10/09/2026
Let's Make It Happen! Birmingham Networking Group: Some rooms remind you of the power of connection, collaboration, and community.
It was truly a pleasure and an honor to spend time with the Let’s Make It Happen Birmingham Networking Group, a group of women I’ve had the pleasure of knowing for nearly four years!
There was something special about being in a room where you didn’t have to shrink, hold back your thoughts, or second guess whether your ideas were welcome. You could simply show up as yourself, share openly, listen, learn, and explore what’s possible when women come together with intention.
And you know what? One thing I’ve learned along the way is that sometimes, it’s not you. It’s the room, the audience, the environment, and the atmosphere you’re in.
Girl, hear me when I say this: IT’S NOT ALWAYS YOU! It’s your ROOM!
Sometimes, you don’t need to shrink, change your voice, dim your light, or question your ideas. You may simply need to be in a room where your presence is welcomed, your voice is valued, your ideas are respected, and your potential is recognized.
And on this day, I didn’t have to do either.
I didn’t have to shrink. I didn’t have to worry about sharing an idea and whether it would be taken, repackaged, or presented as someone else’s. I didn’t have to second guess whether my integrity would be questioned or my intentions viewed negatively. I didn’t have to overthink, hold back, or walk into the room guarded.
I could simply be present, engage, share, listen, and connect.
The atmosphere was what it was supposed to be. A room filled with real women, real businesswomen, and women who understand the value of genuine relationships, mutual respect, and doing business with integrity.
Women of integrity. Women of transparency. Women of authenticity. Women of influence, change, and movement. Women from different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences, united by a desire to do business the right way, build meaningful relationships, and establish partnerships rooted in trust, shared values, and genuine collaboration.
What stood out most to me was that this wasn’t about transactions. It was about relationship building, meaningful connections, genuine collaboration, and establishing partnerships that can lead to something greater.
Because real networking isn’t just about who you meet or what you can get. It’s about how you connect, how you contribute, and what you can build together.
When women come together with the right intentions, there is room for everyone to grow, win, and make an impact. We don’t have to compete for a seat at the table when we can create opportunities to build together.
Thank you to the Let’s Make It Happen Birmingham Networking Group for the invitation and for creating a space where women can connect authentically, share boldly, and explore opportunities together.
The right connections can lead to more than opportunities. They can lead to partnerships, movement, and meaningful impact.
Stay tuned. There is something powerful about what happens when the right people come together with the right intentions.
~ Teriona Shorter, Executive Director of VERB Network
