Connection and Community for Women Business Owners: Teresa Howes on Creating Twine

mgraziano45
Apr 28
3 min read

On this episode of Adventures in Business, we welcome back a returning guest and serial entrepreneur, Teresa Howes. Teresa is a pioneer in the digital space—she was blogging and influencing before the word “influencer” was even a thing. Now, she’s the founder of Twine, a community built by women in business for women in business.

What Is Twine?

As Mandi put it, "What is Twine and why do we need it?"

Twine is a dual-purpose community. On one side, it’s a space for passion-driven solopreneurs and micro-business owners—women who are juggling countless roles and working tirelessly to bring their expertise to the world. On the other side, it's a way to connect those women with conscious consumers who need exactly what they offer.

In her words, Twine is “a community for women, by women in business, powered by intentional and impactful experiences.” At its heart, it’s all about real connection, mutual support, and visibility for women entrepreneurs.

From Burnout to Breakthrough

Teresa knows firsthand how lonely the entrepreneur journey can be. She’s built two impactful and profitable businesses in the health and wellness space—and walked away from both. Not because they failed, but because she felt isolated and burned out.

“I didn’t have a board of directors. I didn’t have a boss. I didn’t have a team to bounce ideas off of,” she explained. “I loved what I was doing and loved my customers, but I ended up feeling really disconnected.”

That disconnect and lack of support are what inspired her to create something different. Teresa wanted to build a “third space”—not work, not family, but somewhere business owners could go to feel seen, heard, and refueled. Twine is that space.

The Epidemic of Loneliness

Mandi brought up a powerful point: loneliness has become an epidemic, as officially declared by the World Health Organization. And it hits entrepreneurs especially hard.

Teresa agrees. “There’s no replacement for real, human connection,” she said. “You can go a week without actually seeing anyone face-to-face and still get your groceries, run your business, and meet your basic needs. But you can’t get that energy that comes from being in a room with people who get you.”

That’s why the in-person element is core to Twine. Yes, there’s an online component for convenience—but Teresa is passionate about bringing women together in real life, with regular events that keep the fire of motivation and connection burning.

What’s Next for Twine?

Teresa shared how she’s intentionally growing Twine by leaning into relationships, collaborations, and authentic conversations. At the time of recording, she was just getting started—her first event was around the corner, the community had only just opened, and the messaging was still in the works. But the mission was already clear: create a space where women can come together, support one another, and amplify each other's work.

“There are a bazillion women-in-business things you could join,” Teresa said. “But I think there’s something unique about Twine—we’re really connecting women to rad, women-owned businesses. And women want to support other women. That’s just kind of inherent.”

To grow, Teresa is tapping into her community, encouraging them to share organically, and using tools like social media and podcasts to build momentum. She’s also staying local for now, focusing her energy on growing a strong Southern California pod before expanding elsewhere.

Feature Founder Interviews

And one of the most fun ways she’s spreading the word? Feature Founder Interviews.

Teresa has started sitting down with fellow women business owners—many of whom she already knows personally—to highlight their stories. She asks simple but thoughtful questions: What inspired you to start your business? What’s the hardest part? Who supports you when things get tough?

What started as casual conversations has turned into a powerful storytelling series that showcases the diversity and depth of women entrepreneurs. Teresa’s favorite insight so far? Nearly everyone talks about the value of flexibility, but it means something different to each founder. For some, it’s about scheduling freedom. For others, it’s about emotional bandwidth or the ability to choose the kind of work they take on.

Teresa’s goal is to complete 100 of these interviews—and she’s already learned so much just from the first few.

Creating a Board of Directors

Another powerful move Teresa made early on? Creating a personal board of directors.

While we often associate “boards” with big corporations, Teresa knew from past experience that building something community-focused couldn’t happen in isolation. So she asked three incredible women to join her as a sounding board for strategy, vision, and support—including Mandi herself!

“It was a little uncomfortable to ask at first,” Teresa admitted. “But I knew I couldn’t do this alone. And when they all gave me such enthusiastic yeses, it gave me the confidence that this really matters.”