We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Emily Merrell. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Emily below.

Hi Emily, thanks for joining us today. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.

At Six Degrees Society, our approach to networking and professional connections sets us apart from the industry standard. While traditional networking events can often feel impersonal and transactional, we’ve created a unique environment that fosters genuine connections and meaningful relationships among professionals.

Unlike the industry norm of large, crowded networking events, we focus on curated, smaller gatherings where attendees are carefully matched based on their interests, industries, and goals. This personalized approach ensures that every interaction is purposeful and relevant, leading to more authentic connections.

One story that illustrates the importance of our approach involves a marketing professional and a startup founder who attended one of our events. In a conventional networking setting, they might never have crossed paths due to their different industries. However, our curated matching brought them together, and they discovered a shared passion for storytelling. This unexpected connection led to a collaboration where the marketing expert helped the startup refine their brand narrative, resulting in increased visibility and business growth.

This difference in approach matters because it goes beyond the superficial exchange of business cards. By creating an atmosphere of genuine interest and mutual benefit, we empower professionals to forge connections that can lead to collaborations, mentorships, and even lifelong friendships. Our commitment to diverging from the impersonal industry standard has allowed us to cultivate a community where networking becomes an enriching and enjoyable experience, ultimately driving success for individuals and businesses alike.

Emily, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

At Six Degrees Society, we’ve reimagined networking and professional connections. Our journey began with the vision of transforming the way people connect in their industries. Tired of the superficial and transactional nature of traditional networking events, we set out to create a platform that fosters authentic, meaningful relationships among professionals.

The inspiration for Six Degrees Society stemmed from my desire to build connections that matter. Drawing upon my background in event planning and a passion for community building, I envisioned a space where professionals could come together in a more intentional and curated way. This led to the creation of Six Degrees Society, where we bring like-minded individuals together through personalized networking events.

We specialize in hosting curated networking events that go beyond the conventional approach. Unlike large and overwhelming gatherings, we focus on creating intimate environments where attendees are carefully matched based on their industries, interests, and goals. This ensures that each interaction is meaningful and relevant, fostering genuine connections.

We address the challenge of traditional networking events that often lack authenticity and depth. By curating our gatherings and emphasizing the value of personalized connections, we solve the problem of professionals struggling to make genuine contacts in a sea of business cards and superficial conversations. Our approach allows individuals to forge relationships that can lead to collaborations, mentorships, and long-lasting connections.

What truly sets Six Degrees Society apart is our commitment to quality over quantity. We believe in the power of intimate interactions, where attendees can have meaningful conversations that transcend the typical elevator pitch. Our curated matching process ensures that each attendee can benefit from and contribute to the event, leading to valuable takeaways and lasting connections.

We are most proud of the vibrant community we’ve built. Over the years, we’ve witnessed countless success stories, from collaborations that have sparked innovative projects to friendships that have lasted well beyond the event. Seeing the genuine impact our approach has on professionals’ lives is incredibly rewarding and reinforces our dedication to fostering meaningful connections.

We want potential clients, followers, and fans to know that Six Degrees Society offers more than just a networking event; we provide an opportunity to forge authentic connections that can shape careers and lives. Our commitment to personalized interactions, curating like-minded professionals, and creating a supportive community truly sets us apart in the industry. We believe that strong connections are the foundation of success, and we’re here to help individuals build those connections in a genuine and meaningful way both in person and virtually.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

The pandemic was a perfect story and learning in resilience. The business that once was focused exclusively on in person events had to evolve overnight. We quickly pivoted our entire business model, messaging and community to live virtually and were overwhelmed by the response and outcome.

In moving virtual, our members were able to connect with individuals that would never find themselves in the same room due to their geographical nature. We were able to leverage speakers that we’d want to host in multiple markets just once. W were also elevate how people connect by offering a podcast, curated masterminds and deeper 1:1 coaching with me.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

Six Degrees Society began as a passion project and side hustle driven by a desire to revolutionize the way professionals connect. I had, recognized the limitations of traditional networking events, started organizing small, curated gatherings on evenings and weekends. These events focused on fostering genuine connections among attendees, matching them based on their industries, interests, and goals.

The initial events were met with enthusiasm and positive feedback, which encouraged me to expand the concept. As word-of-mouth spread and attendees raved about the unique and meaningful connections they made, our side hustle began to gain traction. The pivotal moment came when I realized that we were onto something transformative – a networking experience that truly resonated with professionals seeking authenticity. We decided to launch and expand our offerings beyond NYC to Chicago.

With the growing demand for our unique approach to networking, I faced a decision: continue to run Six Degrees Society as a side hustle or fully commit to making it a main business venture. The overwhelming positive response from attendees, coupled with the realization of the untapped potential, convinced me to take the leap. This marked the transition from side hustle to a full-time pursuit. I launched full-time in 2016 with the road map of expanding to 3 core markets; NYC, Chicago and LA and instead grew to 10 markets within 2 years.

Several key milestones marked our journey from a side hustle to a thriving business:

Formalizing Operations: As we shifted from a casual side project to a serious endeavor, we began to formalize our operations, refining event planning, participant matching, and overall event experience.

Expanding Reach: With our full-time focus, we expanded our reach beyond local events, venturing into other cities and regions, all while maintaining the intimate and curated nature of our gatherings.

Building a Team: To accommodate growth and ensure the consistency of our events, we built a dedicated team of event ambassadors in each market, virtual assistants and hiring business coaches.

Diversification of Offerings: In response to feedback and demand, we diversified our offerings to include various types of events, workshops, and networking experiences, further establishing our brand as a go-to for meaningful connections.

Online Presence: The digital era presented opportunities to expand our impact beyond physical events. We embraced technology, offering virtual networking experiences that reached professionals worldwide.

Community Impact: Witnessing the tangible impact on participants’ lives, such as career advancements, collaborations, and lasting friendships, solidified our dedication to the cause.

Today, Six Degrees Society stands as a testament to the power of pursuing one’s passions and turning a side hustle into a thriving business. The side hustle that began as a response to a gap in the networking landscape has grown into a movement that redefines professional connections and relationships.

Our journey from a side hustle to a central focus underscores the importance of remaining open to possibilities, listening to feedback, and recognizing when a concept has the potential to transform an industry. It’s a story of perseverance, evolution, and staying true to our mission of fostering authentic connections in a world craving genuine interaction.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sixdegreessociety.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/six_degrees_society
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sixdegreessociety
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/six-degrees-society/mycompany/?viewAsMember=true
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/six_society

Image Credits
photo credit to https://www.instagram.com/kaleyelainephoto/