Hera Hub’s founder, Felena Hanson, is consistently asked… “why a female focused workspace?”
Her answer: environment and community.
Hera Hub is a beautiful, supportive setting that has been designed with the female entrepreneur in mind. Many of our members say they’ve never felt so “zen” and “productive” at the same time. While the spa-inspired space and strong focus on collaboration is attractive to many women, we welcome men who also appreciate this environment. It has nothing to do with being “anti-men” but rather creating a space that women love. Think of it like a retail business… a boutique selling women’s clothing isn’t “anti-men” but rather chooses to provide a product that is targeted to women.
Members repeatedly refer to Hera Hub as a safe/supportive space. The female focused setting enables them to fully participate, to express themselves, and to engage in respectful exchanges. One member puts it this way, “Launching and growing a business is challenging. Safety for me is not feeling scared to ask lots of questions and to be open/vulnerable. I say what I feel called to say, knowing that I am going to be listened to and respected.”
Another member describes Hera Hub as “radiant energy.” There is a ”great big buzz”. It “feels welcoming and friendly, fresh, and creative.” Finally, one member sums it up as, “Hera Hub is a space where I can find mentors I relate to and surround myself with others I aspire to be like. The energy is contagious… success breeds success.”
So where is the data to back this up?
While there have been many studies on the benefits of gender specific education, not as much research have been done on the benefits of female-focused business interaction. Here are a few studies/articles we found that seem to highlight some of the important distinctions…
RESEARCH: The WRC’s 2006 ‘why women?’ report identified that women-only services and spaces are a key feature of women’s organizations and are distinct to the women’s sector.
The 2006 report identified several benefits of women-only spaces, including:
• Women are more comfortable to express themselves and articulate their needs.
• Women are less constrained or intimidated.
• Women are able to ‘take stock’ before going out into mainstream.
• Female leadership ensures women’s needs are met.
What has this research found?
In the interviews and focus groups with staff running women-only organizations and service users, a number of benefits of the services were identified to women as individuals, their wider communities and society as a whole. Safety, both physical and emotional, is a key benefit of women-only services. As a result, women feel supported and comfortable. They become empowered and develop confidence, greater independence and higher self-esteem. They are less marginalized and isolated and feel more able to express themselves. Women using these services feel that their voices are heard and listened to. Through sharing their experiences with other women to make sense of the world together, they develop a sense of solidarity.
http://thewomensresourcecentre.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/whywomenonly.pdf
ARTICLE: Differences in the Way Men and Women Network
1. Men are Assertive and Linear
Many men networking are often linear in approach. Who is at the meeting who is related to their industry, who can they meet or connect with that can help position them or move them ahead in their chosen field. Men approach others that will be customers or clients of their business, or will act as a supplier. They are more assertive in their approach, and according to Cathy Goddard, less afraid to ask for what they want.
2. Women Connect on Multiple Levels
I run a small women entrepreneur/mompreneurs networking and business training group called Mom CEO Academy in Squamish. While many of the women are interested in learning more about business and how to improve their own, they also want to share the personal challenges they face in running both a business and maintaining family at the same time. A large component in networking is the process of women creating connections with each other.
Women connect to each other through children, family, business challenges, successes and a desire to mentor upcoming business women. In a women’s networking group, women feel safe to express how they FEEL about their work/life challenges and look to other women with similar experiences for support and advice.
3. Women are Wired to Connect
Women are wired to connect and can be natural networkers. They often play a primary role to support and nurture in the family setting. In watching women at a networking event, you see that they are asking questions, coaching and encouraging. In my experience women want to see other women succeed. While they do acknowledge competitors, they prefer to build capacity over competition. In some cases I have also seen women try to work with their competitors, finding ways in which the two businesses can align to mutual benefit.
http://smallbusinessbc.ca/post/how-women-network-differently-men
RESEARCH: Study Shows Importance of Networks to Women’s Success
Women empowering women is more than just a theory. In a Kaufman Foundation study (“Are Successful Women Entrepreneurs Different from Men?” May 2010), women rated their professional and business networks as important contributors to success more highly than men did. It was also found that women especially benefit from other types of social support and encouragement beyond business.
Several of the identified gender differences in the study indicate that support and encouragement from key people can especially benefit women in their efforts to found successful companies. Many women feel more comfortable in an all-woman environment and typically get to a point of trust much quicker.
Learn more about what our members have to say about their Hera Hub experience…
“There is immediate positive energy when you enter Hera Hub. While the ambience is very relaxing and soothing, it is at the same time completely invigorating and allows for 100% focused productivity. But one of the greatest benefits is in the women who are there – everyone is so supportive and collaborative – very open with providing words of wisdom and always positive.”
– Dana Rideout
Hera Hub is so-So-SO much more than a co-working space. It is a flourishing entrepreneurial ecosystem — a village pulsing with talent and heart. In it, we thrive, in growing both our *businesses* and *ourselves* on this challenging and exciting entrepreneurial path. Amidst the exquisite atmosphere of the space, we generously share knowledge and referrals, create new alliances, hire each other as service providers, listen with encouragement in the stuck points, be each other’s cheering fans. Like all healthy ecosystems, we are diverse — in age, culture, beliefs, type and stage of business. We’ve got hot and sassy, to grounded and wise. We’ve got web ninjas to wine makers, finance wizards to spiritual guides. Put yourself where you can be your best, ladies! Once you step into Hera Hub, you’ll see that going it alone is crazy. You’ll never look back.– Mary Tolena
