A Conference Truly About Connection— Attending the Wise Women Conference

Belonging vs. Performing: What Wise Women Got So Right

There’s something different about the Wise Women Conference—and it starts with April Hiatt.

April, the founder of the Wise Women Mastermind, built this space intentionally—not as a high-pressure networking event, but as a mastermind community focused on connection, collaboration, and edification. You can feel it the moment you walk in. You’re not there to perform. You’re there to belong.

And that’s not an accident. April set the standard for what the Wise Women brand stands for, and she lives it fully. That energy has attracted a community of women who genuinely care about supporting one another, not just closing a sale. Over the course of the conference, we had four different mastermind sessions with rotating groups—and every one of them reminded me of the power of real connection.

As an admin in the Wise Women Facebook group, I had the privilege of helping a little with setup. And while I don’t take any credit for how beautifully the event turned out, I’ll be honest—I did feel the pressure. I wanted to represent April’s brand well. I’m often told that I show up authentically and with a heart for connection, but when you layer that with social anxiety, it’s easy to slip into performance mode—even when your intentions are good.

But that’s the thing about this conference: it doesn’t ask you to be anything other than who you are.

There wasn’t one big breakthrough moment for me, but instead a slow softening throughout the day. With each conversation, each laugh, each “me too” moment—I felt more at ease. More confident. More me.

One of the most powerful moments was when April addressed the entire room and said,

“If you’re wondering whether or not you should be in your seat, let me just clarify now—you belong here.”

That sentence alone could have carried the whole event. She made space for others’ expertise while also graciously accepting celebration of her own. She modeled what it means to lead with humility and power at the same time.

As a business owner, I walked away from that weekend with answers to questions that had been circling for months. I found new collaborators, aligned connections, and most of all—I found clarity and confidence in the business I’m building.

I wasn’t there to perform. I was there to participate. To be present. To belong.

And that made all the difference. 💜