How WEW Has Helped Me as a Young Professional
A note from Michell:
In 12 and a half years of building this community, I have had the privilege of watching a lot of women step into their power. Every single time it gets me.
But there is something extra special that happens in my heart when a young woman finds WEW early and gets to carry it with her into everything she is still becoming.
Can you imagine who some of us would be if we had WEW at 20-something??
That is exactly why I am so excited about our future. And Makayla is a big part of why.
Makayla came into this community under the wing of West County Chapter Leader Amy Yan – one of the most generous mentors I know. And what she has to share with you today is exactly the kind of thing that reminds me why we built all of this in the first place.
Want to know why I am so fired up about where WEW is headed? Keep reading. Makayla will show you.
When I first started at C Three Business Consultants, I was 19 and had just decided to take a break from college and jump into the business world. To be honest, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Everything felt new, a little overwhelming, and definitely intimidating—especially when it came to networking.
I had no clue how to network… like at all.
That’s a big reason why Women Empowering Women (WEW) has played such a big role in my growth this past year.
I remember my first WEW luncheon pretty clearly. I walked in not really knowing what to expect and feeling pretty nervous. The first few luncheons honestly pushed me out of my comfort zone, but I kept showing up—and little by little, it started to feel easier.
Over time, I got more comfortable just being in the room, having conversations, and putting myself out there a bit more each time.
One of the first things I noticed was how welcoming everyone is. There’s no pressure and no judgment—just a group of women who genuinely want to support each other. That made it so much easier for me to open up and just be myself.
I’ve had so many women come up to me, introduce themselves, and even share advice about networking and growing professionally. Those small conversations have honestly made a huge impact on me. They helped me realize that networking doesn’t have to feel forced or awkward—it can really just be about building genuine connections.
And as someone who’s still new to the business world, that kind of environment means everything.
I’ve learned so much just by showing up, listening, and being around so many driven and supportive women. I also love that WEW really welcomes young professionals—it makes you feel like you belong, even when you’re just getting started.
Looking back, I’m really glad Amy had me go to that first luncheon. WEW has played a big role in helping me grow, and I’m excited to keep learning and building those connections.
Makayla Schuetz
Chief Operating Officer & Business Development Leader | C Three Business Consultants