Last week, over 50 women packed into the stunning Old Town Hall at Clockwise in Bromley for a morning that reminded us exactly why we love bringing people together in a room.

Dolly Parton once sang about pouring herself a cup of ambition before heading out the door to work and that’s exactly what the room felt like. Fifty women, fifty cups of ambition, all in one place, ready to make things happen. (Although, unlike Dolly, we’re not quite so sold on the 9 to 5 part. Flexible, family-friendly working hours are much more our thing!)

Jane opened by talking about how Successful Mums has helped thousands of women, and how our network has supported that journey. She spoke about the many skills we already have as mums and how we can put them to work in business and beyond. From there, she moved into the heart of the morning.

We covered all things networking, shaking hands, how to walk into a room and actually make it work for you, asking the right questions, how to follow up without feeling awkward, and how to build genuine, lasting connections rather than just collecting business cards, all this authentically, enjoy and embrace. Start small if you need to, just stasrt. For so many of the women in that room, especially those returning to work or rebuilding a career after a break, networking can feel like the hardest part. It was brilliant to see nerves turn into real conversations within minutes.

It was great to welcome a prolific networker in his own right, our guest speaker, Howard Dawber OBE, Deputy Mayor of London for Business and Growth. Howard brought a wealth of insight on how to network,  talking about the power of networking, the six degrees of Kevin Bacon, quality over quantity, and preparation being key. It was an amazing morning, and there was such a buzz in the room.

And it wasn’t just us who felt it. The feedback since has been wonderful:

“The room was full of interesting, inspiring people and I came away with new connections and a much clearer sense of direction for my own business.”
— Jana

“What a packed morning! The session gave so much value, especially with Deputy Mayor of London Howard Dawber. Thank you, Successful Mums!!”
— Winnie

Howard’s role as Deputy Mayor of London for Business and Growth ties into the wider strategy aiming to create new jobs and raise incomes across the capital. Growth doesn’t just come from policy; it comes from people connecting, sharing opportunities, and opening doors for one another. Every introduction made, every idea shared, and every woman who leaves more confident about her next step is part of that bigger picture.

Mornings like this are exactly why we do what we do. Watching women arrive a little unsure, and leave with new contacts, fresh ideas, and real momentum, that’s the whole point.

A huge thank you to Clockwise Bromley for such a beautiful setting, to Howard Dawber for giving us his time and to every single woman who showed up ready to connect. And a nod to the amazing Dolly Parton too, another great example of an authentic networker.

Keep pouring the ambition.

Here’s to the next one.

Ready to make your next move? Take a look at our upcoming events and courses and see where your next connection could lead.