A Call to Courageous Action in Women’s Business Networks
‘’I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.’’
– Angela Y. Davis
In the world of business—particularly as women—we are often told to “choose our battles,” “wait our turn,” or “play the long game.” While patience and strategy have their place, Angela Y. Davis’s quote reminds us that true change comes when we shift our mindset from passive acceptance to purposeful action. It’s a call that resonates deeply with women navigating the business world, where we still face gender gaps in leadership, funding, and visibility.
This quote isn’t just about resistance. It’s about reclamation. It’s about standing firm in the face of systems that weren’t built for us and deciding to reimagine them. In a women’s-only business networking group like ours, we are not just here to share leads or pitch services—we are here to shift paradigms.
From Powerlessness to Agency
How often have we tolerated the status quo because we believed change wasn’t possible? Maybe we’ve stayed quiet in meetings, not wanting to seem “too much.” Maybe we’ve watched male counterparts get credit for our ideas or seen leadership opportunities pass us by. These experiences add up. They teach us, subtly, to shrink.
But this space—our network—is where we unlearn that shrinking. We are surrounded by women who are not just breaking ceilings but replacing entire rooftops with skylights. When we come together, we remind each other that we do have agency. We can change our industry standards, redefine what leadership looks like, and set a new norm for inclusion and empathy.
What Can’t You Accept Anymore?
This question is at the heart of Davis’s message. It’s worth pausing and asking ourselves: What am I no longer willing to accept in my business, my career, or my industry?
Perhaps it’s unequal pay. Perhaps it’s the lack of flexible working structures for mothers. Perhaps it is burnout disguised as ambition. Whatever it is, know this: You are not alone in your frustration. And you don’t have to tackle it alone, either.
That’s the beauty of women-centred networking groups. They offer not just community, but collective power. When one of us says “enough,” we all feel it—and together, we amplify it.
Turning Frustration into Fuel
Change rarely begins with comfort. It begins with discomfort, with the niggling feeling that something isn’t right. And when that discomfort grows too loud to ignore, we have a choice: suppress it… or use it as fuel.
Angela Davis used her voice to challenge deep-rooted injustice, and while our battles may look different today, the spirit of her resistance lives on in every woman who dares to lead, to speak up, to challenge, to innovate.
As businesswomen, we can channel that same fire. Start by identifying just one area where you’re ready to stop accepting the unacceptable. Is it how you’re being treated by a client? Is it how you’re undervaluing your own rates? Is it a lack of representation on a panel or in a boardroom?
Once identified, take action. Speak to your network. Ask for support. Collaborate on solutions. The ripple effects of one bold decision can be transformative—not just for you, but for the women coming up behind you.
Our Network, Our Movement
This isn’t just networking. It’s movement-building. Every conversation, every partnership, every event where women are celebrated instead of sidelined—that is how change happens.
Let’s be the women who challenge outdated business models. Let’s be the women who lift each other while climbing. Let’s stop accepting the things we’ve been told we can’t change—and start changing the things we will no longer accept.
Together, we are more than a network. We are a force for change.
Thank you for reading this month’s blog, A Call to Courageous Action in Women’s Business Networks.
Kelly, Kelly, and Chloe,
Ladies That Do Networking