This episode is presented in partnership with Mastercard Canada. Listen now and join the Mastercard Small Business Community—a network built to help entrepreneurs learn, grow, and connect. Sign up at mastercard.ca/smallbusiness.

What if networking wasn’t transactional, intimidating, or exclusive—but reimagined as a safe, empowering, and welcoming experience for ambitious women? That’s the mission behind Monday Girl, a community-driven platform co-founded by Rachel Wong that’s reshaping how the next generation of women professionals connect, grow, and succeed.

In this episode of Mission Critical, Lance sits down with Rachel to explore the personal story and social experiment that launched Monday Girl, the challenges of unlearning outdated rules in entrepreneurship, and the powerful role of community in business. From bootstrapping the business as a side hustle to scaling a membership of over 350,000 across North America, Rachel offers candid reflections on vulnerability, imposter syndrome, and what real support for women founders looks like in today’s ecosystem.

Whether you’re building your own business or searching for your people, Rachel’s insights on building with heart, purpose, and momentum will leave you inspired to take your next bold step.

Key Takeaways:

• The gendered dynamics of networking and how Monday Girl is rewriting the script.
• Why Rachel believes you should “hate your first version”—and keep building anyway.
• The power of community as a product—and why vulnerability can be a superpower.
• How the idea of success is shifting from unicorns and venture capital to slow, sustainable growth.
• The underestimated importance of peer mentorship and seeing role models who reflect your story.