In the studio with…Rachel Hirst and Nic Sowden.

The dream duo and creative energy behind Sheffield’s in-demand event series for women In Good Company, Rachel Hirst and Nic Sowden have lots (of very good things) to answer for.

Their events have grown a glowing reputation for being welcoming, relaxed and inspiring; a way to create connections with other women without ‘networking’ and feel at-ease enough to arrive flying-solo.

Having known Rachel for 20 years (!) and previously working in the world of events, I met with Rachel and Nic post-pandemic to hear about their idea for a whole new type of event for the women of Sheffield. And I contributed nothing but enthusiasm for their already crystal-clear vision of In Good Company!

Here, we chat about their successes, failures and most importantly, their friendship with one another. 🧡

There's a beautiful subtlety to your networking events; designed to create connections without any force or traditional structure. How did you decide on the format of an In Good Company event and select the elements that you include?

The format came to use quite easily by combining all the things we consider to be life's simple pleasures: great food, drink, company and conversation.

Then, it was about bringing it all together in a warm and relaxed setting where women could enjoy an evening out for themselves with the added bonus of meeting like-minded others. There’s nothing fuss, stuffy or formal about it. No name badges or breakout groups. Just a laid-back yet thoughtfully curated dinner party vibe where chat flows with ease.

The panel element was inspired by the carousel of podcasts we’d been listening to on our many ‘lockdown walks’. We realised the value listening in on a free-flowing, honest conversation can bring, not only in providing company but also how the opinions and experiences of others can resonate, uplift and inspire.

We also wanted to enrich our guests' experience at every stage. From the beautiful surroundings that we host in, to the thoughtful touches that make each event different to the last. The amazing Sheffield creatives we partner with, and the fascinating women speakers we find for our panel all contribute to the magic of the evening.

You've been best friends for years! What's your preferred way to connect with each other and what (if anything?!) has changed over the years?

We find comfort in being in touch every day via texts/WhatsApp. Even if it’s just a quick check-in to say “hi” or a shared Reel on Insta that we know will make the other one smile.

The face-to-face time really charges our batteries. A chance to offload, moan, share news, chat things over, and laugh until there are tears rolling down our faces.

In Good Company has already grown to become a wonderfully open and supportive network of women. How does this mighty achievement feel, and have you been able to satisfy your own desire for a stronger sense of connection?

We feel immensely proud and fortunate to be a part of the community ourselves as well as curate it and enable more connections all the time.

From the feedback we get from our guests, partners and panelists, our evenings have sparked full-blown friendships, relaxed coffee dates, creative collaborations and work connections. Furthermore, it’s given women of the city a sense of belonging, a place to celebrate their day-to-day achievements in navigating our knotty-at-times lives and gain self-confidence.

We’ve helped newbies to the city feel at home, mums to find fellowship, creatives to come together, and homeworkers to avoid isolation, and these are just a few examples of the benefits of the network.

We know it can be tricky to form connections at different life stages as adults, so we wanted to provide a platform that took away the ‘awkwardness’. Above all else, we’ve realised that there’s nothing more inspiring or empowering than a room full of women.

You're both excellent hosts! What are your top 3 hosting tips?

THANK YOU!

1. Make everyone feel welcome, relaxed and at home.

2. Be yourself and be present with your guests.

3. Make sure people have what they need. A drink, a person to chat to and a snack!

We're all fans of Elizabeth Day's podcast 'How to Fail'. So, digging real deep, have you learnt any lessons from failures along this journey so far?

The biggest failure we could have made was not believing in ourselves or our idea enough to host that first event. It did cross our minds that we might have to ship our mums and their mates in to fill spots if the idea didn’t land with Sheffield women…but it did!

Since then, it’s been constant learning as we’ve discovered more about the community we’ve built, what matters to them, and how we can fill their cups. We want to continue to host events that bring something special to the city and showcase the incredible talents, drive and passions of the incredible women within it.

And finally, do you have a memorable 'we've done it!' moment that comes to mind when you think over all that's happened since founding In Good Company?

At that first event, we had a moment where we really tuned into the sound in the room…what we could hear was free-flowing, easy chat amongst a room full of happy, relaxed women. At every event that’s followed, we’ve had similar ‘we’ve done it’ moments when we pause to take in all the women chatting around the table, clearly feeling so at ease and uplifted.

It’s the same when we hear that people who’ve met at our events have made connections that have continued beyond the In Good setting, whether it’s been meeting for coffee, a business chat, or a genuine friendship has been forged.

Head over to their website for further information of upcoming events.

Images: Emma Ledwith Photography