
Episode #245
Brenda Exline: Why Curiosity Is the Most Powerful Connection Tool
What if the best business connections start with espresso and curiosity instead of a pitch? Brenda Exline explains why family offices are opening their doors, how her mother's tears turned her into a lifelong entrepreneur, and why life's magic happens when you take a wrong turn. In this episode, Philip and Brenda Exline discuss: Networking as "business speed dating" Gstaad Global Gathering and the "new mini Davos" Family offices, the next generation and the big wealth transfer Women inheriting wealth and the rise of female entrepreneurs Curiosity, travel and life as a road trip Lightbulb Moments: Transactions aren't always cold. When time is short, a focused, friendly exchange can start a real relationship. Good business conversations happen naturally, after trust is built, not when they're forced. A huge wealth transfer to the next generation and to women is coming. The people who plan and learn now will handle it best. You don't need to come from a family of entrepreneurs. One painful moment can set your whole path. Listen more than you talk. Asking about someone else builds rapport, and nobody is actually boring. “Life is not created in chapters; life is really about moments on the road. Life to me is a road trip, and if you get lost, that's when magic happens.” - Brenda Exline Brenda is an entrepreneur and strategic advisor who built, scaled, and successfully exited two U.S. media and communications companies. She currently serves as Senior External Strategic Public Relations + Strategic Partnerships Advisor to Compagnie Financière Richemont SA in Geneva, advising over twenty premier luxury Maisons while co-leading group-wide communications, crisis management, and global partnerships. Co-Founder of the Gstaad Global Gathering and Senior Advisor to the Newport Global Summit Passport Series, she is also Co-Founder and Board Member of AD ART and serves as Global External Advisor for Strategic PR and Communications to Trident Zoetic across energy and rare earths. Splitting her time between New York and Switzerland, Brenda leverages an elite international network across family offices, finance, media, and culture to connect capital, influence, and strategic opportunity with discretion and precision. Connect with Brenda Exline: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brenda-exline-4a7974121/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brendaexline1/ Connect with Philip: Website: https://www.fornarolaw.com/ Podcast Website: https://lbmpodcast.com/ "X": https://x.com/FornaroLaw Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/philipfornaro/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fornarolaw3002 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fornarolaw Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fornarolaw/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FornaroLaw https://www.facebook.com/philip.fornaro.3/ Podcast Production by Turnkey Podcast. Thinking of starting a podcast? Get more info at https://turnkeypodcast.com/ or reach out to Doug Sandler directly at Doug@TurnkeyPodcast.com or call 410-340-6861. You’re the expert. Your podcast will prove it. Horton’s Home Lighting Lighting isn’t just about seeing – it’s about how a space feels. Thoughtful design. Expert execution. Real impact. https://www.hortonshome.com/






