The Success Era: Collaboration Over Competition and Why It Matters To Your Business

By Tricia Scott.

I've been thinking a lot about community over the last week. You might have seen my email with an idea to create a new community space away from the noise of social media. I like the idea of less distractions and more collaboration, space to just... be ourselves. Thank you so much to all of you who replied to that email. My inbox was not ready for that level of activity on a Friday afternoon! 

I've also been talking a lot about the origins of The Female CEO lately with various organisations and well, community is how it all began. Wayyyy back in the day, I was writing a blog about how utterly ridiculous I felt trying to work out this whole 'starting a business' thing. I was a competent (HAHAHAHA, so I thought) woman, yet I found the entire process unbelievably hard. Set up, implementation, mindset, money, imposter syndrome... on and on it went. Let me tell you, I was not prepared.

My blog was honest and funny (or at least, I thought so), and after a couple of months and zero expectations other than to get it off my chest, the most amazing thing happened; other women started to comment or email me and tell me they did the same thing! Or they would share their own shame-filled story or face-palm moments, and just like that, I didn't feel so alone anymore... and neither did they.

What happened next was the tiniest seed of a community which, over many years, has grown into the pages and worldwide community you see before you today in the form of The Female CEO - Create Evolve Overcome.

I've learned a lot over the years (omg, I could probably write several hundred books), but one of the most significant is that there's a special kind of magic that happens when women come together with a shared purpose. It's like an electric energy, the kind that lifts you, fuels your ideas and makes you believe anything is possible (it is) and when you pair that energy with a side of honesty, vulnerability, and space to be allowed to be a newbee or make the mistakes we're all making in secret anyway but no ones talking about it?

Game-changer. 

This is what's been on my mind this last week: the most powerful shift we can make as women is to lean into collaboration over competition. It's not about who's winning but how we all win when we rise together.

Okay, it sounds kind of cheese-laden when I write it down, but trust me, it's hard-earned, hot pink brick to the face truth.

I couldn't find (or didn't know where to start to look) that kind of help when I started; in fact, I came across some seriously non-empowering women's networks (they taught me a lot!) along the way, and rather than be deterred I allowed it to fuel me to slowly build the world around me I needed.

In a world that often pushes competition over collaboration (hello bro culture), The Female CEO exists to remind the same world that we're not alone in the chaos, late nights, impossible deadlines and the balancing act between work, life, and everything in between. Nor do we need to be alone in sharing the amazing jumping up-and-down bits, and I believe there's something deeply empowering about that.

Collaboration doesn't mean losing your individuality but finding people who add to your spark. It's about recognising that your light shines brighter when it's part of a constellation. Whether it's sharing knowledge, co-creating projects, or simply holding someone's hand through a difficult time, collaboration is the secret to doing more, being more, and achieving more (and a lot of satisfaction along the way).

If you're reading this and thinking, ah man, Tricia, I hate networking and talking to new people - I see you, but building a network doesn't have to be that way. You just need to find the right space for you. Here are a couple of my favourite tips:

Show Up Authentically: Be real about who you are and what you're looking for. Authenticity attracts authenticity. You are just perfect as you are, and the right spaces will embrace that.

Offer Support Freely: Whether it's a kind word, a piece of advice, or a cuppa and connection, giving without expectation is the foundation of strong relationships (I have witnessed this first-hand thousands of times).

Celebrate Other Women: Success is not a zero-sum game. Cheer loudly and unapologetically for others, go nuts and watch how the universe sends that energy back to you.

Stay Open: Your people might look different from what you expected, and that's totally okay. Be open to connections from unexpected places; they often turn out to be the best!

Most importantly, look for others who inspire you, challenge you, and make you feel seen. These aren't just the people who will have your back; they're the ones who will call you out when you're playing small and push you to dream bigger or broaden your horizons.

Communities like The Female CEO are living proof that we can achieve extraordinary things when we collaborate. So please allow me to remind you again that you don't have to do it alone. 

Find your people, nurture those connections, and watch what happens when you embrace the power of community and collaboration. Because together, we're not just stronger—we're truly unstoppable.

I believe in you (always).

👉🏼If you want to receive a Biz Love Letter directly to your inbox every week, I email our Hello CEO mailing list every Monday. To join, head to The Homepage and sign up!

 Tricia Scott is a passionate startup business mentor and the Founder and Editor of The Female CEO - Create Evolve Overcome, a platform and digital magazine holding the space to showcase female entrepreneurs from all over the world. 

The Female CEO is gaining global recognition daily and Tricia is able to bring her own level of expertise as a start-up mentor and multi-company director to her very exclusive table along with her team of brilliant Guest Editors and Contributors. You'll usually find her with her MacBook in one hand and a coffee or a glass of something fizzy in the other. Reach out anytime!