Last week I hosted the very first session of a new community for women in North London who run established businesses, and I'm still buzzing from it.
If you've been looking for local networking that feels more meaningful than swapping business cards, this is for you. Here's what we got up to, why I started it, and how you can join us.
Why we need more local connection
One of the things I feel is really important when you work for yourself is connecting with other business owners who get what you're going through.
Recently I've been talking to a lot of women running businesses across Enfield and Haringey, and so many of us feel the same way: there just aren't enough opportunities locally to meet other business owners, build genuine connections and feel part of a local business community.
So I set this community up to change that. I want it to be a chance to:
Meet other local women business owners at a similar stage to you
Talk openly about the things we're all working through, and learn from each other
Build genuine connections that can lead to collaborations, referrals and even friendships
Our first session at Clockwise, Wood Green
Our first session took place at Clockwise in Wood Green, and what a lovely way to kick things off! There were five of us, with a beautiful meeting room all to ourselves and tasty pastries kindly supplied by Clockwise (we maaay have had more than one each 🥐).
Being a small group meant it felt really relaxed and personal. Everyone had the space to talk properly about their business, what they’re working on, and what they’re finding tricky right now, and it honestly felt more like catching up with friends than networking.
Five was the perfect number to get us started, but we’d love to welcome more of you to the table. We’ve got lots of exciting things planned, so if you’ve been thinking about coming along, now’s a brilliant time to join us.
Is your online presence keeping up with your business?
One thing I want from a supportive business community is focused conversations around specific themes. So for our first session, we started with a topic I'm really passionate about: "Is your online presence keeping up with your business?"
Most business owners can relate to spending a lot of time working in the business rather than on it. But as we work with new clients, build new offers and get involved in new opportunities, our businesses are evolving all the time, and our online presence doesn't automatically keep up.
It sparked some really honest conversations about how easy it is for our brand photos, websites and profiles to get left behind.
It's something I've been doing in my own business too. Over the last year or so, my business has evolved quite a bit, so I've been going through my website and social platforms to check everything reflects where I am now, and noticing what's out of date.
Visuals matter so much here. They create a first impression, help you stand out from competitors, and help people get to know, like and trust you. So they need to be telling the story of where your business is right now.
What this community will look like
We spent part of the session shaping what this community should become, and the ideas were brilliant. A few that really stood out:
Focused introductions, so we get straight to what matters
Practical sessions where we actually get things done together
Accountability partners to help each other follow through
A topic for each session, shared in advance so we can come prepared
Social get-togethers too, from netwalking to a Christmas party!
It's not your usual networking. There's no standing around wondering who to talk to. Each session is hosted, with a mix of guided conversations and time to chat freely, so it's a supportive space as much as a networking one.
Why a visibility strategist is starting a community
I’m Lisa Gilby, a personal branding photographer and visibility strategist in North London, and the founder of Self Made and Seen. I work with founders and business owners who want to boost their visibility, creating strategic, personality-filled photography and video that helps them tell their story, build authority and connect with their ideal audience.
Most of my work is about how you show up online. But visibility isn’t only about your website and social media. Being seen in person, in your local community, by people who know you and can recommend you, is one of the most powerful forms of visibility there is.
That’s why this community matters to me. I’ve been running my photography business for almost 15 years, and in that time I’ve learnt how important it is to have other business owners around you who get what you’re going through. Before the pandemic, I ran Freelance Sisters Club, a networking group that met at Green Rooms and Blue House Yard. My business has grown and changed a lot since then, and so has what I want a community to offer. This time, I wanted something more focused, for women at a similar stage in their businesses, with each session built around themes that genuinely help us grow and be seen.
Who is it for?
This community is for women in North London who run established businesses and are ready for more meaningful connections. If you're past the very early days and want to be part of a supportive local business community in and around Enfield and Haringey, you're very welcome.
How can I join the next session?
If you’d like to join us, sign up here. It’s where I share the details for all upcoming sessions first.
And if you know a woman in business who’d love it, please do send this her way.
Lisa x
Not local, or want more visibility tips?
If you'd love more support with your visibility, wherever you're based, you can join The Visibility Letter, my regular email with practical ideas and behind-the-scenes stories to help you become more visible and build a brand that feels like you.