6. JAN 26

    How Food, Science, and Community Shape Our Health with Linda Best

    From farm fields to boardrooms, labs to local businesses, Linda Best’s career is a powerful example of how curiosity, leadership, and community impact can intersect. Raised on an Annapolis Valley farm, Linda holds a BSc from Acadia University and built a distinguished career as a Medical Microbiologist and Gastroenterology Researcher, later serving as Director at the Capital District Health Authority. Beyond healthcare, Linda’s entrepreneurial spirit led her to operate an apple orchard and found Frame Plus Art, growing it into a successful three-store business. Her firsthand understanding of food systems and health sparked a deep commitment to agriculture and community well-being. She helped establish Friends of Agriculture and co-founded FarmWorks Investment Co-operative Limited, a pioneering Community Economic Development Investment Fund supporting local farms and food producers. Linda’s lifelong contributions have been recognized with some of Nova Scotia’s highest honours, including the Order of Nova Scotia, the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal, and the King Charles Coronation Medal. In this episode, Linda shares insights from a life spent bridging science, entrepreneurship, agriculture, and public service, and what it truly means to invest in healthy communities from the ground up. You can find out more about Linda and FarmWorks here! Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook or Connect on Linkedin

    49 min

  7. JAN 19

    Turning Risk into Resilience with Elvira Melendez

    In this episode, we’re joined by Elvira Melendez, an Industrial Engineer and PhD candidate whose work sits at the intersection of risk management, safety systems, and real-world impact. With six years of experience in the aviation industry, Elvira has been on the front lines of project portfolio management, safety audits, and risk analysis, helping organizations operate more safely and efficiently in high-stakes environments. Elvira is also a co-founder of Go Broker, where she helped pivot a team from building web solutions for small businesses to creating software designed specifically for the surety bonds market in Costa Rica. Alongside this, she co-founded the E-Silver project, a platform dedicated to digital literacy and social inclusion for older adults, an initiative recognized by the Pan American Health Organization. In our conversation, we explore how risk management plays a critical role across industries, from aviation to port operations, where Elvira’s PhD research is focused on improving safety and collaboration between organizations. We also talk about using technology as a force for good, building meaningful partnerships, and what it really takes to turn complex systems into practical solutions that make a difference. You can learn more about Elvira here. Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook or Connect on Linkedin

    35 min

  8. JAN 12

    Get Off The Bench! Courage, Action, and Creating Change with Kerryn Vaughan

    In this episode, we are joined by Kerryn Vaughan, an international speaker, author, facilitator, and podcast host who is known for inspiring people to step up, take action, and create meaningful change. Kerryn is the author of the award-winning book Magnificent Kids!, which became the catalyst for founding One Planet Classrooms, a global organisation supporting schools and communities in Africa through initiatives such as clean water solutions and student sponsorship programs. Her passion for impact and education has shaped a career focused on courage, leadership, and possibility. In 2018, Kerryn launched Girls With Hammers, a platform hosting conferences and workshops designed to empower and connect women. The following year, she released her second book, Get Off The Bench!, encouraging people to stop waiting and start bringing their ideas to life. That message led to the launch of the Get Off The Bench! Podcast in 2020, born from perseverance after multiple false starts and moments of doubt. Kerryn has delivered keynotes and workshops across Australia and internationally, tackling topics such as courage, embracing failure, standing in your truth, and creating a better world. Her workshops focus on building confidence, strengthening relationships, and helping people explore what is possible when they take the leap. This conversation is fast-paced, honest, and unapologetically real. Kerryn brings her signature kick-ass energy and refreshing perspective, making this episode a powerful reminder that the only thing standing between you and your next step might be your willingness to get off the bench. You can find out more about Kerryn here! Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook or Connect on Linkedin

    46 min
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About

Join the "Network = Networth" podcast as The Networking Queen, Dalene Allen, interviews successful business professionals who share their stories of how chance encounters have led to meaningful relationships. Our aim is to highlight the importance of building connections and expanding your network, not only for business growth but also for personal fulfillment.  During each episode, our guests will discuss their background, what drew them to their careers, and the pivotal moments and connections that have shaped their success. We ask our guests to share their top tips for networking and building strong relationships to close each episode. Tune in to gain insights and inspiration for taking your own career and personal life to the next level!

Information

  • Creator
    Dalene Allen
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    170
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Network = Networth
  • Show Website
    Network = Networth