8 Great People I Met in 2024

I believe great people know great people.

So, by sharing this, am I implying that I’m great too? Absolutely.

At the start of 2024, I decided to be more intentional about the connections I was making. I’ve always been a big extrovert and naturally became a connector of people—if you need a (proverbial) guy, chances are I know one. But this year, I wanted to go beyond that. I set out to surround myself with people who truly “get it.”

I wanted to connect with those who understand the highs and lows of being an entrepreneur. The ones who don’t just talk about business successes but also share the challenges. I wanted to meet other people who are willing to have honest conversations about what it’s like running a business in a world that doesn’t seem to want us to.

That’s why I’m sharing a list of some of the great people I met this year.

But before we meet them, meet me.

I’m Jamie Cox, brand strategist and founder based in Nashville, TN. I publish content all over the internet, but mostly on Substack and LinkedIn.

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Before we start, I want to be clear: if I met you this year, I LOVED MEETING YOU. Just because you’re not on this list, doesn’t mean you’re not great. Trust that I have you in my Rolodex and am singing your praises to everyone I meet.

Now, if you like me, are on a mission to meet more great people, here are a few places to start.

8 Great People I Met This Year

Brandon Rush

Follow for: Tips on all things sales.

Brandon Rush, founder of Small Axe Sales, has been a game-changer in my approach to selling. In a year marked by the highs and lows of business, his guidance helped me reframe sales as an opportunity to build intentional relationships rather than just cold outreach. His approach isn’t just effective—it’s energizing. Spending time with Brandon is like spending time with an old friend and I’m so glad to know him! If you’re navigating sales struggles, Brandon will help you bridge the gap between “what do you do?” and “where do I sign?”

Seth Werkheiser

Follow for: All things creativity and leaving social media

was my first Substack friend! We kept running into each other this year. First, after I posted about leaving Instagram, then when a mutual friend connected us because—you guessed it—we’d both just left Instagram. Seth runs and has helped lots of creatives ditch social media and live a more creatively fulfilling existence. From our first conversation, we became fast friends and have continued to swap stories about life and work post-Instagram. We share a love for email marketing and a loathe for algorithms that don’t serve creative folks.

Terri Trespicio

Follow for: All things writing and storytelling.

Terri Trespicio and I connected at a mutual friend’s retreat (13/10 would recommend!) and hit it off right away. If I had to summarize Terri in one sentence, she’s who I want to be when I grow up. She’s an amazing storyteller and has a great way of bringing her personality into all of her work. After we met, I listened to her book, Unfollow Your Passion, and it was like having a meaningful conversation with a great friend you’ve known for years. Terri is an incredible speaker, author, and person and one of the most supportive folks I’ve met his year!

Melissa Perkins

Follow for: All things brand strategy and design.

and I have been circling one another since at least 2020. I joined her community, The Designers’ Cohort way back when and have followed her as she’s built and grown Sweet Daddy Designs. Melissa is a fellow brand strategist (and rebel archetype) and I’ve admired how she approaches things differently. She recently started and shares everything with refreshing transparency—from money to processes—breaking down the mystery around our work.

Devin Lee

Follow for: All things systems and processes.

Devin and I connected this fall and as cool gals with great haircuts, we were destined to be friends. I’m not surprised we’re friends now—but I am surprised we hadn’t met sooner. As it turns out, we already had a lot of mutual connections (like Emily Paulsen of Electric Collab, whom I also love dearly!). Devin is a systems strategist and has an uncanny ability to make the “boring” stuff I’ve neglected for years feel exciting. She brings a sense of magic to the complex world of systems and processes and is a delight to know. We’re also both Inbox Zero girlies.

Want to join us? Check out her Inbox Zero Hero guide.

Austin L. Church

Follow for: All things freelance.

Austin is a fellow Tennesseean and freelance founder whom I met via Pollen. I jumped into his pricing office hours this summer and he gave me the most helpful advice I think I’ve gotten all year. I wasn’t surprised that he nailed the advice—he runs Freelance Cake, a community that helps advanced freelancers stay focused and finish what matters most. Austin is a great follow on LinkedIn, writing about everything from scones to haircuts (I promise, this relates to all things business!) and I learn something new from each of his posts.

LaShonda Brown

Follow for: All things tech—from YouTube to Canva.

Tired of people telling you what you should do in your small business? Then LaShonda Brown is someone you need to know! LaShonda is the founder of Bootstrap Biz Advice. She helps service providers (hey, it’s me!) understand what tech tools to use to grow their businesses. LaShonda and I, like many others on this list, kept meeting—first through HypeHQ, and then through a networking event hosted by a mutual friend. Knowing her is knowing you have a hype woman and cheerleader in your corner, no matter what the wild world of business ownership throws your way.

Lex Roman

Follow for: All things growth and newsletters.

This is officially a Lex Roman fan account. If you haven’t started following their work, here’s your sign. Lex and I also connected via Pollen when they led a growth marketing sprint for members. The way Lex talks about marketing has opened my eyes to a new (and much easier!) way of doing things. Whether you’re a writer or creator trying to pay yourself, a service-based business owner attempting to grow your business, or someone just curious about growth marketing, you must follow Lex. Lex is also a common thread between me and three people on this list, so it’s true what they say—great people know great people.

How Do I Meet People?

So, how did I connect with all these incredible people (and more)? I’ve got a mix of tried-and-true strategies and unexpected tricks. I’m sharing the best ones with paid subscribers. Here’s a peek into the communities, networks, and approaches I use to intentionally build relationships that matter.

Subscribe to Brand Burnout to read the rest.