The Power of Women’s Circles: Why You Need a Crew That Elevates You

Let’s get one thing straight, success is not a solo mission.

Sure, you can grind. You can hustle. You can white-knuckle your way through damn near anything (and let’s be honest, you have). But if you’re constantly pouring from an empty cup, running on fumes, and second-guessing yourself in silence, that’s not thriving. That’s survival.

And the strongest, most unstoppable women you admire? They don’t do it alone.
They have a crew. A circle. A collective of women who see their potential and won’t let them play small.

If you’ve been feeling stuck, burned out, or like something’s missing—it’s probably not motivation you’re lacking. It’s connection. And not just any connection. You need the right kind - the kind that pulls you forward, calls you higher, and reminds you who the hell you are when you forget.

Welcome to the power of women’s circles and why you need one yesterday.

Women Are Hardwired for Connection, Here’s Why It Matters

Let’s talk science for a second.

Researchers have found that women are biologically wired for “tend and befriend” behavior during stress. While men tend to respond to stress with fight-or-flight reactions, women are more very likely to seek social support and create community as a form of emotional regulation and safety (Taylor et al., 2000). That’s not soft, it’s smart. It’s strategic.

This built-in response boosts oxytocin, a hormone that helps calm the nervous system and build trust. Translation? Connection literally rewires your stress response.

And it doesn’t stop there.

Studies also show that strong social ties:

• Improve psychological well-being (Umberson & Karas Montez, 2010)
  

• Increase longevity (Holt-Lunstad et al., 2010)
  

• Boost confidence and career performance (McKinsey & LeanIn, 2022)
  
  

So if your go-to move when things get hard is to isolate, push through, and convince yourself that “you’re fine,” just know you’re fighting your own biology. You weren’t built to do it alone.

The Problem?

The higher you rise, the lonelier it gets.

As responsibilities pile up, friendships get harder to maintain. You become the one everyone relies on, but you don’t feel like you can lean on anyone. Your circle shrinks. And with that comes burnout, self-doubt, and decision fatigue.

The Fix?

You don’t need another “network.”
You need a circle, a crew of women who get it. Who see you. Who push you. Who remind you of your power and won’t let you forget it.

The Right Circle Changes Everything, Here’s How

Let’s be real: there’s a massive difference between being surrounded by people and being supported by people.

You can have coworkers, acquaintances, even old friends, but if you don’t feel fully seen, understood, and elevated by your circle, you’re carrying your dreams without a safety net.

But When You Do Have the Right Crew?

Everything shifts.

• Your goals get bigger.
  Ambition becomes normalized. You see other women going big, and it makes you go bigger too.
  

• Your self-doubt shrinks.
  When the women around you believe in you, it’s a hell of a lot easier to believe in yourself.
  

• You move faster.
  Accountability turns “I’ll get to it eventually” into “I already sent the pitch, and here’s the update.”
  

• You feel seen.
  Like truly seen. Not for what you do, but for who you are and who you’re becoming.

Without that circle? You second-guess. You hesitate. You hustle harder because you think being supported is a luxury. It’s not. It’s essential.

The Fix?

Find the women who expand you. The ones who don’t just cheer for you—they challenge you. The ones who hold you accountable, call out your self-sabotage, and make sure you stop settling for less than you deserve.

The Difference Between a “Network” and a Women’s Circle

Here’s some truth that’ll sting: A lot of women think they have support when really, they just have a LinkedIn list.

There’s a big difference between a network and a circle.

• A Network = Transactions.
  You exchange value, information, or opportunities. Great for visibility, but not enough for depth.
  

• A Women’s Circle = Transformation.
  It’s personal. It’s intimate. It’s high-caliber connection that moves the needle in every area of your life.

Signs You’re Ready for a Real Circle:

• You feel like the “only one” in your space. The only woman in leadership, the only mom running a business, the only one chasing big goals.
  

• You crave more than surface-level conversation. You want real talk, not just “How’s work?”
  

• You’re hitting milestones, but something still feels off, like you’re celebrating alone.
  

• You’re surrounded by people who don’t get your drive and you’re tired of shrinking to fit in.

The Fix?

Stop mistaking a full calendar for a full support system.
It’s time to stop settling for networking and start building your circle.

How to Find (or Build) a Women’s Circle That Actually Elevates You

So you’re convinced. You know you need this. But where do you find it?

First, Know What to Look For:

Growth-Oriented Women
They’re not just here to vent—they’re here to rise.

Radical Honesty
The best circles won’t coddle you. They’ll challenge you. With love and with fire.

Celebration Over Competition
If someone else’s success feels like a threat in the group? Run. The right circle sees your win as proof of what’s possible.

Diverse Thought + Shared Values
You want variety in experience, industry, background—but alignment in values and direction.

What to Avoid?

• Circles that drain you

• Circles that stay stuck in surface-level drama

• Circles where you’re the only one growing

• Circles where you’re always the strongest one

If you don’t have this kind of circle yet? Create it.
Start a mastermind. Host a dinner. DM the women who inspire you and invite them in. Because waiting to “find your people” is not the move. Building your people? That’s power.

If this feels like too much work, you can always apply to join mine: Soul on Fire high performance group coaching, mastermind and community for women.

Why Women’s Circles Aren’t Just “Nice to Have”, They’re Essential

Let’s be crystal clear: this isn’t fluff. It’s science.

A study from the Harvard Business Review found that women with strong inner circles of other women are more likely to land executive positions, outperform peers, and report higher job satisfaction (Yang et al., 2019).

In fact, peer support and mentorship are among the top predictors of long-term success, especially for women navigating male-dominated spaces.

Not to mention:

• Loneliness is a health risk on par with smoking a pack a day (Holt-Lunstad, 2015).
  

• Women who regularly connect with other ambitious women report greater emotional resilience, lower stress, and higher levels of self-confidence.
  

• Career fulfillment doesn’t just come from income, it comes from impact and connection. And women’s circles create both.
  

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The Bottom Line?

Want to go further, faster? Get in the room.
Want to feel less alone in your growth? Build your circle.
Want to be supported while you rise? Find women who are rising too.

Success Isn’t Solo, Your Crew Is Your Superpower

The truth is, you already have what it takes.
But when you surround yourself with the right women? You stop questioning it.

Because confidence is contagious.
Power is amplified in community.
And the future version of you? She’s already sitting in a circle like this, waiting for you to walk through the door.

So if you’ve been trying to go it alone, white-knuckling your dreams, and wondering why you still feel stuck, maybe it’s not your strategy that needs to change.

Maybe it’s your circle.

The best part? You don’t have to look far.

Inside Soul on Fire - my women’s group coaching, mastermind and community - we don’t just give you tools, we give you a table. One filled with women who see you, push you, and hold you to the version of you that doesn’t quit. Women who are building, growing, leading—and doing it together.

It’s not just about support. It’s about expansion.
Because your crew isn’t a luxury. It’s your superpower.

Check it out and apply today!