Interview of Kara Willis, owner of The Mastermind Collective

2025-03-15

Episode Summary: In the latest episode of the InPowered Women’s Podcast, host Sharon Lee sits down with Kara Willis, founder of The Mastermind Collective. Kara shares insights into what The Mastermind Collective is all about, her career journey, and what inspired her to start this movement. Kara delves into how she’s building a community for women in business through her organization and curated supper clubs, designed to meet individual needs and foster deeper connections with like-minded people. She also highlights the powe...

Episode Summary:

In the latest episode of the InPowered Women’s Podcast, host Sharon Lee sits down with Kara Willis, founder of The Mastermind Collective. Kara shares insights into what The Mastermind Collective is all about, her career journey, and what inspired her to start this movement.

Kara delves into how she’s building a community for women in business through her organization and curated supper clubs, designed to meet individual needs and foster deeper connections with like-minded people. She also highlights the power of a strong community and friendships when navigating major career changes. Finally, Kara wraps up by sharing how having a mentor in her corner made a difference — someone who cheered her on throughout her career.

Sharon Lee

Sharon Lee is an accomplished entrepreneur and marketing expert dedicated to empowering female leaders. With a diverse background in sales and marketing across industries like advertising, magazine publishing, and solar energy, Sharon's journey showcases her versatility and determination. As the principal of Pinnacle Strategic Advisors, she assists businesses in enhancing their marketing strategies. Sharon's entrepreneurial spirit led her to establish her own consulting firm, reflecting her commitment to excellence. Alongside her professional pursuits, Sharon co-founded the InPowered Women's networking group, fostering mentorship and support for women in business. Through the InPowered Women Podcast, Sharon will share stories of resilient female leaders with listeners, encouraging them to pursue their aspirations fearlessly.

Kara Willis

Kara Willis is the founder of The Mastermind Collective. A former Fortune 100 global corporate professional turned community builder and coach, she now helps women in business achieve the same level of success and results that high-performing employees do in global companies.

Insights from this episode:

What the Masterminds Collective is
Kara’s career history
Establishing Kara’s networking events and why she started her supper clubs
What sets her supper clubs apart from the rest
The importance of creating solid relationships and community
Benefits of joining her online community

Quotes from the show:

“That’s the beautiful thing about having women in your inner circle; they can cheer you on and then back it up right with reassurance” – Kara Willis, InPowered Women, Episode #14
“As an entrepreneur, you can be in consumption mode till eternity” – Kara Willis, InPowered Women, Episode #14
“I feel like the best thing that could be said — that I would want anything I touch to be known for — is that there are kind people who are also high performers and go-getters in the room, and that they are approachable, collaborative, and easy to connect with” – Kara Willis, InPowered Women, Episode #14
“[On the supper club] It nurtures that part of you that just wants that connection where you feel like you can go deeper and form relationships” – Kara Willis, InPowered Women, Episode #14
“Your next job, your next client is gonna come from a relationship. Your next employee is gonna come from creating a relationship for your next opportunity” – Kara Willis, InPowered Women, Episode #14
“If relationships are the foundational core of every aspect of me moving forward to hit my goals, how can I pull more of these relationships towards me?” – Kara Willis, InPowered Women, Episode #14
“Having someone who believes in your highest self and maintains that vision for you, even when you don’t always see it yourself, is just so empowering” – Kara Willis, InPowered Women, Episode #14