Community is where the magic happens

“The death of the entrepreneur is solitude.”

I first heard that quote about a decade ago when I was working alongside an enterprise support scheme in Blaenau Gwent in the south Wales Valleys.

The scheme is based on the principles of Dr Ernesto Sirolli, one of the world’s leading consultants on economic development, and the quote is his.

Time and again when I speak to entrepreneurs, business owners and freelancers, they mention isolation as being a very real problem, and one which can even stop business growth in its tracks.

Solitude left unchecked can indeed break a business – or, more specifically, a business owner.

On the flip side, when I speak to business owners – particularly female founders – who are part of a community, they have plenty to say about how powerful that community has been for their own growth and that of their business.

It’s why organisations such as Network She are so vital for women in business, and it’s why we feel so passionate about them.

It’s also one of the strengths of the NatWest Accelerator Programme, our flagship programme of support for growing business. The programme offers hugely valuable 1:1 business coaching, workshops and events, as well as introductions to key stakeholders. Yet eight years of working alongside businesses on the programme has shown me that the incredible community ethos that each new cohort creates is where the magic really happens.

Business owners who may be in wildly different sectors compare notes and share skills. Chance conversations lead to collaboration opportunities or new leads. Above all, there’s that feeling of all being in this together, of not being alone.

In my podcast series Inspiring Women Wales I talk to fantastic female founders about their experiences in business. Time and again the conversation comes around to the importance of finding your community, your tribe.

Ceri Gillett, CEO of Mubo, a social enterprise for female entrepreneurs, credits seeking out a community with helping her through all stages of business growth, from starting out, to growing, to going for investment. Her top tip is to “find a community of people that you can be vulnerable with, that you can be honest with, that you can share the really good stuff with, but you can also go to and be like ‘this has happened and I really need support’”.

Adele Pember, founder of Dog Furiendly, describes the inspiration that can come just from seeing other people run their businesses, especially other female founders who are “redefining success”. That, says Adele, has empowered her to grow both personally and professionally.

And while we tend to seek out others just like us, it’s just as valuable to do just the opposite, says Jennifer Barnfield, founder of The Pepp Method. Surrounding yourself with not only likeminded people but also people with different views can challenge you to think differently and can be inspirational when you might be at a crossroads or needing to make decisions about your business.

It’s often not easy to make time to work on your business when you’re so busy working in it. Committing to finding a community – and really, truly engaging with it, getting to know your fellow business women, listening, offering and seeking support – is a brilliant way to keep your business moving forward.

• Find out more about the NatWest Accelerator Programme and how to apply here.
• Listen to all episodes of the Inspiring Women Wales podcast here, or search ‘Inspiring Women Wales’ on Apple or Spotify.

Article written by Gemma Casey, Ecosystem Manager, Wales and NWS Academy Member

natwestgroup.com