Calm the Chaos: Networking as a Brand-New Founder with Leann Coleman-Waters

In this candid episode of the Network Build Grow Podcast, host Melissa Taylor sits down with Leann Coleman-Waters, founder of LCW Advisory Group and a fractional Chief of Staff who spent two decades leading marketing and communications teams in corporate before going out on her own this year. Leann calls her work "calming the chaos" — and she's been living her own version of it. She walks through her first months as a new founder: how she went from decision to open doors in about a month, why she said yes to every room at first, and how she figured out which ones were actually hers. Top Takeaways Decision to doors in one month — Once she committed, she moved fast. A career coach pushing her to "just post it" and a strong support system to sanity-check her messaging accelerated everything. Your messaging will change, that's the point — She sounds completely different now than when she launched. The repetition and trial-and-error of networking is what sharpened it. Go to everything at first, then narrow hard — Several events a month early on wasn't about collecting contacts. It was reconnaissance: learning which rooms felt genuine and which didn't. You'll usually know after one visit — If a group clearly isn't a fit, she doesn't force a second try. If it's just uncertain, two or three visits is fair before calling it. One quality connection is a successful event — Ask her what a good night looks like and the number is one. Depth of trust beats volume every time. Trade some coffees for 15-minute Zooms — After months of in-person lunches, she's moving first meetings online to protect her time — and it works, as long as you come with real questions and a genuine desire to help. About Leann Coleman-Waters Leann Coleman-Waters is the Founder of LCW Advisory Group and a fractional Chief of Staff who helps small and midsize businesses navigate growth, change, and organizational complexity with clarity and confidence. With more than two decades of experience in strategic communications, operations, and organizational transformation, she brings a rare blend of analytical insight and human-centered leadership. She describes her work simply as "calming the chaos" — stepping in as the right hand for owners who are stretched too thin, typically in businesses of five to twenty-five people, though she also supports solo operators who need high-level strategy to reach the next level. Through her advisory practice, Leann partners with leaders to strengthen communication, align teams, and build the systems that support sustainable, meaningful progress. She's based in Fort Mill, in the greater Charlotte area. Resources & Links 🌐 Network Build Grow Community: networkbuildgrow.com 💼 LCW Advisory Group — Fractional Chief of Staff services for small and midsize businesses: https://lcwadvisorygroup.com Subscribe & Connect If this episode gave you permission to start before you feel ready — to walk into the room as yourself, skip the rehearsed pitch, and stop measuring success by how many hands you shook — please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a founder in their first year. 👉 Not yet part of our community? Visit networkbuildgrow.com to join us. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on networking, leadership, branding, and business growth 🌐 Join the Network Build Grow community at networkbuildgrow.com