Sometimes the most meaningful moments in leadership are the ones that happen without you.

On October 8th, an incredible group of women came together for the inaugural Women’s Business Collective — an evening dedicated to connection, learning, inspiration, and supporting women leaders at every stage of their journey.

The idea was simple but powerful: bring together women who are building businesses, leading organizations, navigating challenges, and making an impact — whether in the for-profit or nonprofit world — to share experiences, learn from one another, and build meaningful relationships.

And what an evening it was!

I couldn’t have been prouder of the women on our Founders’ Panel, who so openly shared their journeys, the challenges they’ve faced, the decisions they’ve made, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. There is something incredibly powerful about women being willing to share not just their successes, but the winding roads that got them there. That’s where so much of the learning and inspiration happens.

But there was something else about this evening that touched me deeply.

I didn’t make it happen.

Jessica Boykin and other members of our Breakwater team, working alongside some wonderful women from RiversEdge Advisors and Blackwell HR, brought this vision to life. They had the passion, the ideas, the initiative, and the drive to create something meaningful for other women.

And all I had to do was show up.

For someone who has spent much of her career feeling like everything was on her shoulders to accomplish, that was a pretty remarkable feeling.

Over the past five years, one of my biggest areas of personal growth has been learning that leadership isn’t about being the person who makes everything happen. It’s about creating the environment, providing the encouragement and coaching, and giving others the space and confidence to take the reins.

And not just to get things done. To shine.

That’s exactly what I witnessed on Thursday evening.

For years, I’ve cared deeply about helping women find their confidence, recognize their potential, build meaningful connections, and lift one another up. Seeing that same passion and energy carried forward by the next group of women leaders — in their own way, with their own ideas — meant more to me than I can adequately express.

Because that’s how meaningful change grows. Not through one person’s efforts, but when others embrace a purpose and make it their own.

To Jessica, our Breakwater team members, and the amazing women at our partner firms who made this evening possible: thank you. You created something special, and I hope you’re as proud of it as I am of you.

To our panelists, thank you for your authenticity, generosity, and willingness to share your stories. And to every woman who joined us, thank you for being part of the beginning of something I hope will continue to grow.

Women supporting women. Sharing what we’ve learned. Opening doors for one another. And celebrating each other’s success.

That’s what the Women’s Business Collective is all about.

And seeing that spirit carry forward, with a whole new group of women leading the way? That’s a pretty wonderful win.

Share. Support. Succeed. Women businesses. Stronger together.