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

Yvonne , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you as a business owner?

One of the most important lessons I learned before starting my own business came from working in hospitality for over ten years. I spent a lot of time at a corporate bar and grill, and I was really fascinated by how they ran their systems. Everything was structured — from uniforms and schedules to customer service and team communication.

Watching how the managers handled logistics and how the team was trained to interact with customers taught me a lot. I took those lessons and applied them to my own business. Everything I do at Eleven 21 Mixology…from showing up early, leaving late, the way we communicate with clients, and even small details like uniforms — is built on that foundation.

That experience showed me that running a business isn’t just about the craft itself. It’s about systems, planning, and structure. Having that framework made it possible to build Eleven 21 Mixology in a way that keeps things flowing smoothly, no matter the event.

Yvonne , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

About Sidebar Access

Sidebar Access was created for people who are building something real but don’t necessarily love the traditional networking scene.

I’m the founder of Sidebar — a human-powered networking firm designed for entrepreneurs, creatives, executives, and visionaries who understand the power of relationships but don’t have the time, desire, or access to navigate rooms strategically on their own.

I’ve been in the events and hospitality industry for years as the founder of Eleven 21 Mixology. Through that journey, I learned something powerful: opportunities don’t come from being the loudest in the room — they come from being in the right room, with the right introductions.

But here’s the honest truth — not everyone enjoys networking. Not everyone wants to cold approach strangers at mixers. Not everyone has time to attend every Chamber meeting in multiple cities. And yet, relationships are still the currency of business.

That gap is where Sidebar was born.

Sidebar is not an app. It’s not AI. It’s not automated matchmaking.
It’s intentional, human connection.

We physically attend events, industry mixers, conferences, and curated gatherings on behalf of our clients. We listen, observe, vet rooms, build relationships, and then create warm, strategic introductions aligned with our clients’ goals. In many cases, we even prepare our clients for the room — who to speak to, what to say, and what opportunities may be present.

What We Provide
• Strategic networking representation
• Curated introductions
• Event scouting & presence
• Relationship mapping
• Private member matchmaking for collaborations and business growth

The Problem We Solve

Many brilliant people stay stuck because they don’t have access.
Or they have access, but they lack positioning.
Or they’re simply exhausted trying to “show up everywhere.”

Sidebar solves that by becoming your extension in the room.

We help you:
• Get in front of decision-makers
• Expand into new markets
• Build partnerships
• Gain visibility without burnout
• Network smarter, not louder

What Sets Us Apart

We are human-first.
We don’t spray connections randomly.
We build them with intention.

There’s discretion involved. There’s strategy involved. There’s real-world presence involved.

And unlike traditional networking services or online platforms, Sidebar understands nuance — personality fit, brand alignment, long-term potential. We don’t just connect businesses. We connect energy, vision, and values.

What I’m Most Proud Of

I’m most proud that Sidebar was born out of observation and honesty. I noticed so many powerful founders quietly saying, “I hate networking.” And instead of telling them to “just get over it,” I built a solution around that truth.

I’m proud that Sidebar champions the quiet builder — the person doing incredible work behind the scenes who just needs the right bridge.

What I Want People to Know

Sidebar Access is about leverage.

If you’re building something serious, relationships are not optional. But you don’t have to force yourself into rooms that drain you or pretend to be someone you’re not.

We represent you with integrity.
We protect your brand.
We expand your reach.
We open doors strategically.

This is not about collecting business cards.
This is about building ecosystems.

And the right introduction can change everything.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

A Story of Resilience

Before Sidebar was an idea, it was a realization.

I’ve built businesses in rooms where I wasn’t always expected. As the founder of Eleven 21 Mixology, I learned how to command presence in hospitality, events, and corporate spaces. I could fill a room. I could sell an experience. I could execute.

But what people don’t always see is what happens between the events — the seasons where bookings slow down, where expansion plans don’t move as quickly as you hoped, where you’re sitting with a vision bigger than your current environment.

There was a season where I felt stretched thin. I was attending networking events constantly — Chambers, mixers, launch parties — trying to “be seen.” Trying to stay relevant. Trying to make sure my brand didn’t disappear if I paused for even a moment.

And I realized something uncomfortable.

I didn’t actually enjoy the performance of networking. I enjoyed meaningful connection. Strategy. Intentional rooms. But the constant showing up just to be visible? That drained me.

I started noticing that many of the most powerful deals weren’t happening in the loudest rooms. They were happening in side conversations. In quiet introductions. In well-positioned referrals.

That shift changed everything.

Instead of forcing myself into every room, I began studying rooms. Studying access. Studying influence. Studying who actually controlled opportunities.

That’s when Sidebar was born — not from ease, but from exhaustion and awareness.

Resilience for me wasn’t about “pushing harder.” It was about pivoting smarter.

There were moments I questioned expansion. Moments where finances required discipline. Moments where I had to admit that strategy needed to evolve. But instead of shrinking, I recalibrated.

I learned:
• Visibility without positioning is noise.
• Access without strategy is wasted.
• And resilience isn’t loud — it’s calculated.

Sidebar represents that evolution.

It’s built from the understanding that sometimes the strongest move isn’t standing in the spotlight — it’s owning the side of the room where real conversations happen.

What I’m proud of is that I didn’t quit when things felt unclear. I observed. I adjusted. I built something better.

And that’s resilience — choosing refinement over

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

The Last Thing I Had to Unlearn — And Why

The last thing I had to unlearn was the belief that being everywhere equals being successful.

For a long time, I thought visibility meant volume. More events. More networking mixers. More handshakes. More rooms. If I wasn’t showing up constantly, I felt like I was falling behind.

But the backstory is this — I was exhausted.

As an entrepreneur, especially in hospitality and events, you’re taught to grind. To be the face. To never miss an opportunity. And I did that. I said yes to almost everything. I believed hustle would automatically translate into growth.

What I eventually realized was that I wasn’t lacking effort — I was lacking alignment.

I was entering rooms that weren’t designed for where I was headed. I was building wide networks instead of strategic ones. And sometimes, I was overextending simply to prove I belonged.

Unlearning that was uncomfortable. It meant turning down invitations. It meant not needing to be seen in every space. It meant understanding that access is more powerful than activity.

That shift is actually what birthed Sidebar.

Sidebar is built on the understanding that you don’t need to be everywhere — you need to be in the right rooms, with the right introductions, at the right time.

Unlearning hustle culture as the only strategy was freeing. It allowed me to value leverage over labor. Depth over noise. Precision over presence.

And honestly? That shift elevated everything.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.eleven21mix.com
• Instagram: Eleven 21 Mixology