ROBERT PIERCE
• Leader & Times
Employees everywhere face challenges in the business world, and locally, with the creation of a new networking group, the Seward County Development Corporation is helping women in the business world work through those challenges.
SCDC recently announced the launch of its Women In Business Networking Group (WIB), and Entrepreneurship Director Raquel Arellano said this is a dynamic group of local professionals who share insights, support one another and focus on both professional and personal development in a welcoming, pressure-free environment.
WIB officially kicked off in late January in SCDC’s CoWorking Space, and Arellano said while initial meetings took place quarterly, those meetings will now take place on a monthly basis.
Each month will feature a professional talk about a chosen topic, with the January kickoff featuring the theme “Setting Yourself Up for Success,” a theme Arellano said centered on personal management.
“We’ll go through a brief talk,” she said. “We’ll also spend some time networking with each other. This time around, we sat around in a circle, and we talked to each other and asked each other several questions. It’s a good get-to-know-you time.”
Arellano said the WIB group is allotted about an hour and a half for the events, but she said with most events, most participants are out in just a little more than an hour.
“We do it over the lunch hour,” she said. “Every event has taken place here at the CoWorking Space. This is something we started last year, and it has gained traction.”
Arellano said the kickoff event in January had a great turnout. Participants enjoyed a vibrant atmosphere that constantly encourages networking, ideas are exchanged, and real-world issues faced by professionals and entrepreneurs are discussed.
“We had about 16 people show up, and we had them from all different walks of life and careers,” she said. “It was wonderful. We had a great turnout. We always have light hors d’oeuvres and refreshments. We spent some time networking, talking, getting to know each other. It was great.”
Arellano said the purpose of the WIB group is personal and professional development and to bring career and business women together to spend time getting to know each other. She said she formed the group to provide an option outside of membership-based groups.
“I know a lot of civic groups are membership based,” she said. “Everybody’s invited to come, but this was specifically for entrepreneurs and career-driven women because we deal with those specific challenges. It’s a networking event.”
Arellano said WIB participants will not find pitches or sales, but rather genuine connection, guidance and growth.
“We don’t get sold to,” she said. “We don’t sell anything here. We just spend some time getting to know each other and talking through the challenges women face both in business and at work.”
Part of what WIB participants can expect at an event includes:
• Informative sessions on overcoming professional challenges;
• Opportunities to grow networks in a supportive community; and
• A fun, engaging environment focused on personal and professional development.
Arellano said she hopes both herself and WIB participants get something out of the networking group.
“Personally, I want to just be a facilitator and allow people to have a space to come together to continue to thrive and grow professionally and personally and honestly become the best versions of ourselves,” she said. “What people, I hope, get out of it is community building, networking and getting to know your neighbor, your coworker and people in your hometown who are going through the same struggles you are, who face the same challenges and have in many cases overcome, and you can learn from them or vice versa.”
As for what is in store for 2025, Arellano said for now, WIB will continue to meet monthly in the CoWorking Space, at least until the group outgrows the space.
“We will tackle different areas of development,” she said. “Every month, it’ll be a different theme.”
Arellano advised everyone to stay attuned to the Seward County Development Corporation Facebook page to see what future themes will be.
“We’re tying a book club to it, hoping everybody will get excited about reading again. It’s just spending time developing your talents, your skills, your abilities to become great employees or employers,” she said.
Arellano said all that is needed to join WIB is to simply come to an event.
“You don’t have to register,” she said. “You just show up the day of, and we take your information here. I’m starting a newsletter this month to share information and resources to maintain connection.”
Arellano said the networking group is extremely beneficial for the community.
“It is a place for people, a safe space to come and visit, talk about your challenges and grow from each other,” she said.
Arellano added the local economy also benefits from businesses having happy employees and employers who know how to provide a great space and working environment for their employees.
“At the end of the day, the community wins with events like this,” she said. “The reason they win is we’re doing all the development.”
In short, Arellano said WIB creates a safe space for attendees to be themselves, build authentic relationships and leave with actionable strategies for success.
“We’re coaching,” she said. “We’re doing life skills coaching. We’re tackling challenges perhaps as an employer you don’t get to tackle on a day-to-day basis, but we’re serving as mentors and as resource connectors so if you’re in the career field, you can become a better employee and version of yourself. If you’re an employer, you can become the best employer you can be to create a good space and a thriving atmosphere for your employees.”
For more information about the WIB Networking Group, visit the SCDC Facebook page.
