Dare to Connect: The Art of Facilitating Authentic Connections

In this episode of the Dare to Facilitate podcast, I joined my friend, the brilliant Jenny Theolin , and my extraordinary friend Claus Raasted for a conversation that was an absolute blast around the topic of Daring to Connect. The vibe was relaxed, just like hanging out with friends over coffee (tea is my preference), but with some deep dives into the world of human connection and networking.

Jenny’s podcast is all about exploring creative facilitation and connection, which, as you can imagine, is right up my alley. I had the chance to introduce Claus, who’s a legend in experience design and the mastermind behind the The College of Extraordinary Experiences . He’s been a huge inspiration for me, especially when it comes to designing events that genuinely bring people together.

We chatted about how I ended up on this unexpected journey as a Professional Wing Woman. I shared how, after losing my fourth job in three years (yep, that really happened!), a random phone call from a friend asking me to be her "Professional Wing Woman” set everything in motion. Honestly, without tools like OpenAI 's ChatGPT to bounce ideas off of, I probably wouldn’t have launched my business.

We talked about the challenges of navigating networking spaces, whether you’re an #introvert or an #extrovert, and how I try to make it less awkward for folks to connect.

Claus, in his classic style, dropped some wisdom on how tiny tweaks, like lowering the music at networking events or adding conversation prompts, can make all the difference. It’s so true—sometimes it’s the smallest changes that create the biggest impact. He’s all about creating what he calls “alibis for interaction,” which, let’s face it, we could all use sometimes when we’re trying to break the ice with strangers.

One of my favourite parts was getting to talk about my experience at the College of Extraordinary Experiences. Honestly, it was like nothing I’ve ever been a part of—a week-long, immersive conference in a castle in Poland where everyone’s wearing cloaks and getting sorted into houses like something straight out of Harry Potter. It was such a magical environment where you connect with people from all walks of life, from lawyers to immersive theatre creators, and leave feeling like you’ve made genuine friendships.

To wrap things up, we shared some advice for those who feel allergic to networking events. Claus and I agreed that if you hate networking, it’s probably because the experiences you’ve had so far haven’t been designed with connection in mind. My take? Find events with people who get you, don’t be afraid to ask for help (bring a wing person if you need one!), and stay curious. And hey, if you’re not feeling it, maybe you just haven’t found your crowd yet.

Honestly, it was a perfect Friday morning spent with two amazing humans. And as always—

Happy connecting!

Shaena

Also - go buy Jenny's book

Additional Resources:

💻 Website: www.clausraasted.com 

💻 Website: www.extraordinary.college

💻 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/tjena_wing_people