From Island to Inner Circle: How Co-Women Helped Me Find My Community

When I first started my business, I felt like an island.

Don’t get me wrong, I was proud, excited, and full of ideas. But I was also completely alone. Every decision, every challenge, every success… it all sat on my shoulders. I was a one-woman band, juggling everything myself, and the isolation hit me harder than I expected.

I went to a few networking events early on, hoping to find some connection, maybe even a bit of support or camaraderie. But I left feeling uninspired. They were all business cards, sales pitches, and surface-level chatter. I wasn’t just looking for leads, I was looking for people. Like-minded women who got it. Who understood what it felt like to carry the full weight of your own business and still show up smiling.

Then I stumbled into a Chai & Chatter event hosted by Co-Women and honestly, I was hooked from the first sip.

What I found at Co-Women wasn’t just a room full of professionals, it was a space full of real women. Women who weren’t afraid to talk about the hard stuff. Women who listened without judgement and shared generously. Women who had been where I was, and wanted to help.

Since joining, I’ve shared everything from client challenges to personal wobbles and in return, I’ve received advice, encouragement, practical help, and even free support from experts across Sussex. Legal experts, accounting professionals, wellness pros, coaches… all offering their time, their knowledge, and their energy, simply because they care.

And the results speak for themselves.

I found not only support – I found clients. One incredible fellow member and I worked together to get her featured in multiple national newspapers. She then recommended me to a friend… and that friend became a retainer client. Four months into running my business, and thanks to Co-Women, I’ve gained five clients...and business is booming.

But more importantly? I’ve found friends. Real ones. Women who check in with me just because. Who celebrate my wins like they’re their own. Who offer their time, their skills, and their hearts without ever expecting anything in return.

I was, however, able to give back. Due to the incredible community support received from Co-Women, I now offer 60 minute free marketing support to all new Co-Women members, my own little way to participate in this community.

Co-Women didn’t just help my business grow – it helped me feel like I belong. I’m no longer an island. I’m part of something bigger. A community that uplifts, supports, and reminds me that I don’t have to do this alone.

And that’s the kind of network I didn’t even know I needed, but now, I couldn’t do without.

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