320: 6 Benefits of Networking Groups for Leading Ladies: Fan Favorite Replay

Hi there. You’re listening to the Leading Lady Podcast. I’m your host, Alison Loftus, and I’m a certified professional coach specializing in leadership and work-life balance. I work with clients to shift their limiting beliefs, insecurities, and self-doubt. This podcast is filled with tools and strategies to help high-achieving women like you feel connected, empowered, and in the lead of your life, both personally and professionally. Let’s transform your life starting now. Lead yourself. The rest will follow.

Hi there, Leading Ladies, and welcome to today’s episode. I’m going to be talking with you today about the importance of finding a strong education and networking group for women in business, and how that can offer a range of significant benefits to you, both personally and professionally.

Something I don’t talk about enough, and I really need to get better about, is talking about the in-person community and networking group that I have created in my local community here in Annapolis, Maryland.

In 2021, I purchased a building located in an industrial park. Obviously, we were still kind of in the thick of COVID, and people thought I was crazy for purchasing this commercial space. But for years, I had a vision of having my own office space that also doubled as an event space, so I wouldn’t have to go out and rent space from another business to host my own education, networking, and workshop events.

So I purchased this building in 2021, completed the renovations, and opened it at the end of 2021, launching the idea that I would have this coworking space for members only, where they would be able to utilize the space for their own events, and I would be able to host all of my own workshops and networking events without having to rent from anyone else.

The idea came from when I launched my leadership series in 2019. I was renting space and kind of schlepping all of my materials all over town. You would see me walking down West Street with my little red wagon, bringing all the materials I needed for my events. To be honest with you, it just got really hard. I was tired, and it was expensive. So I knew that someday I wanted to have my own space.

We bought this commercial space, renovated it, and launched the Collective membership at the end of 2021 with the idea that it would really ramp up in 2022. So here we are in 2024. We have had two solid years of the Collective and the membership, and it has far exceeded all of my expectations of what I thought I was creating.

How the Collective works is we have annual members, and I open membership at the end of every year for the upcoming year. We are mid-August now, and I’ll be opening it up for members to register for 2025, probably here in September and October. It is, like I said, a year membership.

Benefits of the Collective

During that year, Collective members attend monthly networking and education meetings. Members are also able to use the space as a coworking space and host their own workshops and events at no additional cost. Their membership covers everything. They pay one fee one time, and that’s done. They don’t have to worry about any hidden fees for using the building.

However, it’s so much more than that.

Having experience renting and setting up my own workshops and attending other networking and education groups, I was very deliberate in how I curated the space and what I wanted to offer our members.

I was the first women-in-business coworking and event space in our area. While there have been others that have popped up—and they all serve great purposes, different markets, and different niches for women—I felt that what I created here in the Collective space was something I knew, as a high-achieving woman in business, I wanted myself.

Unfortunately, in a podcast, I can’t really give you a tour, but I invite you to check out my social media, specifically Instagram, where you can get a deeper look at what the space looks like and how it’s used. We’re also updating our website, and I’ll be working with Maureen Porto to really give you a virtual tour of what the space has and all it has to offer for its members.

Basically, it’s a large office space with a loft upstairs where my private offices are for my two businesses. The main level is a large open event space outfitted with all the furniture you might need for your events.

If you needed something very specific, members can rent from a third party and bring in their own furniture, but we haven’t had anyone need to do that because, having hosted so many events and workshops myself, I had a good idea of what women would need to host successful workshops.

In addition to the large event space, we have a private lounge with couches, a coffee table, ottomans, and a comfortable, home-like atmosphere without losing the luxury or professional aesthetic you’d expect from an office. It’s a place where you can truly get your work done.

We also have a podcast and video room, which I happen to be sitting in right now. I love this space. It’s probably our most requested and most utilized room because members love having a place that’s properly outfitted with all the technology they need for recording podcasts and videos.

One of the details I really wanted in my own space was a working kitchen. The kitchen is outfitted with everything you’d need for an event. I cannot tell you how many events I hosted in rented spaces where, just before the event started, I realized I’d forgotten ice.

So you better believe I installed a commercial ice maker in this kitchen. No one ever has to worry about whether they have ice for their event.

We keep the kitchen fully stocked with nutritious snacks, beverages, high-quality plates, silverware, glasses, pitchers, and kitchen appliances—everything you would need to host an elegant event. I’m huge about sustainability, so we use real plates, silverware, and glassware to reduce waste.

I’ve thought about all of those details, right down to how our bathrooms are stocked. I really wanted each of our members to feel like anything she might need is available.

Why a Strong Networking Community Matters

While that’s the physical space, I really want to talk about the benefits of finding a strong education and networking group as a high-achieving woman in business.

Having been a woman in business for over 20 years and having built this community, I think it’s important to understand what’s driving it and how intentionally I’ve focused on creating an environment that helps our members both personally and professionally.

Skill Development

Having a strong education and networking group means attending workshops, seminars, training sessions, and monthly meetings that offer practical skills and knowledge.

It is imperative to me that every workshop or meeting provides skills our members can immediately apply to their personal or professional lives.

One of my core values is a love of learning. Education without implementation is just entertainment.

When you’re looking for an education or networking group, think about the skills you want to develop and how you’ll be able to apply them.

Mentorship Opportunities

When you’re part of a strong networking group, you gain access to mentors who have navigated similar challenges and can offer guidance, support, and practical advice.

And guess what? You may be that mentor for someone else.

Leaders are learners. In every exchange, you’re either the teacher or the student.

What I love about our Collective membership is that mentorship is happening all the time. Every time we’re together and sharing our stories, we’re either teaching or learning from one another.

Networking

You don’t join a networking group if you’re not networking.

Building relationships with other women in business opens doors to partnerships, collaborations, and client referrals while providing a true sense of community and support.

Because our membership lasts a full year, we really get to know each other deeply instead of just broadly. We aren’t constantly adding new members throughout the year. That deeper understanding makes referrals easier, collaborations stronger, and partnerships more meaningful.

Visibility and Recognition

Being part of a respected group increases your visibility in the business community, which leads to greater recognition for your achievements and contributions.

People know who our community is. When someone says they’re part of Leading Ladies or the Collective, there’s already an established sense of trust.

Part of that comes from carefully vetting businesses and maintaining a shared code of ethics for how we conduct ourselves as women in business.

Resource Sharing

Strong networking groups create opportunities to share valuable resources, industry insights, business tools, and recommendations.

Sharing is caring.

I come from a background in education, and if I’ve learned something that can help another businesswoman succeed faster, I’m absolutely going to share it.

There is no gatekeeping. When someone finds a resource that helps their business and shares it with the group, everyone benefits.

Confidence Building

Finally, surrounding yourself with supportive peers and mentors builds confidence.

I hear this time and time again from women in our community. They tell me they feel so much more confident in their businesses.

That’s because we show up authentically. We share our vulnerabilities, our challenges, and actively support one another without judgment. Our members know their fellow members have their backs.

Being a high-achieving woman in business can sometimes feel lonely. I have deeply appreciated the relationships I’ve built in this group.

While we met professionally, many of these women have become some of my closest friends. I call them my business besties.

I know it’s a safe place to share what I’m going through, and when women come to me with questions or doubts, they find support—not just from me, but from fellow members who are invested in empowering one another.

Questions to Consider

If you’re not local to Annapolis, here are some questions to think about when looking for a networking group:

• What skills are you looking to develop?
• Are you surrounding yourself with people you can learn from?
• Would you happily refer the people you’re networking with?
• How is your business gaining visibility and recognition?
• Is it a place where resources are openly shared?
• How do you want to feel when you’re in that space?
• Are you surrounding yourself with supportive, positive people committed to helping you grow?

If you are local to Annapolis, we’re about to open membership for new members over the next few weeks.

I’d love to hear from you if you’re interested in learning more about the Collective here in Annapolis, Maryland. I personally read and respond to every email.

We currently have two groups meeting, and my philosophy is simple: pull up a chair. There is room for you at the table.

I’d love to chat with you about membership opportunities and help you determine if this is the right place for you.

And if you’re not local to Annapolis, still reach out to me. I’d love to help you find a group that’s the right fit. There are so many networking groups out there. I started with BNI and the Chamber of Commerce. You just keep searching until you find your people.

One of the most valuable things you can do is assess your values and determine what you’re truly looking for in a community that’s going to support your personal and professional growth.

I hope this resonated with you. I hope it gives you some clarity about what to look for when you’re searching for a community.

If you’re local to Annapolis, I hope this inspires you to reach out and learn more about the Annapolis Collective.

Until next time, take the lead!

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Jennifer Osterhaus: This episode is sponsored by Jennifer Osterhaus Graphic Design. I help clients uplevel their marketing assets by designing custom-branded, effective marketing pieces to promote the products or services that your business has to offer. You can find me at JenOsterhaus.com.*

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