A Night to Remember: Leading Ladies Networking shines during Halifax Small Business Week
It’s hard to describe the feeling when something you built over a decade ago grows into the most vibrant, diverse, and purpose-driven women’s business event in Atlantic Canada!
Our final Leading Ladies Networking event of 2025 was our best yet; perfectly timed for Small Business Week and hosted once again at the vibrant Moxy Hotel Halifax.
And in true Leading Ladies fashion, even when life throws a curveball (I was home sick with the flu for this one), not only did the show go on… it was pure magic! Check out all the fun below!!
Leadership in Action
When I couldn’t attend, my dear friend and co-strategist Nicole Myles Brook seamlessly stepped in to host the evening alongside my talented and supportive sisters Brigid Milway and Gabrielle Gallagher.
I saw exactly what I’ve always envisioned; a space where women share their strengths and elevate one another’s visibility. It was living proof that investing your time and energy in building your ideal community is the highest form of ROI.
Our Sponsors; at the Heart of It All
Our sponsors didn’t just show up, they activated, engaged, and elevated the experience for everyone in the room. Thank you for investing in visibility, connection, and women in business. Your partnership fuels the growth, impact, and generosity that define this community!
🎁Here are your VIP Sponsor Promotions & Links:
💼 BDC – Canada’s bank for entrepreneurs. https://www.bdc.ca | https://www.bdc.ca/en/small-business-week/events
👥 The Warrington Group – HR, recruitment and business advisory experts. https://thewarringtongroup.ca
🏨 Moxy Halifax Hotel – Book your next event or night out with the stellar team at Moxy! https://bit.ly/vipmoxyhalifax
📸 NewLife Studio – Real estate photography & videography capturing Halifax’s brightest properties. https://newlifestudio.ca
🌹 Blossom Shops – Your #1 choice for all floral occasions. Enjoy your rose as a reminder to celebrate yourself and the connections you made. https://blossomshops.ca
🧘 The Floatation Centre – Use code LLFLOAT for 50% off a float before Nov. 15! Treat yourself! https://thefloatationcentre.ca
🧠 Dr. Ashley Margeson | Cornerstone Naturopathic – Use code LEADINGLADIES for $25 off tickets to Hormone Intelligence: Made Simple (Nov 6). https://cornerstonenaturopathic.ca/hormone-intelligence
💎 Charm Diamond Centres – Proudly Canadian jeweller celebrating every unforgettable connection. https://www.charmdiamondcentres.com
🤳Cait Collabs – collaborate and showcase your next brand project: https://linktr.ee/cait_collabs
🍽 Beyond Hospitality Group – Visit Asia, Crème, Sea Smoke & Vandal Doughnuts. https://beyondhospitalitygroup.ca
🌸 Beyond the Beep – A pop-up voice recording booth capturing unforgettable moments at your events. https://beyondthebeep.ca
Measured Results
After 57 Leading Ladies events over the past decade, you know that none of the magic that happens in the room is by chance! Every detail has been meticulously curated to help you make new, powerful connections in downtown Halifax. From the food and beverages, to the energy, agenda, rhythm and flow. Because when you value connection as a strategic asset, and you track what it creates, you get clarity, collaboration, opportunity, and momentum. And this event delivered!!
%
Will Attend Again
%
Made Valuable New Business Connections
%
Average Projected 2-Quarter ROI per Connection
We were blown away by the number of posts, messages, and emails you shared after this event. So many of you shared your experiences publicly and privately, and reading each one has been a reminder of why this community exists. We don’t take it lightly when you carve time out of your busy lives to be in a room we design. Knowing how much you value being energized, seen, supported, and already creating momentum is all the thanks we need.
Thank you for trusting us with your time, your presence, and your relationships. We’re incredibly proud of what this community creates together and grateful beyond words to see the impact you feel, share, and carry forward.
Together, we’re raising the bar for what business networking can be.
A heartfelt thank-you to our incredible Wing Women who helped put the safety ‘net’ in networking. Your warmth, professionalism, and intention transformed the room and you elevated the experience for so many women – we couldn’t be more grateful for your talent and expertise.
We were also honoured to welcome Liz Duff as our special guest!
Our Story: Why Leading Ladies Exists
Leading Ladies Networking is my ongoing community-engagement initiative – a living example of how I design experiences that turn connection into measurable business results.
Each event reflects the same frameworks I use for my corporate clients:
- Intentional design aligned with business goals
- Curated guest experiences that build trust and connection
- Clear objectives and post-event measurement that translate to ROI
If your organization wants to elevate visibility, strengthen relationships, or activate a measurable event strategy, that’s the work I do as a Corporate Engagement Strategist. Contact Menna today: hello@mennariley.com
We are BEYOND grateful Ghada Elsehemy and Mossy of NewLife Studio for lighting us up and capturing all the networking magic at our event!!
Please share & tag: Leading Ladies Networking, Menna Riley, and NewLife Studio + Ghada Elsehemy along with yourself and everyone you know in the photos! Don’t forget to show some love for our sponsors (especially if you won one of their fabulous prizes)!! #leadingladiesnetworking
What’s Next
As we wrap 2025 and look ahead to 2026, our focus is on increasing our impact: stronger partnerships, smarter measurement, and even more opportunities to build relationship capital that drives real results.
Stay tuned for 2026 Leading Ladies Networking announcements – and a first look at a new project for women leaders who crave both clarity and connection, The Alchemy Retreat. Waitlist signup here.
If your company is ready to align with Atlantic Canada’s most recognized women’s business network, now is the perfect time to explore partnership opportunities. Let’s design a campaign that delivers ROI: hello@mennariley.com
“Leading Ladies is THE event to attend to meet so many amazing women! These events have offered me the opportunity to create life long friends and business colleagues. Menna is the master networking Queen! Her events provide a safe and welcoming environment for women from diverse backgrounds and businesses to mingle and just get to know each other. What’s awesome about this is many of these connections end up collaborating in the future for mutual business growth. Great job Menna! You’re a true gem!” – Ann-Marie Flinn
HEY YOU! 💕Did you make a fabulous new connection? Land a new client? Close a new deal? Make a new business bestie? We’d love to hear about it 📣 Please share your success stories here and you could be featured in a future testimonial!