Flagler Beach, FL – As a female business professional you’re serious about results-driven, high-quality referrals, connecting with a mentor or even taking an aspiring entrepreneur under your wing, all the while, building confidence and being inspired by the ideas and enthusiasm of those with whom you’re surrounding yourself.
A 2019 article authored by NYC businesswoman Debrah Lee Charatan for SCORE, a resource partner of the SBA, shares her view of the benefits professional women gain by joining networking groups where they can find ‘unbiased opportunities for growth and support’, and citing research published in PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences).
Research shows women are experiencing a paradigm shift and looking to build one another up rather than viewing each other through the lens of competition in the workplace.
“Women who rely on close-knit networks of other professional females to share career advice and insights are three times more likely to succeed and achieve high-ranking leadership positions,” stated Charatan.
Stepping into a Boss Ladies of Flagler County meeting, you know it’s something a little different. While there’s structure to the meetings, it’s neither stuffy nor formal. There’s food. There’s wine.
There’s a featured speaker and a featured charity at every meeting. There’s an atmosphere of camaraderie.
Taking center stage on Tuesday afternoon, Sarah Whedbee co-founder of the marketing and publishing firm Big W led the discussion on websites and social media, sharing tips and tricks of the trade with fellow businesswomen.
“I gave tips and helpful hints about social media that they should know themselves but if it’s something they can’t do, we’d be more than happy to help them with,” said Whedbee.
While giving away a secret or two, Whedbee said her presentation was designed to highlight how much more could be done to showcase local businesses to a broader audience while allowing women to focus on growing their business.
“I think as women we need to help each other out,” she said. “I think that we need to support each other. They need to be able to take care of their own business and if it gets a little bit overwhelming, that’s why we do what we do.”
As the evening’s featured nonprofit, Kristine Aguirre, program director for the Whispering Meadows Ranch shared the mission of the equine therapy center where thousands of people with special needs, foster children and veterans are helped through recreational and educational equine-based activities each year.
With a zoning change request underway, the ladies listened attentively as Aguirre shared the need for letters of support from the community.
“I think the best way for the community to help us is to write letters of support for the ranch,” said Aguirre, who believes those who are helped through the programs at the ranch would be lost without it.
“It would be devastating,” she said. “We have people come from all around the surrounding counties. The county needs to see how strong this program is in the community.”
Women in Flagler County often take the lead on philanthropic initiatives, and connecting through networking groups like the Boss Ladies is helping cultivate a business connectivity, as well.
“We meet once a month to motivate, empower and help women in the community,” said Boss Ladies founder Ana Reyes-Ouzts. “I believe that when women get together to help each other, everything that happens is good.”
The next Boss Ladies of Flagler County is set for April 20, 2021.
Featured Photo: Filling the room with business savvy women who appreciate a relaxed networking atmosphere, the Boss Ladies of Flagler County have built a camaraderie among women in Flagler County. The March meeting, hosted at Tortugas Florida Kitchen & Bar featured Sarah Whedbee from the firm Big W Marketing and Publishing, and Kristine Aguirre, Program Director for the Whispering Meadows Ranch, a PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International) certified Member Center in Flagler County, as the guest speakers.
