Amazing Women. Excellent Advice.

I launched Schmooze because I want to encourage women to be intentional about building a strong network of business relationships. The reason is because relationships close gaps between where you are in your career and where you want to be.

The Schmooze.biz newsletter is an opportunity get advice about networking and business relationships from successful women. In honor of Black History Month, here's a list of the advice we've gotten from Black women execs.

Lauren Maillian , 3x Entrepreneur, LinkedIn Top Voice, Branding Expert - One reason men are often more effective at networking is that "women connect with who they like. Men connect based on how they can help each other." (Read Part 1 here.) "The secret to business relationships is knowing what you want out of life." (Read Part 2 here.)

Christiane Pendarvis , Co-CEO of PATTERN Beauty by Tracee Ellis Ross, Board Member of hims & hers - Christiane told us how a long-term relationship led to her landing her first corporate board seat. (Read interview here.)

Caitlyn Kumi , Founder of Miss EmpowHer, Marketing Manager at Google - When networking, don't self reject! (Read interview here.)

Bijou Abiola , Vice President & Chief of Staff to the CEO of luxury brand - Don't be shy about trying to build relationships with senior execs. She shared how she did it, which led to a new opportunity. (Read interview here.)

Denise Reese , Senior Go To Market Exec, Founder of Grace The Collection - "The point of networking internally is to keep your job"...and help you succeed at it. (Read interview here.)

Christine Farrier Rosemin , Head of Partner Marketing at Rho, Founder of TechWalk - She was told "you're not at work to make friends". She ended up launching a networking community for tech and SaaS professionals. (Read interview here.)

Sherrell Dorsey , Award Winning Journalist, Successful Tech Founder, Principal at Build The Good - Sherrell explained how "doing your work in public" will attract a network. (Read interview here.)

Sherina Maye Edwards , Former CEO of INTREN, Director on multiple corporate boards - Sherina told us how "dancing even when you think no one is watching" led to a key relationship that led to a board seat and then a CEO role. (Read Part 1 here.) We loved her advice about how to make people ask "who was that?!" when you leave the room and her unique method of maintaining her network. (Read Part 2 here.)

Ayesha J. Whyte, Esq. , Chief People Officer & Counsel for Roller Rabbit , Managing Partner of Dixon Whyte, and Founder of Ellevator - Ayesha gave us yet another reason why relationships are critical for getting to the C-Suite. And she told us how she developed a relationship with a mentor who actually gave her advice on what to drink at business dinners. (Read Part 1 and Part 2 here.)

Ife Babatunde , Enterprise Sales Leader at LinkedIn - "Network across, not just up." (Read interview here.)

Joy Mbanugo, J.D., MAcc. , Chief Financial Officer at CXAI - Joy laid out the road map that got her to the C-Suite. (Read interview here.)

Andrea Onilude , Vice President of Marketing Strategy, Programs and Operations at Teradata - Knowing someone who knows someone who knows someone helps you create your own luck!(Read Part 1 here and Part 2 here.)

Lisa J. Haynes, CPA, MBA , former CFO of the Mortgage Bankers Association. Lisa told us how a board-level relationship helped her finesse a difficult situation. (Read interview here.)

Grace (Fooden) Correy , former fashion exec, Founder of skincare brand, executive coach for African-American women - Grace shared how social situations gave her a chance to bond with senior executives who became mentors. (Read interview here.)

Kimone Napier, M.S , Founder of Hire Breakthrough which does career coaching and recruiting - Kimone explained how she built her business by nurturing client relationships. (Read interview here.)

Jene Elzie , Chief Marketing Officer at Dunes Point Capital, Director on multiple corporate boards - How to re-create your network when you relocate. (Read interview here.)