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. 1D AGO

    Episode 211: Creating a Business That Supports Your Life with Debra Russell

    Debra Russell's BIO:  Debra Russell is 5' of Heat!" exclaimed one participant after seeing her speak. An MBA and business coach with over 2 decades of experience, she has helped hundreds of passion-based entrepreneurs create profitable businesses doing what they love. Working with arts and entertainment industry professionals, professional athletes and entrepreneurs doing what they love as a business, she helps them systemize their business and improve their productivity so they are running their business and their business isn't running them! As a speaker, she's appeared at conferences like SXSW, Professional Organizations and Universities across the US, Europe and Australia In this episode, Virginia and Debra talked about Debra's journey into business coaching The importance of planning The 5 roles of a business owner Planning vs. doing in business Systems and productivity in business   Takeaways:  Hire a coach. Stop doing it alone. Celebrate every small step. Planning makes all the doing possible. Know your why. Systems make everything possible.   Connect with Debra Russell on her social media accounts to learn more about her work and insights into networking effectively:   LinkedIn URL https://www.linkedin.com/in/debrarussell Facebook URL https://www.facebook.com/CoachDebraRussell Instagram URL https://www.instagram.com/bizcoachdebra/   Connect with Virginia: https://www.bbrpodcast.com/

    53 min

  2. APR 13

    Episode 210: The Importance of You Being You with Melissa Bishop

    Melissa Bishop's BIO:  Live RAW with Melissa Bishop a trauma-informed coaching space built on my RAW Methodology—inspired by my own trauma journey and the wisdom I earned through lived experience—focused on Real Talk, Authentic Growth, and Lasting Wellness. I help you cut through the fluff, get honest about what's really going on, and release what's been keeping you stuck—mind, body, and spirit. You'll get practical tools you can use in real life, plus tailored support so your growth is sustainable and actually sticks.   In this episode, Virginia and Melissa talked about Melissa's background as an entrepreneur How Melissa gets her clients unstuck Melissa's new book How Melissa fills her sales funnel   Takeaways: Align with yourself first  Get clear on your business owner identity  Don't be afraid to make the call Ask for what you need Your people will be your people   Connect with Melissa Bishop on her social media accounts to learn more about her work and insights into networking effectively: LinkedIn URL https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-bishop-378164a5/  Facebook URL https://www.facebook.com/wholeheartedhealingstudio   Connect with Virginia: https://www.bbrpodcast.com/

    44 min

  3. APR 6

    Episode 209: Building Your Tribe for Business Growth with Fabienne Marneau

    Fabienne Marneau's BIO:  Fabienne Marneau is an intuitive business strategist, transformational mentor, and Healing Soul Alchemist with over four decades of experience helping entrepreneurs and leaders uncover the hidden patterns that silently sabotage success. Known as the "Ghostbuster of Hidden Patterns," she helps clients release unconscious blocks, reclaim clarity and confidence, and align their business with their authentic purpose. Fabienne blends deep healing practices with practical strategy to support sustainable growth and meaningful impact. Through her Emotional Self-Care Tools, Organize for Abundance method, and international Soul Alchemy retreats, she empowers purpose-driven professionals to move from chaos to harmony and build businesses that truly reflect who they are.   In this episode, Virginia and Fabienne talked about Fabienne's background as a clairvoyante The importance of connecting with your tribe Fabienne's big vision: The Lonewolf Tribe How to build out a Referral Nexus®   Takeaways: Do things from the present moment Alone we are limited; together we can do the infinite We can never work on ourselves alone Whoever is meant to be there will be there A relationship takes energy and time   Connect with Fabienne Marneau on her social media accounts to learn more about her work and insights into networking effectively: LinkedIn URL https://www.linkedin.com/in/4fabienne/ Facebook URL https://www.facebook.com/destinationharmony Instagram URL https://www.instagram.com/fabiennemarneau/   Connect with Virginia: https://www.bbrpodcast.com/

    43 min

  4. MAR 30

    Episode 208: The Power of Choice in Business with Zen Benefiel

    Zen Benfiel's BIO:  Zen Benefiel is a transformational leadership coach and organizational strategist who helps leaders turn purpose into measurable performance. A former aerospace operations lead managing $7M in monthly shipments by age 26, he specializes in simplifying complex systems into practical leadership habits that build trust, improve decisions, and drive results. Zen is the host of the One World in a New World interview series and author of 40+ books. Through his work with Be The Dream and Team Partnering, he equips leaders with frameworks that align strategy, culture, and execution—helping teams turn insight into action and stronger business relationships.   In this episode, Virginia and Zen talked about: How Zen got into the coaching/consulting space The power of how you see choice The value of interpersonal skill development Elements of successful collaborations Zen's new nonprofit   Takeaways: What can you say "yes" to? How do you choose? Perspective manages perception Set your intent & do what's in front of you No push. No pull. Just flow.   Connect with Zen Benefiel on his social media accounts to learn more about his work and insights into networking effectively: LinkedIn URL https://linkedin.com/in/zenbenefiel Facebook URL https://facebook.com/zenbenefiel   Connect with Virginia: https://www.bbrpodcast.com/

    40 min

  5. MAR 23

    Episode 207: Be the Trusted Voice of Choice with Mitch Axelrod

    Mitch Axelrod's BIO:  A 47 year entrepreneur, speaker, trainer, advisor and 5 time #1 Wall St. Journal, Barnes & Noble and Amazon best-selling author of The NEW Game of Business™, The NEW Game of Selling™ and the forthcoming book, The NEW Game of Service™. Mitch has delivered 4,000 seminars, workshops, keynotes, executive briefings, webinars and coaching clinics to a million people on business, entrepreneurship, sales, leadership, values, life skills and intellectual property. His clients include IBM, AT&T, Citibank, Prudential, MetLife and thousands of small, medium and home based businesses, professionals and solo practitioners. They have generated $4 billion of revenue. Mitch shared the stage with Jack Canfield, Les Brown, Denis Waitley, Brian Tracy, Mark Victor Hansen, Jay Abraham, Barbara Corcoran, Michael Gerber and Dan Kennedy. Featured on media including WABC, Best-Seller TV and Sales Talk Radio, Mitch has taught at NYU, USC, Notre Dame and is faculty at Harvard's Executive Leadership Conference. In 2020 Mitch suffered a stroke and brain aneurism that left him paralyzed on his right side. He had to learn to walk and talk again. His inspirational story of resilience, rebound and recovery has been written about in books and featured on TV shows.   In this episode, Virginia and Mitch talked about How Mitch got into selling The new game of business Big shift in how successful people sell How to turn service into a profit center Marrying sales & service as a holistic system Rejection-proof networking   Takeaways: Be the trusted voice of choice Sell them the BEST solution for THEM Your job is to find the hungry fish Your qualified buyer is either ready or getting ready The most important question: Why did you buy from us?   Connect with Mitch Axelrod on his social media accounts to learn more about his work and insights into networking effectively: LinkedIn URL https://linkedin.com/in/mitchaxelrod Facebook URL https://www.facebook.com/mitchaxelrod Instagram URL https://www.instagram.com/mitchellaxelrod   Connect with Virginia: https://www.bbrpodcast.com/

    39 min

  6. MAR 16

    Episode 206: From Healthy Habits to Entrepreneurial Success with Leah Kuhlmann

    Leah Kuhlmann's BIO:  Leah Kuhlmann, RDN, is redefining what it means to thrive—365 days a year. As the founder of YouThrive365, Leah brings over two decades of clinical expertise and entrepreneurial drive to the forefront of health and wellness. She's not here to promote fad diets or temporary fixes. Her mission is clear: to help individuals take back control of their health through practical, personalized nutrition rooted in real food, functional science, and long-term results. Leah's approach is deeply personal. After witnessing loved ones battle cancer, she made it her life's work to empower others to prevent and even reverse chronic disease—not with band-aid solutions, but by addressing the root causes through food, lifestyle, and mindset. Her philosophy is simple but powerful: Food is medicine, and optimal health is possible—without restriction, confusion, or overwhelm. Through her signature non-diet, holistic framework, Leah has helped thousands improve their energy, manage chronic conditions, and elevate their quality of life. She combines evidence-based nutrition with compassionate coaching to create strategic, sustainable health transformations. Whether she's speaking to teams, consulting with clients, or leading wellness workshops, Leah's message is clear: health is your greatest asset—and you deserve to thrive. In this episode, Virginia and Leah talked about Leah's motivation for starting her business Leah's passion for education and personal transformation Top tips for transformation in life + business Creating long-term transformation through simple habits Growing confidence through networking and visibility Takeaways: Surround yourself with people who have already walked your path Start small and build better habits one step at a time Stay hydrated! Hydration is key to energy and focus Know your "why" before making any change Keep taking consistent action and the results will follow   Connect with Leah Kuhlmann on her social media accounts to learn more about her work and insights into networking effectively: LinkedIn URL https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-kuhlmann-rdn-ld-74236915/ Facebook URL https://www.facebook.com/leah.kuhlmann.7 Instagram URL https://www.instagram.com/youthrive_365/   Connect with Virginia: https://www.bbrpodcast.com/

    37 min

  7. MAR 10

    Episode 205: Networking Is a Marathon, Not a Sprint with Dr. Ivan Misner

    Dr. Ivan Misner's BIO:  Dr. Ivan Misner is the Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of BNI (Business Network International), the world's largest business networking organization, with more than 11,000 chapters in 76 countries worldwide. Widely recognized as the "Father of Modern Networking," he has dedicated his life to helping business professionals build meaningful, relationship-driven networks that create both profit and impact. He holds a PhD from the University of Southern California and is a New York Times bestselling author who has written numerous books on networking, business growth, referrals, and leadership. His work has influenced millions of entrepreneurs and professionals around the world, and his teachings continue to shape how people think about relationship marketing, collaboration, and legacy. In addition to founding BNI, Dr. Misner co-founded the BNI Charitable Foundation and has been honored internationally for his humanitarian efforts, leadership, and lifelong commitment to service. His message centers on the power of long-term relationships, contribution, and living a life of intentional legacy. In this episode, Virginia and Dr. Ivan talked about Why networking is a marathon, not a sprint The value of following a proven system Legacy and living intentionally Scaling a business through delegation Relational vs. transactional networking Takeaways: Success comes from repeating what works Deep relationships generate bigger results than shallow networks Giving and receiving must work together You cannot scale if you refuse to let go Your legacy is how you show up in people's lives   Connect with Dr. Ivan Misner on his LinkedIn account to learn more about his work and insights into networking effectively: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivanmisner/    Connect with Virginia: https://www.bbrpodcast.com/

    51 min

  8. MAR 2

    Episode 204: When Corporate Isn't Enough: Building Income Through Referral Partnerships with Stacy Heisey-Terrell

    Stacy Heisey-Terrell's BIO: As a Career Ownership Coach, Stacy helps individuals explore career possibilities that align with who they are and what they want from both their personal and professional lives. After nearly 30 years navigating the corporate rollercoaster in Human Resources across industries including legal, healthcare, insurance, environmental/chemical, local government, and energy, she experienced firsthand the frustrations many professionals face—long hours, broken promises, lack of opportunity, fear of change, and even unexpected layoffs. Those lessons inspired her to take control of her own path, create a balanced lifestyle, and build the work environment she had always envisioned. Now, Stacy brings that experience and passion to coaching others who are ready for a change but aren't sure where to begin. She guides clients toward their "Career 2.0"—a future of greater fulfillment, autonomy, and purpose. Stacy lives in the Philadelphia area with her husband, Christopher, and their four teenage daughters. She holds an MS in Organizational Development and Human Resources Management. Outside of coaching and family life, she dedicates time to her church's food pantry, where she leads teens in serving their community. Life may be messy and wild, but Stacy believes your career doesn't have to be. She's here to help you make work work for you. In this episode, Virginia and Stacy talked about Exiting the Corporate Rat Race The difference between being an employee & becoming an entrepreneur The shift from corporate networking to networking to build a business How to make a living doing Joint Ventures Moving from the passenger seat to the driver's seat of your career Takeaways: Entrepreneurship: Be your whole self Maybe the corporate path isn't your final destination Career ownership starts when you move into the driver's seat Your next chapter may require courage before clarity You can build income by connecting people, not just selling to them Connect with Stacy on her social media accounts to learn more about her work and insights into networking effectively:   LinkedIn URL www.linkedin.com/in/stacyheiseyterrell Facebook URL https://www.facebook.com/people/Stacy-Heisey-Terrell-The-Entrepreneurs-Source/100093328212010/ Website URL www.mylifemybiz.com   Connect with Virginia: https://www.bbrpodcast.com/

    30 min
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5
out of 5
39 Ratings

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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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