As business circumstances shift, workplaces must also adapt, necessitating new types of leaders with the appropriate skills and mindset. Due to its significant impact on competitiveness and profitability, companies seeking to safeguard their business's future must prioritize leadership development.   In this episode, we speak with Alex West Steinman, the founder, CEO, and partner of The Coven. The Coven is a premier workspace and community for women, non-binary individuals, and trans folks in Minneapolis St. Paul. Alex also reflects on her personal journey of transitioning from a freelancer to an entrepreneur and co-founding The Coven with a group of friends in 2016. Their vision was to establish a secure and empowering workspace that would benefit their demographic. Furthermore, Alex emphasizes the advantages of creating a women-centric workplace environment and integrating technology into their business.   If your company is looking to scale its AI initiatives, head over to Tesoro AI (www.tesoroai.com). We are experts in AI strategy, staff augmentation, and AI product development.  Founder Bio:  Alex West Steinman is co-founder of The Coven, one of the world’s premier community and workspaces with two locations in Minneapolis St. Paul, a thriving online community and new franchise model to tap into the collective wisdom of entrepreneurs across the country to open more inclusive spaces for radical leaders.   Before she became an entrepreneur herself, Alex served as a communications director for both global brands and local politicians and is a powerhouse when it comes to PR.  But beyond what she can do, is why she does it: Alex has a genuine enjoyment of people, a dedication to the economic empowerment and advancement of women, and a passion for telling the stories of underestimated communities.   In no particular order, Alex loves her two kids, husband, Oprah, and Beyonce. You can find her giving weight to exciting topics and holding space for the community.   02:38 Alex West professional background before The Coven 04:30 making the leap from freelancer to entrepreneur 07:21 Designing a safe and brave space for women, non-binary, and transgender folks  11:12 Exploring the benefits of a women-centric workplace environment 14:35 Benefits of coworking and incorporating software into the business 17:53 Coworking space digital community development during the pandemic 21:21 Value of digital community platforms for coworking spaces 24:34 Opening and raising capital for coworking space 28:27 Crowdfunding challenges for B2B products 30:28 raising funds for a preceding round 33:03 The process of fundraising for a startup 37:37 conversation on raising funds for a co-working space 41:08 How to get in contact with The Coven team Resources Company website: https://www.thecoven.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecoven.co/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thecovenco/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecovenco