Why Safe Conversations About Money Matter for Women in Business

Let’s talk about money (in a way that feels safe).

I want to talk to you about something that I know a lot of women quietly avoid.

Not because they don’t care.
Not because they’re irresponsible.
But because it feels uncomfortable.

• Money
• The numbers
• The financial side of your business

If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking “I’ll deal with that later” or “I should really understand this better by now”, I want you to know — you’re not the only one.

And there’s no judgement here.

February inside WBN is about taking the fear out of talking about finance.
Not by pushing you into uncomfortable conversations.
Not by overwhelming you with information.

But by creating an online space where you can listen, reflect, and start to feel steadier around money — at your own pace.

If money feels heavy, that makes sense

When women tell me they don’t like dealing with money, it’s rarely about the numbers themselves.

It’s about how money feels.

For many women, money is tied up with:

• Past experiences that knocked their confidence
• Learned beliefs around money and self-worth
• Fear of getting it wrong
• Worry about what they might discover
• A sense that they should know more by now

So avoidance becomes a form of protection.

Not laziness.
Not failure.
Just self-preservation.

And when you’re running a business — often alongside family life, caring responsibilities, or employment — it’s understandable that finances can slip into the background.

But here’s something I want to reassure you about:

Not knowing doesn’t mean you’re doing badly.
It usually just means no one has ever created the right space for you to talk about it safely.

Context matters more than we admit

We can’t have honest conversations about women and money without acknowledging the wider picture.

Women-led businesses still receive significantly less funding than male-led businesses. Source: Real Business
Women are more likely to self-fund, underpay themselves, and carry financial responsibility quietly.

And historically, women haven’t been encouraged to feel confident around money or numbers.

So if you’ve ever felt:

• Behind
• Unsure
• Quietly anxious about finances

That isn’t a personal failing.
It’s part of a much bigger story.

Recognising that alone can be incredibly freeing.

A part of my story I carried for years

I want to share this because I know how many women carry similar stories silently.

During the 2008/09 recession, I experienced real financial hardship.

It was driven by the economic climate — but for a long time afterwards, I blamed myself.

I carried guilt and shame far longer than I needed to.
I replayed decisions in my head.
I told myself I should have handled things differently.

It wasn’t until I slowed down and looked back with perspective that I could see the truth.

I wasn’t careless.
I wasn’t irresponsible.
I was navigating a really difficult period.

That reframing changed my relationship with money completely.

And it’s one of the reasons I care so deeply about how finance is talked about inside WBN — with compassion, context, and calm.

Why WBN holds these conversations online — and why that matters

Everything we do inside WBN is online, and that’s intentional. Being online also means women join us from across the UK and Europe, bringing wider perspectives and shared experiences into the room — without being limited by location.

It allows women to access support and conversation that fits around real life, wherever they’re based.

It means you can:

• Join from a space where you feel comfortable
• Listen without pressure to speak
• Take things in quietly if that’s what you need
• Build confidence gradually

You don’t have to perform.
You don’t have to be “on”.
You don’t even have to know what questions to ask yet.

Often, just hearing other women talk honestly about money is enough to shift something internally. And those conversations don’t have to stop when the session ends.

Inside WBN, members can continue to reflect, ask questions and share experiences through our community space between meetings — knowing support is there when they need it, not just once a month.

You realise:

• You’re not the only one
• Your worries are shared
• Confidence can grow gently, not forcefully

That’s the environment WBN is built on.

This month’s financial conversations inside WBN

On 19^th February we are hosting a Free online session with WBN member Sue Green, focused on Making Tax Digital for the self-employed.

This session is especially important for women who are affected but feel unsure about what MTD means for them.

Sue’s focus is on:

• Helping you understand what’s changing
• What you need to do (and when)
• And removing unnecessary fear around it

This isn’t about scaring anyone.
It’s about clarity replacing uncertainty — which is often where anxiety sits.

If Making Tax Digital has been sitting at the back of your mind, this session offers a supportive way to start making sense of it. You can book onto the session and join us online on 19th February.

Alongside this, our Business Clinics throughout February will give the opportunity for honest conversations around money in real business contexts — where questions are welcome and no one is expected to have all the answers.

On 26th February, WBN member Amanda Edwards will be joining us for our Monthly Online Networking session and delivering her talk Leaving Light in a Dark Time.

Amanda is based in Italy, which is a lovely example of how WBN connects women across the UK and Europe — bringing shared experience and perspective into the room, regardless of location.

Amanda’s approach to money is calm, practical, and human.

She’ll be talking about creating clarity around your financial information — not from a place of fear, but from a place of care.
Care for yourself.
Care for your loved ones.

This session isn’t about doing everything at once.
It’s about small steps that reduce mental load and bring peace of mind.

Every attendee will receive a free Financial Snapshot Pack (normally £47), so you can take action gently, in your own time.

This is a session designed to reduce mental load, not add to it. If that feels helpful right now, you’re very welcome to join us online on 26th February. Book your place here

One of the things I value most inside WBN is the opportunity for members to share their knowledge and experience when it feels right for them — whether that’s speaking, contributing to discussions, or supporting others through shared learning.

Creating safety looks different for everyone

This month’s featured member, Suzanne Gamache, speaks beautifully about holding safe spaces — and that feels especially relevant here.

Money conversations aren’t just practical.
They’re emotional.
They can feel vulnerable.

Suzanne shared that since joining WBN she’s felt genuinely welcomed and encouraged, even as she finds her rhythm — and that’s exactly what I want every woman to experience.

Because when you feel safe, you’re more willing to look at the things you’ve been avoiding.

And that’s where real confidence starts to grow.

That safety comes not just from the conversations we hold, but from knowing you’re part of a wider, supportive network of women — many at different stages, some further along, all navigating their own relationship with business and money.

What I really want you to hear this month

You don’t need to have everything sorted.

You don’t need to understand all the numbers.

And you don’t need to do this alone.

Confidence around money doesn’t come from pushing yourself harder.
It comes from being in the right environment, with the right people, having the right conversations.

That’s what WBN is here for.

An open invitation

If this resonates, I’d love you to join us online this month.

You can book onto a WBN meeting, or — if you’re looking for ongoing support, connection, and reassurance as you grow — you can apply to become a member.

There’s no pressure and no tie-ins. You can join in a way that works for you — whether that’s attending a single session or choosing ongoing support through membership.

No pressure.
No expectations.

Just a supportive online space where you’re allowed to ask, listen, learn, and move forward in a way that feels right for you.

And if nothing else, I hope this reminded you of one thing:

You’re not behind.
You’re not failing.
And you’re not alone.

WBN exists to make conversations like this feel less heavy, less isolating, and more human — supported by connection, not comparison.