I'm of the mindset that if you bring the right people together, problems will get resolved. I'm also of the mindset that our lives are enriched by the people we know and if I know someone wonderful then maybe that person will want to know others who are also wonderful.
With that in mind, I invited some women I knew to be wonderful to join me for wine and sushi at a local restaurant in our town of Blacksburg. I knew everyone. Some had met before, but now we all know each other.
There was no particular problem to solve or an agenda to follow, yet problems we did not know existed or how to solve, got solved. Business relationships were formed. The seeds of friendship were sowed and a much needed sense of community among women in business was born (at least, that was my take away).
It's amazing the resolutions a corporate trainer, an executive director of a nonprofit, a social media entrepreneur, a mediator, a hyperlocal business entrepreneur, a writer, a financial planner, and a marketer can produce.
Left to right: Mary Johnson (HHHunt), Gail Billingsley (YMCA at Virginia Tech), Anne Clelland (Handshake 2.0), T'aiya Shiner (BetterAgreements), Monica Hebert (NRVHub), Z. Kelly Queijo (me), Sara Bohn (Northwestern Mutual). Not pictured: Melissa Farmer Richards (Virginia Tech)
Photo taken with Olympus Stylus Tough 6000, on loan to me by Olympus.
Kelly, I love the fact that at all of your gatherings, I always find wonderful new friends and new community partnerships.
Posted by: Gail B. | 10/09/2009 at 11:06 AM
Kelly,
You are a charming host and I felt so glad to be part of the 'wind down'. Made new friends- that is always a good thing!
Posted by: monica | 10/09/2009 at 04:11 PM
So glad you all could make it!
Posted by: Z. Kelly Queijo | 10/10/2009 at 06:59 AM
I'll paraphrase Colin Grant: "Who don't you know?"
I treasure knowing you and the treasure of people to whom you introduce me. Thank you for such a gift.
Posted by: Anne Clelland | 10/10/2009 at 10:07 AM