Unfiltered Connections: Real Talk about Unity without the Drama
Spotlight Series, Women of Influence
In the latest episode of The Echo Effect's ‘Spotlight Series: Women of Influence,’ Sibel McGinnis, founder and moderator of Morning Coffee Meetings along with regular members of her daybreak conversations, discuss how they brew healthy female friendships that span everything from multiple time zones to mixed cultures and varying demographics.
Episode Transcript
Imagine being part of a community where women encourage each other without judgment or competition Sound like a myth? Join us as we pour into the world of sisterhood to grasp how a tribe of women uplift, inspire, and understand each other's struggles, but also celebrate their triumphs.
In our Spotlight series, women of Influence, we shine the light on dynamic inspiring women who embody elegance and excellence in their respective fields as they share their testimony of resilience, passion and perseverance, showcasing the transformative power of determination and innovation.
On this episode of the Echo Effect, unfiltered Connections, Real Talk about Unity without the Drama with Sibel McGinnis, we explore the importance of support among women, discussing how to build strong drama-free relationships that foster growth, creativity, and wellness in our lives, and those we love.
Introduction
"Welcome to The Echo Effect, the official podcast of the Echoes & Vine magazine. I'm Jenny Cline, Editor-in-Chief, and your host. In each episode, we invite you into authentic conversations with inspiring women whose diverse backgrounds embody elegance, resilience, and purpose.
Together, we explore personal stories, hard-earned wisdom, and graceful approaches to self-improvement. Our guests share wisdom on everything from elevated living to shaping culture through the arts, leadership, and community, celebrating the beauty and resilience that women bring to all they do.
Whether you're a student, homemaker, retiring professional, or simply a seeker of inspiration, The Echo Effect is here to connect you to a community of women on this journey of elegant transformation. Join us to be uplifted, empowered, and inspired by voices that celebrate elegance in all forms."
Scene Setting
Sibel
We have the ladies from Morning Coffee Meetings to discuss the importance of unity and support among women. We are often pitted against each other. Dramatic. Catty. Dare we even mention the ‘B’ word?
We are up against an inaccurate trope, a false narrative, and quite frankly, a barrier to connection for meaningful relationships that damage our image among society. The truth is, we build strong sportive circles. Spaces where women can thrive uplift the collective environment for everyone.
In this episode, we will discuss the benefits of female friendships and share practical advice on how to build healthy drama-free relationships.
Bonus Content!
Is your cup overflowing with connection, or are your friendships leaving you feeling empty?
Most of us can’t imagine our mornings without coffee. You shouldn’t imagine your friendships without these 5 coffee-inspired practices. Once you try them, they’ll change the way you brew stronger bonds.
The Impact of Women Supporting Women
Jenny
Ladies, welcome to the show. It is so wonderful to have the opportunity to sit down over a shared cup of coffee like this (albeit virtually), but the important thing is we are here together. Girl talk has always been a cherished pastime, but setting aside time for it, the days do seem to get away from us.
The older we get. I'll never forget my experience in the US after living abroad for so many years, feeling like a blank slate without much of a support system. It was a daunting transition, but one that unexpectedly led to some of the most meaningful connections in my life. I enrolled in etiquette lessons for personal development, and every other week I'd meet up with a group of women who became more than just classmates.
We'd share laughter and vulnerabilities, and I felt seen and heard in a way that was exactly what I needed during that time. In less than a year, we created new traditions and milestones together. It struck me how powerful those friendships were in my life. It made me realize just how important female friendships can be.
I got so much more than I expected from a course, not just something to pass the time or learn new skills, but friendships that developed into chosen family and got me through a difficult time.
Sibel
According to over 20 years of research by Holt-Lunstad: strong social Connections can have a profound impact on our wellbeing.1 With this in mind, I would love to hear from each of you, what role have female relationships played in your life and how have they impacted your personal growth and wellbeing?
Cassandra
I’ll say that I have had work experiences where my supervisor has my back, and when that happens, it's very freeing and your work productivity soars. You also feel much happier at work. something guys say when they have their best buddies, guys having their back, but it turns out it also applies to women.
So, I think it's a very profound thing, and I wish more people have this experience of having people they report to having their back, really supporting them on their side.
Heather
I can certainly relate to Cassandra's point in the workplace, having those female friendships that are supportive. I've also had both. On a personal side, I've been the type who has a very small select group of friends. As I look back over different phases of my life, I kind of have one or two from each phase.
One of my longest-term best friends was somebody who I met through guys that we were dating. They were friends, we were girlfriends. The guys are long gone. We are still friends, and it has been nearly 30 years.
Sibel
In my experience over the years with Morning Coffee Meetings and in life, I think I was very lucky with friends. Over the years we've shared a lot of things that matter to us.
We weren't able to share these things in our close circle with family and friends because often we are judged or overlooked with our stories. Because the closest ones to us, usually don't see the signs of struggle or signs of joy as much as they see the criticizing points. With morning coffee, I feel so confident that I can share anything with the circle of women I have, and I wouldn't be judged for any of it.
In fact, everyone in that meeting would be supporting us. Helping me to become the best version of myself. So I'm very happy actually, that I created this circle of friends and eventually it turned into a supportive group of ladies that really care for each other.
Elif
Growing up I was very close to my dad. That made me more relatable to men. I had male friends during my early teenager years. And later, I got into a male dominant work environment, which made me even more relatable to the men. However, looking back I see that throughout all these times, even though I found myself more relatable to the males.
My female friends were always my anchor. They were my fixed point of the compass that I could go back anytime without any judgment. I knew that they wouldn't judge me no matter what. Whenever I got stuck in any situation and I was navigating a turning point, my female friends always side by me and they were helping during those times.
This is so near and dear to me, and I am giving this idea to my kids as well. My 19-year-old son once told me a couple years ago, referencing to one of my childhood female friends, that he wanted to have a very strong friendship with one of his friends, just like our friendship.
I am so glad that I set the example to him, showing how friendships are not luxury, but a need.
Jenny
I love Elif, that you are setting the example for men. It's not often we hear them say that at such a young age. That's so promising. We have fought for generations to be in that position where they're taking advice from us, not begrudgingly, but he's looking at you with admiration. To respect other women, it begins at home by respecting his mother.
You're the one that's giving him unconditional love. It's very hard for men to grow a sense of respect for women if it doesn't begin at home.
Would anyone else like to talk about how their dynamics changed with women, what your personal experiences are with female friendships?
Are they healthy? Are they catty? Do they fit the stereotype? Are they tropes?
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Agata
When I think about my adult friendships up until Morning Coffee, it was mostly friends from school. It feels like those friendships where thanks to fate, right? It's so random to find yourself in the same class or school.
Up until high school, I wasn't very selective. I was just accepting things as they were. As I started to be interested in personal development, this is where I started: to clear toxic friendships and toxic vibes from people. I'm happy to say many of the friendships from high school survived up until today.
But indeed, uh, I have to say I find it difficult to meet new friends now, there is a neighbor possibility, but as for work... I have this core belief: I shouldn't become too intimate in my relationships with coworkers because there can be some personal disagreement and it can affect work. I just do everything to avoid that happening. In my experience, the best way to avoid this type of situation is to have strong boundaries at work and don't become too friendly.
The Complexities of Sisterhood: Navigating Conflict and Relational Aggression
Jenny
I love that you mentioned that because we talk about healthy relationships and friendships, but I do want to get into the tension that is caused in relationships.
I've noticed that in my own life, women's relationships can be some of the most rewarding and supportive, but they can also be complex and challenging. I have had friendships where women can be brutally dismissive when misunderstandings can lead to hurt feelings and distance. I've Been in situations as if I am competing with a fake image or false narrative for acceptance and validation, and I've seen how this can create tension and conflict.
What's your advice when you feel like this is happening to you or you see it with someone else?
Cassandra
A lot of people will relate when I say that I'm not very good at handling this. A lot of times it is far easier to stonewall people when things get heated. And patience is a virtue that has unfortunately been buried.
When things get heated up, it is usually best way to cool down first because you can't solve problems when both people are mad. So give it some time, then the answers will come.
Yes, you may step away, but to stonewall or lash out, both of which you may regret later on. I'm saying this coming from a point of view where I'm not perfect in handling all situations, but I think this is a guiding light forward.
Sibel
Honestly, when I think about my challenges with female friends, I agree with her. We always have this urge to just lash out and say whatever we feel like, which is in a sense, admirable because we are being honest to ourselves. However, in the sense of having good relationships and conversations, I think it's better that we wait a little bit before we speak.
You actually say the worst things when you are angry at someone. If you think about what you are going to say for a little bit. Your feelings, your emotions calm down, and you have better choices of words or how you express yourself in general. One of the things I always try to do is to rehearse my conversation and think about from a perspective that I can find the middle ground, because there will always be two perspectives, if not more in a disagreement.
If you only focus on your side of the story, you'll always get it wrong. If you only focus on the other person's perspective, you will also get it wrong. But if you can find a middle ground and understand the best outcome for everybody, I think you manage the situations a little better.
In my case, I have a lot of friends that I know from different circles. To Agata's point, before Morning Coffee, we weren't as connected internationally as before. Obviously, there are different cultures, different beliefs, different understandings of the same things. So, it's very hard to manage and be acceptable by the community with what you are, who you are, and how you go about life.
I think we did a very good job of streamlining that process. One of the famous phrases we always use is, don't just say: I disagree. I think you're wrong. Instead, we say: Let me share my opinion on it. So, I am not dismissing you at all. I'm just sharing my opinion, and I will continue to use that phrase throughout my life.
That's one of the things I learned from my Morning Coffee community.
Heather
I absolutely agree with pause, breathe, wait, and give it time. I think it's important to be willing to be the first person to approach the other when there is a disagreement or tension or something just feels off. With that, I think it's very important to be equally aware of whether or not the other person's going to be receptive because we may have stepped away and taken the time to cool off, compose our thoughts, consider the other person's perspective.
We also have to be prepared for the fact that they may not have yet, and they may be completely unreceptive. That can have a significant impact on whether or not an attempt to mend the divide will be successful. I think we also have to be prepared when going into a situation like that with the fact that they may have no interest in mending the divide for whatever reason.
That can be very difficult, especially if it is somebody in our closer female circles. I'm speaking unfortunately from experience here. But if you go in prepared for the worst but hope for the best sort of thing, being very sensitive to whether or not they're going to be receptive or they've had enough time. The environment can be key to that as well. It's worth making the effort, even if it's not always successful.
Though, I will say, more times than not, I've had success with that. Sometimes you just have to realize that they were there for a time and both parties have to move on.
Jenny
Heather, my grandmother used to say that people will come in your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime, and I think I've had more heartache, more heartbreak, from letting go of the women in my life, whether that was, mutual, one-sided, or something completely outside of my control.
Um, it's just, it makes me emotional just thinking about the women that I've lost in my life because it's just different. It definitely took me longer to get over losing a female friendship than any relationship with a guy that I was ever with. It just, it, it hurts differently.
Any woman out there, I think, can understand that. That's important what you say because there can be a lot of self-sabotage when we lose these relationships. Not only the conflict that happens during it, but the aftermath. You have to recognize the difference between what you can do differently. What you could do better. and What needs to change.
And then some things are not about you at all.
Elif
I have come to the consensus, after a certain age, I don't have to be very close friends with everybody. It is okay not to be liked; not to be very close. All my relationship circles are nested circles between each other. My family and very close friends are in the center.
It is okay to have the disagreements. Sometimes we just need to put somebody from inner circle to the outer circle based on where they are positioned through our lifespans.
Just like your grandma said, Jenny, maybe they were here just for a season.
They can be in the inner circle and if that season is over, I can move slightly over to the outer circle. In the past, the most heartbreaking part for me, and I had hard time understanding that. Sometimes, my female friends, some of them would go cold shoulder, and I, I wouldn't understand the reasoning behind it.
Now when that happens, I’m questioning: what is she not happy about her life? Something bothers her, if there's no big issue between us. If she's showing me cold shoulder, there must be something making her upset in her life. Either she's not happy with her family life, work life, relationship to herself, or something bothers her that this is her outlet to show it.
That gave me a little bit more peace. It is just like you said, Heather, it is not always about us. Sometimes there are things going on in other person's life and I cannot control that. And it is okay. It is okay to leave that person at the outside of the circle.
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Agata
I agree. Definitely. The rupture of a female friendship hurts way more than any boyfriend breakup, you know? I feel like between female friends, we are just so emotionally between us. We share things that we wouldn't share with men. Any trust issue with a female friend hurts so much more.
In case of any conflict situation, my strategy is not to get into accusation. If I feel like someone is accusing me, I try to take my distance and think about her feelings.
Don't really take it personally at first. Just focus on her. Let her know that I feel her. I see what she means. Most of the time, it's resolving the conflict already, the fact that I'm not fighting back. I'm saying I hear you and I'm sorry that you feel this way.
And then the pressure seems to go out and then we can talk facts later.
Sibel
You know, with morning coffee I just spoke from my heart. The preparation comes from the years of experience I had in training, public speaking, and corporate settings.
So this podcast, us having this kind of conversation without a lot of planning, fits right into the goal with Morning Coffee. There's research that I wanted to share by Underwood & Ehrenreich that women's friendships can be particularly vulnerable to relational aggression, which can include behaviors like social exclusion, gossip, and manipulation.3 This fits right into what we were just talking about. According to a study published in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, women who experience relational aggression in their friendships may be more likely to experience anxiety, depression, and decreased self-esteem.2
Like Agata said, it hurts more when female friendships are hurt by certain aspects, whether it's personal, social, whatever that may be. But we have to acknowledge the need for empathy and understanding in our friendships, especially when conflicts and misunderstandings arise.
People go through a lot of things. Life is busy. Life is very challenging for a lot of people.
It's important to acknowledge before we let our mind start creating scenarios. Communication is the key here. I know some of my friendships are still in place because of the communication I had with them.
I want to remind everybody one more time, if a friendship is coming to end of its season and you know it, instead of having feelings that are not spoken out, having a meaningful conversation and trying to understand both sides will help.
Maybe even salvage the friendship. Research indicates that people often think about what other people are thinking about them. Think about this for a second, it's complicated in a way, but I'm worried about what Jenny is thinking about me, and Jenny is worried about what I think about her.
To a point that we can never worry about what we actually think about that person. Maybe we should stop that inner voice and start having real conversations with friends.
Jenny
Naturally I have to comment. It's true. I mentioned that a little bit about self-sabotage to Heather, and that you create these conversations in your head that haven't actually happened.
You make up what's happening on the other side because I think, at least for me, I'm definitely more critical and harsh to myself because I am a people pleaser. I'm a fixer and I'm an empath. All of these things… My whole life's mantra because of what I went through in my adolescence was to do no harm. In trying not to harm others, I oftentimes end up hurting myself.
By doing that because I retreat into myself, I may pull back. I'm not as talkative. What may have been, why did you cancel plans last weekend? And I am thinking the worst about myself and trying to fix it, and this person maybe doesn't want to be around me, or I did something wrong. Instead of just saying, oh! Was it because your car broke down? Because maybe that's what it was.
Then, now that person is also thinking, why doesn't she talk to me as much as she did? Or she doesn't seem as bubbly as she normally does. Something is off. So, there's this thing happening in the middle that doesn't even need to exist.
It's creating this distance that wouldn't have been there otherwise all because of the misunderstanding that you made up.
Sibel
It's time to ask one of our ladies, did you ever experience a friendship falling apart because of misunderstandings?
Cassandra
Oh, yeah, sure. I had this best friend from university. We disagreed over something. But I blocked her, and I unblocked her. I have strong opinions against it. She has strong opinions for it. And she's like, it doesn't make sense to her that, that I blocked her.
After that, the conversation went dead. Even after I tried to reach out to her several times. So, it happens.
Heather
From late high school to post high school, there was a girl that I had been friends with, goodness, probably since we were about eight, seven, somewhere in there.
Over the years, we managed to maintain this friendship. We never went to the same school. It was more by proximity. She lived in the neighborhood, and we met playing in the street back when kids used to do that.
When we hit high school, the dynamic changed a bit. She was making new friends in her high school. I had friends in my high school. The first year or so that wasn't really an issue.
I think it was our junior year. She made a new friend, and the other girl I think did not like me or felt threatened by me or something. Before I knew, I was pushed to that outer circle as, Elif, if my might say. There wasn't like a particular falling out, it was just a shift in the dynamic and it just didn't work anymore. And they had proximity every day doing the things they were doing.
Then we just drifted apart.
We tried to resume the friendship a couple times.
I did go to her wedding a few years later, but that was the last time I saw her. And this was a very long time ago. So sometimes it just happens. That one was my first big female friend heartbreak. I still look back at it sometimes, could I have done anything different? I don't think so, because life just changes us and we move on.
I think it gets easier as you get older. But that first one I think is always the hardest. Kind of like your first heartbreak with, a romantic partner. Yeah, it was rough.
Sibel
Absolutely. Thank you so much for sharing Heather. As you get older, you handle these situations a little better because you build support systems. You have family members, you have friends that support you in heartbreaks.
With Morning Coffee, we did a great job of building this community of support. Over the years, some of us have been through a lot of challenges. We were able to reunite in the meetings and talk about these things.
When I moved out of my big beautiful house and bought this fixer upper, it was really tough for me. When I had my son, I went through a whole change of feelings, schedule shifts, and life changes.
You ladies were always there. As women, we need that support. We need other ladies who will be there no matter what. I really appreciate that. Over the years, you have been the greatest support for me that I can always fall back on. Thank you.
Elif
I had up and downs with some of my very close friends over the years. One significant one was not based on a misunderstanding but based on a disagreement on the parenting style. I can be sometimes controversial. I like debating concepts.
I enjoy learning from those conversations, but not everyone likes that. In one of my friendships, we had a disagreement on a parenting subject. That was the end of my season in her life. She needed to take a break from me and she stepped back. I was perfectly fine with that because she needed distance.
Three years later she came to me and she said, yes, we had the disagreement. But I'm over it. I still disagree with you, but I miss you. So, that was the reunion, and I really enjoyed our reconnection.
Actually, I like disagreements because I feel like it is growing the relationships.
Jenny
That makes a lot of sense, Elif because without tension, it almost tests the relationship, how do you know what kind of quality it has?
If everything is easy, if things are simple and the relationship is not challenged, like a romantic relationship or a professional relationship - challenges really show you: how are we going to get through this? How well do we work with one another? When things are so easygoing, you can't really tell if that's just having fun. We've all heard that: "Just having fun." In some relationships and that's not really anything of substance.
How is it going to last over the years? I think it's been three and a half years that I've been part of Morning Coffee. Sibel mentioned we've all been through some challenges, whether that's moves, new births. There's just been a lot. Women have come and gone, whether it was geographically that we were separated, that they weren't able to come back. You feel that when their presence is no longer there. You definitely notice.
Sibel
I think it's safe to say that these loving acts of kindness and presence have made an impact on all of us.
Jenny
I look at all of you now and it's unimaginable to me that there was once a time I didn't know your names or faces. My new reality is, I can't think of spending my Saturday mornings without you, and it's been that way for nearly four years. I think about how we were always there for each other, through every milestone, every holiday, and all the everyday ordinary miracles in between. Like saying good morning to each other's spouses and kids and fur babies as they pop in the frame some mornings. There is no one else like you, and I can't imagine a world without you in it.
Sibel
Thank you, Jenny. So with morning coffee, one thing we did well is consistency.
Over the challenging times in my life, Morning Coffee Meetings were the only thing I showed up no matter what, and especially in the last year. I believe we only canceled once or twice because I wasn't feeling well, but I always showed up and I know you showed up.
I think consistency is key with friendships and sometimes we get overwhelmed. There's a lot of things happening in everybody's life and you feel like, I will respond to that text message later. Which I confess I do with Jenny, but I know she gets it. If you don't receive an immediate answer to your question with a text message, you have the control over what you think about it.
With Jenny and I, I know she gets me because I'm so busy and I feel overwhelmed with a lot of responsibilities in my life, but at the end of the day, when I go back to her messages, I make sure that I explain my feelings and my thinking so she knows that I'm not bluntly ignoring her.
This is one example only. But everything in life, if you receive a good gesture, don't wait on it. Make sure you acknowledge it, make sure you say something nice back. I think one of the struggles with ladies is that we get so overwhelmed, we overlook good moments. Try to catch those good moments because Jenny is doing an incredible job with this.
When we have a birthday... we have a special moment in Morning Coffee... Someone accomplishes something that we need to celebrate. Jenny is right there to say the right things from the bottom of her heart. Not just made-up words to make you feel good about yourself. I just appreciate it so much.
I think we all can learn from her in the sense of how to follow up. How to make someone feel special or cared for.
Prioritizing the Women Who Matter
Jenny
That leads me the last question that I had for you ladies today. What do we do to nurture these relationships to make them grow? How do we sustain them? What makes it work? We talked about what happens when there's conflict, but then how do we create all the good vibes and keep that energy going so that they do stay healthy, that we can rely on these relationships and they remain supportive. Not just what we get out of it, but what are we putting into it as well to ensure that these relationships survive?
Elif
When I look at my friends, I share different things with all of them. With my Morning Coffee friends, we share self-improvement, self-care. Some of my friends, I share my career level issues. Some other friends, I share more on parenting. Some of them are emotional connection, and this is on a rotation.
I feel like my friendship tribe is my therapy circle around me. I need to invest to give them the same feeling while they are also giving me support in different aspects. So I try to make time.
It is challenging because not only am I busy, my friends are also busy. For example, yesterday I was with two of my friends and we had to schedule that gathering a month before.
While I'm juggling so many things, sometimes I drop the ball. So I need to really plan ahead. We truly enjoyed our time, so it is all planning and investing.
Agata
Unfortunately, with adult friendships, consistency is a real challenge. It's really hard to keep up with everyone. To do a weekly checkup like we do. It’s an exception in my life too, as such regular and consistent contact with you ladies.
But what I think is really important: the quality, the presence, the attention that we put in the little time we have to share together is key.
When I with my friends, I really try to be there. I don't touch my phone. I give them full attention, full presence. I really listen an I remember what they say. I try to memorize as much as possible and make them feel heard. And I think it's making up for the last time we have together.
Sibel
Agata, you're really, spot on. We have to leave everything behind and focus on that moment only. It's very difficult in the technology era not to check your phone or receive a notification and get distracted.
Cassandra
Oh yes. All the ladies have shared very valuable advice.
Being present is a must if we want to have quality female friendships. I have first handedly experienced the transience of female relationships; they come and go. Even the good ones.
So being present is probably the best way to mind the wisdom and cherish the good memories that are there or maybe learn from.
I've also been reading some very heartbreaking stories of people passing away. They say some people are here today and gone the next. So, it's all the more important; live in the here and now.
Heather
I've literally just been thinking about this over the past week. I've had a challenging summer personally. So, I have been poor on my contact with friends and family across the board.
Thankfully long-term friends, including you ladies, they understand. They know I unfortunately have some phases like this for various reasons, but I have been thinking because of that to try to schedule. Morning Coffee is a perfect example.
Whether it's phone calls, zoom, whatever, with some very long term, but more distant friends. Even if it's once a quarter, once a month. Where it's possible, set a standing date with those people who are important to you and just plan it. Put it on the calendar and make it happen.
Otherwise, it's too easy to do what I did this summer. Before you know it, a month, two months have gone by you've lost touch with people. That is not the best thing for any of us. We need those connection points even at the times we feel like all we want is to be on our own and deal with whatever we have going on.
Collective vs Community: Connections Across Life Stages and Beyond Traditional Boundaries
Jenny
Morning Coffee has provided this dynamic for us to have healthy relationships, how we use that in our everyday lives, and challenges that we faced that we've been able to overcome by what we've learned from morning coffee.
Sibel
This is something we created years ago and it seemed to be working for all the ladies. So I appreciate you showing up and seeing the goodness in it together.
Bye ladies.
Closing Segment
Jenny
Ladies, thank you for your time and insights today to our audience. Thank you for tuning in. If you'd like to learn more about Sibel, please visit Arbor of the Vine.com for the latest issue and read her feature article, "Unfiltered Connections, Real Talk about Unity without the Drama." Connect with her at Buy Me a Coffee.com/Morning Coffee Meetings to join her and all of the ladies.
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Sibel
Meet us for Morning Coffee for our virtual gatherings where women share stories, experiences, and inspiration through guided discussions and insightful conversations, building relationships in a sportive community.
You can join at buymeacoffee.com/morningcoffeemeetings
Let's build a positive environment that fosters growth, creativity, and wellness.
When the prevailing archetype insists on portraying women as rivals—catty, dramatic, incapable of sustaining trust—it takes a certain kind of courage to rise above the watercooler gossip. This episode of The Echo Effect’s Spotlight Series gathers Sibel McGinnis and the women of Morning Coffee discussing how deliberate connection sustains healthy, female friendships.
Article by Jenny Cline, Interview co-hosted with Sibel McGinnis, entrepreneur, corporate trainer, and founder of Morning Coffee Meetings
Setting the Table
Normally, corporate training with Sibel McGinnis involves a boardroom pitch or a polished stage speech. Except for Saturday mornings, when guidance begins outside the office with a mic and a mug.
For the ladies of Morning Coffee Meetings, friendship isn’t something you can brew in an instant. It’s their morning ritual, a familiar cup that sustains the day. Week after week, international members gather not to compete, but to confide. In their presence, shared struggle and triumph steep together into the perfect blend. The vision they brought to life: a sisterhood grounded in authenticity, not controversy.
Just browsing? A follower? If you felt in tune with our message—even for a moment—it only takes seconds to become a free subscriber, and that tells us our work reached you. When you become an E.V.E. (Echoes & Vine Enthusiast), you help sustain women-centered spaces for elegance, growth, and presence.
Anchors and Allies
Research supports what these women know instinctively: strong social ties improve health, resilience, and even longevity. Guest, Cassandra, described workplace support from a female supervisor as:
“Freeing—your productivity soars because you know someone has your back.”
Another likened her decades-long friendship to “chosen family,” proof that not every bond fits the tired stereotypes.
Sifting Complexities
They do not sentimentalize loss. Friendships shift—sometimes by drift, sometimes by disagreement—and the hurt can be sharp. One woman observes that people arrive:
“For a reason, a season, or a lifetime.”
Heather acknowledges that losing a female friendship can wound more than a romantic breakup. The group’s counsel is plain: give heated moments time, be the one to reach out when you can, and accept that not every ending demands closure.
No friendship, however strong, is free from challenge. Misunderstandings, relational aggression, and unspoken expectations can fracture even the deepest ties. These women do not shy from speaking about conflict, missteps, and even heartbreak. But rather than offer tidy formulas or universal fixes, they leave us with an open question: how do we decide which relationships deserve the daily pour of attention, and which ones must be gently set down?
She goes on to say:
“Sometimes you just have to realize they were there for a time.”
That question is not fully answered here — nor should it be. The richness lies in the unscripted moments you’ll only hear in the full conversation, where each woman’s story adds another flavorful note.
A Recipe for Connection
If there is one main takeaway from their story, it’s the power of consistency as the foundation for healthy, lasting female friendships. “Over the challenging times in my life, Morning Coffee Meetings were the only thing I showed up for, no matter what,” Sibel says.
“I believe consistency is key with friendships.”
Others reflect on the same truth: nurturing relationships takes deliberate attention. A turned-off phone, a remembered detail, a birthday celebrated without fail… These small acts accumulate into something enduring.
What Sibel has established illustrates this core message: more than a networking group, her creation is a counter-narrative to a world eager to pit women against one another.
Her simple yet vital recipe reflects the main theme:
Prioritize presence.
Choose compassion over assumption.
Accept that some friendships, like a discerning palate, evolve naturally over time.
These, above all, sustain unity without drama.
Listen to The Echo Effect’s Spotlight Series: Women of Influence and hear the full conversation with Sibel McGinnis and the women of Morning Coffee as they discuss the rituals, the resilience, and the reality of making healthy female friendships a priority.
Tune in on September 17th for the full podcast with Sibel McGinnis on The Echo Effect's 'Spotlight Series: Women of Influence,' only on Spotify.
Bonus Content!
Is your cup overflowing with connection, or are your friendships leaving you feeling empty?
Most of us can’t imagine our mornings without coffee. You shouldn’t imagine your friendships without these 5 coffee-inspired practices. Once you try them, they’ll change the way you brew stronger bonds.
Searching for a meaningful way to gather your friends or team and explore new ideas, share perspectives, and grow together?
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Podcast Participants
Jenny Cline, Host & Editor-in-Chief
Once a brand ambassador, now an editorial helmswoman and serial dot-connector. I've worked in policy, radio, and education, but the heart of my work is always the same. Ensure people have a seat at the table. Preferably with tea. And biscuits. The good kind.
Sibel McGinnis, Co-host & Subject Matter Specialist
Some people do brunch. I do breakthroughs – fresh soft skills with strong impact and a swirl of good conversation. I'm Sibel, a corporate trainer, community builder, and founder of Morning Coffee meetings. Arrive with coffee; stay for the connection.
Agata R.
Residing in Paris, Agata is a dietitian specializing in longevity. She researches innovative nutritional approaches to extend lifespan and healthspan. Agata travels extensively, exploring nutrition-related traditions across cultures, and shares her insights on longevityingredient.com
Cassandra L.
Based in Hong Kong, Cassandra is a writer, artist, musician, and entrepreneur who enjoys travelling. She is writing her next book and will announce details on her blog leeyieng.com
Elif T.
Engineer of manufacturing systems by day, negotiator of vegetable treaties by night. As a mom balancing the very different worlds of elementary school and college, I’ve learned that parenthood is its own epic saga—full of plot twists, cliffhangers, and the occasional comedy. I recharge with historical fiction, hikes that clear the mind, and deep conversations with friends that stretch as wide and winding as mountain trails. If it involves problem-solving, fresh air, or a story worth getting lost in, I’m there.
Heather B.
When not immersed in academics, Heather enjoys exploring diverse cultures through international travel, broadening her understanding of the world. Her blend of military service, scholastic rigor, and political curiosity informs her approach to challenges and opportunities.
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