A Room Of One's Own

We've come a long way, baby.

Back in the day, women were relegated to the kitchen and taking care of their families. Getting a job was practically verboten, and there were no professional organizations for females to join. Instead, they were involved in church groups, charitable projects or book clubs, giving them a chance to make friends and have a life outside their homes.

But women wanted more, and the social movement that took root during the Progressive era sparked that fervor. We can thank pioneer and newspaper columnist Fanny Fern for co-founding Sorosis, America's first professional women's club, in 1868 after being denied entry to an all-male New York Press Club dinner honoring Charles Dickens. Decades later, women's clubs took on controversial issues like abortion and equal rights.

Today, women continue to organize and support organizations that offer them a chance to network and turn ideas into action. And that includes having a voice in the workforce.

No longer content to stay at home or work in traditional jobs, many women are establishing their own businesses; more than 11.6 million U.S. companies are owned by females. But many of these businesses are sole partnerships, and that can be isolating when you need feedback on an idea or mentoring for a project.

The solution? Female-focused working co-ops – multifunctional home-away-from-home venues where women can work, share ideas, attend workshops, socialize and even get their nails polished (because we all know there aren't enough hours in the day to do it all). These spaces are popping up all across the country, including in South Florida.

Finding a co-working space is about finding the place where you can do your best work, says Jamie Russo, executive director of the Global Workspace Association in Palo Alto, California. "This may be based on location, the aesthetic or where you find your 'tribe.' For some women, they really thrive in a women-only or women-forward environment. That's where they feel most comfortable."

The co-working idea started about 10 years ago in the Bay Area tech scene, according to Felena Hanson, who created San Diego-based Hera Hub in 2011.

A few guys who were programming got together in someone's basement, and the concept grew from there, she says.

"Co-working is still very strong throughout the tech industry, and that is where a lot of these spaces still continue to play which is great and important but, on our site and on other female- focused sites, as an accomplished woman, hanging out on bean bags with beer kegs and ping-pong tables isn't our thing. Creating space that is developed by women for women is our focus."

Although Hera Hub which has outposts in Phoenix, Sweden and Washington, D.C., and plans to open venues in Atlanta, Seattle and Houston focuses on women, it's not exclusive to them, Hanson emphasizes.

"For us, it is not about excluding men. We value men. They are an important part of the conversation. The way I explain it is that women are operating in a business world that we did not create, and we have always been the outsider playing by a man's rules. Our model is that we have created a space that is designed by women for women, and we can invite men into our space, into a world that we created, to play by our rules."

Hera Hub offers a tranquil spa-like environment (think aromatic candles) where women can collaborate and take their businesses to the next level, including finding partners, uncovering new market opportunities and obtaining financing. The focus, explains Hanson, is on business development, including a 12-week business accelerator program and a 48-hour Business Launch Boot Camp.

"Our mission is to provide entrepreneurial women with a productive, professional work and meeting space, where they can connect with a like-minded community to collaborate and flourish," notes the website.

Each female-centric co-work company has its own vibe. Manhattan-based The Wing, which is opening locations in Brooklyn and Washington, D.C., this year, takes more of a social club approach. It has a beauty room, a snack area, a lactation room and pink decor with soft lighting. No men are allowed, and the first edition of its print magazine, No Man's Land for women with something to say and nothing to prove is available at Barnes & Noble.

The Hivery is another of the early female co-working spaces, communities and inspiration labs. Launched in 2014 and based in Mill Valley, California, it's a gathering place where entrepreneurs and creatives (including men) create meaningful work, form lasting connections and pursue their next moves.

"We love big ideas, shared know-how, tremendous kindness, time for creativity, a place for soul, and we are constantly blown away by the unstoppable power of those who come together to collaborate and support each other," notes the group's website.

With two locations in Seattle, The Riveter is a female-forward co-work space and community designed for business and impact.

"Every program in our space recognizes the vitality of women and the value of our voices," according to its website.

It welcomes entrepreneurs, freelancers, consultants, remote workers and everyone in between.

"We aren't a private social club; we welcome men and allies into our membership and our movement to empower all women everywhere," notes the website. "The Riveter is the platform where the trail of shattered glass shines brighter every day."

Members participate in professional programming, such as negotiations workshops and pitch competitions, as well as social impact events like the Seattle Women's March. A Los Angeles location is set to launch this year.

South Florida's female movers and shakers will get their version of a co-working space next month when Aileen Lavin launches The Emery, a 3,900-square-foot venue that will offer both a social club and a business approach. The North Miami Beach real estate agent, who also founded the local Ladies Who Launch networking group, says the Hallandale Beach facility will cater to businesswomen and those looking to meet other women and socialize.

"It was originally for entrepreneurs, so events are tailored to workshops, seminars and networking to boost your business and get yourself out there, she says. But the other aspect of it is a social club. You can join if you have a business or if you just want to get out of your house."

The Emery, which will be located in Atlantic Village on US 1, has many incentives to join.

"We're going to have a restaurant. It will be a healthy cafe where you can enjoy lunch and have a tailored space to call your own. The furniture is very feminine. There is a glam room, and I am working on hooking up with the Glamsquad to offer on-demand blowouts and polish changes. This is a one-stop shop," says Lavin. "This is a collaborative, open workspace. We only have five offices, which are at the perimeter of the space. It is a wide-open, glorified, beautiful living room with workstations. The goal is for you to connect and meet other women."

Although she has yet to open the doors, Lavin envisions creating additional spaces in the area.

"The goal would be Boca, Weston, Coral Gables and Midtown Miami," she says. "There are so many places where there is an opportunity for this."

Although the concept of female co-working is gaining in popularity, these spaces only make up 1 percent to 1.5 percent of office space today, notes Steve King, partner at Emergent Research, a research and consulting firm focused on small businesses.

"We are still talking about small percentages, and it is still a very small market relative to the size of the workforce," he says.

But the benefits and potential are far-reaching.

"There is an evolution already happening that many don't realize. If you go into any new corporate office building or commercial building that targets multiple tenants, you will see the co-working look and feel," King says. "Office spaces are becoming more social. They're being designed for more interaction and have areas for after-work activities. It is the blending of work and life. People are trying to copy Facebook and Google campuses where workers want to come and stay all day and into the night because all of these aspects are combined. Co-working is showing that it can be done." O