Hi! I'm Jennifer Knowles, Growth and Change Expert for Leaders and Teams

► Who I Help
I work with:
-Leaders who feel stuck and need clarity
-Teams facing change and struggling with communication overload
-Organizations seeking leadership development and talent management support
-High achievers desiring coaching to unlock growth, well-being and career advancement

If you've ever asked:
"How do I engage and retain top talent?"
"What's the best way to prepare my team for organizational change?"
"How can I improve leadership skills across my company?"
      - this is where I can help.

My Mission:
►Amplify the talents of your leaders and teams, unleashing human potential for exponential growth

What I Deliver:

► I create custom coaching, training and keynotes that align with organizational goals, blending research-backed insights with practical application. 

Together, we can:
1.  Increase leadership potential
2. Transform corporate culture
3.  Elevate careers to new heights
4.  Transform change into opportunity
5.  Build productive teams
6.  Create happy workplace environments

► Challenges Organizations Face Today
-Rising stress and burnout among employees
-Constant change and uncertainty in business environments
-Retention struggles with top talent
-Engagement gaps leading to lost productivity
-Leaders needing new skills for future-ready workplaces

► Benefits of Working with Dr. Jennifer

Organizations that partner with me see measurable improvements in:
1. Talent Attraction & Retention- Reduce turnover and retain top performers
2. Positive Work Environments- Foster collaboration and well-being
3. Change Readiness- Equip teams to embrace transitions with confidence
4. Stronger Teamwork- Increase trust, clarity and efficiency
5. Strategic Clarity- Provide a clear roadmap for success
6. Productivity & Engagement- Unlock more energy, focus, and results

► Client Outcomes
 "Dr. Jennifer Knowles is a beacon of inspiration in leadership and talent development. Her ability to seamlessly blend research-backed insights with practical applications has consistently led to positive transformations, empowered teams, and elevated leadership capabilities.”

 "We love Dr. Jennifer. She leads with a big heart and has lots of passion for her work. She cares about us and has the gift to take complex ideas and break them down into simple steps."

► Services
1. Leadership coaching (1:1 and group)
2. Change management programs
3. Talent development workshops
4. Keynote speaking on growth, change, and leadership
5. Research-informed organizational development solutions



Jennifer Knowles

Did you watch this over the weekend? A man climbed Taipei 101, the 11th tallest building in the world, with no ropes or harness. 508 meters. And he made it!


My kids knew about this guy, and told me I had to watch live in Netflix. And so I did. The climb was scheduled to last up to 8 hours, and he made it to the top in less than 2 hours.

What makes somebody risk his life to do something so bold and dangerous? 
He has a wife and two daughters. He could have died.

Once he was at the top, he just stood there on top of the building, and even took a selfie. I kept thinking, "Oh gosh, he made it to the top, I hope the wind doesn't knock him down now!"

What's the difference between reckless and bold?

Research from the Journal of Risk Research shows we're terrible at evaluating risk.

We overestimate rare, dramatic risks (like free-climbing skyscrapers).
We underestimate common, quiet risks (like staying in a job that's slowly killing us).

This got me thinking: What is my version of 508 meters? Do I dare to go after those big dreams? 


📌 What is your version of 508 meters? 

📌 📌 Did you watch this over the weekend too? I'm curious your thoughts on this!

Jennifer Knowles, Ph.D

I help develop effective leaders + high-performing teams | Harvard Executive Leadership Coach | Best-Selling Author | Professor of Business | Tedx Speaker

I went to the grocery story and the guy in front of me at the check out line stared me down... 


I'm standing there, in line, with one hand on the grocery cart. In my other hand was my phone, reading the latest celebrity mindtrash. 

Do you ever get the feeling that somebody is watching you? 

Well, I did, so I looked up. And the tall, middle-aged man wearing a Bluey tshirt (anybody with kids 10 and under will know who bluey is- a blue dog), was looking right at me.

I look at him, and then look away, thinking "okay, this is weird, just ignore him" and then I looked back. He was still staring at me.

I thought: "IS THERE FOOD STUCK IN MY TEETH?"

So I cracked a slight smile at him (flood him with kindness, right?!). 

What did he want? 
What was in my teeth?
Did I nip him with the grocery cart? 
Did I take the last box of oreos?

 Just then, he yelled, "Liam, over here" and his little boy ran over towards him.

Turns out, he was never looking at me. All that nonsense was just in my head. 

Just like at work. We so often think that everybody is paying attention to us. They're going to notice every flaw, and that piece of lettuce in our teeth.

But people are mostly worried about their own stuff, their own work, their own lives.

Lesson to me: Go out there and do your thing, because nobody is really paying attention. And when they finally do, maybe you've really made it :-)

4 things I learned from seeing the ball drop in NYC Times Square that I can apply to business and life.


1. Think differently.
[Most people lined up at 10am in the freezing cold to experience the ball drop at midnight. We found a way to see the ball drop with the masses and stand outside for less than an hour]

2. Experience new things.
[I find the best way I learn and grow is to push myself in unknown situations. Don't stay comfortable- stay on the edge, just a bit and see what magic happens]

3. We're more similar than we are different.
[I was amazed at all the languages of the people we encountered standing in the NYC ball drop pen - all standing together hoping for the best, ringing in the new year, shedding the old behind, and in with the new]

4. Look for the good.
[Assume the best in people, not the worst. I encountered many people in NYC honking unnecessarily, yelling at each other, pushing, shoving- geez! But when we believe everyone is doing the best they can, and understand their intentions, I believe a bit more good will peek through]

At work, when we look for the good in our teams, think differently as we tackle problems, recognize we all have common and shared goals as we're more similar than we are different, and experience new things as we challenge the status quo, we can thrive in work and life.

Happy New Year! May your year be filled with what you hope for!

Trying something new, and being okay to suck at it! See that beautiful pot below? I didn't make it- my instructor did, after I destroyed mine.


Have you ever tried the pottery wheel? It's harder than it looks.

I tried it once as a kid, and it took me decades to try again.

We went as a family event. We even had a private instructor. 1:1 instruction, easy peasy, right? Wrong.

Within 5 minutes of using the wheel, my pot plopped out and it was so bad, that I had to start over. Apparently the clay can get air bubbles in it, and then you're toast. 

Meanwhile, my son's a natural, making a beautiful pot, with very little instruction.

Getting showed up by my kid. Good for him! Trying to tell myself this was fun, right?

It was actually fun.

Trying new things.
Embracing the growth mindset.
Challenging ourselves in new ways.

This is what life is all about.

📌 When was a time you tried something new, and it was way harder than you expected? 

ps- I've been a teacher and coach in various contexts my whole adult life. Credentials matter some, but real lived experiences count a whole lot more(like screwing up on a pottery wheel)!  If I can help support you, send me a DM. I'd love to connect.

Neuroscientists found that your brain's decision-making peaks at 10 AM and crashes by 3 PM.

So why do we wait until the afternoon to make big decisions?

Here's another : Google spent two years studying 180 teams to figure out what made some successful and others mediocre.

They called it Project Aristotle.

And was all about psychological safety.

The feeling that you can speak up without getting shut down, humiliated, or punished.

Here's the problem: 67% of employees say they've received feedback that made them LESS likely to speak up.

We're accidentally teaching people to stay quiet.
When you want to speak up, and you don't.

For fear of the boss
For fear of what other's will think
Is it dumb? Has it already been said?

I have watched this happen so many times.
You want to say something, but you don't.


The best idea for you and your group this year?
It's probably sitting in someone's head.

📌 What's a time when you stayed quiet but you really had something to say?

Happy New Year!! May 2026 be filled with joy, prosperity, and all things good!

I took my family to NYC to ring in the new year watching the ball drop - it was quite the memorable experience!

That time when my story was on the front page of the WSJ (!)... I called the reporter and asked her to take it down. People were criticizing me as a mom and as a human, and I didn't like it.

The WSJ journalist practically laughed at me with my request...

She looked at the comments and said, "This is nothing... The commenters are going easy on you. You should see what they say most of the time..."

That was a big lessons on how to put on my big girl panties and toughen up.

Here's how the story went:
A few years ago, my children's lemonade got shut down by police due to a complaint and lack of permits.

Turns out lemonade stands were technically illegal in my city and they were in cities and states across the USA.

So I rallied people together, and we got lemonade stand laws changed in Denver, kid business laws changed in Colorado, and I partnered with CountryTime Lemonade/Kraft Heinz, and we got laws changed in 17 states across the country.

It was meaningful work.
It was visible work.
And it attracted criticism.

Here’s leaders and high performers can take away from this: 

If you want to do meaningful work, you have to develop thicker skin.
Not by becoming hardened or cynical—but by becoming more grounded.

Here’s how:
1. Stop confusing visibility with danger
 Criticism feels threatening, but most of the time, it’s just noise—not a real risk.

2. Don’t outsource your self-worth to commenters
 The loudest voices are rarely the wisest ones

3. Expect pushback when you’re changing something
 If no one is uncomfortable, you’re probably not moving the needle.

4. Let criticism inform—not define—you
 Listen for signal. Ignore the rest.

5. Remember: growth requires exposure
 You can’t stay hidden and make an impact.

The whole experience was a lot of fun. I couldn't have dreamed it up if I tried. 

Here's what being in the WSJ taught me:

To have confidence to stay standing when opinions fly.

📌 What was a time when you had to put on your big kid panties and toughen up?

Did anyone else wake up to cold and snow? Research shows your brain makes 35,000 decisions a day. I made my first one at 6am- stay under the warm blankets or get up and exercise.

The decision was tough, it was close, but I got up.

Of course my little white miniature schnauzer wanted to go outside, so I put on my longest warmest coat I own, and we ventured outside and froze.

He rolled around and frolicked.

Me, not so much. 

Cornell researchers found that we burn through our decision-making capacity like a phone battery.

Every choice depletes it a little more.

What to wear. What to eat. Which email to answer first. Whether to have that hard conversation or wait another day.

By noon, your battery's at 47% and you're making choices with the mental clarity of someone who just ran a marathon in their sleep.

That's decision fatigue.
And it's killing your productivity before you even get to the office.

The best leaders know this.

They don't try to make better decisions all day long.

They make fewer decisions.

Here's what I'm testing this week:

Eliminating: What to wear, what to eat for breakfast, when to work out, whether to check my phone first.

Protecting energy for my most important goals.

The cold is miserable.
But the clarity is worth it.

📌 What's one low-stakes decision you could eliminate this week to save energy for what matters?

📌 📌 Tell me about the cold and snow you got!

Courage is the willingness to show up and be all in when you can’t predict the outcome” - Brene Brown


Do you have big goals for this year? 

I do. 

I have thought about doing these things for YEARS. And why haven't I?

Because I was scared.
Because I was "too busy."
Because I hid behind perfectionism.
Because because because.

And a million other reasons.

You know what is FINALLY causing me to move? 

I'm removing the barriers in my mind.
Trying things without attaching significance to the outcome.
Removing the pressure I put on myself.
Focusing on having more fun.

Who knows how it will all turn out, but we owe it to ourselves to try, right? 

Hopefully this resonates with you to finally do that thing this year, and turn goals into reality :-) 

📌 When was a time when you did something new at work and were unsure what the outcome would be?

You know that thing about boiling a frog slowly?


Turns out sudden cold shocks you into action faster than gradual decline.

Ew. Why did I write that? I happen to like frogs, just not when my son brings them home from the sewer. 

This morning: 16 degrees and I launched out of bed like I'd been ejected.

No snooze. No scrolling. No negotiating.
Cold doesn't let you ease into change.

Research shows 70% of organizational transformations happen in response to crisis, not proactive planning.

We don't fix things when they're declining.
We fix them when they're on fire.

Why do we wait for the crisis?

What are you tolerating because it hasn't completely broken yet?
The underperforming team member.
The strategy that stopped working in 2023.

You don't need to wait for the disaster.
You can decide that "declining slowly" is the same as "broken."

📌 What's one thing that's been slowly declining and not working that you know you need to deal with this week?

For years, I was fortunate to be part of this - DFS Group, owned by LVMH. Developing employees, building leadership development programs, traveling internationally, getting some amazing luxury swag (!), and most important, building relationships with incredible leaders I'm still connected to.

My son took his first steps in the ocean when he traveled with me on a work trip to this very location in Hawaii. 

When I left my FT role there, I started my own business, and they were my first client (a multibillion dollar organization!).

Getting off the plane the first time I went to Hong Kong for work, I was so nervous, I didn't know the language! But then after time, I was traveling there monthly, and found my favorite local markets to shop and the best reflexologist ever. 

So much to be thankful for. I loved this job and this organization.

The world changes, business changes, consumer needs change. And we have to evolve to stay competitive. 

I am grateful.

📌 Did you every have a job that you absolutely loved?

DFS Group has decided to exit its long-standing Hawaii downtown and airport business, bringing the curtain down on one of the most remarkable chapters in travel retail history.

The move is in line with a review of the company’s global store network revealed by Chairman & CEO Ed Brennan in an interview with The Moodie Davitt Report in November 2024 and underlines how profoundly trading conditions have changed in Hawaii over recent years.

Our story incudes the views of our Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie, who describes DFS’s decision to quit its Hawaii business as “momentous and poignant”.

Read it here: https://lnkd.in/ehTPY6hE

#travelretail

Ever feel like an imposter? Me too. 


I’m not sure it ever goes away. 

I had a call with my mentor today. He is someone I admire who has done all the things, owned many successful businesses, leads others, makes oodles of money, loves hard, loves hard…

Even he doubts himself, but he goes for it anyways. 

How many of us live in:

The shoulds
The some days 
Maybe tomorrow 
The whens

But what if you went for it today?
One tiny little step 

Start today 
You’re worth it 

Ps- I’m right along side you!

My latest article I wrote for Business Insider is up! If you're curious about traveling to Dubai, check it out! And here's LI relevance: nothing exposes your habits faster than being somewhere completely unfamiliar.

https://lnkd.in/d66cyxnE

My son convinced me to take the family to Dubai through a PowerPoint presentation.

He hit all the points he knew I'd be looking for- cost, safety, logistics, adventure, etc., and he nailed it. So we went for spring break.

When we arrived, everything was different.
The people were different
The culture was different
The buildings were different
The food was different

I could go on and on...

We were definitely outside of our comfort zone. 

Our professional habits show up fast, especially when we're out of our normal:

Do we get rigid—or curious?
Do we rush to control—or slow down to learn?
 Do we cling to what’s familiar—or adapt in real time?

Here’s what I’ve learned—both as a leader and a coach:

Discomfort isn’t a weakness.
 It’s information.

And stretching ourselves into that unknown is how we really grow and learn.

📌 Where is someplace that you traveled to, that really pushed your comfort zones?

Open article: I brought my American family to Dubai for the first time. Here are 4 things I wish I knew before we went. by businessinsider.com

I brought my American family to Dubai for the first time. Here are 4 things I wish I knew before we went.

He saw his shadow...6 more weeks of winter. PSA about Groundhog Day if you were curious like me, I looked it up. 


I saw this on Youtube this morning.
The people standing outside for four hours, in Punxutawney, PA
~70 miles NE of Pittsburgh

There were singers, a stage, an announcer
People dancing
While you could see their breath making patterns in the cold air

They looked freezing
The spectacle reminded me when my family and I went to NYC for NYE and we froze this past new years, waiting to see the ball drop
Just on a different scale

I was curious- What is Groundhog day, and What Happened if he didn't see his shadow? 

If the groundhog sees his shadow-
-6 more weeks of winter (what happened today)

If the groundhog doesn't see his shadow-
-An early spring is coming

Groundhog day is celebrated every Feb 2

It started as a European weather tradition tied to Candlemas Day, a Christian holiday marking the midpoint between winter and spring

When German immigrants settled in Pennsylvania in the 1700s, they brought this tradition with them. In Europe, they used animals like hedgehogs or badgers to predict the weather.

But in Pennsylvania there were few hedgehogs or badgers, so they used groundhogs

The first Groundhog day in the USA was in 1887.

So there you have it. Happy Monday. I learned something new today too.

📌Fun question- If we replaced the groundhog with another animal to predict the weather, which one should it be—and why?

ps- don't you think groundhog is a funny name? a hog is a big pig, which i don't think is very cute. he kind of looks like a weasel or a beaver

I’m sharing for my amazing student Ajay Coleman, CMQ OE, LSSGB . If you meet this criteria, reach out directly to her, and thanks!

Corporate Manager, Program Management | Adjunct Faculty | Certified Manager of Quality & Organizational Excellence | Lean Six Sigma Green Belt | Technical Communication Professional

View Ajay Coleman, CMQ OE, LSSGB’s profile

HELP! I am officially at the last domino of my dissertation, and I cannot knock it over without help. I am in the final stretch of my doctoral research, literally the home stretch.

The only thing standing between me and finishing is finding volunteers willing to talk with me about their work experiences. No money, no sales pitch, no “gotcha.” Just listening and learning.

I am studying blue-collar workers, which in real-life terms means people who work with their hands, their skills, and their experience every day. If this sounds like you, you likely qualify:
• Manufacturing or factory workers
 • Mechanics, diesel techs, auto techs
 • Electricians, plumbers, HVAC techs
 • Construction workers, laborers, welders
 • Truck drivers, delivery drivers, heavy equipment operators
 • Warehouse workers, material handlers
 • Maintenance and facilities workers
 • Mining, oil field, rail, transportation workers
 • Skilled trades of any kind
 • Union or non-union, both welcome

If your job involves showing up, getting dirty, fixing things, moving things, building things, or keeping operations running, this study is about you.

Why am I asking? Because blue-collar voices are constantly spoken about and far too rarely listened to. This research is meant to document real experiences, real barriers, and real knowledge that often goes unnoticed but keeps organizations alive.

Participation is:
 • Confidential
 • Respectful
 • Interview-based (your story, your words)
 • No judgment, no right or wrong answers
 • No monetary incentive, just genuine appreciation

I know everyone is busy. I know time is precious. But if you or someone you know could spare a little time, you would be helping me finish years of work and helping ensure these voices are represented with dignity and accuracy.

If you qualify, or know someone who might, please comment, message me, or share this post. Even sharing helps more than you know.

Thank you for reading, for caring, and for helping me push this last domino over.
#BlueCollarWorkers
#SkilledTrades
#WorkforceResearch
#DoctoralResearch
#DissertationLife
#Manufacturing
#Construction
#Transportation
#Operations
#IndustrialWork

Entrepreneurs, Tech & Sales: Own Your Voice on LinkedIn | Social Selling and Personal Branding —> Increase Pipeline & Brand Awareness | LEGO Flower Power 🌻

You're not a content creator. (Phew!!) 

You're a business owner leveraging content to grow your business.

2 very different ways to approaching LinkedIn.

You don't need to post daily. 
Chase the algorithm. 
Or become someone you're not.

You need conversations that turn into relationships that turn into revenue.

I'm on LinkedIn to help you get off LinkedIn.
The platform isn't the point. The relationships are.

That's what fills my cup AND my bank account.

---

Hi, I'm Natasha. 🙌

New mom. Breadwinner. Introvert who hates cold outreach.

I built my business to half a million in 2 years. All because of how I show up on LinkedIn.

Not by being loud. Not by gaming the algorithm. Not by sending soul-destroying pitch slaps in the DMs.

By building real relationships.

I've been "doing LinkedIn" for 10 years - as a scrappy sales rep who hated cold calling, running sales at Forbes Books, to now growing my own business exclusively through this platform.

I teach founders and executives to do the same.

---

Who is this for?

6-figure founders who've built something real.

You're good at what you do. Clients stay, refer, and thank you.

But on LinkedIn? Oddly invisible.

Your competitors aren't better. They're just louder.

The issue isn't confidence. It's knowing what to say and who to say it to.

---

Through my REALationship Growth Method I help founders go from respected offline to recognized online - without becoming someone they're not.

No hacks. No volume tactics. No influencer cosplay. 👀

Real outcomes:

→ Josie closed 3x 12 month contracts from one event
→ Michelle landed two $30k speaking engagements in three months
→ Dr. Ashley secured two speaking gigs in two weeks plus a five-figure client

If LinkedIn feels like noise, performance, or a mild existential crisis...

You're exactly who this is for.

DM me "LFG" and let's chat. 💜

Natasha Walstra

It's LinkedIn official: I'm the Founder of the REALationship Growth Method.

After a decade of learning LinkedIn - as an SDR, sales leader, and now business owner - it turns out there's a method to my madness.

It's the REAL way to grow on LinkedIn.

I never set out to build a cohort + community. But that's exactly what this is.

I'm excited for what's to come. The doors that will open. The connections that will be made.

Endless opportunities are waiting for everyone who joins.

You just have to raise your hand and say, "I'm in!" 

DM me "LFG" for deets!

You’re not a content creator. Good. You don’t need to be | LinkedIn strategy for business owners, not influencers | Filling February cohort - ask me about it! 🙌

Hey LinkedIn... I'm one of the good guys! 

I just spent the weekend in LinkedIn jail for "automated activity." 

I'm a LinkedIn strategist who teaches people to show up authentically and build real relationships. 

Anti-automation is literally my thing.

And I’m getting flagged?!

Did I have too many tabs open because I actually view profiles before accepting connection requests? 

Did I send too many DM’s from the post I was tagged in with a bunch of other people?

No explanation. No appeal process. 
Just a 24-hour lockout and a vague warning.

Meanwhile, my DMs are flooded daily with actual bots, fake profiles, and automated sequences.

I'm all for enforcing the rules.

Go after the spammers.
Get rid of the fake engagement pods. 

But kicking someone out who's bringing more people TO this platform and teaching them to use it the right way? While the real offenders run wild? 

What in the actual pitch slap is happening here?

This is my business - how I provide for my family...

Make it make sense! (AND what I need to do to make sure this doesn't happen again?!)

P.S. This made me realize it's probably time I start paying attention to other platforms. Where else are y’all hanging out? Threads? Substack? Please don’t say Tik Tok….

You’re not a content creator. Good. You don’t need to be | LinkedIn strategy for business owners, not influencers | Filling APRIL cohort - ask me about it! 🙌

From 0 to a multi-6-figure business in 2 years.

That journey started with one Entreprenista meeting.

And today, I'm excited to host their Office Hours to share how members can turn LinkedIn into their best business growth tool, just like I did, just like dozens of my clients have.

When I joined Entreprenista in October 2023, I didn't even have a business yet. 
I was planning to maybe launch "someday."

But after my first Member Connect, I was so inspired by the incredible women I met, I started wondering:

"Why am I working for these idiots? I could totally do this on my own!"

A week later, literally, I signed my first client and never looked back.

This community has been everything and more:

— Professionally: I've 100+x'd my investment
— Personally: Made the best of friends

(And the only ones who truly get me and the crazy entrepreneurial + mamahood journey I'm on!)

Office Hours is member-only - so if you've been thinking about joining, today's the day! 🥳 

Here's the link to join: https://lnkd.in/ePXMQWXY

Would love to see you there! 

___

P.S. Last time I hosted this in March, I was SO nervous I had a migraine days before and days afterwards. This time? I'm just excited  (even though I just saw 319 people RSVP'd!! 🙈) - It's going to be FUN! Woop! Woop!

I had a vulnerability hangover after my last personal post/newsletter.

You know the feeling. Hit publish. 
Immediately think, "Sh!t. I can't believe I said that."
Wonder if you shared too much.

But, I'm glad I did.

→ Top performing post with 103 Profile views?!
→ More comments than ever
→ DMs from people I hadn't heard from in months
→ 20+ Email responses from my newsletter

Saying things like: how they feel seen, gave them hope, are in the thick of the same thing and now feel like they can get through it, too...strengthening those relationships. 

→ Oh, and I closed 2 clients directly from it..over the holidays..when I wasn't working.

Personal stories are essential to showing up on LinkedIn.

Even when it's hard.
𝘌𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 when it's hard.

My filter?

I always ask: Why should they care?

It doesn't have to relate to my business. But there has to be a reason for them to care.

If I can't answer that question, it probably does belong on Facebook (or more likely not on the internet at all!)

That's the difference.

Personal doesn't mean random life updates.
Personal means human connection with purpose.

___

This year, I'm really going to embrace this even more. I started to share more stories in the last few months and it's made such an impact on my business and relationships. 

In a 'sea of ai-generated sameness' your story is what makes you uniquely YOU.💜

Your "Great event!" post is a participation trophy.

And nobody cares about those.🙊

They care about what you learned. Who you met. 
What's changing because you were there.

But most people treat events like this:
Show up. Take photos. Post "So inspired!" Move on.

That's not a content strategy. 
That's proof of attendance.

What actually works?
𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻'𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁.

Your network doesn't need to know you attended.
They need to know what they missed.

That's the difference between "look at me" and "let me share something valuable."

One gets scrolled past.
The other starts conversations.


P.S. The # has died on here...except for events!  Tip: search the event # days before the event to connect with other attendees, speakers, exhibitors etc. You'll go to the event and people will already know who you are.

P.S.2 Yes, I used to write about 3d printed digital dentures. #TalkDentureToMe 🦷 2018 baby.

You’re not a content creator. Good. You don’t need to be | LinkedIn personal branding & social selling for business owners & executives (not influencers) | Filling APRIL cohort - ask me about it! 🙌

This might sound bad.

But Tuesday was the first time I was excited for my cohort workshop. 🫣

Until this week, it's been: "I know I'll enjoy this once it starts!" 

This time, though?
An hour before the call, I caught myself thinking:
"𝘐 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘨𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘰 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘸!"

Wait. What?! 👀

Some context:
I've already run a full cohort.
Started my second one.
And love this work.

But every single time before a call, I get nervous.
That tiny voice: "𝘐'𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘶𝘯 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘵."

And then EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. afterwards?
"Oh right! This is why I do this!"
Energized. Pumped. 
Already looking forward to the next one.

My pre-call brain was lying to me. For months.
The nervous feelings were never the truth.

The post-call energy was.
It just took my brain a while to catch up.

So if you're dreading something you know you actually love once you're in it?

Keep showing up.
Your brain will eventually get the memo.

P.S. This applies to posting on LinkedIn, too. 
The dread before hitting publish? Probably a lie. 
The feeling after you do it? That's the truth.

I did it - I took the holiday break off LinkedIn.

And it was actually really hard.

Which probably sounds crazy to most of you, right?

(It does to me even, honestly).

But, how cool would it be to get to a point where instead of it being a challenge to post once a week...

You actually have to force yourself NOT to post?

Despite having days of content ready to go?
Despite being available to post?

I don't even consider myself a content creator. (I know, I'm in denial.)

But that's kind of my point.

With the right mindset, systems, and strategy - LinkedIn becomes second nature.

You stop dreading it.
You start craving it. (or for sure have major fomo)

And then you build a pipeline of people who already know, like, and trust you.

That's when the real magic happens.

Not when you post more.
When posting stops feeling like work.
That's when LinkedIn actually starts working for you.
___

P.S. If you’re ready to stop forcing your LinkedIn strategy, I’ll show you how to make it flow...I've got just a few spots left for my February cohort... wHaT sAy YoU? 👀

I've made 11 introductions in the last two weeks.

(want to be next? see below👇)

Those 11 intros don't even include: 

→ The ones still in "asking both parties" mode
→ The 2 podcast guest referrals I made
→ The connections happening organically in my community

Every single one is a trust deposit.  

This is what building a business actually looks like.

Not more followers.
Not more impressions.

→ Relationships.

"Your net worth is your network" isn't just a catchy phrase.
In this trust recession, I'd go as far as saying it's essential for business survival.

People don't trust ads anymore.
They don't trust cold outreach.
AI has made it hard to know what’s real. 

But they do trust referrals from people they already trust.

So I've got a challenge for you:
Make 5 introductions this month.
Be intentional about it. 

Think about:

→ Who in your network needs a service you know someone provides?
→ Who would genuinely vibe if they met?
→ Who's looking for exactly what someone else offers?

You probably already know these people.
You're just not connecting the dots for them.
So...start · connecting · those · dots...

Your network gets stronger. 
Their networks get stronger. 
Everyone wins.

That's the compound effect of real relationships.

And if you don't know the right person? Let's start here...

𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼?

Drop it in the comments. ⬇️

Let's start this week by expanding our networks right here!


_____

P.S. Seriously..do it! Tell us about yourself. 
Maybe you're exactly the person someone needs right now!

103 profile views from 1 post.

It wasn't a how-to.
It wasn't a framework.
It wasn't professional at all.

Why your "safe" content is holding you back.

(This is how you stand out in 2026 and bring new people into your orbit. 👇 )

AI killed the generic "5 Steps to do X" posts. Everyone can write professional content now. Which means no one stands out with it. So as I've been thi

Open article: 103 profile views from 1 post by Natasha Walstra • 2 min read

Before I post 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨, I ask myself:

"Could AI have written this?"

If yes, I delete it.

Everyone has access to the same AI tools now.
ChatGPT can "write" a "good" post in 30 seconds.
Your competitor used it this morning.

The how-to post is dead.
"5 ways to be more productive" 
"3 secrets to better leadership" 
"The framework that changed everything"

AI can generate those all day long.

What AI can't do:

Write about the time you hung up on a prospect twice and ran out of the office.
Describe the exact moment your brain went blank on a client call.
Share why you almost didn't show up to your own workshop.

Your mess is your message.
Your real experience is the only thing AI can't replicate.
That's your competitive advantage.

So here's the new rule:
If your content could have been written by someone who's never met you, it's not personal enough yet.

Use AI to amplify your voice, not replace it.

____

P.S. The posts I'm most scared to publish? Those are usually the ones that perform best. 

Fear is a signal you're onto something real.

4 months ago I was terrified to launch a group program.

(I launched anyway.)

Initially though, I couldn't stop the thoughts:

Who am I to lead a cohort?
What if no one signs up?
What if I mess it up?

(Got a 4-day migraine from the nerves.)

But, it rocked! 🪨

And today? Cohort 2 kicks off.

This time? Just excitement.

Funny what happens when you stop waiting to feel ready.

You build the thing. 
You learn as you go. 
You watch it become something you never expected.

I set out to teach LinkedIn strategy.

Turns out I accidentally built a community.

Business owners connecting. Referring each other. Celebrating wins together.

That's the part I didn't plan for.

And it's the part I love most.

I’ve got 2 spots left for my February cohort. 

Last round at founding member pricing (and the next cohort won’t be until April).

If I’ve peeked your curiosity even slightly, might be time we talked. 

What say you!? 👀

Let's chat: https://lnkd.in/ecAKhTAq

You're not a content creator.

You're a business owner leveraging content to grow your business.

These are two very different approaches to LinkedIn.

One will drain you.
The other will energize and empower you.

Content creators focus on:
→ The algorithm
→ Posting daily
→ Going viral
→ Impressions and reach
→ Likes and comments
→ Growing followers

Business owners leveraging content focus on:
→ Starting conversations
→ Building relationships
→ Attracting the right people
→ Turning visibility into revenue
→ Getting OFF LinkedIn and into real conversations

One is a hamster wheel.
The other is a growth engine.

One leaves you wondering "is this even working?"
The other fills your calendar with people who already trust you.

You don't need to go viral.
You don't need to post every day.
You don't need to chase the algorithm.

You need content that starts conversations.
And conversations that turn into clients.

That's it.

Don't force yourself into being a content creator.
Focus on building your business.


___

P.S. Phewww we made it through  the first real Friday of January! Great week but, TGIF, amiright!? 

How are y'all feeling about the start of the year so far?!

Don't expect inbounds on LinkedIn.
 
But with the right system? They'll come. 
 
My client was skeptical of all this. 

And honestly, I get it - he's in construction. 
Not exactly the industry you'd expect to crush it on LinkedIn.
 
But here's what we did:
 
1. We optimized his profile 
→ to speak directly to his ideal clients. 

2. He started creating content 
→ that showcases expertise, social proof, and a little personal touch. 

3. He began engaging with the right people 
→ to build relationships and get visibility.
 
It's chef's kiss.
 
Now he's becoming "the guy to talk to" in his space.
 
This is what good looks like. 
 
The crazy part? He just got started. 
He's only posted a few times AND 1-2x/week.
 
Imagine what happens when he's been doing this consistently for a year.
 
How many more opportunities do you think will come his way then?
 
The system works. 
Even in construction. 
Even when you're skeptical.
(𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺, 𝘐 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘬𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭, 𝘴𝘰 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨! ;)
 
You just have to trust the process long enough to see it.

____

P.S. This is exactly what I mean by, "I'm on LinkedIn to get off LinkedIn." 

When you embrace that, real magic happens here, just like it did for my client.

Want help building YOUR system?

DM me "Skeptic" for deets.

Feeling skeptical about LinkedIn?

You're not alone.

"I don't have time to post every day."
"I hate social media."
"LinkedIn doesn't work for my industry."
"I've tried it. Nothing happened."

Most of my clients said the exact same thing.

Now they're booking calls, closing deals, and getting speaking engagements.

Same people. Same skepticism. Different results.

The difference? The right system.

Today's newsletter breaks down:

→ The 4 biggest objections I hear (and why they're wrong)
→ Real results from real clients who didn't believe it either
→ The 3 P's that make LinkedIn actually work

Check out this week's, Own Your Voice! 

P.S. A little skepticism is good...we're in a trust recession! People are getting burned left and right. I get it. Good luck trying to sell me something right now 🙊. But what gets me trusting people more? Real stories, real results. Take a peak for those wins! 😎

(So do 99% of my clients) Most of my clients are skeptical when we start working together. Last week I had three calls where I could literally see the

Open article: Feeling skeptical about LinkedIn? by Natasha Walstra • 3 min read

On Wed, we had our first guest speaker at the REALationship Growth Method 

(Yep, we're having experts come in now.)

Melissa Glick joined us to talk about her ACED method for sales conversations.
And let me tell you - the energy in that room!

We had a full house, I invited cohorts 1, 2, AND 3 (which doesn't even kick off until next month!).
Plus my 1:1 clients.

Yes, sales is my background.
But my 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘦 is business development and personal branding.

So bringing in someone like Melissa who lives and breathes sales conversations?
20+ years in sales. $50 million closed in her lifetime.
Built and sold a multi-million dollar tech company.

I'm not holding that back from my people.

There was so much good stuff, I almost feel like it's a crime to share it publicly.
(So you should maybe check out her next cohort kicking off in March!)

But what I 1000% agree on:
Sales shouldn't feel like sales. It should feel like coffee with a friend.

Can sales actually be fun?
Yes. Yes, it can.

Oh, and guess where I met Melissa?
LinkedIn. In the comments. 2 years ago.
That led to DMs. Then a call. Then my podcast. Then collaborations.
Now she's teaching my community.

This is what building real relationships looks like.

_____

P.S. Curious to learn more about the REALationship Growth Method?

DM me "LFG" for deets.

There's no playbook for building relationships through screens.

We're the first generation doing this. 
It's no wonder it feels awkward.
But, fortunately, you might not actually need new skills. 
You just need to translate the ones you already have.

We're writing the playbook now. 
This week's newsletter is a chapter.

Check it out 😎

Before we dive in, I have a favor to ask. This past weekend I was thrown in LinkedIn jail. (Read more here.) It was unsettling for a lot of reasons - 

Open article: The skill you need to not feel salesy on LinkedIn (+ a favor to ask!) by Natasha Walstra • 3 min read

The skill you need to not feel salesy on LinkedIn (+ a favor to ask!)

Have you found your LinkedIn QR code yet? 

I found it once. Then took weeks to find again.

It's not intuitive...at all. (like most things on here ; )

But if you're going to any event, conference, or networking thing, you should have this handy! 

Because idk about you, but I don't even have a business card. 

Hasn't been an issue because everybody just asks for your LinkedIn
(and that way you connect on the spot!)

Here's how to find it (*from your phone app):

1. Open the LinkedIn app
2. Tap the search bar at the top (don't type anything)
3. Look to the right, below the search. Bam! There's your QR code

That's it. Two taps.

But nobody knows it's there.

Pro tip for when you're going to an event:
Screenshot your QR code and set it as your lock screen.

Now when someone asks to connect, you just flip your phone around.
No fumbling. No spelling out your name. 
No "I'll find you later."

And then when you connect, screenshot their profile so you save their 'business card," too.

You're welcome. 😇


____

P.S. I'm thinking about my next workshop...something around maximizing event ROI through LinkedIn personal branding. Who'd be interested in this??

taplio

The Battle

Jennifer Knowles

Natasha Walstra

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreJennifer Knowles's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreNatasha Walstra's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Jennifer Knowles

Natasha Walstra

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Jennifer Knowles's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreNatasha Walstra's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreJennifer Knowles's LinkedIn Performance