Women's networking groups have grown in popularity in recent years, and while this suggests there is a need for them, they do seem at odds with current trends around diversity in business.
Some female entrepreneurs say they can relate better to their female business peers. Others find women-only groups less intimidating than many of the larger male-dominated open networks. But in sticking to women only groups, are are they selling themselves and their businesses short?
When Liana Fricker founded The Inspiration Space her goal was to balance the need for women to have safe spaces to explore the unique challenges that women in business face, with the benefits of attending inclusive social environments where they can get together with likeminded men.
What she has created is a diverse community of networkers where it’s not unusual to have a high-flying professional woman sitting alongside a man who is about to leave his 9-5 job for life as an entrepreneur.
Fricker is supportive of women-only groups, where female founders can find the mentorship and support that they need, but insists there is huge value in diversity and inclusivity, for the simple reason that it provides more opportunities to do business.
“If your services aren't gender specific, why limit your customer base?” she says. “And the uncomfortable truth is, men still have all of the power so why not invite the ones who get it to sit at our table and collaboratively challenge the patriarchy and corporate set up from within?”
Seasoned business networker Lucy Barrow, founder of Business For Rebels, runs brunch networking events. In spite of being open to both genders, 99% of the attendees are women. While she doesn’t believe that women are missing out by networking just among their gender, she does see the need for traditional male-led events to change.
“They should be doing more to actively encourage more women by considering a different style to old school networking that would potentially make them feel more comfortable and relaxed,” says Barrow.
However, some network founders insist that there is a role for women-only events. Those organised by entrepreneur Gemma Stow are small intimate meetings, attended by 15 to 25 women running businesses across a range of sectors. Most do it on their own, and many describe themselves as introverts.
“Many of them have been grateful to have found the confidence to attend something they didn't think they would ever be able to do,” says Stow.
She also argues that while connections are the cornerstone of business, they can be made in many different ways and not just through traditional face-to-face business networking.
“With the increase in social media and online options for business networking, those who are introverts are finding opportunities through virtual networking with both men and women, from home, to build confidence in introducing themselves and their businesses,” adds Stow.
Some male business networkers remain sceptical about the rationale for gender specific networks.
“You go to networking groups that you believe will help you and your business,” says Mike Peates, founder of Owow Chocolates, says. “In the chocolate industry my primary demographic is female marketing managers aged between 35 and 55, so an all male networking group just wouldn't work for me.
And while he appreciates that some groups can make women feel uncomfortable, in an age of diversity and inclusivity, he believes that mixed networking groups should be the norm.
“Running a business is all about being out of your comfort zone, and that includes networking,” adds Peates.
Others, like Stefano Maifreni, founder of business growth experts Eggcelerate, see women-only networking, and the creation of women-only conversation and groups, etc., as a risk of reverse discrimination.
He says: “I think the same about clubs that are accessible only to people with a specific sexual orientation, sports events for people of a particular faith or part of a political institution, and so on. We are creating a counter-discrimination that I don’t think it is the right answer.”
It is a subject where opinions are polarised, but as Heather Townsend, speaker, author and founder of The Accountants Millionaires' Club, points out there are two key points to consider: women network differently to men, and women are often under represented on the general networking scene.
“Women tend to be better than men at building relationships, while men tend to focus more on getting to the right people to make the sale,” she says. “Neither approach is wrong or right, but a mix of both focus and relationship building is needed to make an effective networker.”
Things like childcare can make attending evening and breakfast events difficult, which means women are under represented at networking events. This, coupled with the male style of networking, can deter other women from attending.
“Do I think women only networking groups are a bad thing?” adds Townsend. “No, but, I do find it sad that we live in a society where women are under-represented in a part of the business scene to the point where they need a separate networking group.
“I don’t know the latest statistics on the split between male and female small business owners, but I would suggest that it isn’t reflected in the ratios of men to women at mixed business networking events.”
