• Community can be a growth driver, not just a support system. Founder networks offer solidarity and practical solutions when you’re navigating challenges in real time.
  
• Join fewer, deeper communities. You don’t need to say yes to everything. The best networks make space for real life. Show up when you can, and lead with generosity when you do.

• Bring the best parts of founder communities into your company. Coaching, peer support, and continuous learning don’t stop with founders. Embedding those same values into your team culture helps everyone grow, stay connected, and feel support through the ups and downs.

What first pushed you to start building relationships with other founders, especially women leaders?

In the early days of Belgian Boys, we were so focused on building that we barely looked up. Some of that came with the territory of starting a business but part of it was fear. Fear that if we shared too much, someone might copy us or use our ideas to get ahead.

It wasn’t until COVID hit that I was jolted out of that mindset. Like everyone else, I was joining webinars and reconnecting with people I’d met at trade shows and suddenly, it hit me: we were all facing the same challenges. Fundraising. Supply chain chaos. Navigating company culture in a remote world.

Those conversations gave me two things. First, solidarity. I could say, “I’m scared” or “I’m overwhelmed,” and someone else would reply, “Same here.” That alone was such a relief. And second, they gave me playbooks-ideas and solutions that had already been market-tested. It helped us realize that we didn’t need to figure it all out on our own.

How does a women-led network differ from broader entrepreneurial groups?

Since 2020, I’ve been an active member of several women-led founder communities: Dreamers & Doers, Entreprenista, EY Winning Women, to name a few. What immediately stood out to me about these forums was the unique mix of high ambition and real vulnerability. 

At the Entreprenista conference, for example, I remember being in a room full of women talking big numbers, millions in revenue, and everyone was in floral dresses, genuinely happy to see one another win. Between the energy, the innovative ideas, and creative problem-solving, I left thinking: I want to be in more rooms like this.

What’s powerful is that these networks don’t just get you in the room, they walk you right onto the main stage. Take EY Winning Women. It was literally created to address the fact that few women made it to the Entrepreneur of the Year stage. It wasn’t because they lacked merit, but because they hadn’t been given the same access and exposure. These communities are actively solving for that imbalance.

As Belgian Boys has scaled, how have you incorporated lessons learned from these communities into your company culture or leadership style?

The support I found in founder communities made me realize that growth doesn’t happen in isolation. And that’s just as true for teams as it is for founders.

Executive Coaching: Working with a corporate mindfulness coach has been one of the most transformative investments I’ve made in myself as a leader. It helps me stay grounded and show up more intentionally for my team. That kind of support has shaped how I lead and how I think about supporting others at Belgian Boys.

Peer Match “Buddy” Program: We created a program that pairs our team leads with counterparts at other brands for regular check-ins and collaborative problem-solving. These peer relationships offer a space to trade ideas, work through challenges, and support each other – on both sides of the table.

Professional Development Stipends: Every offer letter at Belgian Boys includes a professional development stipend. It’s intentionally flexible, and team members can use it for anything from taking a course to attending a leadership workshop. The goal is simple: meet people where they are, and give them what they need to grow.

At the end of the day, Belgian Boys will only grow if our people do. That’s one of my core beliefs, and a value I’ve taken from the founder communities that helped shape my own path.

What advice would you give to founders looking to effectively tap into female founder networks?

Be intentional. You don’t need to join every community just to check a box. Choose one or two that genuinely align with where you are and where you can both give and receive value.

You won’t make it to every event, and that’s okay. The best communities not only leave room for real life, they deeply understand your reality as a busy founder. What matters most is showing up with intention when you can. The magic happens when you’re open, generous, and just as excited to celebrate someone else’s win as your own.