Sharon Connolly

In 1999 I decided to radically change my career. I had been self-employed since 1993 as a freelance IT trainer, but after 15 years I was looking for something a bit different. Throwing caution to the wind I decided to re-train as an image consultant and start a new business that frankly… was a lot more “me!” After my image training I had a bit of a shock though! Where was I going to get all my clients? How would I generate a steady flow of leads and interest? My IT training business had thrived on a few loyal clients, now I would need at least 4 new image clients EVERY week! Aghhh! How was I going to achieve that? And then I met Mary Flavelle and discovered networking.

Within a few months, not only had I grown my business but I also had a fantastic new circle of friends who completely understood what it was like to try to grow a business from scratch. Many of these women are still my best friends and motivate and support me every day. I loved networking and attended everything I could; Thames Valley chamber events, NRG, Refer-on, Athena, She Plc, Institute of directors, The Women's Networking Company. I took every opportunity I could to make more connections.

However, as your diary fills up there is less time for networking. No networking eventually means no more business. I knew I needed to keep networking but I just needed something that didn't take such a chunk out of my day, and didn't need to be booked months in advance. I also found networking could be expensive too and I just couldn't afford to pay all the membership fees when I couldn't find the time to attend the meetings. I was sure I couldn’t be the only one who felt like this.

I drafted an email to about 30 women I’d previously met at networking events to see if they just wanted to have an informal coffee without the cost, agenda or speaker. I also organised it at a “mum” friendly time that didn’t take a huge chunk out of your working day. Without giving it any thought I titled the email "Lets be Ladies Who Latte" and with that simple email I had the accidental conception of Berkshires biggest networking success in 2007. 

I later relocated to Singapore and now live in Australia, but in the world of Ladies Who Latte I still visit our global village regularly. 

Mary Flavelle

My life changed when I was offered a job at the Chamber of Commerce. I have had a varied career with not really any focus as life dictated my opportunities. I moved from Northern Ireland, became a Mum of three boys. It was when I took up netball and met lots of new friends that helped me get into work, originally working from home and then everything in between. I even hold a forklift license – which I am rather proud of. 

What a great job the Chamber was. I had to attend events and organise them, as a bit of a party animal how easy was this? I was not the usual ‘run of the mill’ employee but I learned what networking was all about. My favourite subject – PEOPLE. Look after them, help them and stick together is my recipe for my family, good friends and now my business.

I took on the Business Women’s group and met Sharon Connolly. A force of nature and a much focused lady. She asked about starting a group just meeting for coffee but it was not a Chamber format. However, why not start one and I will help spread the word of what you are doing. That was it – posh coffees had just started around that time, so better than coffee – lets be Latte – The accidental birth of an amazing organisation that I have had the privilege of supporting, growing and belonging to – to this day. 

Our Leaders are very special ladies.

These wonderful ladies are the WELCOME face of Ladies Who Latte. They offer friendship, advice, contacts and business leads where possible. We regularly hear of amazing stories, and fantastic women who have achieved success beyond their dreams. We are women with imagination, drive, enthusiasm and hope and we are enjoying sharing out success --- 

“because there’s no point being fabulous on your own”.

Having met Sharon through networking back in 2007 we did some bits of work for each other and became good friends. When Sharon felt the need to move the Ladies Who Latte website onto a more manageable platform in 2009 she asked me to help. I created the new identity and built the website that enabled the organisation to grow.

Being more than happy to stay behind the scenes I have quietly and slowly but surely built the visual identity of Ladies Who Latte to be a consistent brand across all the Facebook Groups and Pages that provide the digital home and communications for all the groups that meet. It has been a real labour of love based on my whole hearted belief in business women and the support that we can all give one another bringing success in business. A belief that I share with both Mary and Sharon.

Now here we are in 2020 hopefully taking Ladies Who Latte to the next stepping stone of its evolution with the 'Latte Lounge' – My vision of the Ladies Who Latte Lounge was born a good few years ago out of wanting to enable the next steps for all the women in business who find networking with Ladies Who Latte a vital first step into the business world.

To provide a platform where our ladies can find educational information about what they could be doing to improve their business function and offering. A vision of a resource that they can go to for help and factual advice about the most beneficial ways to do things in business. For them to be able to read through or watch any number of ‘how to’s’ and guides about various topics at their leisure and find the confidence and encouragement to turn those tips and nuggets into actions.

To provide a platform where women who are equally as passionate as us at Ladies Who Latte to help and support fellow women in business through the birth and growth of their creations. A platform where professionals can showcase their knowledge, giving a valuable stage for experienced women to be heard and recognised as the ‘Experts in their field’ that they truly are. I hope that this will find the attention of those women that share mine and Mary’s passion and belief in other business women. All those women that have dedicated their time and efforts to supporting their Ladies Who Latte group meetings because they know that building solid supportive networks with like minded business women just works.