Written by: Brea Starmer

I like guys. I like gals. I like most folks. I’m an equal opportunity liker.

But there’s just something about a group of strong women that I’m seriously enamored by.

When I was in high school, I wasn’t allll that cool. I was in student government, took advanced math, and was voted “Most School Spirit”. I was lucky to have a lot of friends (very few boyfriends, you may imagine) but I remember feeling deeply connected to my fastpitch and swimming teams, because the women I got to learn alongside were all on the same mission: to work hard at being our best. I adored being in a sorority, Alpha Phi, in college and, again, was transformed by a collection of women who chose to be together. From early on, I knew these communities offered something different.

The High Achiever Secret

As I started to transition from an independent consultant to an entrepreneur, I felt a strong pull to want to be intentional about the communities I joined and to which I wanted to contribute. Time is precious these days.

I researched communities with my shared values, those with successful leaders and those with women in transition. All of them revealed a secret: many of the female leaders we admire and want to emulate are surrounded by curated communities.

Some people call it a “network”, others call it “their team”, but for me, “community” is the right term. Community is defined as a feeling of fellowship and that’s exactly what I love most about holding relationships.

The communities that prop me up

Here are a few communities I have found and hold dear:

STARTUP PREGNANT’S WISE WOMEN’S COUNCIL

Part coaching circle, part digital chatroom, part Mama watercooler, all heart. I’ve been a fan-girl of the Startup Pregnant podcast since I stumbled on it when prepping for maternity leave with my second kid as a new business owner. So when Sarah Peck launched an all working-mom mastermind called ‘The Wise Women’s Council,’ I was in.

{I’m joining for 2020 again with a few friends. Highly recommend.}

Recently, my fan-girl dreams became real when Sarah interviewed a fellow WWC member and me about our experience in the community. Listen to Episode #134 to hear about my take on it and how my business has grown this year during my membership.

“Find the army of people that are going to put their arms around you and cheer you on, help you, or carry you to the finish line. You’ll need it to make it through all that you’re trying to do.” — Brea Starmer

WOMEN IN CLOUD NETWORK

I’ve been acquainted with the co-founders of Women in Cloud for a while, Karen Fassio and Chaitra Vedullapalli, and have watched in awe at their work. They recently launched the Women in Cloud Network and I was so pleased to join their sharing community focused on this mission: Together, we create economic access for women in the cloud economy.

This community is remarkable because it goes beyond advice and support. They seek to truly make an economic impact – both locally and globally – through accelerating women-founded tech businesses. Here is a recent graphic they shared around their “why”:

This community is coming together with a few hundred friends and supporters at the upcoming Women in Cloud 2020 Summit, January 25th at Microsoft in Redmond, WA. The theme is just perfect: Collective Action.

{If you are attending, please join my session on strategic planning using the Objective & Key Result (OKR) methodology, Renee St. Jacques‘ session on emotional intelligence and meet the Lions & Tigers team at our booth}

FIT4MOM FITNESS & SOCIAL GROUP

Have you ever seen the troop of tough mamas pushing their jogging strollers in a choreographed line at a park or shopping center? If so, you may have seen a Fit4Mom group workout class!

In addition to the tenacious women I get to have in my digital communities, I’ve also cherished the in-person groups I’ve joined as well. They push you in an entirely different way and Fit4Mom is one of the best.

From Stroller Strides to Body Back, their programs are perfectly suited for my stage of life. And the community of fellow mama cheerleaders is invaluable.

Heck, I learned all about sticker charts while on a run one night!

OTHER GROUPS I LOVE

• The Riveter co-working space, where we sit in a physical community that was founded by women (the amazing Amy Nelson), for everyone.
• Momma Tribe, the Facebook community I started when my kid wouldn’t sleep that now has 550+ members. Ping me for an invite.
• Sunday Dinner is a private Slack community for freelance marketing ‘hired guns’ started by Lindsey Slaby. These folks are wicked smart industry insiders and I snuck in.

Find your community, find your confidence.

We all know that it takes a village to raise a child, and it does to build a successful career too.

What I’ve been given, in addition to embarrassing high school memories doing an I am Woman Hear Me Roar lip sync at an all-school assembly, is a confidence hack. I’ve found it utterly impossible to not feel more confident as a result of these relationships. A rising tide really does raise all boats.

I hope this year brings you deep intention for where you spend your time and with whom you join in community.