What Is Schmooze?

People do business with, promote, and refer people they’ve gotten to know, like and trust.

That’s why, in business, relationships are everything.

Schmooze wants to help women to build the network of business relationships they need to succeed.

What Schmooze Does

Maybe networking doesn’t come naturally to you. It feels fake or forced.

Maybe you have 1,000 connections on LinkedIn but you’re wondering how to turn them into real relationships.

Maybe you’re trying to figure out how to build your internal network, especially if you’re an introvert or you work from home.

Schmooze Mini Masterclasses will show you how to build your network of business relationships. Our experts give you actionable advice in classes like:

  • Create the Network You Need for the Role You Want
  • "The Fortune Is In The Follow Up" - Reciprocity Turns Contacts Into Relationships
  • Develop Your Elevator Pitch for a Career Pivot
  • How to Build Your Internal Network

Men have always used shared experiences, like golf trips and sports events, in order to strengthen relationships and meet new people.

That's why Schmooze also hosts in-person and virtual events that are an alternative to the sports tickets and golf trips that men use.

You can invite clients, potential clients, contacts, or colleagues to Schmooze events. We're planning future events like:

  • Virtual Networking Events
  • IRL "Structured Speed" Networking Events
  • Watch Parties for Women's Sports
  • Manicures, Massages & Margaritas
  • Coffee and Spirit Tastings
  • IRL and Virtual Panels on “How to Invest in Women’s Sports” and "How to Create A Portfolio Career"
  • and more......

How Schmooze Works?

Schmooze is a membership community.

Your Schmooze membership includes

  • Unlimited access to Schmooze Mini Masterclasses.
  • Discounted tickets to Schmooze events for you and guests.
  • The opportunity to increase your visibility. We'll help you create and promote your own course or panel!
  • Accountability Groups
  • Unlimited 15 minute sessions with Shelly, the founder of Schmooze

Non-members are welcome at Schmooze events. And they can take Mini Masterclasses for a one-time fee per class.

Click here to see a list of upcoming events.

Click here to see a list of upcoming and past Mini Masterclasses.

My Story

I spent 35 years on Wall Street analyzing and investing in junk bonds and in companies that were in financial trouble. During the period when General Motors and the rest of the auto industry were in deep trouble, I was the most quoted auto analyst on Wall Street.

My last employer allowed me to work from home, which made it easier to be a working mom. But that didn't change the fact that It was an extremely demanding job. When I got downsized, I was ready for a career change.

However, the combination of long hours, kids, and working from home meant I hadn't invested any time in maintaining her business contacts. My network had grown stale, and then disappeared.

I realized that headhunters and former colleagues will call you about jobs doing what you've always done before. But they can't call you about opportunities they don't even know you're interested in. That's when you need a network of contacts you can call.

That experience taught me the importance of having a broad network of business relationships. That lesson hit home again after I started serving on corporate boards. About 80% of corporate board seats are filled through relationships.

That's why I launched Schmooze...so people, especially women, won't make the same mistakes I made!

Relationships close gaps, between where you are in your career and where you want to be, whether that's a promotion, a career pivot, or a board seat.

The goal of the Schmooze LinkedIn newsletter, the Mini Masterclasses, and the Schmooze networking events is to encourage and coach women to build and maintain their own network of business relationships.