The Six Women Dinners

I have created The Six Women Dinners pro-bono initiative to help women build their networks.

It aims to bring together women from diverse backgrounds, industries, and career stages to connect in a genuinely non-transactional way.

Below, you can learn more about the dinners —or look for posts on LinkedIn using the hashtag #SixWomenDinners.

The Story

In February 2024, I attended a dinner with six strangers. The host had thoughtfully invited six women from his network who had never met before, recognising that they shared values and would likely connect well. His idea was rooted in a few insights:

  • Men generally have broader, more connected networks than women.

  • Sharing networks is a powerful way to support others’ growth.

  • We all live in social and professional “bubbles,” limiting the diversity of our interactions.

  • Flexible working, while valuable, has reduced our opportunities to meet new people.

  • Many networking formats work well only for certain personality types.

Reflecting on this experience, I saw the potential to create something similar to connect women across industries, backgrounds and career stages. So, I proposed a format on LinkedIn, and the Six Women dinners took off.

Why

Traditional networking often feels transactional—trading business cards in a crowded room, an approach suited to extroverts and night owls, but not all of us. With remote work now the norm, meaningful networking is more essential than ever, yet social circles often reflect only familiar perspectives.

The Six Women format allows guests to connect with six other people from diverse professions, industries, and backgrounds. Open to everyone who shares our values, this initiative fosters spaces where new ideas and perspectives flourish, helping guests expand their networks more inclusively and authentically.

The Format

Instead of the typical networking format, these dinners offer a space for conversation and authentic connections. Both men and women can support this initiative by hosting a dinner and helping guests cross professional paths they might otherwise never encounter. The dinners are entirely self-funded, and guests pay for their own meals. The conversation is guided by a shared code of conduct that fosters open, respectful dialogue.

Beyond the Dinners

With a growing community of women (and supportive men) seeking authentic connections, we’ve created opportunities for attendees to meet and connect beyond the dinners.

Thanks to the generosity of organisations donating spaces, we’ve introduced Meaningful Conversations—quarterly gatherings where our network connects, learns, and expands perspectives through shared experiences. Led by members of our network as conversation hosts, these gatherings encourage reflection, spark new ways of thinking, and inspire personal and professional growth in a truly collaborative space.

Below, you can get a taste of the Oct 17th Meaningful Conversations evening, made possible through the generosity of Sidara, who provided the fantastic venue; LDN Collective, who provided the refreshments; and the fine conversation hosts, who led the discussions. Thank you to all of you.

Want to get involved?

To join a Six-Woman dinner, you can either host one or attend as a guest at someone else’s dinner. While these dinners aim to help women build their networks, they are open to everyone who shares our Code of Conduct, regardless of gender. We also welcome anyone interested in sponsoring a dinner or event, providing a venue, or supporting refreshments to help foster meaningful networking opportunities for women. To explore how you can get involved, please contact Sandie (Sandie@MakingChangeHappen.co.uk) to continue the conversation.