Network Your Way
to Success
A group of supportive friends and colleagues
is especially important for women who find
the courage to launch their own businesses.
By Melissa Rayworth
aunching a small business is a dream for many
Hampton residents, and part of the appeal is this: if
you’re running your own business, you don’t have a
boss watching over your every move, you don’t have coworkers vying for your spot in the company hierarchy,
and you don't have someone else making the decisions
that affect your future.
And yet, there is a flip-side to this wonderful
independence. With the freedom of small business
ownership comes a lack of mentorship. Sure, you may
not have a difficult boss barking out orders, but you
also lack a supportive boss to advise you and guide the
company to success. So finding a group of supportive
friends and colleagues is especially important for
women who find the courage to launch their own
businesses.
For female business owners, one local source of
professional support is the Women’s Business Network
(WBN). Founded here in Southwestern Pennsylvania
nearly 25 years ago, the group has expanded from a
single chapter based in Robinson Township to include
27 chapters throughout the Pittsburgh area.
The North Hills chapter meets on the second and
fourth Fridays of every month for lunch from 12:30-
L
2:00 p.m. at Atria’s on Route 8 in Gibsonia.
Members share experiences and advice, and can
act as a really useful sounding board for fellow
business owners who are looking to grow their
business or are facing professional challenges. At
meetings, each member is welcome to speak about
their particular business and share details about
their area of expertise. Members are also invited
to present discussion topics or bring up businessrelated issues.
The Wexford chapter meets for coffee and a light
breakfast at the Atria’s Restaurant in Wexford every
second and fourth Tuesday at 8:00 a.m. Meetings
are usually finished by 9:30 a.m. The group also
makes time for fundraising and contributing to
many charitable organizations, including North
Hills Community Outreach.
] 8