The Athena Network - Reading and Henley

☕ Cappuccino Connections – what a way to start the day!

Today we welcomed 11 regions from along the length of the M4, with 7 Regional Directors joining us for a morning of networking, connection and conversation.

We enjoyed 8 breakout sessions, giving everyone the chance to meet new people and chat in smaller groups. Conversation prompts ranged from:

☕ Which profession in the room could you use help from?
☕ What does ‘putting your feet up’ mean to you?
☕ What are you putting in place to elevate your business?
☕ What back-office task do you avoid doing every month?
☕ Why did you start your business?
☕ And, of course… what’s your favourite animal, bird or fish – and why?

A brilliant opportunity to connect with Athena members from across the M4 corridor, build new relationships and have some fun along the way.

Fancy joining us next time? Come and join us in September at a meeting and our next Cappuccino Connections! Visitors are always welcome; please send a message.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us at The Athena Network Reading South yesterday for our latest Business Development Training with Zoe Rose, Family Solicitor at Knights.

Zoe delivered a fascinating and thought-provoking session on Unconscious Bias – It’s Affecting Your Business, So How Can You Deal With It?

We explored what unconscious bias is and how those instant judgements we make can influence the way we see people, businesses and even professions.

Zoe got us thinking about something as simple as the words we use to describe what we do. Do they really communicate what we want them to? And what assumptions might others make when they hear our professional titles?

The interactive exercise around the business titles of the women in the room was a real highlight – generating some great conversations and plenty of food for thought!

A fantastic session, clearly delivered, with lots of interaction and some really valuable takeaways for everyone.

Thank you, Zoe, for getting us all thinking!

If you're looking for supportive business networking, inspiring speakers and practical learning that helps your business grow, we'd love to welcome you to a future Athena meeting. Come along as a visitor, meet like-minded business owners and experience the Athena community for yourself.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us at The Athena Network Henley yesterday for our latest Business Development Training with Emma Mills from Fainting Goats Marketing

Emma delivered a session on The 4 Pillars of Effortless Marketing, giving everyone a clear and structured framework to make marketing feel less like a dark art and more like a simple, consistent part of growing your business.

The session got everyone thinking about their own businesses and how they can put the principles into practice to attract clients more easily, without marketing becoming another overwhelming task on the to-do list.

The feedback was fantastic, with attendees commenting on how clearly and practically Emma delivered the training – and how easy it was to see how implementing the 4 Pillars could make their marketing strategy feel so much more effortless.

If you're looking for supportive business networking, inspiring speakers and practical learning that helps your business grow, we'd love to welcome you to a future Athena meeting. Come along as a visitor, meet like-minded business owners and experience the Athena community for yourself.

A warm welcome to Zoe Rose a Family Solicitor at Knights, who will be leading our Reading South Business Development Training: Unconscious bias - it is affecting your business so how can you deal with it?

In this thought-provoking session, Zoe will explore what unconscious bias is, how it shapes perceptions, and the impact it can have on the way clients, referrers and professional contacts view you and your business.

You'll gain an honest insight into how your profession is perceived and discover how to challenge assumptions and position your business more effectively.

Zoe is a highly experienced family solicitor, known for her straightforward, practical approach and ability to get to the heart of complex issues quickly. She advises on all aspects of divorce, separation, financial matters, children disputes, cohabitation, nuptial agreements and non-court dispute resolution, helping clients find constructive solutions wherever possible.

Join us on Thursday 23 July for this session.

Visitors are welcome, and we are especially looking for new members from these professions: Conveyancer, Business Coach, Local charity, Independent Financial Adviser, Marketing Professional and Photographer.

For existing members who would like to Pass+, here is the link https://forms.gle/TUzbG1TPCLnnh5LT8

A warm welcome to Emma Mills from Fainting Goats Marketing, who will be leading our Henley Business Development Training: The 4 Pillars of Effortless Marketing.

If marketing feels like a dark art, or something you do not have time for, understanding the 4 Pillars of Effortless Marketing will give you a path to easier, more consistent client attraction. Emma will share a framework to follow to make your marketing work hard to grow your business so you don't have to!

With 40 years’ experience, Emma blends strategy, creativity and tech to simplify marketing for solopreneurs and SMEs, offering 1:1 and group services covering planning, content, messaging, mentoring and training.

Join us on Tuesday 21 July for this session.

Visitors are welcome, and we are especially looking for new members from these professions: Family Lawyer, Independent Financial Adviser, Marketing Professional and Photographer.

For existing members that would like to Pass+, here is the link https://forms.gle/TUzbG1TPCLnnh5LT8

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us at The Athena Network Reading Central meeting yesterday.

Sarah from Sarah Mitchell Creative shared how colour is far more than a design choice – it shapes first impressions, influences customer perception, builds trust and strengthens brand recognition. Members left with practical tips they can apply straight away to make their businesses more memorable and connect with the right audience.

Sarah said:
"It was a pleasure to share how colour can be one of the most powerful tools in your brand. Every colour creates an emotional response, influences perception and can help build trust, recognition and connection with your audience. I hope everyone left with practical ideas to look at their own branding with fresh eyes and make more strategic design choices. Thank you to everyone who came along and joined the discussion."

If you're looking for supportive business networking, inspiring speakers and practical learning that helps your business grow, we'd love to welcome you to a future Athena meeting. Come along as a visitor, meet like-minded business owners and experience the Athena community for yourself.

A warm welcome to Sarah Mitchell from Sarah Mitchell Creative, who will be leading our Reading Central Business Development Training: Are your brand colours working for you?

Sarah will be sharing how colour influences customer perception, builds trust and strengthens brand recognition. Sarah will explain how strategic colour choices can influence perception, build trust and even affect buying decisions, helping your business become more memorable and connect with the right audience.

Sarah is a freelance graphic designer with over 30 years' experience and a self-confessed colour connoisseur. She helps businesses and charities stand out for all the right reasons through thoughtful, strategic design that makes a lasting impression.

Join us on Thursday 9 July for this session. Visitors are welcome, and we are especially looking for new members from these professions: Private Client Solicitor, Business Coach, Local Charity, Marketing Professional and Interior Designer.

For existing members that would like to Pass+, here is the link https://forms.gle/TUzbG1TPCLnnh5LT8

A warm welcome to Nikki Ochtman, founder, publisher and editor of RG10 Magazine, who will be leading our Reading East Business Development Training: Print Advertising in the Digital Age – The Resurgence of Print in the Modern Marketing Mix.

We're a couple of decades on from the explosion in digital marketing, yet print is not dead. In fact, it's very much alive and kicking!

Print advertising is recommended by modern marketers aware of the effects of digital fatigue, with consumers now placing greater importance on values such as trust, community and connection.

Nikki looks at the pendulum effect that has brought print back into favour and the behaviour change that lies behind it. She outlines the benefits of advertising in local magazines and why not to put all your eggs in one basket - print OR digital!

Nikki Ochtman is the founder, publisher and editor of RG10 Magazine, established in 2009. The bimonthly publication is delivered free to homes and businesses in and around Twyford (Berkshire) and surrounding communities. The magazine has earned recognition, loyalty and trust across the RG10 area and beyond, thanks to quality production, reliable distribution, reputable advertisers and a good mix of seasonal and engaging content. In 2020, Nikki launched The RG10 Podcast with Ben Whitmarsh, featuring people, places, events and organisations of interest across this part of the Thames Valley.

Join us tomorrow.

A warm welcome to Jayne Johnson, a Recruitment Specialist for Entrepreneurs, who will be leading our Reading South Business Development Training: Talent Dynamics Work in Flow and Get More Done.

Jayne will be showing Athena members how to achieve more, be more creative, more self-aware and how to work more productively with others by knowing their Talent Dynamics Profile and what puts them in Flow.

With almost 35 years of recruitment experience, and for the last 19 years for entrepreneurs and growth-based businesses, Jayne knows what support business owners need to get great people into their business. Jayne helps with every aspect of recruitment - always sourcing great people as well as pre-hire planning through to post-hire probation management and retention. She is also an accredited Talent Dynamics Talent Profiling Flow Consultant and leads a training course - The Recruitment Blueprint that shows business owners and founders how to recruit with certainty so that people stay.

See you tomorrow.

A warm welcome to Rachel Maunder, who will be leading our Henley Athena Business Development Training: Laying the Foundations for Your Story.

Rachel will be sharing some of the key elements that make stories engaging, memorable and impactful.

As business owners, we often find it difficult to talk about ourselves and our journey, yet our stories are one of the most powerful tools we have for building trust and connecting with potential clients.

Storytelling doesn't have to be complicated. By understanding how to identify the important moments in your story and link them to your skills and expertise, you can communicate your value with greater confidence and authenticity.

Have you ever struggled to explain what makes you different? Or wondered how to make your networking conversations, presentations or marketing more engaging?

In this session, Rachel will help attendees uncover key parts of their own story, explore how these connect to their business, and gain valuable feedback from others.

An experienced speaker and coach with a real knack for finding the sweet spot in a story, Rachel works with business professionals to uncover their stories and craft them into compelling talks and presentations.

See you tomorrow.