How to Build Authentic Friendships as an Entrepreneur
I’ve been working from home since 2013, and if I’m being honest, I wish I had found a community like this much sooner. In those early days, I didn’t realize how much I craved connection, real connection. The kind where someone hears your story and says, “Oh, I’ve been there too.”
Sure, I was productive. But I also worked from the kitchen (pro tip: don’t do that! You’ll end up snacking your way through your to-do list). I had my head down building, but no one to really share the highs and lows with. And the truth is, working solo doesn’t mean we’re meant to go through it alone.
That’s why I started the Modern Round Table.
Why Friendship Is Harder (and More Needed) As an Entrepreneur
When you’re running a business or working for yourself, friendships don’t happen “naturally” like they might in an office or school setting. You have to be intentional about creating community, especially the kind that goes deeper than “how’s business?”
And as we get older, our time and energy become more sacred. We don’t want surface-level connections, we want the real ones.
What Authentic Friendship Looks Like (Especially in Business)
A Real Moment That Changed Me
One of the most powerful moments I’ve experienced in this community happened during an in-person roundtable. The topic was business, but the conversation turned toward friendships, and I shared a painful moment when a friend embarrassed me in front of a potential client. It felt so personal and isolating at the time. But what happened next? Every woman around the table had a similar story. They validated my experience, gave thoughtful advice, and reminded me that I wasn’t alone. That’s when I knew: this is what women need more of.
How to Start Building Authentic Friendships in Your Entrepreneurial Life
5 Ways to Build Real Friendships When You Work for Yourself
Join curated communities – Find groups where values and energy align. Not every networking event is your people.
Attend small, intimate gatherings – Skip the big crowds. Look for spaces (like the Round Table) where deeper conversations happen.
Follow up with intention – Don’t just connect. Stay connected. A simple “thinking of you” text goes a long way.
Lead with curiosity, not performance – Ask about who they are, not just what they do.
Be willing to go first – Vulnerability builds trust. Share a little more than you normally would—and see what happens.
Nervous to Join a Round Table?
You’re not alone. But here’s what I’ll say: the women who show up to the Round Table are the real deal. They’ve done the inner work. They don’t point fingers,
They hold space.
They listen.
They support.
They’re healing and growing just like you.
If you’ve been craving that deeper community, the kind that doesn’t require you to have it all figured out, you’ll feel right at home here.
Final Thoughts
If I could go back and give my younger entrepreneurial self a piece of advice, it’d be this: Find your people. You don’t need a hundred friends. You need a handful who get you, support you, and remind you who you are on the hard days.
That’s what this space is for. If you’re ready, I’d love to invite you to a Round Table session. You just might leave feeling more connected than you’ve felt in years.
Xo
Danielle
