Let us get one thing straight: I love a good connection. PERIOD.
But not the shallow kind where people just collect LinkedIn requests like Pokemon cards. OK?
I am talking about real connections. Rooted in respect, generosity, and, gasp, mutual benefit. And clarifying here, mutual benefit is not quid pro quo.
I like to think of genuine collaboration where all involved give as much as they get. And what is required for this seemingly utopian ideal? Easy, clear and kind communication, expectations and... AND curiosity!
The key to building authentic relationships? Show up as yourself, and go where it is warm.
Translation: be in rooms where your values are seen and respected, where people do not just tolerate you, they welcome you.
If that is not the vibe? Bye, boy, bye.
As Women in Business, whether we are leaders in our own company or within someone else's growth, one thing is so true.
WE CAN NO LONGER JUST PUT PINK ON THE PATRIARCHY!
Because as a woman in business (especially if you are building something with impact), the where matters just as much as the who. If you have to shrink to belong, it is not the room for you. Period.
We are in a moment, one of those rare, wild, history-making windows, where the old models are not working, and the new ones are still taking shape. Which means: now is exactly the time to be brave, intentional, and unapologetically collaborative.
So no, I am not here to "network." I am here to build coalitions. And my hunch is, so are you!
How to Grow Your Network Without Selling Your Soul (or Calendar)
Lead with generosity, not desperation. The best way to start a relationship is by giving, not taking. Support someone's work, show up to their events, share their wins. Generosity builds trust.
Be in spaces that reflect your values. Do not waste time elbowing your way into rooms that were not built for you. Go where you are seen, where you are respected, and where your voice adds to the harmony, not just the volume.
Follow up like a human. A thoughtful DM beats a spammy newsletter sign-up any day. Be a real person. It is amazing how far a kind, well-placed follow-up can go.
Say no (or not right now) with grace. Boundaries, with a capital B, are part of sustainability. You cannot connect with everyone at once, and that is OK. Choose your yeses wisely.
It Takes a Woman-Forward Village
And when I say Woman-Forward, I do not just mean all women. We have done plenty on our own or without the support of men. And this is not entirely our new leadership paradigm to carry on our own. Woman-forward is based on Womanism. This is a form of feminism elaborated on by Alice Walker. Walker defined "womanism" as embracing the courage, audacity, and self-assured demeanor of Black women, alongside their love for other women, themselves, and all of humanity.
YES! I am calling on all the strong women leaders I know and we also need to call on our kind, supportive and caring male counterparts who claim to be feminist to support our growing coalitions of change. They can be involved in the coalitions, too! But they must be aligned in the values of a healthy and humanist world that supports us all.
Our Coalition Collaborators
I have intentionally aligned with values-based organizations across sectors, geographies, and industries that are all championing change in their own way: Better Business Women PDX, Culture ShiftHers (Detroit), Women in Tech 1871 (Chicago), SheFi, Right to Start, Chief, AnitaB, HerHeadquarters, Ventures Partners, The A List, WBEC Pacific, Portland Business Journal's BizWomen Coalition, Junior League of Portland, PDXWIT (Portland Women in Tech), and The Wing.
Why Does Building a Woman-Forward Coalition Matter?
This week, we marked another Equal Pay Day on March 25.
Notably, this is the very symbolic date marking how far into the year women must work to earn what men made the year before. And listen, symbolism only goes so far.
Women working full-time, year-round in the U.S. earn 83 cents on the dollar. Factor in part-time work, and that drops to 75 cents. For Black, Latina, and Indigenous women, the pay gap is even worse.
That is not just unfair. It is dangerous. It blocks wealth-building, limits power, and keeps us working twice as hard for half the recognition. We are not waiting on corporate equity statements. We are building new tables entirely. And those tables are round: no corner offices, no gatekeepers.
The future of business is not and cannot be just based in strategy or speed. That is simply not sustainable nor is it healthy.
The future of business is our relationships, equity, collaboration, and imagination.
And we get to build that future together. Through real community, not performative networking. Through starting with the end in mind. Through gratitude and accountability for the systems we choose to accept, or refuse.
Are you in?
Love,
Rose
