Going on the hunt for a supportive, non-intimidating professional network can feel daunting. You can’t exactly ‘find your tribe’ by simply ordering it from a delivery menu.

Just witnessing social media behaviour, recalling your school years, or (if you’re a parent) navigating the school gate cliques is reminder enough that it’s rare to find a community where you don’t feel sized up, judged or – worse – invisible.

That’s why SHE Malta’s tenth anniversary this March is particularly significant…as a milestone that goes beyond longevity.

If you think back to 2016 (pre SHE Malta), women’s networks were rare. Remote work was less common, surreal as it now feels typing those words! Frank conversations about burnout and boundaries, confidence and visibility, pricing and USP weren’t mainstream, again strange as this may now seem. Over this past decade, the way we work has changed profoundly, forever shaped by the Covid era. 

One thing that hasn’t changed: entrepreneurship can be isolating and lonely.

Which is why a decade after its launch, what stands out about Malta’s first network for women in business is not just the number of events held or panels hosted. 

It’s the community that’s been tirelessly and steadily built, curated and sustained by founder Sarah Woods (and former partner Julia Perry in the initial years).

While recently writing about SHE Malta’s membership benefits, from the Real Talk series, Bridging Communities events and numerous seminars and workshops to coworking sessions, social events and of course networking opportunities, something became clear to me… Although each year’s programme of events is obviously intrinsic to SHE’s offering and identity, community is an equally essential part of the SHE story.

As you’re about to see, community stems from something deeper than programming itself. Because beyond the business learnings and advice, there’s something intangible and special that happens at a SHE Malta event.

It’s the warmth and the connection when you enter the room.
It’s the unspoken “step this way, we’ve got you” energy.
It’s the eureka moment when someone offers a helpful perspective on a challenge you’ve been carrying quietly for months.

Busy lives and work schedules mean not everyone attends every gathering. Some faces become familiar quickly; others surface less frequently. But the constants are connection without competitiveness, ambition without intimidation. And no matter who you run into at a SHE event, everyone is a valued part of the SHE Malta family.

The sense of belonging is felt immediately by newcomers and longstanding members alike. In an age of increasing competition, disconnectedness, AI and social media artificiality, that sense of belonging is hard to come by – and even harder to create.

For Rebekah Kamsky, Founder of Little Isle Digital Strategy & Ecommerce Studio, community has translated into not only connection but commercial momentum:

“Joining the SHE community has been a wonderful experience. As an entrepreneur, it can often be isolating at times, so it’s imperative to surround yourself with like-minded people and to invest in yourself. Not only have I had the opportunity to share my own skills and insights in my field with others in the network, which led to further business development and leads, but I’ve also learnt so much from other members of the community. If you’re looking for a place to network, grow, share and thrive, then joining the SHE community is most definitely the best decision you could make, for yourself or your business trajectory.”

It’s a reminder that community is not simply emotional support. It’s exchange. It’s collaboration. It’s professional acceleration.

Mireille Petit-Pellegrini, Founder and Coach at Thrive Positive (whose eagerly awaited post-event summaries perfectly capture the SHE ethos), reflects:

“Through each of the stories shared at a recent SHE brunch, it was evident that no matter how tough the year may have been… there is such amazing growth in everyone. Belonging to this group is one of the things I have treasured most about the year. Hopefully newer members got a feel of what a special “tribe” ⁨Sass Woods⁩ has grown and nurtured and the love and respect in the room for one another. Here’s to continuing to support one another, grow, learn from each other and collaborate together. It’s a community like no other and one of women at their best!” 

Diana Iskander, Founder of LANOUR International, also sees community through a thoughtful lens (no pun intended):

“As a business owner, photographer, and proud member of the SHE Malta community, capturing these moments feels deeply personal to me, as I witness women supporting one another and shaping their own entrepreneurial paths. Being behind the camera allows me to preserve genuine connections and meaningful exchanges that live on far beyond the event itself, while contributing to a visual story that truly reflects the heart and values of SHE. I am sincerely grateful for this community and for the warmth, openness, and shared belief that growth is stronger when it is experienced together.”

Finally, as owner of boutique editorial and copywriting service, WriteContent and a SHE member myself, I can personally attest this network has provided me with a safe, non-judgemental environment, and has also made me feel less ‘remote’ as a remote-working solopreneur. It has strengthened my belief in my work, sharpened my confidence in my business journey and offered education I might otherwise have sought alone (not necessarily with a fruitful outcome).

No community sustains itself for ten years by accident. Behind it all is the highly intentional – and gently powerful – leadership of its director.

The tone, the values, the balance between professional growth and human connection have not been incidental. They have been intentionally shaped and quietly driven.

“Each day, I’m fueled by the incredible stories of our members; women who embark on new ventures, forge meaningful collaborations and pursue their dreams with renewed self-assurance. I’m super proud that through this community, women have banded together to support one another’s endeavours, pass on knowledge and mentor other women who wish to carve out their own unique path. It truly embodies the SHE motto of ‘collaboration over competition’.  – Sarah Woods, Director, SHE Malta.

Community can’t be manufactured or downloaded overnight. It is built, conversation by conversation, event by event, collaboration after collaboration. As SHE Malta reaches ten years of building community – in an increasingly digital, fast-paced business world – its role as a space prioritising connection, generosity and shared progress feels more essential than ever.

So I’m toasting ten years of SHE Malta (and quietly hoping we’ll be celebrating ten more).