We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Audrey Maw a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Audrey, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about your team building process? How did you recruit and train your team and knowing what you know now would you have done anything differently?

From the very beginning, it wasn’t just me, which I feel incredibly grateful for. I really lucked out with my team. We actually started as neighbors who naturally became friends, and Mahjong was something we were already playing and enjoying together. It all grew very organically from there.
When we began talking about teaching and turning this into something more, they were excited to be part of it. What was interesting is that everyone naturally gravitated toward different roles. They wanted to focus on teaching and hosting events, while not taking on the administrative side, which worked out well because I was comfortable handling the backend and operations.
I do think luck played a big role in those early days. You can’t force the kind of chemistry, trust, and support that we had right from the start. I truly couldn’t have asked for better friends or teammates.
As our Mahjong community grew, we met so many incredible women. Many of those relationships turned into genuine friendships, and when the business reached a point where we needed to grow the team, those same women were the perfect fit. It never felt like traditional recruiting. It was more about connection, shared values, and recognizing who would align with what we were building.
Our team today is very relationship-driven. It includes friends, neighbors, my daughters, their friends, my sister, my niece, and extended family. Everyone is involved in different ways, and there’s a level of care and investment in each other that really makes everything run smoothly. That connection carries into how we show up for our customers too.
We didn’t have a formal interview process in the beginning, and even now we still prioritize personality, energy, and fit over anything overly structured. Training is very hands-on and built around experience. People learn by being part of what we do.
If I were starting today, I honestly wouldn’t change much about how it all came together. That organic foundation is what makes this so special. If anything, I might put a few simple systems in place earlier as we grew, but I wouldn’t trade the way our team formed for anything.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m a mom of five who relocated from Boston to San Antonio, and what started as a simple “yes” to a neighbor completely changed the trajectory of my life and business.
When my neighbor Courtney first asked if I wanted to play Mahjong, I had no idea what the game even was. But I was new to the area and eager to build friendships, so I said yes. That one decision led to something really special. Alongside Courtney, Emily, and Aimee, we quickly became hooked. We weren’t just learning a game, we were building genuine friendships, week after week, around the Mahjong table.
What started as a small group of neighbors naturally began to grow. More people wanted to learn, join in, and experience what we had created. And what we realized along the way was that Mahjong wasn’t just a game, it was a catalyst for connection. It created a space where people could slow down, laugh, learn something new, and truly connect with one another in a meaningful way.
That realization is what led me to start 4 Blondes Mahjong.
Today, we offer Mahjong lessons, private events, community leagues, and elevated experiences like retreats and destination getaways. Whether someone is brand new or looking to deepen their strategy and skill, we create an environment that feels welcoming, fun, and engaging at every level.
The problem we really solve is connection. In a world where everything moves quickly and so much interaction is digital, people are craving real, in-person experiences. They want to meet people, build friendships, and be part of something. Mahjong gives them that, and we’ve built a brand that makes it approachable, social, and something people feel excited to be part of.
What sets us apart is the experience we create around the game. It’s not just about learning Mahjong, it’s about how people feel when they’re with us. We’ve built a community that is warm, inclusive, and genuinely supportive. Our events have an elevated, thoughtful feel while still being fun and inviting. People walk in not knowing anyone and leave feeling like they’ve found their group.
One of the things we’re especially excited about right now is our upcoming getaway, The Boston Mahjong Experience, happening June 26–28. It’s a full weekend designed to bring everything we love about Mahjong and community together in a really special way with gameplay, learning, social events, and connection all built into one experience.
What I’m most proud of is the community we’ve built. It’s grown far beyond what I ever imagined, and it’s rooted in real relationships. From friends and neighbors to family members and an incredible team, everything about this business is built on connection and care.
What I want people to know about 4 Blondes Mahjong is that it’s for everyone. You don’t need to know how to play. You don’t need to come with a group. You just have to be open to trying something new. We’ll take care of the rest, and chances are, you’ll leave with more than just a new skill. You’ll leave with new connections and a reason to keep coming back to the table. there is always a seat for you at our table

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

I met my team members from moving into my neighborhood. Who know behind those gates would be my future best friends.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Social media has definitely been one of the hardest parts for me. It did not come naturally at all. In the beginning, I was so uncomfortable putting myself out there. Hitting “post” felt like a big deal every single time, and I overthought everything.
What really shifted things for me was letting go of the idea that it had to be perfect or polished. I started sharing things that I personally found funny, moments where I was learning, and even making fun of myself along the way. I also shared tips that I needed when I was learning Mahjong, things that would have helped me in those early days.
Having my two daughters involved has also been such a huge benefit. They’ve helped me feel more comfortable, encouraged me to just go for it, and brought a different perspective and creativity to what we share. That support made a big difference in getting over that initial hesitation.
What I found was that there were so many other people out there who felt the same way. They related to it, they appreciated the honesty, and it made everything feel more real and approachable. That’s when things started to grow. Not because I was trying to build an audience, but because I was connecting with people.
I think that’s the biggest takeaway. People connect with people, not perfection. If you’re just starting out, my advice would be to share what feels natural to you. Don’t wait until everything is perfect. Show your personality, share what you’re learning, and don’t be afraid to be a little vulnerable or have fun with it.
Also, consistency matters more than perfection. The more you show up, the more comfortable you get, and the more your audience starts to understand who you are and what you’re about.
Looking back, the things I was most hesitant to post are often the ones that resonated the most. So if something feels a little uncomfortable but still authentic, it’s probably worth sharing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.4blondesmahjong.com/
• Instagram: 4_Blondes_Mahjong
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1GcRLsvfyV/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audrey-maw-11049086

Image Credits

Self photos