Why is working together with other entrepreneurs a smart strategy for your business? There’s a phrase you’ll often hear in entrepreneurial circles that sits at the core of the Great Women in Business Meet Up, and that’s collaboration over competition. It’s more than just a catchy phrase. It’s a growth mindset that can transform the way you expand your business and the impact you have on your clients.
How often have you watched other businesses or networks and thought of them as rivals? It’s an easy trap to fall into when our social feeds are full of shiny new events or products and services that look and feel familiar.
When you shift your perspective, you’ll see that your competitors aren’t barriers at all, but instead they can be brilliant collaborators.
Why Collaboration Matters
When you collaborate, you expand your reach, resources, and ideas, and have the potential to multiply opportunities.
So, what does working with other businesses, networks, or even direct competitors give you?
More value for your clients and customers.
Collaboration allows you to bring together a larger mix of expertise, services, and experiences. Instead of trying to do everything alone, you can partner with people who excel in areas outside your zone of genius. For your clients, this means access to a better solution that’s tailored to their needs. Imagine a web designer collaborating with a copywriter, or a business coach teaming up with a financial advisor. Individually, they’re valuable. Together, they’re unstoppable, and the client gets an all-in-one experience.
This is exactly what happened when four successful women’s networks came together to create Great Women in Business (GWIB). In addition to hosting their own separate events, they combined their strengths to create something amazing. This space celebrates collaboration, shares expertise, and offers attendees far more than any single network could provide.
Stronger visibility.
Every business has its own audience, community, and network. When you collaborate, you widen your reach by tapping into each other’s audiences. This not only grows your visibility but also strengthens your credibility. Everyone knows the value of a solid introduction by someone you trust. It becomes a key endorsement. A shared event, podcast, or social media campaign can reach hundreds (if not thousands) more people than you’d attract on your own.
GWIB is living proof of this. Each network brought its own audience to the table, meaning the very first event reached women from across the UK, right from the start. That visibility would have taken years to build on its own.
Shared learning.
Two heads are always better than one! When you bring together different perspectives, experiences, and approaches, you open yourself up to new ideas and fresh ways of thinking. Collaboration sparks creativity and innovation. You might learn about a more efficient process, a new piece of technology, or a better way of serving your clients because you were willing to talk to someone who does things differently.
Behind the scenes of GWIB, the collaboration between four very different leaders has had a significant impact on shared learning. Each founder brings her own style, knowledge, and experience, which not only strengthens the event but also teaches the others new ways of working. That kind of growth only happens when you embrace collaboration.
“Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.” Ryunosuke Satoro, Japanese author
Greater impact.
The effects of collaboration go much further than your own business. Together, you can transform communities and even industries. One person can inspire change, but when businesses and networks unite, the impact is amplified. How many businesses support women in leadership, raise funds for charity, or create more opportunities for local entrepreneurs? Can you imagine the results and impact if these businesses worked together rather than going it alone?
The GWIB events have already demonstrated the value of collaboration. What began as a regional idea is now attracting national attention, creating opportunities for women across the UK as we bring in new partners to continue growing.
At Great Women in Business, collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. Every partnership we form is about adding value to our community and ensuring that women in business thrive.
Introducing Our 2026 Networking Partner
That’s why we’re thrilled to announce that our 2026 Networking Partner for the GWIB event in March is Holly Nixon and The Athena Network.
Holly Nixon is a dynamic networking strategist and the driving force behind The Athena Network in Warwickshire, where she empowers over 100 women in business to build meaningful connections that fuel growth and confidence.
With her blend of community-building expertise and real-world business experience, Holly helps women step into rooms with clarity, purpose, and impact. Through events, training, and coaching, she inspires women to network intentionally and create opportunities that truly matter.
By partnering with Holly and Athena, we’re taking collaboration to a new level, combining our communities and strengths to provide even more opportunities.
Collaboration in Action
This partnership is a perfect example of what happens when we choose collaboration over competition. Five incredible networks, all with the same mission of empowering women in business, are joining forces to create something bigger and better!
Our guests and sponsors will benefit from:
- More diverse networking opportunities
- Expanded reach across regions
- Fresh insights, training, and support
- Stronger, long-lasting connections
Together, we’re proving that the future of business is not about competing for space, but about creating it for one another.
Save the Date! The Great Women in Business Meet Up is on Monday 9th March 2026, and it’s set to be our biggest and most collaborative event yet. You’ll want to be in the room for the connections, the opportunities, and the inspiration.
Grab your ticket here: https://greatwomeninbusiness.co.uk/tickets/
When women support women, incredible things happen!