Judging by the success of her first Women in Business event, Helle Brodie feels she’s hit on something women in Niagara-on-the-Lake both need and want.
She is planning her second event this Thursday, March 2 at The Old Winery, and the group is already growing.
She was pleased to have “20 fabulous women” attend the first gathering, representing a range of ages and businesses, including construction, decorating, real estate, mortgages and insurance, therapy and coaching, and food services.
“The energy in the room was incredible,” she says, “and the consensus is this is much needed in the NOTL area.”
A Facebook group has been created for the group, she says, and in a very short time had grown to 95 members.
Her plan is for women to get to know each other, share ideas and support each other. It’s not intended as a network for promotion or sales, she stresses, although several of the women who attended the first meeting have told her it almost immediately helped build clientele, through word of mouth.
“The whole idea is to focus on positivity, and to be a very inclusive group.”
Brodie says she’s been an entrepreneur for 35 years, and is now a business and mindset coach — her second business. She likes to think she and some of the more experienced women in business have some wisdom and experience to share with those in the younger age group who are just starting out.
It’s also a way to meet new people with similar interests, she adds.
Brodie says she moved to NOTL about six months ago, and aside from her retired neighbours, “wonderful people,” she didn’t know anyone in town, and saw this as an opportunity to gather women together to meet other like-minded women in the community. And that seems to be what those in attendance enjoyed the most — the majority came on their own, didn’t know the others, and loved connecting with other women.
“Twenty women in one room with a glass of wine, it’s bound to be fun,” laughs Brodie. “What’s not to like?”
And now, she adds, “I feel like I have 20 new friends.”
The second Evening for Women in Business will be held at the Old Winery on Thursday, March 2, from 7 to 9 p.m. Going forward, Brodie plans for one woman to make a brief presentation about her business — this month it’s about music therapy.
“It sounds fascinating, and I want to know more about it. I’m a curious person, and I like to hear what everyone is doing.”
Tickets for the March 2 event at The Old Winery on Niagara Stone Road are being sold to cover the costs of the event. Tickets can be purchased online at app.promotix.com/events/details/March-Evening-for-Women
-in-Business-tickets.