What Happens When You Lead With Love…….
Highlights from the December Blossom & Thrive BOSS Networking Mixer
Friday, December 6th, was a night to remember at the Blossom & Thrive BOSS Networking Mixer! The energy was high, the room was filled with inspiring entrepreneurs, and we had an incredible lineup that left everyone feeling motivated and empowered.
Adrienne Fudge of 40 Dreams Catering
Adrienne kicked off the evening with her powerful message on "Lead With Love." She shared how this mindset has been a driving force in her entrepreneurial journey, and her words quickly resonated with me and so many others in the room. "Lead with love" became the theme of the evening and spread like wildfire, impacting the conversations and connections that followed.
3 Reasons Why Leading With Love is Crucial in Business and Life
Fosters Authentic Relationships: Leading with love encourages genuine connections with others. When you lead from a place of empathy and kindness, people are more likely to trust and engage with you—whether in business or personal relationships. This foundation of trust leads to long-lasting, mutually beneficial partnerships.
Promotes a Positive Work Environment: Love in leadership doesn’t mean being soft; it means being compassionate and understanding. This approach creates a supportive environment where people feel valued and motivated to do their best. In business, when your team or clients feel cared for, they’re more likely to contribute positively to your vision.
Enhances Resilience in the Face of Challenges: Entrepreneurship is not without its challenges, but leading with love allows you to face obstacles with a sense of purpose and perspective. When you focus on love and compassion, you’re better equipped to handle setbacks with grace, learn from mistakes, and keep moving forward.
How to Start Leading with Love:
Practice Active Listening: Show genuine interest in others' perspectives.
Offer Help and Support: In both your business and personal life, extend a hand to those in need even when they can’t do anything for you in return.
Celebrate Others’ Successes: Lift people up and celebrate their victories as you would your own no matter how small.
The Best You Brunch
After Adrienne’s inspiring message, she announced her upcoming event, which will take place on Sunday, December 29th. This event will be a continuation of her mission to inspire and empower others to become the best versions of themselves, and you won’t want to miss it!
Next, we heard from our Roses & Rosé Honorees—four incredible women who shared their personal stories of challenges, pain, hardships, triumphs, and victories in their entrepreneurial journeys. Their resilience and strength left us all in awe. Here’s what each of them is up to:
Nichole Fields, Owner of I & I Etiquette & Professional Services: Nichole has started the Embrace Your Classy movement celebrating timeless elegance, strength, and authenticity! Check It Out Here
Dawn Hutcheson, Owner of DKT Creative Occasions: Dawn is expanding her brand, offering training and consulting services to help event planning businesses grow. She is also focused on empowering women to thrive in the industry. Check Her Out Her
Florence Dennis, Owner of Flows Tasty Treats: Florence is a rising force in the food industry, helping bring visibility to African cuisine by providing delicious, healthy snacks while spreading love, inspiration, and positivity. She’s currently working on a new projects that will allow her snacks to reach even more people and impact their lives positively. Check Her Out Here
Shayvonne Anderson, Author of The Journey To Healing Her: Shayvonne is impacting lives and helping 100s of women on their healing journey one book at a time. Check Her Out Here
Their stories were truly inspiring and left everyone in the room motivated to keep pushing through the tough times to achieve success.
If you missed the chance to connect with these vendors in person, don't worry! You can still support them and many other incredible entrepreneurs by visiting our Black BOSS Business Directory, which features past vendors and their businesses.
Lastly, we heard from some amazing entrepreneurs doing incredible work in their communities. Here are some upcoming events they shared throughout the evening.
Empower The Village
Upcoming Events:
Village Ventures Business Pitch Competition For those looking for funding for their businesses, you don’t want to miss this fantastic opportunity to showcase your business and possibly secure the funding you need to take it to the next level.
Alexander Skye Group
Do Good Business Holiday Event
50% OFF Discount Code: NJBIZ25 (while supplies last))
The Blossom & Thrive BOSS Networking Mixer was a night filled with inspiration, support, and actionable takeaways. From leading with love to setting financial goals and hearing powerful stories from our honorees, it was a reminder of the power of community and the strength that comes from helping each other thrive.
If you missed it, don’t worry—there are always more opportunities to join us. Keep an eye out for upcoming events, and let’s continue supporting one another as we all grow and thrive together.
Blossom & Thrive
Simeko Hartley, Founder & Curator
