10 Years of BRA: How a Dinner Party Became a Movement

🎉 Celebrating 10 Years of BRA Network: The Herstory EpisodeIn this very special anniversary episode of Carrie On!, I’m raising a glass to celebrate something incredibly close to my heart: 10 years of BRA Network.What began as a simple dinner party with four friends who were tired of boring networking events (bad coffee, worse energy) turned into a full-blown movement I never could have predicted. I watched a tiny spark—a conversation around my dining room table—grow into a powerful community of women entrepreneurs who collaborate, hire each other first, and lift each other up every step of the way.In this episode, I’m sharing the full bra herstory: how we started, how we survived the pandemic, how we grew, how we gave back, and how we created a space where women could rise together without apology.I’ll take you behind the scenes of our biggest milestones—from Women on the Rise and the Wealthy Woman Summitto our mega collaboration around Show Her the Money—and the moments that still make me emotional when I think about them.This episode is a celebration, a reflection, and a reminder of what happens when women refuse to compete and instead choose to collaborate.Grab a drink, settle in, and celebrate with me.✨ In This Episode, I Share:How BRA Was Born The dinner party that sparked a decade-long journey—and why I realized women desperately needed a different kind of networking space.Why the BRA Directory Became Our Backbone How women naturally began hiring each other and keeping money flowing inside the community.What It Was Like Growing BRA Through the Pandemic How our online presence allowed thousands of women to find support, connection, and clarity when the world felt upside down.Eight Years of Women on the Rise The joy of honoring extraordinary women and raising nearly $100,000 for nonprofits that serve women and children.The Wealthy Woman Summit Why talking about money changed everything—and why charging our worth was a radical and necessary shift.Show Her the Money The powerful BRA collaboration behind the documentary and how women founders finally started getting funded.Moments of Pure Collaboration Magic Including the Everyday Action Gala where 20 BRA members came together in ways that still bring tears to my eyes.My Honest Thoughts on What’s Next Spoiler: I still have no idea—but entrepreneurship has taught me to climb every mountain with community by my side.💬 Some of My Favorite Reflections“We were keeping the money flowing between us.”“Like most entrepreneurs, I had to learn everything in real time.”“Katie is the first one to show up—always.”“The peaks and valleys of entrepreneurship are so much easier when you’re not climbing alone.”“We hire each other, we charge what we’re worth, and we show up.”