When I was starting my career in commercial real estate, I was insecure and unsure of myself. I was new to business, surrounded by people who seemed more experienced and polished than me, and trying to figure out where I fit. But there was another layer to it, too: I didn’t feel like my weird, tattooed, pink-loving self belonged in the traditional professional world.

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I thought being taken seriously meant toning myself down.

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Then I found a women’s business community in Charlotte.

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The women I met there didn’t need me to become more polished, buttoned-up, or “professional” to belong. They accepted me, believed in me, challenged me, made introductions, shared what they knew, and gave me a safe place to grow into myself.

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They helped me own my awesome.

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Over time, those women became mentors, cheerleaders, collaborators, friends, and vision expanders. I eventually became president of the same organization I had once felt intimidated walking into.

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And that experience changed what I believe community can do.

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But here’s the other reason I created Soul-Called: I hate stuffy networking events.

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I don’t want to collect business cards. I don’t want to spend an hour trading polished elevator pitches and pretending that tells us anything meaningful about each other.

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Because real relationships require going deeper.

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I want to know what you’re building, but I also want to know what you’re dreaming about. What you’re scared to do. What you can’t stop thinking about. What chapter you’re trying to leave behind. What you secretly think might be possible for your life.

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That’s the kind of room I wanted to create in Charleston.

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A place where you can grow your business, expand your mind, follow what’s calling you, make incredible connections, and still show up completely, unapologetically yourself.