A couple of months ago I had the opportunity to meet with other female business owners as part of a newly forming networking group in Hamilton.
Roadworks meant it took longer to get there than I had anticipated and I battled finding a park in the big smoke, but I made it.
And I had a nice time. The Tank salad was delicious. My boy Otis charmed everyone, and I scored extra brownie points because I happened to be wearing a dress made by Hayley Addison from Addison Clothing who was there too. No better way to show your support of small NZ business than by sporting their wears!
During the catch up, we went around the table and each of the 25 ladies introduced themselves and their business. They rattled off their achievements, future business goals and strategic plans, and all had an impressive resume – it was a group of self-starters who’d forged their way in a predominately male business world.
Almost as an after-thought, they mentioned the fact that they were a mum.
Some even said that most of their clients don’t know they have kids because it would be career suicide to share that detail into their lives. The women said being that honest would mean they wouldn’t be taken seriously in business.
That shocked me.
Those of you who have followed my journey of growing a business and a baby (or 3!) will know that I’m ridiculously proud of finding the balance between the two and I know it makes me a better mum, wife and service provider for my clients.
So it was clear I was a very obvious misfit in the group.
On the drive home (1 hour of my life that I won’t get back), I reflected on why I’d gone in the first place.
I went because I didn’t have any other options for networking.
I went because I didn’t have any other chances to connect with other women who were possibly on the same journey as me.
I went because I didn’t have a big tribe locally.
And so, The Working Women’s Tribe was born.
I know we have plenty of amazing women locally, some who work alone in a family business, some who are isolated on a farm, some who are surrounded by toddlers and wondering when, if ever, they’ll get back into the paid workforce. And together, I think we can be powerful.
The Working Women’s Tribe is about inspiring, motivating, educating and supporting one another. I’m super excited about what the Tribe could become, and I’m also a tad pleased I wont have to drive 1 hour to Hamilton for a good ol’ pow wow with a group of fab working women.
Tags: about us