Alex West Steinman Shares 5 Networking Suggestions To Assist Black Entrepreneurs

[ad_1] by Jeffrey McKinney August 22, 2025

Networking helps The Coven construct significant relationships, increase its model attain, and meet potential franchisees.

Alex West Steinman is a first-rate instance of how a Black lady entrepreneur makes use of networking to construct a vibrant enterprise.

She is the CEO and co-founder of The Coven, purportedly the primary Black women-owned agency providing an inclusive workspace to customers. By making use of a franchise mannequin, it has expanded from two places to eight websites in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North Carolina in simply two years.

Steinman instructed BLACK ENTERPRISE through e-mail that the agency is concentrated on increasing in underdog cities and increasing to locations with pent-up demand for coworking. It provides a neighborhood area to everybody. It additionally helps put together girls, transgender, and non-binary folks for entrepreneurship.

Now, the enterprise is aiming for 10 places by late this yr. 4 of the six franchises have been offered, with about 67% of the offers instantly tied to networking. Two are owned by the Minneapolis-based agency, and franchisees personal two others. The transactions are a major improvement, as a typical franchisee should pay a $50,000 licensing charge as a part of the preliminary startup prices, in line with the agency’s web site.

Steinman shared how the enterprise makes use of networking–-including touring this yr to new communities to construct robust relationships with potential members and partners-–to increase its model attain and meet potential franchisees. “While you don’t have an enormous advertising and marketing price range, you must depend on increasing your community in different methods.”

By way of this technique, Steinman says The Coven has related with dozens of individuals throughout the nation, constructing pleasure and traction in new markets. The motion has been fruitful. Steinman says income progress for the general enterprise is 30% for the primary six months in comparison with the identical interval final yr. She says the eight franchises now collectively have hundreds of members. She shared that The Coven closed a $2 million seed spherical final yr to assist increase nationally.

“If we hadn’t continued to construct and nurture these relationships, we wouldn’t be right here. Networking fuels our progress, our influence, and our future.”

She careworn that when folks from different industries, backgrounds, and experiences share area and really see one another, they uncover alternatives they wouldn’t have discovered alone.

“It’s a reminder that networking isn’t about amassing enterprise playing cards, however about constructing belief, sharing concepts, and opening doorways for collaboration.”

Additional, Steinman says the precept extends far past coworking. She says that whether or not you’re an entrepreneur, neighborhood chief, or company staff, deliberately creating alternatives for genuine connection can result in partnerships that drive long-term influence, because it has for her agency’s members and The Coven itself.

Steinman supplied 5 networking suggestions for Black entrepreneurs to assist develop their enterprise:

Attend Occasions Not Particular to Networking

Attending occasions that aren’t explicitly labeled as “networking” might be some of the highly effective methods to construct significant relationships. While you’re in an area centered on a shared expertise — equivalent to dinner, a neighborhood panel, or a convention session — you’re participating with folks extra naturally and authentically.

The important thing: Deal with being current, listening actively, and displaying real curiosity. As a substitute of attempting to narrate to every thing the individual says, try to ask deeper questions that get to the basis of why they take pleasure in a interest, the place they realized an exercise, or how they method a problem!

Be part of a Interest Group

Interest teams are an underrated networking goldmine. While you interact in one thing you take pleasure in, like a e-book membership, gardening circle, or cooking class, you’re routinely surrounding your self with individuals who worth studying, creativity, and consistency. That’s fertile floor for connection.

I’ve seen people land talking gigs, purchasers, and even buyers by means of relationships that began in a yoga studio or film membership. The most important profit? Belief. Shared hobbies create a way of camaraderie that makes skilled collaboration really feel extra pure and mutually supportive.

Get a Coworking Membership

Coworking areas are like built-in ecosystems for networking, particularly in the event you select one which aligns along with your values or trade. You’re not simply renting a desk, you’re becoming a member of a neighborhood of entrepreneurs, creatives, and professionals who're actively engaged on one thing and sometimes prepared to collaborate, refer, or mentor.

At The Coven, I’ve seen members ask to borrow a charger and find yourself co-founding companies collectively. That’s the facility of proximity! Greater than 80% of our members report making a connection that has led to extra money, a brand new job, a brand new shopper, or a brand new pal. Additionally, coworking exposes you to new methods of pondering.

Do Your Analysis

See who’s going to the occasions you’re attending and put together an inventory of individuals you’re serious about speaking to. Attain out to these folks earlier than you go, in order that they know the right way to search for you and you've got a little bit of rapport forward of the occasion. Be aware that it’s more durable to interrupt or interrupt any person’s dialog, and you could really feel nervous strolling as much as somebody you haven’t related with earlier than. Doing all of your analysis helps you present up with intention, and that confidence might be the distinction between a missed alternative and a significant relationship.

Observe Up After

That is the place actual networking begins. It exhibits gratitude for somebody’s time, alerts that you just’re considerate and intentional, and opens the door to a longer-term relationship. A easy message noting one thing you appreciated in regards to the preliminary dialog can flip a passing chat right into a future collaboration. It exhibits that you just’re not simply following as much as get one thing — you’re providing worth. Constant, honest follow-up retains you high of thoughts and builds the sort of belief that results in offers, partnerships, and even friendships down the highway.