Winning Together: Sophie Musumeci of Real Entrepreneur Women On How Strategic Partnerships Can Unlock New Sales Opportunities
An Interview With Chad Silverstein
Start with Value, Not Just Sales — A great partnership isn’t just about what you can gain; it’s about what you can give. The strongest partnerships I’ve built started with me providing value — whether that was sharing insights, offering referrals, or genuinely supporting their work. When you lead with value, sales growth becomes a natural byproduct.
Strategic partnerships have the potential to unlock growth and create new opportunities in ways that businesses can’t achieve alone. To explore this important topic, we had the pleasure of interviewing Sophie Musumeci.
Sophie Musumeci is an award-winning entrepreneur, leadership and change management expert, and speaker. She is the founder of Real Entrepreneur Women, a multimillion-dollar organization that helped over 1,000 women find their purpose, and turn their calling into a profitable business. The Australian National Parliament mentioned Sophie several times, recognizing her work with entrepreneur women.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series. Before we dive into our discussion, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share with us the backstory about what brought you to your specific career path?
Absolutely! My journey into entrepreneurship wasn’t a straight line — it was more of a rollercoaster. I didn’t grow up dreaming of running a multimillion-dollar coaching business. In fact, I left school in Year 11 and went straight into the workforce, holding down three jobs at once because that’s what I was taught — if you want something, you work for it.
I spent years in corporate leadership, specializing in change management and high-performance teams. I was leading major projects, including rolling out a global system for BP Retail, and on the surface, it looked like I had it all together. But deep down, something was missing. I had this relentless pull toward doing something more meaningful — helping women step into their power and create financial independence on their own terms.
The turning point came when I was juggling career, motherhood, and life, feeling like I was constantly choosing between success and family. I knew there had to be a better way. So, I took a leap, backed myself, and built Real Entrepreneur Women. What started as a community quickly became a movement — helping over 1,000 women turn their calling into a thriving, profitable business.
Now, I get to do what I love every day: helping female coaches break free from the traditional business mold, scale their income without scaling their workload, and step into the wealthy woman they were always meant to be.
And let’s be real — none of this happened overnight. There were months of $0, times I doubted myself, and moments where I wondered if I was crazy. But resilience, strategy, and surrounding myself with the right people changed everything. That’s why I’m so passionate about strategic partnerships — because no one succeeds alone.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began working with partnerships or collaborations?
One of the most impactful partnerships in my business has been with my media buyer, Sharnee.
Sharnee has been more than just someone who runs our ads — she’s been an incredible mentor to me over the years. When I first started investing in paid advertising, I was hesitant. The idea of spending money on ads felt risky, and I remember being nervous about even $20 a day. But Sharnee guided me through it, helping me shift my mindset from seeing ads as an expense to understanding them as a powerful tool for growth.
Over time, we built a partnership that goes beyond just working together. Now, whenever one of my clients needs support with ads, I send them straight to Sharnee because I know they’re in the best hands. What I love most about this partnership is that it’s a perfect example of how collaboration can unlock new opportunities for both sides. Instead of trying to do everything ourselves, we lean into each other’s expertise, creating a win-win for us and, more importantly, for the women we serve. That’s the power of strategic partnerships — it’s about lifting each other up and growing together.
You are a successful leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
The three character traits that have been most instrumental to my success are resilience, decisiveness, and generosity.
1. Resilience — The ability to rise, no matter what.
My journey hasn’t been a straight path to success — it’s been filled with setbacks, challenges, and moments where I could have easily given up. One of the biggest lessons in resilience came in April 2021, when my business hit a $0 month. I had two choices: accept that maybe it wasn’t meant to be or commit to becoming the best comeback story ever. I chose the latter. Instead of sitting in self-doubt, I went all in — refining my strategies, backing myself, and making bold moves. Within 12 months, I turned that $0 month into a million-dollar business. Resilience is what separates those who stay stuck from those who rise.
2. Decisiveness — The power to take action fast.
One of the biggest shifts in my success came when I stopped overthinking and started making decisions quickly. A great example of this was when I first started running paid ads. I was nervous — spending money on something with no guaranteed return felt uncomfortable. But instead of sitting on the decision for months, I trusted my instincts, leaned on my mentor (Sharnee, my media buyer), and went for it. That one decision led to massive growth and was a turning point in scaling my business. Every time I’ve made a fast decision — whether it was investing in a mentor, launching a new offer, or saying yes to an opportunity — it has propelled my business forward.
3. Generosity — Giving without expectation.
I truly believe that when you lead with generosity, success follows. One of the best examples of this is how I built Real Entrepreneur Women. Instead of focusing on ‘getting’ clients, I focused on serving first — giving value, sharing insights, and genuinely supporting women in business. That approach not only helped me build an incredible community but also created deep trust with my audience. Even now, I always look for ways to give — whether it’s mentoring my clients beyond just strategy, making powerful introductions, or sharing opportunities. Generosity builds relationships, and relationships build businesses.
These three traits — resilience, decisiveness, and generosity — are what have shaped my success, and they’re the same ones I encourage every female entrepreneur to develop. Because when you combine the ability to push through challenges, take action fast, and lead with heart, there’s no limit to what you can achieve.
Let’s now jump to the focus of our interview. What does a “strategic partnership” mean to you, and why do you think it’s such an essential part of sales growth today?
For me, a strategic partnership is more than just a referral or a collaboration — it’s a relationship built on trust, aligned values, and a shared vision for success. It’s about two businesses coming together in a way that creates a win-win for everyone involved, including the clients we serve.
In today’s world, sales growth isn’t just about having the best offer or the flashiest marketing — it’s about connection. Consumers are more discerning than ever, and they want to work with people they trust. That’s where strategic partnerships become so powerful. When you align with the right people — those who complement your expertise rather than compete with it — you open up a whole new world of opportunities.
Take my partnership with Sharnee, my media buyer, for example. I don’t run Facebook ads, but many of my clients reach a point where they need to. Instead of leaving them to figure it out on their own, I send them straight to Sharnee because I know she’ll take care of them.
The businesses that thrive today are the ones that collaborate instead of compete. Strategic partnerships allow you to reach new audiences, build credibility faster, and grow your business in a way that feels more aligned and natural. Instead of constantly chasing new leads, you’re building a network of trusted allies who bring sales opportunities straight to you. And that? That’s the smartest way to grow.
How do you go about identifying potential partners that align with your business goals? Are there specific qualities or traits you look for in a partnership?
Identifying the right strategic partners isn’t just about looking for businesses that complement mine — it’s about finding people who share my values, work ethic, and commitment to delivering real results.
1. Shared Values & Integrity
Trust is everything in a partnership. I look for people who genuinely care about their clients, operate with integrity, and prioritize impact over quick wins. If someone is just in it for the sale and doesn’t truly stand behind their work, it’s an automatic no from me.
2. A Complementary Skill Set
The best partnerships are built on filling gaps, not creating competition. I seek out partners who offer something I don’t, so together we can provide a more complete solution. If my business focuses on coaching and strategy, I look for partners who bring in expertise like hiring, systems, or specialized services that help my clients scale.
3. A Win-Win Mentality
A strong partnership isn’t one-sided — it’s mutually beneficial. I look for people who understand that when we collaborate, we both grow. The best partnerships create new sales opportunities for both sides while delivering even better results for clients.
4. Strong Communication & Reliability
No matter how great the alignment is, a partnership won’t work without clear communication and follow-through. I need to know that my partners are professional, responsive, and reliable. When expectations are clear from the start, the relationship thrives, and both businesses benefit.
At the end of the day, strategic partnerships should make business easier, create bigger opportunities, and most importantly, serve clients better. When the right people come together, success isn’t just added — it’s multiplied.
What steps do you take to build trust and ensure that a partnership will be mutually beneficial for both sides?
Building trust in a partnership isn’t something that happens overnight — it’s built through clear communication, integrity, and delivering real value. Here are the key steps I take to ensure a partnership is strong, aligned, and mutually beneficial:
1. Start with a Genuine Connection
Before any formal partnership, I take the time to get to know the person behind the business. I want to understand their values, their approach, and their vision. If we naturally align and share the same commitment to results, that’s the foundation of a great partnership.
2. Be Transparent About Expectations
The best partnerships are built on clarity. From the beginning, I make sure both sides are clear on what we’re bringing to the table, how we’ll support each other, and what success looks like. Whether it’s a referral partnership, a collaboration, or a deeper business alliance, setting expectations early avoids misunderstandings later.
3. Deliver Results First
Trust is earned through action, not just words. I always focus on giving value first — whether that’s referring clients, sharing resources, or actively supporting my partners in ways that help them grow. When both sides are committed to delivering results, trust naturally builds over time.
4. Keep Communication Open & Honest
A great partnership isn’t just about initial success — it’s about long-term growth. That means staying in touch, checking in regularly, and keeping communication open. If something isn’t working, I address it early. If there’s a new opportunity, I bring it to the table. The more transparent and proactive both sides are, the stronger the partnership becomes.
5. Focus on a Win-Win Mindset
A true partnership benefits both sides, not just one. I always ask, “How can we make this work in a way that serves us both?” That could mean creating joint offers, cross-promoting content, or simply making high-quality referrals. When both businesses thrive, the partnership continues to grow.
At the core of every strong partnership is trust, alignment, and a shared vision for success. When you build relationships based on these principles, partnerships become one of the most powerful ways to grow — not just in business, but in impact.
Can you share a specific example of a strategic partnership you were involved in? How did it come about, and what impact did it have on your business?
One of the most exciting strategic partnerships I’ve been involved in is the one we formed to build Skye, our AI coach for female entrepreneurs.
When we first had the vision for Skye, we knew we needed the right tech team — a partner who not only had the expertise to bring her to life but also truly understood our mission. We found that team, and from the very beginning, it’s been a collaborative, win-win partnership.
How It Came About
We didn’t just want a service provider — we wanted a true partner who would be invested in making Skye as powerful and impactful as possible. The team we partnered with took the time to understand our needs, our audience, and how we wanted Skye to serve female coaches.
At the same time, we brought real-world insights to the table — feedback from our clients, the challenges female coaches face, and exactly what would make Skye a game-changer for them.
How It’s Beneficial for Both Sides
For us: They ensure our needs are met by having regular check-ins, refining Skye based on our feedback, and making sure she truly supports our community.
For them: We’re helping improve their product by testing Skye in real business scenarios and providing invaluable insights. Plus, when we see the impact Skye has, we naturally recommend them to others who are looking to create AI-driven solutions.
The Impact on Our Business
This partnership has allowed us to innovate faster, deliver real value to our audience, and stay ahead of the curve in coaching and business growth. Without this collaboration, developing Skye would have been a much bigger challenge. But by working together, we’re not only launching something incredible — we’re setting the stage for ongoing growth and evolution.
It’s a perfect example of how the right partnerships don’t just create sales — they create transformation.
What role does communication play in maintaining a strong, long-lasting partnership? Are there particular practices or tools you use to keep everyone aligned and engaged?
Communication is the backbone of any successful partnership. Without it, even the best collaborations can fall apart. The strongest partnerships aren’t just built on shared goals — they’re built on ongoing conversations, transparency, and a commitment to staying aligned.
We Prioritize Communication in Partnerships Through:
1. Regular Check-Ins & Open Dialogue
I never assume things are running smoothly — I make sure they are. Whether it’s a formal meeting or a quick voice note, I prioritize regular check-ins with partners to keep things on track, discuss any challenges, and explore new opportunities.
For example, with the team behind Skye, we have structured check-ins to ensure our needs are being met, share feedback, and refine our AI coach based on real-world usage. These conversations keep us aligned and ensure we’re both benefiting from the partnership.
2. Transparency & Honesty from Day One
Strong partnerships require real talk– not just during the good times, but when things need to be improved. I set clear expectations upfront and encourage my partners to do the same. If something isn’t
Let’s now focus on actionable strategies. Based on your experience, can you share “5 Steps to Create Strategic Partnerships That Drive Sales Growth”? If you can, please share examples or stories for each.
1. Find the Right Fit — Not every partnership is a good one. The best ones happen when both businesses share similar values, have complementary skills, and genuinely want to support each other. For example, when we partnered with the team to build Skye, we weren’t just looking for a tech provider — we wanted a team that understood our mission and was invested in the outcome. That alignment made all the difference.
2. Start with Value, Not Just Sales — A great partnership isn’t just about what you can gain; it’s about what you can give. The strongest partnerships I’ve built started with me providing value — whether that was sharing insights, offering referrals, or genuinely supporting their work. When you lead with value, sales growth becomes a natural byproduct.
3. Set Clear Expectations & Keep Communication Open — From the start, both sides need to be clear on what’s expected, how the partnership will work, and what success looks like. Regular check-ins help keep things aligned and ensure both businesses are benefiting. For example, with our Skye partnership, we have ongoing conversations to fine-tune the AI experience based on real-world feedback.
4. Leverage Each Other’s Audiences — One of the biggest advantages of strategic partnerships is being able to tap into each other’s networks. Cross-promotions, collaborations, and referrals can all drive sales without extra marketing spend. In my business, I regularly partner with experts in areas like marketing, ads, and branding, introducing them to my audience while they do the same for me.
5. Make It a Long-Term Play — The best partnerships aren’t just one-off transactions — they evolve and grow over time. When you invest in relationships and continuously look for ways to collaborate, the sales growth keeps compounding. The strongest partnerships I have today started years ago and are still delivering new opportunities because we’ve nurtured them consistently.
What advice would you give to smaller companies or startups that may not have the resources or networks of larger businesses but want to start building strategic partnerships?
Start where you are and focus on relationships over resources. You don’t need a massive network or a big budget to form powerful strategic partnerships — you just need to be intentional, add value, and look for ways to collaborate.
One of the best ways to start is by identifying businesses that complement, rather than compete with yours. Look for people who serve the same audience in a different way, and reach out with a genuine offer to support them. Maybe that’s sharing their content, featuring them in your community, or referring clients when it makes sense. When you lead with generosity instead of asking for something, partnerships form naturally.
Also, don’t underestimate the power of small, consistent collaborations. Even if you don’t have a big audience, you can leverage what you do have — whether that’s engaging in each other’s communities, co-hosting events, or sharing insights. Many of my best partnerships started as simple conversations or informal referrals and grew into long-term, revenue-generating collaborations. Focus on trust, mutual benefit, and adding real value, and the opportunities will follow.
How do you handle challenges or conflicts that may arise in a partnership to ensure that the relationship stays strong and productive?
Challenges are inevitable in any partnership, but the way you handle them determines whether the relationship grows stronger or falls apart. The key is open, honest communication and a shared commitment to problem-solving.
I approach challenges with a mindset of alignment over blame — instead of pointing fingers, I focus on finding solutions that benefit both sides. If something isn’t working, I address it early with a direct but respectful conversation. Partnerships thrive when both parties feel heard and valued, so I always aim to listen, understand the other perspective, and find a path forward that works for everyone.
Regular check-ins also help prevent conflicts from escalating. By keeping communication open and ensuring expectations stay aligned, small issues can be resolved before they become big problems. At the end of the day, the best partnerships aren’t about avoiding challenges — they’re about handling them with trust, respect, and a shared goal of success.
Can you share a surprising or unexpected lesson you learned from a past partnership?
One of the most unexpected lessons I’ve learned from a partnership is that you never truly know the full value someone can bring until you’re in it. Initially, you might partner with someone for a specific reason — maybe they have a skillset you need or access to an audience you want to reach. But often, the most valuable part of the partnership turns out to be something you never saw coming.
I’ve experienced this firsthand with partnerships where I expected a transactional exchange — someone handling ads, marketing, or another piece of the puzzle — only to realize they had so much more to offer. Some of my best partners have become trusted mentors, sounding boards, and key strategic allies. The lesson? Stay open. Partnerships aren’t just about skills or services; they’re about the people behind them. When you invest in the relationship, you often gain more than just a business advantage — you gain someone you can truly rely on.
What trends or changes are you seeing in how businesses approach strategic partnerships, and how do you think this will evolve in the coming years?
One of the biggest shifts I’m seeing in strategic partnerships is a move away from traditional, transactional collaborations and toward deeper, value-driven relationships. Businesses are no longer just looking for surface-level referrals or one-off collaborations — they’re prioritizing long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships that create real impact.
I also see a growing focus on flexibility and innovation in partnerships. With the rise of AI, digital transformation, and changing consumer behaviors, businesses are looking for partners who can adapt, evolve, and co-create solutions rather than just exchanging leads. In the coming years, I believe partnerships will become even more integrated — blurring the lines between separate businesses as brands join forces to offer more holistic, seamless experiences for their audiences. The businesses that thrive will be the ones that collaborate, innovate, and truly understand that success is amplified when we grow together.
In your opinion, how do strategic partnerships impact not just sales, but a company’s reputation, relationships, and long-term growth?
Strategic partnerships do so much more than just drive sales — they shape your brand reputation, strengthen relationships, and create long-term sustainability in ways that solo efforts can’t. When you align with the right partners, you’re not just gaining access to their audience — you’re also gaining credibility and trust by association. People are more likely to work with you when someone they already trust endorses you, which accelerates your brand’s authority.
Beyond that, partnerships create a network of support and collaboration that fuels long-term growth. Instead of constantly chasing new leads, you build a system where referrals, co-promotions, and shared opportunities keep momentum going. The businesses that thrive long-term aren’t just the ones with the best marketing or biggest budgets — they’re the ones that build strong, aligned partnerships that create lasting impact.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would inspire more companies to embrace collaboration and partnerships, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
The movement has already started — it’s about shifting from competition to collaboration and proving that businesses grow faster and stronger when they work together. Too many entrepreneurs, especially women, feel like they have to do it all alone or that success means outpacing others. But the reality is, the more we collaborate, the more we all rise.
I want to see more businesses embrace partnerships as a core growth strategy, not just an afterthought. Imagine a world where companies actively seek out aligned partners, share audiences, co-create solutions, and genuinely invest in each other’s success. We’re already seeing this shift happen, and those who embrace it early will be the ones leading the next wave of business growth. Because the future of success isn’t about who can do it alone — it’s about who’s willing to build something bigger, together.
How can our readers further follow you online?
They can connect with me personally here: https://www.facebook.com/sophie.musumeci1/
Or join our group for female coaches and consultants here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/RealEWomen
This was great. Thank you so much for the time you spent sharing with us.
About the Interviewer: Chad Silverstein is a seasoned entrepreneur with 25+ years of experience as a Founder and CEO. While attending Ohio State University, he launched his first company, Choice Recovery, Inc., a nationally recognized healthcare collection agency — twice ranked the #1 workplace in Ohio. In 2013, he founded [re]start, helping thousands of people find meaningful career opportunities. After selling both companies, Chad shifted his focus to his true passion — leadership. Today, he coaches founders and CEOs at Built to Lead, advises Authority Magazine’s Thought Leader Incubator.
Winning Together: Sophie Musumeci of Real Entrepreneur Women On How Strategic Partnerships Can… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.