By: Melanie Colusci

I grew up professionally in financial services. As most of you probably know it’s primarily men that make up the financial services industry. Of course, that’s not a bad thing and because I started when I was in my early 20s, I never really knew any different.

I didn’t realize what I was missing until I moved to Pittsburgh and had to start my businesses over.

I was beginning to understand women make financial decisions different then men and I also realized quickly women make different business decisions then men. So, if I was going to survive in a new city knowing one person and starting my business over I needed to find a way of doing business that worked for me.  I obviously didn’t quite fit in with the old boy’s club as they say…

That’s when I found my tribe. These are the women I can ask any question of, cry on their shoulder and who give me the tough love when I need it most.  They also give me many different perspectives to consider which is very important for anyone who works with the public.

As you can imagine, not all Mastermind or Networking groups are created the same and it’s important to find the right fit. I would highly recommend visiting a few different groups before committing to one. There have been groups which I attended in the past that focused more on the traditional networking framework where you were expected to give referrals to other members on a regular basis. This can work great for some, but for a self-proclaimed introvert like me it was hard to “sell” myself…especially some days when I just didn’t feel like talking!

When I found the groups I belong to now, I discovered the objectives of these groups were far different than typical networking groups. These groups were about education, connection, community, and collaboration.

What dawned on me was through this structure women were creating relationships. We are connecting on a deeper level then that of sales person or professional to professional. These relationships also nurtured support outside of the actual meeting. It’s not surprising to find many members attending other member’s events and helping promote others on social media.

What I can confidently tell you is…it takes a village. And, my village is the group of women who have been there with me every step of the way. Through the good and bad, ups and down, successes and failure. I am eternally thankful.

So, if you are in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area and are looking for your tribe, come join us! We invite you to participate in one of our meetings “on us” to decide if we are a right fit for you. We are here to help you take your business to the next level and make the entrepreneurial journey more rewarding and less lonely.  Check out the Mastermind page on our website at www.fromstartuptosuccess.com!