In this episode of Making the Connection, Angela sits down with Devin, a strategic growth consultant and author of Connection Expansion, to unpack what it really takes to build genuine business relationships in today’s remote-first world.

Devin breaks down his Connection Expansion System—an approachable, repeatable framework for networking, nurturing relationships, and scaling your business through people, not pressure. From how to structure a connection meeting, to why giving value freely actually accelerates growth, to the magic of making three meaningful introductions, Devin shares the exact process he uses to generate consistent opportunities and authentic connections.

Whether you’re struggling to book meetings without feeling salesy, want to build a stronger referral network, or simply want to deepen your relational skills in an AI-driven era, this conversation is packed with actionable, human-centered insights you can implement immediately.

You’ll learn:

• What a strategic growth consultant actually does
• How to structure a high-impact connection meeting
• A simple system for booking and nurturing authentic networking calls
• Why generosity and curiosity outperform sales scripts
• How community building is evolving—and why it matters now more than ever

Tune in for a refreshing, practical conversation that proves meaningful connections are still the most powerful growth strategy in business today.

On this episode of Making the Connection, I chat with Michelle Westfall, broadcast journalist turned podcast producer and the creative force behind Universal Orlando’s official podcast. 

Michelle shares her journey from doing morning announcements as a kid to producing large-scale podcasts with major entertainment teams—and how staying authentic, dropping ego, and trusting your gut has shaped her career.

We also dive into:

• How to make authentic professional connections without feeling transactional
  
  
  
• Behind-the-scenes stories of launching and producing Universal Orlando’s podcast
  
  
  
• The power of empathy, compromise, and trust in building synergy across large teams
  
  
  
• Navigating challenges in corporate environments while staying true to yourself
  
  
  
• Lessons from mentorship and experiences that propel your career forward
  
  
  

To learn more about 52Launch, visit https://www.52launch.com/

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Tune in to Making the Connection every other week to learn about how to develop genuine professional relationships.

Stay in touch with host, Angela Chong, on LinkedIn & on Instagram 

@ makingtheconnectionpodcast

Happy Shoutout FriYAY, where my guests have the opportunity to "shout-out" colleagues or bosses who have left a lasting impression on them in the way they genuinely connect with others.

This week is David's turn! And don't forget to listen in to our awesome convo!

Happy FriYAY!!


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Tune in to Making the Connection every other week to learn about how to develop genuine professional relationships.

Stay in touch with host, Angela Chong, on LinkedIn & on Instagram 

@ makingtheconnectionpodcast

How do you build genuine professional relationships that truly last—and lead teams effectively while doing it? On today’s episode of Making the Connection, I sit down with David Jones, a seasoned leader with years of experience guiding hundreds of team members. We dive deep into the principles of trust, servant leadership, and authentic connection in the workplace.

David shares practical strategies for:

• building trust quickly
• coaching leaders to care for their teams
• identifying what flourishing looks like for individuals both personally and professionally
• the balance between personal vulnerability and professional boundaries
• how to leverage personality frameworks like Working Genius without putting people in a box

Whether you’re leading a team, building your career, or simply looking to deepen your professional relationships, David’s insights provide a roadmap for connecting with people in a genuine, impactful way.

To learn more about Mission Advancement, visit https://missionadvancement.com/

To learn more about Booster, visit https://boosterthon.com/

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Tune in to Making the Connection every other week to learn about how to develop genuine professional relationships.

Stay in touch with host, Angela Chong, on LinkedIn & on Instagram 

@ makingtheconnectionpodcast

Happy Shoutout FriYAY, where my guests have the opportunity to "shout-out" colleagues or bosses who have left a lasting impression on them in the way they genuinely connect with others.

This week is Rita's turn! And don't forget to listen in to our awesome convo!

Happy FriYAY!!


—-------
Tune in to Making the Connection every other week to learn about how to develop genuine professional relationships.

Stay in touch with host, Angela Chong, on LinkedIn & on Instagram 

@ makingtheconnectionpodcast

In this episode of Making the Connection, I sit down with longtime colleague and friend, Rita Richa, for an energizing conversation about building genuine professional relationships. Rita brings not only wisdom but also tangible strategies for anyone looking to expand their network with purpose.

She shares how she shifted her mindset from “finding a window” to “finding the people who will open doors,” and why genuine connections—without expectation—are the real drivers of career growth. She breaks down actionable ways to connect both virtually and in person, from attending the right networking events, to leveraging LinkedIn and online communities, to using creativity and experimentation as relationship-building tools.

You’ll hear Rita’s personal stories—from her early days experimenting with podcasting before she even knew it, to negotiating her way into conferences with a media pass. Along the way, she offers practical tips for maintaining relationships without being transactional, and why values like fun, creativity, and experimentation should guide the communities we choose to be part of.

To learn more about Rita's business, visit https://reignitemedia.onepage.me/

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Tune in to Making the Connection every other week to learn about how to develop genuine professional relationships.

Stay in touch with host, Angela Chong, on LinkedIn & on Instagram 

@ makingtheconnectionpodcast

In today’s episode, I break down key takeaways from Unpolished MBA, hosted by Monique Mills featuring Caroline Dunn. 

The episode is titled: “Winning in Tech.”

Shoutout to Walter Gainer II for this recommendation!

This is a recap and my own commentary on other B2B podcast episodes in order to keep connecting. All opinions are my own. For the full episode, check the link below!

You’ll hear my quick recap of insights that stood out to me the most, including:

• 💡The importance of being a self-starter
  
  
  
• 🚀 YouTube tips that I can use tomorrow! 
  
  
  

Thanks, Monique and Caroline! Enjoyed this episode and loved hearing about Caroline’s journey, too!

🎧 Listen to the full episode of Unpolished MBA here: Apple Podcasts

In today’s episode of the August Walking Challenge, I break down key takeaways from Choose Better Thoughts featuring Amanda Doyle. 

The episode is titled: “When ‘I Should’ Stops Working.” 

This is a recap and my own commentary on other B2B podcast episodes in order to keep connecting. All opinions are my own. For the full episode, check the link below!

You’ll hear my quick recap of insights that stood out to me the most, including:

• 💡The tool of using ‘I Want’ statements and how that helps our brain with possibilities 
  
  
  
• 🚀 Trying out the ‘I Want’ tool in real time
  
  
  

Thanks, Amanda! Really enjoyed this episode and looking forward to listening to future ones as well :) 

🎧 Listen to the full episode of Choose Better Thoughts here: Apple Podcasts 

 📬 Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn and be sure to sign up for her newsletter

Welcome to my August Walking Challenge, B2B Podcaster Style!

This is my connection with other B2B podcasters out there, where I get to learn something from them, and share what I learn in a short, daily recap AND while walking!

Join me on a M-F business day basis to hear my thoughts on the great episodes out there that maybe you haven't heard!

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Find me on LinkedIn or Instagram @makingtheconnectionpodcast and let’s keep the conversation going.

Thanks so much for listening—and until next time, keep connecting.

Welcome to my first solo episode of Making the Connection! I’m Angela Chong, and today I’m diving into something I care deeply about: empathy—especially in the remote and hybrid work environments so many of us live in today.

After nearly 10 years of working remotely, I’ve learned that building strong professional relationships takes more than just good intentions. Emotional intelligence (EQ) is key. In this episode, I share why empathy is more than being “nice”—it’s about creating space for trust, safety, and real connection, even when we’re separated by a screen.

There are small but powerful ways we can lead with empathy in our day-to-day work—through tone, timing, thoughtful communication, and being more intentional with how we check in with each other. 

🎧 Talking points in this episode:

• Why empathy is a business advantage, not just a nice-to-have
• The role of emotional intelligence in remote collaboration
• How to communicate thoughtfully over Zoom, Slack, and email
• Practical ways to build a culture of connection, one interaction at a time

If this resonates with you—or if you have your own stories about empathy at work—I’d love to hear from you. 

Find me on LinkedIn or Instagram @makingtheconnectionpodcast and let’s keep the conversation going.

Thanks so much for listening—and until next time, keep connecting.

Resources Mentioned:

Catalyst Report 

HBR 

HBR Books about Empathy  (not mentioned but thought this would be helpful)