Founder Therapy: Schmooze or Lose
Holiday networking can feel like speed dating in ugly sweaters. Unpack the awkward, messy side of schmoozing, and how to actually turn it into real connections.
December means parties, cocktails, and an inbox full of “let’s grab a coffee before the holidays.” For entrepreneurs, it also means endless pressure to network: to meet the right people, land the right deals, and somehow look like you’re thriving while balancing year-end chaos. The truth? Networking isn’t always glamorous. Sometimes it feels like begging, sometimes like speed dating for business cards, and sometimes like the one party you skipped was the only one that mattered.
In this Founder Therapy, we’re unpacking the messy, unfiltered side of networking: the exhaustion, the FOMO, the awkward small talk, and the transactional hangovers that nobody admits out loud. We’ll talk about what it really takes to turn casual contacts into allies, how to filter out the noise of endless holiday invites, and how to stop feeling like networking is a performance.
This isn’t about perfect elevator pitches or LinkedIn spam tactics. It’s about making connections that actually matter...and keeping your sanity intact through the most “networky” season of the year. Come ready to laugh, vent, and maybe even rethink the way you work a room. All while we fumble our way through working this virtual room.
What’s Founder Therapy?
Founder Therapy is a monthly deep dive into the messy, gritty side of entrepreneurship. We're going beyond the success stories and talking about what really happens when you're building a business: the screw-ups, the hard truths, and the moments where you question everything (but keep going anyway). No polished presentations, no sugar-coated answers – just real talk.
It’s no secret that being a founder is a rollercoaster ride. One minute you’re on top of the world, and the next you’re wondering why you ever thought you could “just wing it” with no sleep and a half-baked business plan. Founder Therapy is a safe space to let it all out. Each month, we tackle a theme that gets to the heart of the entrepreneurial experience: the highs, the lows, and the brutally honest truths in between.
This isn’t about “growth hacks” or hustle culture. It’s about being honest with yourself and with other founders in the trenches. Every session is an open forum — come with your questions, frustrations, and wins, and leave with actionable advice, new insights, and a few laughs along the way.