The Table: A Women’s Business Council
Published in Westfield Magazine and written by Julie Yates.
Gather. Grow. Influence.
Strong communities provide organizations and opportunities for those who live or work there, helping them form strong relationships and grow professionally. Originally established by the Westfield Chamber of Commerce in 2019 and now operating independently as a 501(c)3 organization, Women of Westfield (WOW) continues to make meaningful impacts through its programing, educational, and service opportunities. Now, with a kick-off event planned for December, the Westfield Chamber is further strengthening the overall network of women supporting women by creating The Table: A Women’s Business Council.
The Table is another avenue for conversations that shape business and leadership within the area. It will not replace or replicate the work of WOW but instead provide a place of support for women who are CEOs, business owners, senior executives, professionals as well as leaders in the nonprofit sector, government and economic development fields. Janelle Campbell, Senior Vice President, Chief Consumer Banking Officer at Community First Bank of Indiana was one of the original founding members of WOW. Campbell will serve on the first board of The Table: A Women’s Business Council.
“WOW was created to be a catalyst for women to connect with other women and empower them to give back to their community. WOW is a safe place for women to come and meet other women and partner to make a difference in our community through education and service. Collaborating with Westfield Chamber to announce their launch of The Table is that vision coming to life in a new way,” says Campbell.
“Women of Westfield will have the amazing opportunity to connect with The Table and both organizations can empower each other to create spaces for women to grow and learn together. I’m excited to be a founding board member of WOW and now to be one of the board members of The Table. Having the perspective from both organizations will allow us to continue to grow both organizations, offering different opportunities for women who are connected to Westfield,” says Campbell.
As the President and CEO of the Westfield Chamber of Commerce, Courtney Albright has a firsthand understanding of how important sharing experiences, having authentic conversations and learning from others how various challenges are solved. As a woman, Albright realized that sometimes reaching the next level involves more than traditional networking. In response to this, The Table was created as a space to grow, gather and influence beyond the usual introductions and exchanging of businesses cards.
“The name, The Table, was intentional. ‘If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu’, is a phrase that has always resonated with me. It speaks to the importance of having a seat in the room- having a voice, being part of the conversation and being willing to advocate for yourself and others. In business and leadership, women deserve to be at the table where ideas are exchanged, decisions made and opportunities are created,” says Albright.
“Having a seat at the table also comes with a responsibility to make room for others. But the goal isn’t simply to get more women to the table; it’s to create a table where women want to gather because everyone has something to contribute and where the conversation is better because we are all there,” says Albright.
Both The Table and WOW are hosting events in the next few months. WOW’s annual BE event, BE Empathic will be held on November 10 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Washington Westfield Library, 17400 Westfield Boulevard. Tickets can be found on the organization’s website, womenofwestfield.com as well as details about membership. The launch for The Table: A Women’s Business Council will be hosted by the Westfield Chamber in December.
“As Westfield is expanding and the demand for focused, high-level professional connections and resources has increased. Women from Westfield and across Hamilton County need a dedicated ‘table’ to discuss leadership challenges, share strategic insights and support each other’s professional development as well as personal and economic successes. The Table is an opportunity to create the kind of community that makes a lasting difference in people’s careers, businesses and lives,” says Albright.
Women interested in being involved can contact Courtney Albright by emailing calbright@westfieldchamberindy.com.