We’ve all been to the “networking event” where everybody smiles, exchanges business cards, and immediately forgets your name. But what if community could look and feel completely different? Weekly gatherings where you’re not just another contact, but a story, a person, a soul showing up? In this episode of The Fully Expressed Podcast, Karenna and Samantha sit down with June An—founder of The Group in San Diego—to explore what it actually takes to build belonging that lasts.
June’s journey isn’t textbook. It’s lived. It’s messy. And it’s powerful. She shares how the environments she grew up in lacked the safe container she needed, and how that absence became the spark for her leadership. This isn’t just about “build a community” — it’s about creating a culture of belonging where people feel seen, heard, and genuinely supported.
Belonging Begins With Self‑Discovery
Before you can create a space where others feel rooted, you must first root yourself. June opens up about the inner work that prepared her to lead—a process of growing into adulthood with and without awareness. The missteps, the awakenings, the “how did I get here?” moments that taught her what belonging really means. Because the truth is: when you lead from a place of unresolved past or little‑seen pain, your community will inherit that. When you heal and show up, it shifts everything.
Real Connection Needs Real Vulnerability
June and the hosts dig into why vulnerability isn’t just trendy—it’s foundational. In a world of highlight reels and polished profiles, the muscle of showing up is often buried under perfection. But when a leader says, “Here’s where I mess up,” the room breathes. The real magic of The Group isn’t that professional entrepreneurs show up—it’s that people show up as people. With their wins and their wounds. With accountability and heart. That’s where connection deepens, trust builds, and your tribe becomes chosen family.
From Local Meetups to Movement‑Mindset
What started as a gathering over coffee in Encinitas has grown into a powerhouse of over 400 entrepreneurs, creatives, and human‑leaders who show up week after week to invest in each other, not just their businesses. According to local media, The Group intentionally stands apart from “traditional networking” by blending emotional intelligence, peer support, and purpose‑driven growth.
June unpacks how building a business‑community hub isn’t about the “what” (events, collaborations) so much as the “who” and the “why.” Because spaces rooted in purpose don’t feel like “work” — they feel like home.
Leading With Intention, Holding Space with Love
Leadership in this modern era isn’t about titles. It’s about energy. Wisdom. A willingness to hold space—not only for growth, but for grief, for question marks, for “what the hell am I doing?” moments. June shares how she navigates this tension: leading forward while staying open to the wildness of human change. We discuss how to create containers that hold ambition and vulnerability. Results and restoration. Because leadership is no longer “boss moves.” It’s soul moves.
Your Invitation to Step Into Community + Leadership
If you’ve ever felt alone in your business, longed for deeper connection beyond “likes,” or wondered how to lead something meaningful instead of just “making it,” this episode invites you in. It’s a blueprint, yes—but also a heartbeat. One that says: you deserve belonging. You can lead with softness and power. You must surround yourself with people who see you. Because when the leader heals, the room follows.
Press play and feel the lift of connection, leadership, and belonging—because you were made for more than solo hustle. You were made to thrive together.
