About the Founder
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When Basile Lemba first arrived in Virginia, he set out to start a business. Although he was actively engaging in the community and attending networking events, he found it challenging to build meaningful business connections. Something was missing—but it would take time, experience, and insight to uncover exactly what that was.
Basile was born in Cameroon, West Africa, and moved to France at the age of 14. After completing high school, he enrolled at the prestigious Académie des Beaux-Arts, where he studied Architecture. He later spent two years working at an architectural design studio before accepting a position with a nonprofit organization in Florida, USA. There, he received comprehensive training in executive and administrative leadership and went on to serve as a Senior Executive, overseeing departments such as Public Relations, Marketing, Sales & Promotions, Procurement & Delivery, and more. After ten years in Florida, Basile relocated to Northern Virginia to launch his own business ventures. While attending local business networking events, he noticed a recurring problem: although people were gathering, the events lacked structure and purpose, leaving many participants unfulfilled. Upon closer analysis, Basile identified a deeper issue—not in the people, but in the way networking events were being organized. |
Basile LembaProfessor of the
"Science of Networking" & “Networking for Profits” (accredited by George Mason University) Founder BL Breakfast Club ™ Concept Creator BL Expo™ International Leader; Authority in Networking; Executive Producer; Networking Consultant; Author; Coach; Speaker; Host; |
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Motivated to make a difference, Basile began developing and testing practical methods to improve the networking experience. He envisioned events that prioritized the needs of attendees—where business owners could engage meaningfully, both in group settings and one-on-one, and leave feeling accomplished and connected. This vision led to the founding of the BL Networking Breakfast Club. From the start, the events were warmly received, and attendees soon requested additional opportunities to showcase their businesses. In response, Basile launched the BL Small Business Expo, a bi-annual event that has now been running for 21 consecutive years.
However, just a few months into launching the Breakfast Club, a significant incident occurred between two attendees, leaving one visibly upset. Determined to ensure no guest ever left an event dissatisfied, Basile thoroughly investigated the situation. What he discovered was transformational: many people simply didn’t know how to network effectively.
This realization led to a broader investigation. While most adults attend driving school before getting behind the wheel (91% of the U.S. adult population holds a driver's license, according to the Department of Transportation), there was no equivalent training for networking—a vital skill in business.
Over the next two decades, while continuing to host networking events and expos, Basile dedicated himself to studying, codifying, and refining networking into a teachable discipline. This work culminated in the creation of the BL Networking Institute, which now offers a comprehensive curriculum built on clearly defined principles, best practices, and a proven methodology.
The Institute’s flagship course, Networking for Profits, has been officially accredited by George Mason University, enabling students to earn college credit and professionals to count it toward continuing education requirements. The Institute has also developed advanced training programs for individuals and corporations, available both in-person and online.
In summary, Basile Lemba is a pioneer in the field of professional networking. Through years of research and real-world experience, he has created a science of networking that is practical, effective, and accessible. Today, he is committed to helping small businesses and professionals achieve financial growth and personal development by equipping them with the tools to network with purpose and success.
However, just a few months into launching the Breakfast Club, a significant incident occurred between two attendees, leaving one visibly upset. Determined to ensure no guest ever left an event dissatisfied, Basile thoroughly investigated the situation. What he discovered was transformational: many people simply didn’t know how to network effectively.
This realization led to a broader investigation. While most adults attend driving school before getting behind the wheel (91% of the U.S. adult population holds a driver's license, according to the Department of Transportation), there was no equivalent training for networking—a vital skill in business.
Over the next two decades, while continuing to host networking events and expos, Basile dedicated himself to studying, codifying, and refining networking into a teachable discipline. This work culminated in the creation of the BL Networking Institute, which now offers a comprehensive curriculum built on clearly defined principles, best practices, and a proven methodology.
The Institute’s flagship course, Networking for Profits, has been officially accredited by George Mason University, enabling students to earn college credit and professionals to count it toward continuing education requirements. The Institute has also developed advanced training programs for individuals and corporations, available both in-person and online.
In summary, Basile Lemba is a pioneer in the field of professional networking. Through years of research and real-world experience, he has created a science of networking that is practical, effective, and accessible. Today, he is committed to helping small businesses and professionals achieve financial growth and personal development by equipping them with the tools to network with purpose and success.
