Business Over Cocktails - Behind the Business - Real Talk with Female Entrepreneurs

Lauren Najar, Business Coach
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Personal Journals

Welcome to Business Over Cocktails — the podcast where female entrepreneurs, founder stories, and soulful business growth take center stage.  Hosted by business strategist and community builder Lauren Najar, this show dives into the “why” behind the business, the real stories behind entrepreneurship, and the pivotal moments that shape women-led brands. Expect candid interviews with creative entrepreneurs, behind-the-scenes reflections on small business growth, and bite-sized solo episodes inside The Business Chaser — where we explore authentic visibility, organic marketing, and building a business that actually feels good. Whether you're scaling a service-based business, navigating a pivot, or craving real talk for entrepreneurs, this is your spot. Pull up a seat. Pour your favorite drink. Let’s talk business.

  1. 10h ago

    Why Speaker Conferences Are Broken: Building a No-Speaker Networking Event That Actually Delivers ROI w/Lucy Bedewi

    What if a business conference had zero speakers, a moon bounce, and sent you home with work already done? In this episode, host Lauren Najar welcomes back Lucy of My Write Hand Woman — her first-ever repeat guest — to talk about reinventing the business conference and the event marketing behind her no-speaker "business carnival," the Proximity Marketplace, coming to Austin. Lucy breaks down why she ditched the traditional speaker-and-salad conference format, how her expert tables give attendees one-on-one strategy instead of generic advice from a stage, and the "implementation lounge" that helps you leave with something actually built — a filmed video, an automation, a refined plan — not just nine pages of notes you'll never use. She and Lauren get real about why so many well-marketed events disappoint, how to design for client experience instead of Instagram photo ops, hand-matching attendees for real connections, and how to market an event authentically without hard requirements or hype. If you host events, attend them, or want to build something people actually remember, this one's full of ideas. In this episode: Why traditional speaker conferences leave attendees overwhelmed and empty-handedThe no-speaker "carnival" model and how expert tables workBuilding an "implementation lounge" so people leave with work doneDesigning for client experience over Instagram photo momentsMarketing an event authentically (and hand-matching attendees)Why going to events solo can be the most valuable movePour a drink and pull up a seat — let's reinvent the conference. Upcoming Events: Growth & Connect Events - https://laurennajar.myflodesk.com/hb2a0mwbqw Save 25% with Flodesk - https://flodesk.com/c/OR8VKL Let’s Stay Connected: → Follow Lauren on Instagram: www.instagram.com/laurennajar → Learn more or work with me: www.laurennajar.com → Follow Business Over Cocktails on IG: www.instagram.com/businessovercocktails → Attend Growth & Connect retreats & events: www.instagram.com/growthandconnect 🎧 Subscribe & Review: Love the episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share with a friend who needs a business boost and a good chat over a cocktail.

    Why Speaker Conferences Are Broken: Building a No-Speaker Networking Event That Actually Delivers ROI w/Lucy Bedewi

  2. 3d ago

    How to Turn Networking Events Into Paying Clients: Selling Without Being Salesy w/Lauren Najar

    Going to networking events and hosting your own — but not turning those connections into paying clients? In this live coaching episode, host Lauren Najar sits down with Angela Grabczak, certified business coach and founder of The Collaborative Edge Coaching, to work through one of the most common struggles for service providers: how to convert networking and event relationships into real revenue without feeling salesy. Angela opens up about wearing too many hats as a new coach, and Lauren coaches her through where to focus first, why hosting great events isn't enough if you never position yourself as the person to hire, and how to make the ask feel like a natural extension of the conversation instead of a hard pitch. They dig into the mindset block of giving all your value away for free, why sales gets easier when you lead with genuine intention to help, and how to stop siloing your events, social media, and coaching so they all feed each other. If you're a coach, consultant, or community builder who's great with people but hesitant to sell, this one's for you. In this episode: How to convert networking and event connections into paying clientsSelling without being salesy — making the ask feel naturalWhy hosting events isn't enough if you don't position yourself as the expertThe trap of giving all your value away for freeFocusing your energy when you're wearing too many hatsLetting events, social media, and coaching feed each otherPour a drink and pull up a seat — let's turn conversations into clients. Connect with Angela: Schedule an Appointment Here:  calendly.com/agrabczak-focalpointcoaching Website: www.angelagrabczak.focalpointcoaching.com E-mail: agrabczak@focalpointcoaching.com Connect On My Socials: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn TikTok YouTube Upcoming Events: Growth & Connect Events - https://laurennajar.myflodesk.com/hb2a0mwbqw Save 25% with Flodesk - https://flodesk.com/c/OR8VKL Let’s Stay Connected: → Follow Lauren on Instagram: www.instagram.com/laurennajar → Learn more or work with me: www.laurennajar.com → Follow Business Over Cocktails on IG: www.instagram.com/businessovercocktails → Attend Growth & Connect retreats & events: www.instagram.com/growthandconnect 🎧 Subscribe & Review: Love the episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share with a friend who needs a business boost and a good chat over a cocktail.

    How to Turn Networking Events Into Paying Clients: Selling Without Being Salesy w/Lauren Najar

  3. Sep 28

    8 Years in Business: Lessons on Comparison, Burnout & Building a Sustainable Coaching Business w/Lauren Najar

    After 8 years in business, here's what actually builds a business that lasts — and why slow, sustainable growth beats the flashy launches you see online. In this solo episode, host Lauren Najar celebrates eight years as a business coach with an honest reflection on comparison, FOMO, burnout, and the "smoke and mirrors" of online success. Lauren shares the real story behind her journey — from chasing the "location independent" dream that never fit her, to crashing and burning under a coach who handed her a checklist, to finally finding staying power by owning her specialty in lead generation and sales. She talks candidly about why so many high earners quietly disappear, why money wins aren't a marketing strategy, how to quiet the noise and get back to basics, and why the real block for most business owners isn't knowledge — it's mindset. If you've ever felt behind, like you're not doing enough, or tempted by everyone else's highlight reel, this one's for you. In this episode: Why slow, sustainable growth beats quick launches and viral money winsOvercoming comparison and FOMO in a noisy online spaceWhy "back to basics" is what actually makes you moneyThe mindset block that keeps capable business owners stuckFinding what works for you instead of chasing every strategyBuilding a business without sacrificing your health or your lifePour a drink and pull up a seat — let's talk staying power. Upcoming Events: Growth & Connect Events - https://laurennajar.myflodesk.com/hb2a0mwbqw Save 25% with Flodesk - https://flodesk.com/c/OR8VKL Let’s Stay Connected: → Follow Lauren on Instagram: www.instagram.com/laurennajar → Learn more or work with me: www.laurennajar.com → Follow Business Over Cocktails on IG: www.instagram.com/businessovercocktails → Attend Growth & Connect retreats & events: www.instagram.com/growthandconnect 🎧 Subscribe & Review: Love the episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share with a friend who needs a business boost and a good chat over a cocktail.

    8 Years in Business: Lessons on Comparison, Burnout & Building a Sustainable Coaching Business w/Lauren Najar

  4. Sep 25

    How Pet Influencers Actually Make Money: Brand Deals, Engagement & Scaling to Six Figures w/Ashley from Petfluencer Secrets

    Why do so many pet influencers go broke — and what separates them from the ones building six-figure businesses? In this Business Chaser, Ashley of Petfluencer Secrets breaks down how pet influencers and content creators actually make money, and the framework she teaches hundreds of creators to scale from hobby to real income. Ashley walks through why most influencers quit at the "90-day hump," how to treat your content like a business from day one, and the real numbers behind brand deals at every follower stage — from your first paid video to five-figure partnerships. She explains why engagement matters far more than follower count, how to turn one-off brand deals into recurring multi-month contracts, and why diversifying your income across brand deals, the YouTube Partner Program, TikTok Shop, and affiliates is the key to a sustainable creator business. If you want to make money as a pet influencer or content creator, this is your quick-hit roadmap. In this episode: Why most pet influencers quit within 90 days — and how to push past itTreating your content like a business (yes, her cat has an LLC)What brands actually pay at each follower stageWhy engagement beats follower count every timeTurning one-off brand deals into recurring multi-month incomeDiversifying your income streams as a content creatorPour a drink and pull up a seat — let's talk creator income. Connect with Ashley: https://petfluencersecrets.com/ Upcoming Events: Growth & Connect Events - https://laurennajar.myflodesk.com/hb2a0mwbqw Save 25% with Flodesk - https://flodesk.com/c/OR8VKL Let’s Stay Connected: → Follow Lauren on Instagram: www.instagram.com/laurennajar → Learn more or work with me: www.laurennajar.com → Follow Business Over Cocktails on IG: www.instagram.com/businessovercocktails → Attend Growth & Connect retreats & events: www.instagram.com/growthandconnect 🎧 Subscribe & Review: Love the episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share with a friend who needs a business boost and a good chat over a cocktail.

    How Pet Influencers Actually Make Money: Brand Deals, Engagement & Scaling to Six Figures w/Ashley from Petfluencer Secrets

  5. Sep 21

    Turn Your Pet Into an Influencer: How a Famous Cat Became a Six-Figure Business w/ Petfluencer Secrets

    Ever wondered how people actually make money as pet influencers? In this episode, host Lauren Najar sits down with Ashley, founder of Petfluencer Secrets and the owner of the world's most famous Manx cat, to break down how she turned cute cat videos into a six-figure content creator business. Ashley shares the full journey — from posting pet photos for fun, to earning her first brand deals, to coaching hundreds of pet influencers on how to grow and monetize their channels. They get into how the pet niche is different from typical influencer advice, the many ways creators actually earn money (brand deals, affiliates, creator funds, and more), and how Ashley priced and scaled her coaching without a marketing background. Ashley also opens up about the mindset shift that changed everything — learning to believe anything is possible, letting go of the need to control every outcome, and building a daily gratitude practice that carried her from a physical therapy doctorate and $70K of student debt to a business she loves. Whether you want to turn your pet into an influencer, build a creator business, or just need permission to bet on a "crazy" idea, this conversation will fire you up. In this episode: How to make money as a pet influencer (and the many ways creators earn)Why the pet niche needs a different content strategy than other influencersTurning a viral moment into a real, monetized businessPricing and scaling coaching with no marketing backgroundThe "faceless" influencer path for people who don't want to be on cameraMindset, manifestation, and gratitude as business toolsPour a drink and pull up a seat — this one's a fun one. Connect with Ashley: https://petfluencersecrets.com/ Upcoming Events: Growth & Connect Events - https://laurennajar.myflodesk.com/hb2a0mwbqw Save 25% with Flodesk - https://flodesk.com/c/OR8VKL Let’s Stay Connected: → Follow Lauren on Instagram: www.instagram.com/laurennajar → Learn more or work with me: www.laurennajar.com → Follow Business Over Cocktails on IG: www.instagram.com/businessovercocktails → Attend Growth & Connect retreats & events: www.instagram.com/growthandconnect 🎧 Subscribe & Review: Love the episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share with a friend who needs a business boost and a good chat over a cocktail.

    Turn Your Pet Into an Influencer: How a Famous Cat Became a Six-Figure Business w/ Petfluencer Secrets

  6. Sep 18

    Perimenopause, Menopause & Hormone Replacement Therapy: What Every Woman Should Know w/ Dr. Laura Glaser

    If you're navigating perimenopause or menopause and feel like your symptoms are being missed, this episode is for you. In this Business Chaser, Dr. Laura Glaser — board-certified family nurse practitioner and founder of a whole-person women's health and med spa practice in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina — shares what every woman should know about perimenopause, menopause, and hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Dr. Laura breaks down why so many women are seen but not heard in healthcare, how perimenopause symptoms are too often misdiagnosed as depression, and why you shouldn't cherry-pick quick fixes for what is really a complex, whole-person issue. She talks through what to actually look for in a provider, her candid take on hormone pellets and other high-risk solutions, how affordable most HRT really is, and why treating your skin and external beauty concerns starts with addressing your hormones from the inside out. If you've ever settled for a solution that left you feeling like less than your best self, this is your reminder that you deserve more. In this episode: Perimenopause vs. menopause: what's actually happening and whenWhy perimenopause is so often misdiagnosed as depressionHormone replacement therapy (HRT) — and Dr. Laura's take on pellets and quick fixesHow to find a provider who listens to your whole storyWhy internal hormone health shows up in your skin and agingAdvocating for whole-person, women-centered careThis episode is a general educational conversation and not medical advice — always consult your own provider about your health. Connect with Dr. Laura Glaser https://auraemedspa.com/ Upcoming Events: Growth & Connect Events - https://laurennajar.myflodesk.com/hb2a0mwbqw Save 25% with Flodesk - https://flodesk.com/c/OR8VKL Let’s Stay Connected: → Follow Lauren on Instagram: www.instagram.com/laurennajar → Learn more or work with me: www.laurennajar.com → Follow Business Over Cocktails on IG: www.instagram.com/businessovercocktails → Attend Growth & Connect retreats & events: www.instagram.com/growthandconnect 🎧 Subscribe & Review: Love the episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share with a friend who needs a business boost and a good chat over a cocktail.

    Perimenopause, Menopause & Hormone Replacement Therapy: What Every Woman Should Know w/ Dr. Laura Glaser

  7. Sep 14

    Rebuilding Your Life and Business After Tragedy: Resilience, Women's Health & Concierge Medicine w/ Dr. Laura Glaser

    What do you do when life completely interrupts your plans? In this powerful episode, host Lauren Najar sits down with Dr. Laura Glazer to talk about resilience, rebuilding after tragedy, and building a business rooted in whole-person women's health. Dr. Laura is a doctorally prepared, board-certified family nurse practitioner and the founder of Aurae Modern Medical and Spa, where she combines concierge medicine with medical aesthetics through a deeply holistic, mind-body-soul approach. Laura opens up about breaking her back in three places, the long road to recovery, and the mortality check that pushed her to finally go back to school and pursue her purpose. From there, she and Lauren — a two-time cancer survivor — get real about perseverance, the fear of failure, mom guilt while building a business and raising three kids, and losing a mother to cancer. They also dig into why women are so often underserved by modern medicine, the difference between traditional primary care and the concierge model, and what whole-person, women-centered care actually looks like — from perimenopause and hormone health to caring for yourself before something goes wrong. Whether you're an entrepreneur, navigating a hard season, or looking to advocate for your own health, this conversation is about coming out the other side stronger. In this episode: Rebuilding your life and business after a life-altering eventTurning fear of failure into the courage to bet on yourselfWhy women are underserved by traditional healthcare — and how to advocate for yourselfConcierge medicine vs. primary care: what whole-person care really meansPerimenopause, hormone health, and caring for the whole personBuilding a business while raising kids and navigating mom guiltPour a drink and pull up a seat — this one goes deep. Connect with Dr. Laura Glaser Website - https://auraemedspa.com/ Upcoming Events: Growth & Connect Events - https://laurennajar.myflodesk.com/hb2a0mwbqw Save 25% with Flodesk - https://flodesk.com/c/OR8VKL Let’s Stay Connected: → Follow Lauren on Instagram: www.instagram.com/laurennajar → Learn more or work with me: www.laurennajar.com → Follow Business Over Cocktails on IG: www.instagram.com/businessovercocktails → Attend Growth & Connect retreats & events: www.instagram.com/growthandconnect 🎧 Subscribe & Review: Love the episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share with a friend who needs a business boost and a good chat over a cocktail.

    Rebuilding Your Life and Business After Tragedy: Resilience, Women's Health & Concierge Medicine w/ Dr. Laura Glaser

  8. Sep 11

    Lead Generation for Small Business: How to Convert Event Leads with Email Marketing w/Lauren Najar

    Going to networking events but not turning those leads into clients? This live coaching session breaks down exactly how to follow up after events and convert leads with email marketing.  In this Business Chaser mini-coaching episode, host Lauren Najar sits down with Krista Nguyen— nurse practitioner and owner of Cardinal Functional Health Center — for a real, unscripted lead generation coaching call for small business owners. They dig into why smaller events often convert better than big ones, how to capture and segment email leads with a simple QR code and opt-in, and why your post-event follow-up plan matters more than the number of business cards you collect. Lauren also shares how to turn real client stories and case studies into social media and email content that actually gets people to reach out — plus where paid ads like Meta should (and shouldn't) fit into your marketing strategy. Whether you run a health and wellness practice, a service business, or any local business built on relationships, this episode is a practical roadmap for working smarter, not harder. In this episode: Why intimate events often convert more clients than large onesHow to set up email marketing and lead capture with FlodeskBuilding an opt-in or lead magnet that gets event attendees to sign upTurning client case studies and testimonials into content that convertsThe right order of operations: organic marketing first, then Meta adsFollow-up systems for busy business owners with no time to sparePour a drink and pull up a seat — let's turn those event leads into loyal clients. Connect with Krista - Website: https://www.cardinalfunctionalhealth.com/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/cardinalfunctionalhealth Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/cardinalfunctionalhealth/ Upcoming Events: Growth & Connect Events - https://laurennajar.myflodesk.com/hb2a0mwbqw Save 25% with Flodesk - https://flodesk.com/c/OR8VKL Let’s Stay Connected: → Follow Lauren on Instagram: www.instagram.com/laurennajar → Learn more or work with me: www.laurennajar.com → Follow Business Over Cocktails on IG: www.instagram.com/businessovercocktails → Attend Growth & Connect retreats & events: www.instagram.com/growthandconnect 🎧 Subscribe & Review: Love the episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share with a friend who needs a business boost and a good chat over a cocktail.

    Lead Generation for Small Business: How to Convert Event Leads with Email Marketing w/Lauren Najar
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About

Welcome to Business Over Cocktails — the podcast where female entrepreneurs, founder stories, and soulful business growth take center stage.  Hosted by business strategist and community builder Lauren Najar, this show dives into the “why” behind the business, the real stories behind entrepreneurship, and the pivotal moments that shape women-led brands. Expect candid interviews with creative entrepreneurs, behind-the-scenes reflections on small business growth, and bite-sized solo episodes inside The Business Chaser — where we explore authentic visibility, organic marketing, and building a business that actually feels good. Whether you're scaling a service-based business, navigating a pivot, or craving real talk for entrepreneurs, this is your spot. Pull up a seat. Pour your favorite drink. Let’s talk business.

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