5 reasons why I started the South-East Women Collective
Loneliness, shifting priorities, and a changing world of work. These are just a few things that pushed me to create the SE Women Collective, a community for women in business based in South-East London. It’s a space where we can connect, support one another, and grow together without the financial burden or rigidity of traditional networks. Here are the five reasons behind why I started it.
1. Loneliness and the craving for a community
Between personal circumstances and the post-pandemic ways of working, my social circle has shrunk considerably. My part-time corporate job with a European remit means I mostly work from home and live on Teams calls. My children are growing up, and I no longer hang around at the school gates (not that I ever really did). As a family photographer, I meet wonderful local clients, but the professional barrier remains. What I miss most—especially from the pre-Covid office days—is the organic way to build real relationships, with people you have something in common with.
2. Pivoting my career since motherhood
One thing I love to talk about is career and business. As someone who’s spent years shaping my own career since becoming a mum, it’s a topic close to my heart. Motherhood often forces many of us to get creative with our careers—whether it’s pivoting from employment to self-employment or finding something that works around tight budgets and even tighter schedules. But motherhood isn’t the core of the Collective. There are already plenty of groups for “mumpreneurs” or “Instamums.” Instead, this is for local women who are passionate about building a business or career they love, whatever their personal circumstances.
3. There was no business network like it
When I looked for business networks, I found them corporate, formal, time-consuming, and incredibly expensive. None of them felt like the right fit for me. Spending hundreds of pounds a year to attend conferences, marketing calls, or give presentations to people unlikely to book or recommend me didn’t feel worth it. I wanted something different: local, accessible, and collaborative. A space where I could connect with people who get it and create real opportunities for support and growth—without breaking the bank. So I made it myself.
4. Marketing sucks the joy out of me
I’ve done my time with reels, giveaways, ads, newsletters, blogs—you name it. I’ve spent hours learning about killer landing pages, calls-to-action, and SEO. I’ve also paid good money to advertise in local magazines and forums, and walked miles distributing flyers.
The truth? Most of it sucks the joy out of me. My best marketing happens in person, when I talk about my business to people in my community who feel my passion and competence. That’s the kind of organic, low-effort marketing I want the Collective to be all about.
5. A craving for a passion project
Finally, I needed something that felt exciting. The Collective is free to join for two reasons: one, to keep it accessible; two, to ensure it remains a passion project rather than a job. Because it’s free, I have the flexibility to evolve or step away if needed, without feeling I’ve let anyone down financially. This way, people can join without risk, and together we can see where this journey takes us.
Join for free
Are you a woman in business in South-East London who craves connection with local and like-minded women? The Collective here for you. It’s free to join, local, and designed to foster real relationships, meaningful support, and organic growth.