What if the most powerful growth strategy in your career wasn’t a promotion or a title change but a genuine connection?In this episode, I sit down with Emily Merrill, founder of Second Degree Society, to explore how connection becomes the true engine behind leadership and business growth. Emily built a nationwide community on the belief that curiosity, presence, and consistent follow-up can change the course of your life and work.Together, we unpack what it means to reframe networking from a transactional task into a lifelong practice of curiosity and courage. Emily shares how to build trust through small moments, maintain authentic follow-up, and create connection “bank accounts” that keep your relationships strong.You’ll walk away with practical tools to make every conversation count, build confidence through curiosity, and lead from a place of authenticity and possibility.In this episode, we explore:How curiosity turns everyday interactions into meaningful connectionsWhy follow-up is the new networkingWhat it means to build trust through authenticity and presenceHow relationships become your most valuable leadership currencySimple ways to reframe networking as relationship-buildingHow to lead with curiosity, courage, and possibilityAbout your host: Lindsay YellinLindsay Yellin is an executive leadership coach, dynamic speaker, and certified ACC and CPCC who helps high-achieving creative leaders trade fear for possibility and self-doubt for self-trust. A former advertising executive, she has led in high-pressure, high-visibility environments and knows the challenge of staying connected to oneself while leading others.✨ Book a Coaching Chemistry Call with Lindsay: https://calendly.com/yellin-coaching/chemistry-call?month=2025-09 ✨ Get your espresso shot of leadership insight, join the Grounds for Growth newsletter: https://yellingroundsforgrowth.myflodesk.com/groundsforgrowthAbout Emily Merrell Emily Merrell is dedicated to making the world feel smaller through genuine connections. She’s the Founder and Business Coach at Second Degree Society, a female-focused networking organization, offering curated connections, masterminds, and 1:1 business coaching. She also co-founded Ready Set Coach Community, a virtual space for female coaches to support one another.

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