My Soap Making Adventure and a Lesson in Women Supporting Women

A cozy studio filled with the intoxicating scent of essential oils, vibrant colors, encouraging signs, organization that would rival Marie Kondo, and laughter. Laughter mixed with the excitement of a creative craft, laughter punctuated by words of support and genuine admiration. This is the scene from the private class I took last night with my two closest friends, led by Angela from Alegna Soaps.

Angela, a soap artisan for 24 years, isn't just a teacher, she's a local business mentor.  And, as she guided us through the soap-making process, Angela shared valuable tips, insights, and that unmistakable warmth of someone cheering you on rather than holding you back.

Her generous spirit got me thinking about the unfortunate tendency of women to sometimes view each other as competition instead of collaborators. When my friend, a seasoned business owner herself, commended Angela for openly assisting a potential competitor, it struck a chord.

I thought back to my MBA cohort—21 brilliant women who, when polled, overwhelmingly wished for male bosses. Why? Because too often, female workplaces were rife with unspoken rivalries and thinly-veiled attempts to undercut one another. We vowed to be different, to create workplaces where women lift each other up.

Change won't happen overnight. It requires conscious effort to build a culture of female empowerment in the workplace and business world. It's women like Angela, who effortlessly fix another's tiara even when it could dim their own shine. She proves that we can cheer each other's wins without fear of being outshone.

Beyond the insightful business talk, we had a blast learning to make soap! I'll practice my new skills, and who knows, maybe Eloise Essentials will add a handcrafted soap line one day. For now, I share with you a website to support Angela's incredible work at www.alegnasoap.com.

#Women-owned business