A chance meeting between Elisabeth Leach and Andrea Belen-Sandhorst in the fall of 2019 turned into the creation of a thriving organization. Elisabeth and Andrea discovered they had much in common when it came to what they were looking for in a networking group. In early 2020, they launched The Women’s Collective Pittsburgh in order to create a welcoming and powerful community of female entrepreneurs and career professionals in our region. In this episode, Elisabeth talks about the tenacity that drove her to keep their doors open during the early days of the pandemic and the important role organizations like hers play in supporting and nurturing professional women of all types.
When Elisabeth Leach met Andrea Belen-Sandhorst in late 2019, they started a conversation about what they valued most in a networking group. Both were developing their own businesses and careers, and they were interested in meeting new people. Although there were other industry-specific and leadership groups available to them, they felt that the Pittsburgh market really needed an organization that catered to the unique needs of women entrepreneurs and corporate professionals in all industries and career stages. In early 2020, they launched The Women’s Collective Pittsburgh in order to fulfill their goal of creating a welcoming and powerful community for professional women in our region.
They were only three months into the launch of their networking group when the pandemic shutdown occurred in March 2020, but Elisabeth and Andrea were determined to keep their dream alive. 2020 and 2021 consisted of outdoor events, keeping their attendance levels low, and wearing masks as needed, all in order to adhere to safety protocols while continuing to give their members a reason to come out, socialize, and learn from each other. When their membership base exploded in the spring of 2021, they knew that their new organization could be a full-time business. Today, Elisabeth sets the strategic direction and runs the day-to-day operations as the CEO of The Women’s Collective Pittsburgh.
If you have any questions or if you’d like to chat, you can reach me at my contact info below. The purpose of this podcast is to share ideas, inspire action, and build a stronger small business community here in Pittsburgh. So please say hello, tell me what you think, and let me know how I’m doing. It means a ton!
YOU CAN REACH ME AT:
Website: https://www.proprietorsofpittsburgh.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darinvilano
Phone: 412-336-8247
YOU CAN REACH ELISABETH LEACH AT:
Website: https://www.jointwc.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_womens_collective_pgh