When Women Come Together: Inside Our First HerMoney Matters Circle
Photograph by Mushama Pierre. Women connecting and sharing stories at HerMoney Matters Circle.
This is what happens when women come together in a safe space to share their stories, connect, and learn from one another—especially when it comes to finances. This is the heart of HerMoney Matters Circle. We’re building our own version of a girls’ club: a community where women can thrive, learn, and grow together.
On November 26, we hosted our very first HerMoney Matters Circle—and the impact was undeniable.
How It Started
The idea came to life during a walk home from sushi. Shamuna and I were talking about the need for community—a space where women could gather, connect, laugh, eat, and share experiences without judgment. Right there on the sidewalk, we said, “Let’s do it.”
From that moment, the four of us put together an action plan and divided responsibilities. We gave ourselves one week to finalize the venue, create promotional content, and set up the Eventbrite listing. That would leave us three and a half weeks to promote the event.
We chose the Chnge Mker Hub because its space is warm, cozy, and welcoming—exactly the vibe we wanted.
The Build-Up
By Sunday night, I had finished the marketing assets and published the Eventbrite listing. I shared it with my network and posted on social media, and by Monday night, we already had 15 registrations.
We continued promoting daily and, before we knew it, we had 50 registrations—sold out.
Free events are always tricky. People register, but will they actually show up? With catering ordered, decor ready, the venue booked, and materials printed… all we could do was hope.
Photograph by Mushama Pierre. HerMoney Matters Circle community gathering and discussion.
The Night Of
As we set up, women began arriving—first one by one, then in pairs, and soon the room filled with warm conversations and clinking glasses of sparkling juice.
We started the program, and the engagement was immediate. The energy was beautiful. One hour flew by because everyone was so open, honest, and willing to connect.
Then came the food—because you can’t bring people together without feeding them!
Huge shoutout to Ottawa Kabab for the delicious spread, it did not disappoint. The ladies loved it. And the milk cakes from Uma’s Sweets? A hit. Truly well-loved.
As we watched everyone eating, chatting, laughing, and sharing stories, our hearts felt full. Our vision had come to life right in front of us.
A Full Room, Full Hearts
We welcomed 30 women that night, and they left feeling inspired, connected, and already asking:
“When is the next Circle?”
“This is needed.”
“Amazing event, keep it up.”
“I’m bringing friends next time.”
Those words will stay with us. They remind us why we do this and fuel our commitment to keep the standard high for every HerMoney Matters Circle moving forward.
This is just the beginning.
Written by Mushama Pierre, a Communications Specialist and storyteller passionate about empowering communities through authentic narratives. When she’s not working or creating content, you can find her experimenting in the kitchen or capturing life through her camera lens. Connect with her on LinkedIn.