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Entrepreneur Encounter

Entrepreneur Encounter

Written by: Entrepreneur Encounter
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Entrepreneur Encounter is a weekly podcast designed to support creative business owners in developing the soft skills that lead to lasting, values-aligned growth.

Hosted by Dana Johnson, founder of a boutique Pinterest marketing agency for wedding pros and creatives, and Sara Lowell, a consultant specializing in business management & team leadership along with podcast management, each episode explores the mindset shifts, communication skills, and leadership habits that empower entrepreneurs to grow sustainably—without the burnout.

Through real stories, practical frameworks, and transparent conversations, Dana and Sara offer a behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to run a purpose-driven business in a constantly changing world.

Whether you're building your visibility, managing a team, or simply trying to stay grounded while growing, this podcast is your companion in business and in life.



© 2026 Entrepreneur Encounter
Economics Leadership Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • What does it mean to Lead with Emotional Intelligence: How Self-Awareness Transforms Leadership & Business Performance | EP 21
    Jan 9 2026

    Send us a text

    One thing we see leaders struggle with lately is this quiet disconnect between who they want to be and how they actually show up under pressure. They care about their clients. They care about their business partner. They care about their teams. They’re capable. They’re driven. And yet, stress hits and suddenly they’re snapping, shutting down, or taking everything back on themselves. This isn’t about being a bad leader. It’s about self-awareness, and it matters now because it directly affects trust, time, clarity, and team health.

    In this episode, we dig into why competent, caring leaders still react in ways that surprise them. You’ll hear reflections on fear, intensity, and patterns that show up sideways when emotions go unexamined. We break down how emotional awareness, not just personality tests or journaling prompts, can prevent the drift into micromanagement, burnout, and miscommunication. This conversation bridges personal growth with business leadership, illustrating how understanding your emotional triggers can strengthen trust, team culture, and decision-making.

    What to listen for in this episode

    How unexamined emotions show up in leadership — reactions like micromanaging, avoidance, and intensity often stem from fear or unrecognized patterns rather than actual business problems.

    Practical self-awareness cues to notice — learn how to identify moments when you’re reacting instead of responding and how that awareness impacts team dynamics and personal life.

    Why emotional intelligence is a practice, not a switch — lasting growth takes time and reflection, and you’ll hear honest stories about how this looks in real leadership — from professional settings to family life.

    As leaders, we don’t just manage tasks, we model emotional intelligence. So here’s a question to sit with this week: What repeated reaction in your business is actually pointing to an unmet emotional need within you and what might it teach you if you listened?

    Tune in to transform not just how you work, but how you lead yourself and others.



    Support the show

    Whether you’re looking to grow your visibility through Pinterest Marketing or streamline your Podcast Operations and Team Management, we help business owners and creatives build sustainable systems that work for them, not against them.

    Want to learn more about how this can work for you and your business, reach out to us!

    Connect with Entrepreneur Encounter:

    Newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/3azyca95

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneur-encounter/

    Host Sara Lowell:

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/youarerembertllc/

    Website: https://www.youarerembertllc.com/

    Host Dana Johnson:

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/d-m-johnson/

    Website: https://ddvirtualmanagement.com/





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    16 mins
  • Soft Skills Are the New Competitive Edge in a Tech-Driven World | EP 20
    Jan 2 2026

    Send us a text

    Imagine sitting down to work with your laptop, coffee sitting off to the side and suddenly realizing you’ve forgotten the one thing that makes your work truly matter: people. “Wait, how do we even do this again?” is this thought and eye opening conversation that we have. We know there’s more success than software and AI that makes your business run. Today, we’re talking about the human side of business, the emotions, connections, resilience, and understanding where these are the things that stick around when platforms and automation shifts.

    We break down the top soft skills that will define business resilience and growth going into 2026 and beyond. We reframe the pressure many entrepreneurs feel from tool overload and instead spotlight the skills AI can’t replace, emotional intelligence, communication and active listening, adaptability, critical thinking, teamwork, leadership, time and energy management, resilience, and stress management. With laughter, real talk, and practical reflections on life as business owners, we make the case that mastering these soft skills aren't optional, they’re foundational for businesses that thrive when things change.

    What to listen for in this episode

    Why emotional intelligence matters more than any new software or AI tool and how it builds trust, strengthens relationships, and boosts retention.

    The difference between communication and active listening and how real listening reshapes collaboration, decision-making, and remote/hybrid team dynamics.

    Adaptability, leadership, teamwork, and resilience as survival skills are not just “nice to have” traits for business owners navigating change and uncertainty.

    Which of these skills feels strongest for you right now? And which one do you keep putting off because it feels uncomfortable?




    Support the show

    Whether you’re looking to grow your visibility through Pinterest Marketing or streamline your Podcast Operations and Team Management, we help business owners and creatives build sustainable systems that work for them, not against them.

    Want to learn more about how this can work for you and your business, reach out to us!

    Connect with Entrepreneur Encounter:

    Newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/3azyca95

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneur-encounter/

    Host Sara Lowell:

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/youarerembertllc/

    Website: https://www.youarerembertllc.com/

    Host Dana Johnson:

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/d-m-johnson/

    Website: https://ddvirtualmanagement.com/





    Show More Show Less
    26 mins
  • How to Run Effective Meetings That Save Time and Boost Clarity (Meeting Productivity Tips for Leaders) | EP 19
    Dec 19 2025

    Send us a text

    Imagine logging into a Zoom call, coffee in hand, with great hope... only to sit through 45 minutes of aimless chatter about last week’s “updates,” wondering why you’re even there. That’s the experience discussed: the silent time-sucker we all dread, pointless meetings. With humor, frustration, and real-world examples, we narrate those meetings where nothing gets resolved, energy drains, and you’d rather be knocking out tasks on your to-do list.

    In today’s conversation, we walk through what makes meetings feel like a waste and how to turn them into purposeful, clarity-driven, productive ones. From identifying when a meeting isn’t even necessary to crafting clear agendas, engaging participants with intentional conversation, and ending with actionable next steps, we offer practical guidance that transforms meetings from chaotic to clarity.

    This episode isn’t about productivity hacks, it's about mastering the soft skills of communication, structure, and respect for people’s time, so your meetings actually matter.

    What to listen for in this episode

    Why most meetings feel pointless: We describe the common experience of meetings without agendas, direction, or outcomes and how that leaves participants mentally checked out.

    The soft skill of clarity: Learn why clarity in purpose, communication, and outcomes isn’t optional. It's essential to meeting effectiveness and team alignment.

    5-step structure for better meetings: A practical walkthrough of how to decide if a meeting is needed, define its purpose, set the agenda, lead collaborative conversations, and conclude with clear next steps.

    What if the meetings you cancel tomorrow are the same ones stealing your team’s creativity today?

    Episode mentioned: From Meeting Overload to Meaningful Time: Soft Skills for Smarter Collaboration | EP 12

    https://www.buzzsprout.com/2277708/episodes/18107906-from-meeting-overload-to-meaningful-time-soft-skills-for-smarter-collaboration-ep-12

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szUQJuw3kFs



    Support the show

    Whether you’re looking to grow your visibility through Pinterest Marketing or streamline your Podcast Operations and Team Management, we help business owners and creatives build sustainable systems that work for them, not against them.

    Want to learn more about how this can work for you and your business, reach out to us!

    Connect with Entrepreneur Encounter:

    Newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/3azyca95

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneur-encounter/

    Host Sara Lowell:

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/youarerembertllc/

    Website: https://www.youarerembertllc.com/

    Host Dana Johnson:

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/d-m-johnson/

    Website: https://ddvirtualmanagement.com/





    Show More Show Less
    16 mins
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