Social Health: The Secret Weapon for Successful Female Founders
There’s something about walking into a room full of strangers that can feel both exciting and exhausting. As women in business, we spend so much time focusing on our goals, our growth, and our next move that we sometimes forget one of the most important parts of success: each other.
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about social health after listening to an episode of The Mel Robbins Podcast featuring social scientist Kasley Killam. The conversation completely reframed the way I think about connecting, community, and even burnout.
We hear all the time about mental health, physical health, and financial wellness. We optimize our routines, track our habits, and pack our calendars trying to become the best versions of ourselves. But social health? That’s usually the first thing we sacrifice when life gets busy. 👀
And the statistics around loneliness are honestly staggering:
1 in 5 people report having no one they can count on for help.
330 million adults globally go two or more weeks without talking to a single loved one.
62% of U.S. employees report feeling lonely on a regular basis.
Isolation among older adults costs the healthcare system an estimated $6.7 billion annually.
For something we often dismiss as “just socializing,” the impact of connection — or lack of it — is incredibly real.
we all need community
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we all need community 〰️
I don’t think we talk enough about how disconnected adulthood can feel sometimes. Especially for women building careers, businesses, families, and communities all at once.
That’s part of why communities like Heels & Handshakes matter so much.
Yes, we come together to network. Yes, opportunities happen in the room. But the bigger purpose has always been connection. The kind where someone remembers your name, checks in on your goals, celebrates your wins, and reminds you that you’re not building alone.
One of the biggest takeaways from the podcast was a simple framework called the “5-3-1” formula for social health:
Talk to 5 different people each week.
Maintain 3 close relationships you can genuinely lean on.
Spend at least 1 hour a day connecting with others in some capacity.
And no, that doesn’t mean you suddenly need a packed social calendar. It can look like a quick phone call on your drive home, grabbing coffee with a friend, chatting with another woman at an event, or even sending the “thinking about you” text you’ve been meaning to send.
Within Heels & Handshakes, we encourage all attendees to : Four Before You Pour.
This means you have to meet four new people, before you can claim a drink ticket at the bar.
What really stuck with me, though, was the conversation around excuses versus needs.
I think we’ve all had those moments where we cancel plans because we’re tired, overwhelmed, or just want to stay home in comfy clothes. And listen, protecting your peace is important. But sometimes we label isolation as self-care when what we actually need is connection. ( yes, I said the hard truth.)
Because if I’m honest, some of the moments I’ve felt the most energized were the exact moments I almost didn’t show up. The coffee meeting I wanted to cancel. The luncheon I debated skipping. The conversation that reminded me I wasn’t alone in what I was navigating.
Connection has a way of bringing us back to ourselves.
Studies show supportive relationships can lower stress levels, improve resilience, and even strengthen our immune systems. Which means those “small” moments of community? They’re actually a form of wellness.
Maybe that’s the real shift we need to make. Networking isn’t just something we do for business cards or LinkedIn connections. It’s part of our well-being.
So here’s your reminder:
Send the text.
Make the coffee date.
Go to the event.
Introduce yourself to the person standing alone.
Stop waiting until life feels less busy to prioritize people.
Your next opportunity, collaboration, friendship, or favorite person might be someone you simply haven’t met yet.
And sometimes the most powerful thing we can do for our health, our business, and ourselves… is show up.
If you live in Chicago, Las Vegas or Nashville we invite you to check out our local chapter’s events for opportunities to prioritize your Social Health. Events can be found here.
If you want to listen to the full podcast episode with Mel Robbins and Kasley Killam, you can click here.