Why the right women matter: the hidden power of values-aligned communities

I’m Rachel Dunford, an impact specialist for organisations and small businesses. I am also someone who has learned that the success of any community is rarely about how many people join it. It is about who joins it.

Most of us know what it feels like to be in a room that simply is not our room. Nothing is wrong and nobody has behaved badly. It is just not the place where you feel able to settle. You realise, quite gently, that not all rooms are for all people.

That is why I hold a view that some people hesitate to say out loud. A community cannot be for everyone if it wants to be meaningful. It is not about exclusivity. It is about clarity.

What happens when you gather women who share values rather than just interests

There is a particular kind of woman who thrives in The Impactful Community. She is thoughtful, curious, reflective and generous. She is values-led and impact-focused. She cares about doing work that matters.

She is not trying to “hack” her way through business. She is not collecting leads like trophies or shouting over people to be heard. She is here because she cares about the difference she makes.

When women like that gather, the space changes in the best possible way. The conversation deepens, insight expands and the tone becomes one of mutual respect and warmth. Nobody needs to perform. Nobody needs to hide. People can arrive exactly as they are.

None of this happens by accident. It happens because the right women are in the room.

What happens when the wrong people join (and why this matters too)

This part is rarely talked about, although every community leader has felt it. When someone joins who is not quite aligned with the purpose of the space, you feel it. Again, it is not about poor behaviour or malice. It is simply a mismatch.

The conversation gets louder but not richer. Self-promotion finds its way in. People begin to answer to sound clever rather than to think clearly. Vulnerability tightens. The emotional tone of the group changes.

Left unchecked, this can gently pull a community away from its purpose. It is why intentionality matters. Why who joins matters far more than how many do.

A values-led community cannot stay true to itself if it welcomes everyone without thought.

Why slow, intentional growth matters

I often say that I want The Impactful Community to grow gently rather than loudly. Slow growth gives the room time to breathe. It allows me to notice the tone, protect the culture, and maintain the spaciousness needed for honest, reflective conversation.

Fast growth can look exciting, but it is rarely stable. It can pull a space in directions it was not designed to go. Intentional growth, on the other hand, is steadier and more human. It allows the community to remain what it is meant to be: a place where thoughtful women explore the difference they make.

The right women amplify each other’s impact

The thing I love most about this community is the way the women inside it expand each other. They spark reflections that would not happen alone. They make each other braver simply by being honest. They connect ideas across industries and ask questions that open new doors. They remind each other of their value when doubt creeps in.

This is what a meaningful community looks like. Impact is not something you deliver to people. It is something created between people.

Why this matters to your own impact

Whether you are building a membership, running an organisation, leading a team or gathering people around a shared purpose, the same principle applies. Your impact becomes clearer and more sustainable when the right people are around you.

So I encourage you to surround yourself with people who think deeply and care deeply, and your work expands in ways you cannot engineer alone.

While, if you surround yourself with people who drain or distract, your impact becomes cloudy.

It is not about judgement. It is about choosing the people who help you stay connected to the work you are here to do.

If you are a woman who leads with values...

You may find that The Impactful Community feels like home. It is built for women who want to think more deeply about their work, understand their impact, connect without competition and be part of a space where their presence strengthens the room.

It is not for everyone. That is exactly why it works.

So f you've found yourself nodding yes while you've been reading, you are probably one of the women it was created for. ❤️

Find out more and join us here.