Photo by Helen Iles
Women’s networking in Barcelona is moving away from working the room and handing out business cards, and towards storytelling and making authentic connections. Could this ‘softer’ approach be just what we need to create not only friendships, but community too? What’s more, are these models helping both women and men in Barcelona to find a new way to relate to each other?
Work plays a crucial role when it comes to settling in a new place. In addition to financial support, it offers a route to participation and building a sense of belonging. In Europe, one of the most likely questions to follow ‘where are you from?’ is ‘what do you do?’, but for women, describing ‘what they do’ is often not that simple. In a traditional working world, women’s tendency towards non-specialisation can be seen as a weakness, but women were rocking the multiple revenue path of income generation long before it was a mainstream trend.
Hubdot have taken this perceived weakness of career diversification in women and made it a strength, growing from a small gathering around a kitchen table in London to a global community of over 31,000 in just five years. Using different coloured dots, Hubdot events connect people according to whether they're established and can offer advice (red); have an idea or need help (yellow); are there to socialise and meet new people (blue); are in a lull and need inspiration (green); or have a story to tell (purple). “When women’s voices are heard it gives things a new feel, a new direction.” said Kate Jess, Hubdot coordinator in Barcelona. “This is networking en femenino.”
Marisa Lopez agrees. In her new home of Sitges, she found she was lacking a support network. So she took matters into her own hands and started CCC Inc, a group for women entrepreneurs. “I have seen an incredible spirit of collaboration, support, generosity and mentorship. It’s a safe environment that gives us the opportunity to be vulnerable, experiment or ask for guidance. There is a true desire and willingness to share knowledge and resources.” Co-organiser, Hannah Tait, is also enthusiastic about the women-only approach. “There have been moments when people have blossomed because they’ve been in that environment. I don’t know if that would have happened if there had been men involved, because I think some women get inhibited.”
Although principally a social network, Barcelona Women’s Network has a small business and entrepreneurs group that served as the entry point for current BWN President Lisette Sandoval. “I have experienced the hardcore sales network, which is great for some, particularly men, but many women, especially European women, tend not to like that approach.” Sandoval feels that shyness can be a barrier for women and is convinced that an all-female environment encourages women to open up, participate and collaborate. “The bond of women and sisterhood goes much deeper. They really do become friends.”
While CCC Inc and BWN remain women-only, Belgium-based events organiser Kiran Maverick welcomes men to his women-oriented events. Kiran initiated a female-focused platform after the scarcity of women speakers at his conferences became obvious. The first edition of the event in Barcelona took place this June, as part of a global tour. “We created ‘I am Tomorrow’ to showcase female role models. It’s not about success, it’s about the journey. At I am Tomorrow, Barcelona, we had 30+ speakers from 20 countries. When they hear these stories, people can relate. It’s not about a man or a woman. We have to respect people around us.” The next edition in Barcelona is scheduled for May 2018.
The Professional Women’s Network is a global organisation with an active group in Barcelona. For them, the emphasis is on gender balance, so much so that in June 2017, they appointed Rob Baker as co-president of their global board. Baker’s wife and PWN member, Eímear O’Neill, tells how, as a stay-at-home husband, Baker became familiar with the challenges women face when trying to progress in the business world.
“It’s exciting that Rob has been appointed to this role, because he is able to bring a male perspective to the issue,” said O’Neill. “This is not just a women’s issue, it’s a global issue. We need to understand the biases of both genders.”
One of the things that O’Neill has noticed is that women, in general, tend to take fewer risks than men. As Hubdot Barcelona begins to welcome men to its gatherings, Jess has also picked up on distinct behavioural differences. “In a Hubdot event, very few women will put on a red dot. Whereas men, they’re all red dots. We need to say to women that it’s OK to champion what you do and to men, that it’s OK to admit ‘I could do with some help with this’.”
Danish investment analyst, Victoria Gago, 30, believes that this trend is changing as women are becoming more financially independent. She moved to Barcelona three years ago and works for a private equity fund, Black Toro Capital. Working in a notoriously male-dominated sector, Gago was in search of a group of like-minded women with whom she could share ideas and develop professionally. So, in 2016, she created Accelerate Network—a diverse, cross-sector group of young professional women—with the primary objective of empowering women, helping them grow, and encouraging them to push the glass ceiling. “Who runs the world? Today, it’s primarily men, but I’m working towards a future of equality; a world led by women and men will form a stronger society and business world,” said Gago. “The idea of Accelerate Network is to help women to grow and evolve. You have to ask for more.”
Gago organises workshops to which she invites inspiring guest speakers, male and female, from varying sectors—people who she believes can help the group achieve their objectives. The intimate events encourage interaction and involvement from all sides, and have proved to be a resounding success so far. “When you bring this incredible group of young women together, the dynamic is inspiring. We all come away so energised; I can barely sleep afterwards,” exclaimed Gago. Perhaps that feeling is what any networking experience should be about.
NETWORKING GROUPS
Unlike traditional networking events, Hubdot encourages conversations to start with ‘what’s your story?’ rather than ‘what do you do?’. Now established in over 15 cities worldwide, Hubdot hold a variety of events, such as talks, workshops and supper clubs, to get women talking.
Founded upon the idea of working together and supporting each other, this is an Entrepreneurial Women’s Network for women based in and around Sitges, who are looking to start or are already running their own businesses.
Part of PWN Global, a network of over 3,500 members from 90 different countries, which promotes the professional progress of women through all their career phases, from potential through the pipeline to power by mentoring, training and networking.
The Barcelona Women’s Network is a non-profit, non-religious and non-political social and charitable organisation offering support and friendship to both local and international women residing in the greater Barcelona area. The network formed in 1998 and has approximately 210 members from over 20 different countries.
Founded by Danish investment analyst, Victoria Gago, Accelerate is a select group of young professional women who meet for intimate workshops with experienced speakers. Apply for membership online.
Founded in 2014 by Andreea Magdalina in London, She Said So is a platform that connects more than 2,000 women working in the music industry, with branches in Barcelona, Berlin and LA, among others.
DIARY DATES
CCC Inc. Autumn Weekend Retreat. October 6th-8th. Masia Cal Pau Cruset.
- The weekend will involve workshops run by members of their group who want to share their skills with other women, ranging from yoga and mindfulness meditation, to Instagram marketing and leadership skills sessions.
BWN Coffee morning. September 21st. 11am. Institut d’Estudi Nord-Americans. Via Augusta 123.
PWN Barcelona. 2nd Tuesday Networking Drinks. September 12th. 8pm. Grand Hotel Central. Via Laietana 30.
TEDx Barcelona Women. The Brave You. November 3rd. 3.30pm. Mazda Space. Comerç 60.