What if networking felt more intentional - and actually led to the partnerships you've been hoping to find?
EBN Creates Curated
Virtual Networking for Creative Entrepreneurs
Designed to create profitable, aligned partnerships - not random introductions
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Experience it for yourself. Join us as our guest and see how curated networking feels.
No pressure - just thoughtful introductions and meaningful conversations.
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Scroll down to see what's included as a member.
95% of attendees leave with at least 2 aligned connections per meeting. 64% report 4 or more high-quality connections
No Random Zoom Rooms!
"I left with 6 aligned connections from one session."
- Terri T.
A networking community for coaches, marketers, artists, and storytellers to connect, collaborate, and create visibility together.
The EBN Networking & Connection Experience
By joining EBN, you gain access to two intentionally designed monthly relationship-building experiences, each created to help you meet the right people, increase your visibility, and build aligned partnerships that support your business growth.
The first is our 90-minute EBN Networking & Connection Experience - where every breakout room is hand-curated based on who you most need to meet right now.
Unlike traditional networking groups—where breakout rooms are random, pitches are unsolicited, and you see the same people week after week—EBN is built around one core goal:
Helping you form aligned partnerships.
Sometimes that leads to referrals.
Sometimes collaborations.
Sometimes simply meeting people who genuingly understand your work.
But the connections are intentional — not accidental.
Inside EBN, we call these connections Empowered Partners® - business owners whose work, values, and audiences complement your own.
To ensure each session connects you with your best Empowered Partners®, members complete a pre-event networking form sharing who they’re hoping to meet and what they’re working toward.
Our founder, networking success & voice coach Stephanie Bonte-Lebair, personally reviews every submission (yes — by hand!) and thoughtfully curates each breakout room so you’re meeting the people most in alignment with yourself.
During the EBN Networking & Connection Experience, you can expect to:
Meet in hand-picked breakout rooms of 7-8 aligned business owners
Increase your visibility through 5-Min Member Feature Presentations and opportunities to co-lead breakout rooms
Feel welcomed and supported with Leadership Team members facilitating every room
Leave with clarity and connections using a detailed attendee list of 60+ participants (no messy chat threads!)
Deepen relationships and complete follow up during the next-day Implementation & Follow Up Call
This isn't accidental networking. It's connection by design.
But the real momentum happens after the networking session.
The second monthly event is our next-day EBN Implementation & Referral Roundtable - designed to help you turn new connections into real momentum.
Instead of leaving with a long list of names and no clear next step, this session focuses on intentional follow-up and relationship-building.
We meet the very next day after networking, so conversations are still fresh and opportunities don’t get lost in the shuffle.
This session helps you identify the most aligned connections from the networking event and translate them into clear, manageable next steps.
Hosted in a smaller-group setting (typically around 25 participants), this session also gives you space to make an ask, share updates in your business, and identify as many aligned connections as your goals and capacity allow.
During the Implementation & Referral Roundtable, members can:
Increase visibility by sharing upcoming events, offers, or announcements
Receive guided support from Stephanie to identify the most aligned connections
Complete meaningful follow up within 24 hours of the networking event
Reduce overwhelm and gain clarity around next steps and calendar planning
Members may attend even if they miss the networking event, offering added flexibility
This is where connections turn into real momentum.
What Members are saying
EBN tends to be a great fit for creative and service-based entrepreneurs who value collaboration over competition.
"Collaborations Come First!"
"EBN is built on the idea that collaborations come first! The members are creative, supportive and inspiring. I'm really happy to be a part of it."
- Maiko Sakai
Quiz Alchemist, NYC
"Referral worth $6,500"
"Joining EBN was one of the best decisions I made this year. I'm thrilled to be a part of this community, and I received a referral worth $6,500."
- Erin Duffy
Career Coach, Minnesota
"I just don't want to miss!"
"Each session is full of meaningful connections. The people are top notch and like-minded in referring business. I look forward to every month. I just don't want to miss!"
- Vaughn Fahie
Audiobooks, California
Inside the EBN Membership Experience
We know you’re busy, and the most effective networking doesn’t come from packing your calendar with more calls.
That’s why EBN is intentionally designed as a tight membership, built around just two core monthly connection experiences that actually move relationships forward.
In fact, many members find they no longer need to attend multiple networking groups, because they consistently meet high-quality, aligned connections inside EBN.
Instead of filling your calendar with endless events, or obligations, EBN focuses on fewer, better-designed experiences — so you can participate fully, follow through with intention, and build meaningful partnerships without burnout.
Monthly EBN Networking Experience
Usually held the first Thursday of the month from 2-3:30 p.m. ET, this 90-minute event brings together approximately 60 creative entrepreneurs for intentionally curated introductions. Each breakout room includes 7-8 hand-selected business owners thoughtfully matched to you. With at least 15 new faces every month, the room is always expanding while relationships continue to deepen.
Get immediate solutions to your challenges
through personalized coaching that addresses your unique career needs.
No more waiting for answers—take action now.
Next-Day Implementation & Referral Roundtable
Held the Friday following our networking event from 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. ET, this smaller session (typically 25+ participants) helps members create real momentum. Together, we identify the most aligned connections from the networking event, make clear asks, and prioritize meaningful follow-up while conversations are still fresh.
Bonus Expert-Hosted Workshops
Participate in one to two expert-led workshops each month designed specifically for creative and service-based entrepreneurs. These sessions offer practical insights while also expanding your network - many workshops welcome outside guests, giving you the chance to meet new potential collaborators beyond the core membership.
Member Visibility Hub, Recordings & Resources
Access the EBN platform to discover Empowered Partners® between meetings from our growing community of creative entrepreneurs across 20+ US states, Canada and beyond. Watch 5-minute member feature presentations and recordings of past expert workshops. Find networking guidance, templates and tools to strengthen your introductions, and stay informed about community announcements.
Everything is designed to support connection, follow-up, and momentum -
without filling your calendar with unnecessary meetings.
If random, pitch-heavy networking hasn't worked for you, there's a more intentional way to connect.
How Members Describe the Experience
"This does not feel like networking"
"Everyone has been so welcoming. I don't usually enjoy networking, but this does not feel like networking. I feel giddy and excited."
- Jennifer Du Bois
Coach, California
"The Curation Makes a Difference"
"Stephanie creates miracles with curating the breakout rooms. I get she spends hours doing it, but it makes a real difference."
- Sandra Lee
Wellness Specialist, BC, Canada
"6 Aligned Connections from one session"
"Stephanie is a dynamic leader who facilitates intentional, strategic networking. I left with 6 aligned connections from one session."
- Terri Taylor-Joseph
Consultant, Louisiana
Curious what it would feel like to experience this kind of networking for yourself?
we'd Love to meet you
We reserve a limited number of guest seats at our monthly events (typically around 60 participants), so new visitors can experience curated introductions firsthand.
Here's How to get Started
1. Visit as a Guest
Join one of our monthly networking experiences as a guest. Request a free ticket and choose the date that works best for you. Experience curated introductions and see how EBN networking feels firsthand.
2. Schedule a Conversation
After your visit, schedule a short conversation with our founder, Stephanie Bonte-Lebair. This is a chance to ask questions, share your goals, and explore whether EBN is the right fit for you.
3. Join the EBN Membership
Become a member and begin receiving ongoing access to curated networking experiences, follow-up sessions, visibility opportunities, and collaboration support each month.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Who is the best fit for EBN?
You’re likely a great fit for EBN if:
You’re a creative, service-based entrepreneur — especially a coach, speaker, marketing professional, or someone who supports those roles (bookkeepers, attorneys, virtual assistants, tech specialists, financial advisors, and similar).
You understand that coaches and marketing professionals often make strong collaborators — and you’re excited to build relationships with them.
You run most of your business virtually and want to form meaningful partnerships online.
You prefer curated introductions over random breakout rooms and value a networking experience that respects your time and goals.
You enjoy learning and appreciate events that include practical education around marketing, sales, or business growth.
You’re not looking for a quick transaction — you’re interested in aligned, long-term partnerships that lead to visibility, referrals, and sustainable growth.
Question 2: How are the breakout rooms curated?
Breakout rooms are hand-curated by Stephanie using the information you share when you register. This includes your ideal client, best referral partners, complementary services, collaboration goals, and communication style.
The goal is to place you with aligned, high-quality connections — not random pairings — so every conversation feels intentional and relevant.
Question 3: How is EBN different?
EBN is focused on building Empowered Partners®, not chasing leads.
Here’s what makes us different:
Curated breakout rooms
Small-group conversations are intentionally matched to your goals and ideal partners — no awkward or random Zoom rooms.
Built-in follow-up support
Our next-day Implementation & Follow-Up Session helps you turn conversations into action.
→ 95% of attendees report 2+ follow-up calls, and 64% report 4 or more.
Action over overwhelm
We don’t just make introductions — we support aligned next steps so you save time and energy.
Strategic collaboration over sales chasing
Instead of hunting for individual prospects, you’re supported in forming creative, revenue-generating partnerships.
Question 4: I have a full schedule. Why should I consider EBN?
You’re not alone — many of our members have full calendars and active businesses.
That’s exactly why EBN exists.
EBN is designed to help you network smarter, not harder. When you learn how to build strategic Empowered Partnerships, the impact extends beyond EBN into every room you enter.
With just two meetings during the first full week of each month, many members fill their follow-up schedule for the entire month. We consistently welcome 15+ new, aligned visitors at each networking event — giving you fresh opportunities without attending endless meetings.
EBN was created to help creative entrepreneurs maximize results without spending hours chasing leads across multiple groups. You get high-quality, curated connections — all in one place.
Question 5: What if I'm new to networking or in a pivot?
You’re in exactly the right place.
Whether you’re new to networking, rebranding, or navigating a major business pivot, EBN is designed to support you during transition. When I shifted from being a singing teacher to a networking coach, a community like this would have saved me years of trial and error.
Here’s why EBN works especially well during change:
You learn how to build Empowered Partnerships from the beginning — avoiding transactional networking habits that don’t serve you.
You focus on visibility and collaboration strategies that generate momentum, even while your offers are evolving.
You’re not forced into connections that feel misaligned — everything is intentional and flexible.
Many members joined during a pivot and found clarity, collaboration, and cash flow faster through the relationships they built here.
If you’re craving connection, visibility, fresh perspective, or thoughtful feedback on your message — you’re exactly who we want in the room.
Still curious? The best way to know if EBN is right for you is to experience it.
MEET THE FOUNDER
A Letter from Stephanie
When I was a singing teacher with a full studio of 40+ students, burning the candle at both ends and struggling to spend time with my family, the last thing I wanted was one more client.
At the time, I didn’t even understand what business networking was really about. Then a friend invited me to a networking event — and my business would never be the same.
I began using networking to explore new ideas, earn more without working more hours, and experiment with offers and collaborations that felt aligned. Along the way, I discovered I had a natural gift for building relationships — and, thanks to my performing background, for helping business owners use their voice and presence to grow their business more intentionally.
After running networking events for others for several years, I finally found the courage to create my own. Empowered Business Networking is the community I always wished existed — one designed for creative, heart-centered entrepreneurs who value collaboration over pitching and competition.
If you’ve met wonderful people at networking events but struggled to turn those conversations into clients, partnerships, or opportunities, you’re in the right place. Our focus is on creating visibility, speaking opportunities, and aligned collaborations that lead to meaningful growth.
I hope you’ll join us at an upcoming event.
Warmly,
Stephanie Bonte-Lebair
Founder, Empowered Business Networking
