5 Ways to Know If You’re In the Right Room (Especially as a Woman in Business)
We’ve all heard the phrase, “If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.” But for women in business, it’s not just about smarts—it’s about support.
It’s about being in a room where women don’t gossip or compete, because they’re too busy empowering each other.
As a woman entrepreneur, your environment is one of your most powerful tools for growth.
The people you surround yourself with will either inspire expansion or reinforce self-doubt.
So how do you know if you’re in the right room? Here are five unmistakable signs.
1. You Feel Safe to Be Seen—Fully and Authentically
In the right room, you don’t have to shrink, code-switch, or pretend you’ve got it all together. You’re allowed to say, “I don’t know,” or “This month was hard,” without fear of judgment.
If you’re craving a space where vulnerability is met with grace (not gossip), a women’s mastermind like Founding Females® offers the emotional safety and camaraderie so many female founders need but rarely find. You don’t need to figure everything out alone. You need a circle where you can be real—and still be celebrated. The group of women you spend time with should feel right with your nervous system.
💡 Pro tip: When choosing a mastermind, ask yourself: “Do I feel seen here, or like I need to perform?” That will tell you a lot.
2. The Energy Lifts You, Not Drains You
In the wrong room, you walk away doubting yourself. In the right room, you leave lit up—even after hard days.
One of the most underrated benefits of joining a business community is the consistent boost in clarity and confidence.
Whether it’s a monthly mastermind call or a virtual check-in, being around purpose-driven women gives you more than advice—it gives you momentum.
Communities like Founding Females® aren’t just about networking. They’re about energizing one another to rise—to dream, build, and grow with joy.
⚡ Energy check: How do you feel after interacting with your current circle? If it’s not energizing you, it’s time to find a new room.
3. There’s Wisdom AND Compassion (Not One or the Other)
The internet is full of advice. But when you’re growing a business, you don’t need a hot take—you need real-world guidance from women who’ve been there.
The right mastermind brings together diverse women with different life experiences and business models. This cross-pollination of perspectives is what makes communities like Founding Females® so powerful. You’ll hear ideas you’ve never considered, and be met with compassion every step of the way.
It’s so common to hear phrases inside the Founding Females® Mastermind like:
“It’s not just you. What you’re going through really is that hard. Keep at it. I know you’ve got what it takes.”
“When I went through a similar challenge, here’s how I solved it…”
“Thank you for sharing your challenge with us. I know that feels vulnerable, but just know we’re cheering for you.”
In addition to a compassionate space, you’ll also have access to real business resources that move the needle like:
A Marketing Plan Template
Brand Standards and Business Plan Templates
Financial tools like P&L, Cash Flow, and Startup Costs spreadsheets
Press Release 101 training to help your business get noticed
Because business growth isn’t just about big ideas—it’s about the right support systems, too.
4. Accountability Doesn’t Feel Like Pressure—It Feels Like Progress
You don’t need more pressure. You need aligned accountability. As women, we already have more to-do’s than there is time in the day.
Inside the right community, you’ll set intentional goals and have women who gently (but firmly) hold you to them. And when you hit your milestones? You’ll be cheered on by people who truly get it.
In the Founding Females® Mastermind, our monthly calls aren’t just check-ins—they’re catalysts. Members come away with clarity, direction, and a renewed sense of purpose.
✅ Accountability tip: Look for groups that offer structure and soul—like monthly mastermind calls, member spotlights, and marketing opportunities that lift up the whole community.
5. The Room Doesn’t Just Talk—It Connects, Refers, and Uplifts
Encouragement is great. But the right room also brings connections, collaborations, and client leads.
Masterminds like Founding Females® are a goldmine of opportunity. Members often share marketing visibility, guest expert features, and warm referrals. Members team up together for strategic collaborations and leverage each other’s expertise and networks. In a world where it’s easy to feel isolated as a woman entrepreneur, the right business community becomes your most valuable growth asset.
Whether you’re just getting started or scaling your business, being surrounded by high-integrity, heart-forward women can be the difference between stalling out and surging forward.
So, Are You in the Right Room?
Take a moment to reflect. Are you in a space that feels expansive and encouraging? Are the women around you cheering, connecting, and championing your growth?
If you’re unsure—or know you’re not quite there yet—it may be time to find a new room.
At Founding Females®, we’ve created that room. Our mastermind is home to over 50 women business owners who are building bold, intentional businesses and supporting one another along the way.
You’ll gain access to:
An uplifting, non-competitive mastermind community
Real-time marketing opportunities across our platform
Templates, tools, and business resources that actually move the needle
Training and press tools to help you gain visibility
A network of women who feel like home
About Founding Females®
The mission of Founding Females® is to help women build thriving businesses. We create safe spaces for women to share business challenges and receive peer support.
In addition, Founding Females® offers an online female business mastermind, a how-to guidebook for female entrepreneurs called Dream, Build, Grow: A Female’s Step-by-Step Guide for How to Start a Business, and in-person events, like an annual women’s business conference and local Founding Females® Meet Ups.
Founding Females® was founded by small business educator, Francie Hinrichsen. She believes anyone with a dream on their heart can pull up a seat to change the world through entrepreneurship. Click to learn more about working with Francie.
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We’ve all heard the phrase, “If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.” But for women in business, it’s not just about smarts—it’s about support. It’s about being in a room where women don’t gossip or compete, because they’re too busy empowering each other.