CONNECT and the Impact of In-Person Networking
CONNECT was different.
Abambyh Business’s previous retreats had been amazing, too. Intense growth occurred, satisfaction and confidence bloomed, and crucial knowledge was imparted. During RESTORE, experiences were shared and business methods were learned, along with essential skills for effective communication. With IMMERSION, development catapulted forward, new businesses were launched, and incredible personal strides were taken. During both retreats, bonds formed, and friendships were founded.
It was those last pieces that Alison was concentrating on when she designed CONNECT. Those precious tendrils that tie us together — shared interests, knowledge and experience, mutual understanding, complementary values, similarities of habits and practices — had woven between the attendees at both retreats in ways she had never expected.
What if she could capture the magic of those connections and make it the actual focus of a retreat? And so CONNECT came to be, a networking retreat that was so much more than many of the inadequate, superficial networking events Alison had witnessed over the years.
Alison’s participation in Business Networking International (BNI) early in her career introduced her to the best type of networking possible: coming to truly know other professionals and what they do. She realized the value of this type of interaction and still treasures the experience. It was an incredible gift to have the opportunity to understand so much about who a fellow professional was and the value of what they offered. The structure of the meetings created an environment that lent itself naturally to organic referral, with each participant fully aware of how the other members of their chapter could help their clients.
That’s why, when she later came to experience flimsy, unorganized networking events, Alison was stunned and disappointed. Where was the connection? Where was the planning that should have gone into the activities? Breakouts seemed to be totally random, often with participants who had absolutely nothing in common and were in industries so disparate that a strategic alliance wouldn’t be possible. Personal connection was rare, and opportunities for referral partnerships and professional alliances were practically nonexistent.
CONNECT was the answer to the lack of meaningful content that Alison was seeing in those haphazard networking events. The carefully crafted itinerary for the retreat that Alison planned included opportunities for personal interaction, group activities, and a variety of presentations that were geared to allow participants to practice introducing themselves and their businesses, conveying who they are and what they do in ways that invite their audience to put them in touch with their Ideal Clients.
And it was amazing.
The retreat attendees honed the language they used to inform and educate their audience. They learned about each other, made friends, and planned collaborations. It was what Alison had envisioned: an environment that was designed to provide value in every interaction.
A cocktail party allowed guests to begin getting to know one another on the first day of arrival. During the retreat, they took part in a scavenger hunt and attended a pool party as well as yoga sessions. Participants were able to relax with each other and have real conversations organically, not just making acquaintances but actually connecting.
And, of course, there were the sessions. Speed Networking and one-on-one discussions. Both brief "commercial" style introductions to each woman's business and longer presentations were a huge part of the time at CONNECT, as the women there perfected their ability to succinctly, yet thoroughly and effectively, convey the skills and talents they bring to the table in their chosen enterprises.
The owner and managing member of Maecce, who guides businesses in following best practices with consideration of privacy compliance, governance, and risk management along with process development and other services, told us: "CONNECT was a great experience because it provided a great setting and environment to create new connections with like-minded business women that are seeking different creative ways to share ideas.” She enjoyed her time there and appreciated the new relationships that formed.
Chasity Williams of Mohju, a fantastic operations consulting firm that provides optimization for your business processes, auditing of your tech stack, and more, noted that it was a lot of fun and, in addition to enjoying the location, "The connections were very cool in the way that the set up was made for everybody to be more interactive and engage with each other's businesses" and that it "felt like everyone enjoyed the exercises and program". She also mentioned that she did get some leads/referrals, and is in touch and working with one of the women she met at the retreat on collaborating for a workshop. She says she would like to get more entrenched in her business and then start working with even more of the women from CONNECT.
Chasity also mentioned that she would love to attend one of the retreats arranged by fellow attendee Christel Gutierrez, owner of Global Planning Enterprise. Christel's goal is always to have women recognize their worth and to encourage self-discovery and growth. She enjoyed CONNECT and the wonderful opportunities there, telling us that the Speed Networking sessions were "my favorite of them all".
The woman with whom Chasity is most in contact, and with whom she is talking about plans for a collaboration, is Jennifer Yates. Jennifer has stayed in touch with several CONNECT attendees and has sent some referrals their way. Her company, Roux, which among its services offers operations assessments, fractional operations leadership, and project management, is a business that dovetails perfectly with Chasity's work at Mohju.
There was a natural progression to the business relationship between the two women, and like Chasity, Jennifer found a great deal of value in CONNECT: "I think my biggest a-ha moment was when I scrapped my entire, PREPARED 8 min speech just moments before it was my turn to go. I said to myself, in my head 'I trust that I’ll know what to say and that it’ll make sense to my audience.' And then I spoke. And it did make sense. People’s faces lit up. I knew it landed. But the reason, truthfully, was because that 8-minute speech was predicated on all the other conversations and activities from CONNECT. Those all led up to me getting clearer in my messaging, in my way of speaking about my business."
The connection between Jennifer and Chasity was forged partially through the crossover in the services their businesses provide. When Dana of DB Travel Vibes, who curates group trips to Barbados, began preparing for CONNECT, that was the type of connection she had in mind — she assumed that she would really only benefit from contact with those who were likewise involved in the travel industry.
But though she found her that excitement to meet Faith Bonareri-Rich of Pick A Safari was well-founded (as Faith is a powerhouse business owner and a fantastic person in general), Dana was pleasantly surprised at how helpful it was to talk to those in other industries as well. Speaking to Chasity about systems, discussing how Tishamarie Strasser might be able to bring the incredible, empowering work she does with Bring It Push It Own It to Barbados, and having conversations with others among the gifted and exceptionally intelligent CONNECT attendees made Dana think outside of the boundaries she had unconsciously set around the value of being a participant. "ALL connections are good connections", she concluded. She particularly enjoyed the one-on-one discussions, mentioning to us that they were a "good opportunity to connect with those I did not yet have the chance; to pick their brains about my needs and offer insight for their needs." Dana also mentioned to us that a conversation she had with Alison at CONNECT resulted in her employing a business strategy that she had previously not considered, and which was a resounding success.
Our raffle winner, Callie Lovvern, loved CONNECT, and is excited to be attending our upcoming BluePrint: A Mid-Year Intensive in June as well. Callie, owner of Clear Fork Media, was delighted to have the opportunity to interact with all the amazing women at the retreat. She told us she felt "blessed to be in their company" and that being there to "see the amazing things that the other women were doing...got me out of my shell". She deeply appreciates the relationships that were formed there and is still in contact with Chasity and Jennifer. "My biggest takeaway from CONNECT was being in awe of all these amazing women that were in the trenches every day and up-leveling their businesses and lives. I was humbled to be included among them."
Callie told us, "Being in the company of great women inspires you to be a great woman. I do believe that you are the company you keep."
Alison was so thrilled with the connections she saw forming at the retreat that she knew she wanted to repeat it as soon as possible. But she also wanted to be able to include more women. She concluded that an online platform was the way to go. So she designed Virtual CONNECT, an event that would include all the workshops and opportunities provided by CONNECT, but with the greater accessibility afforded by an online interface. Abambyh Business Coaching is proud to be able to provide this chance for women to get the CONNECT experience virtually.
One of the CONNECT guests, the brilliant and skilled Nicole Meihofer-Weigel of Aurélien Capital Partners, found so much value in her time at the retreat that she has already signed up for Virtual CONNECT. It was Nicole's input that inspired Alison to create parameters for the two separate cohorts, with one comprising those well-established in their businesses and the other for people in all stages of business development.
CONNECT was an incredible time. Everyone who attended connected with other participants and learned about who each one was, what they do, and the value of their services, as well as who would be a potential client and how they could best be introduced. They also discovered ways to present their own businesses to diverse audiences.
It was more than just a networking event; it was a revelation. Not only did it exceed the goals Alison had set, but CONNECT far surpassed them. Making it arguably Abambyh Business Coaching’s most successful event. We are excited to bring that momentum to Virtual CONNECT this year and watch the synergies continue to build. We can't wait!
Written by Tina Harmuth