From “I Couldn’t Find My People” to Building a 14-Location Network – Karen Heap on Community, Connection and Doing Business Differently
When Karen Heap left her role at the Chamber of Commerce and stepped into self-employment, she expected the shift to feel empowering.
What she didn’t expect was how disconnected it would feel.
Networking, which had once been part of her job, suddenly felt different when it was for her own business. The rooms didn’t quite fit. The structure didn’t quite land. And the experience, if she’s honest, didn’t always feel particularly welcoming.
So she did something many business owners end up doing at some point.
She built what she couldn’t find.
Today, Karen is the founder of Socially Shared, a thriving business support network for women that has grown across the Midlands with 14 monthly meetings and a community built on connection, collaboration and genuine support.
And it all started with one simple idea.
“I wanted networking meetings that felt like meeting friends for coffee… but that were still professional.”
Rethinking What Networking Actually Looks Like
For many business owners, networking still carries a certain reputation. Structured rooms. Timed pitches. Pressure to perform.
Karen is quick to point out that those environments do still exist, and for some businesses, they work brilliantly.
But they weren’t right for her.
Instead, she created something intentionally different. A space where conversations happen naturally, where relationships are built without pressure, and where people feel comfortable being themselves rather than delivering a perfectly rehearsed pitch.
“I feel when we’re relaxed and the environment is more friendly and welcoming, you can be more yourself.”
That shift might sound subtle, but it changes everything. Because when people feel comfortable, they connect more easily. And when they connect, business follows.
The Power of Building Community First
Socially Shared didn’t grow through aggressive expansion or rapid scaling.
It grew through people.
Karen spent years hosting meetings herself, building the foundation carefully before expanding into new areas. When the time came to grow, she didn’t look outward first. She looked inward.
Rather than rushing into franchising, she developed a host model built from within her existing network, inviting women already part of the community to lead meetings in new locations.
That decision shaped everything that followed.
“I flipped the model and thought, I’m going to grow from within out.”
It created a business that feels aligned, consistent and grounded in shared values, while also giving hosts the opportunity to grow their own networks and businesses alongside it.
What Makes Networking Work (and Why People Avoid It)
There’s a reason many business owners hesitate when it comes to networking.
It can feel intimidating, especially when you’re new, unsure or walking into a room where you don’t know anyone. Karen understands that completely, because she’s felt it herself.
But she also knows what happens on the other side of that discomfort.
“My business has been built off the back of networking.”
The difference is not just showing up. It’s showing up in the right environment, with the right mindset, and with a willingness to connect rather than perform.
What good networking should give you
• A sense of belonging rather than pressure
• Opportunities to build genuine relationships
• Access to shared knowledge and experience
• Support through both challenges and wins
What often holds people back
• Fear of not knowing what to say
• Feeling out of place or inexperienced
• Expectation of formal pitching or performance
• Not understanding the long-term value
Karen’s approach removes those barriers by focusing on people first, business second.
Scaling Without Losing the Heart of the Business
Growth often comes with a trade-off.
More reach can sometimes mean less connection. More structure can sometimes mean less flexibility.
Karen has been intentional about avoiding that.
By building a model where hosts are part of the community, rather than external operators, Socially Shared has maintained the same atmosphere and values even as it has expanded.
It’s not about growth for the sake of it.
It’s about growing in a way that still feels right.
Why Karen Chose to Support the Class Business Awards
For Karen, getting involved in the Class Business Awards wasn’t a difficult decision.
It was an obvious one.
Because the values behind the awards reflect something she sees every day within her own network.
Hardworking business owners delivering real impact, often without the recognition they deserve.
“I can’t understand why this sector hasn’t been recognised in the way it deserves before.”
Through Socially Shared, Karen sees first-hand the variety of class-based businesses making a difference in their communities, from fitness to creativity to wellbeing.
And yet, those businesses are often overlooked in traditional awards spaces.
That’s why she chose to sponsor the Community Impact Award.
Because for her, community is not just part of business. It is the foundation of it.
Making the Most of the Awards Experience
One of the strongest messages Karen shares is that the awards are not just about the final event.
They are about everything that happens before and after.
The connections you build.
The visibility you create.
The confidence you gain.
“Don’t leave the networking until the event. Start now.”
How to get more from the awards process
• Share your nomination and involvement early
• Connect with other entrants and finalists
• Build relationships before the event itself
• Continue those connections after the event
Because the real value is not just in being recognised.
It’s in what that recognition allows you to build next.
Watch the Full Interview
Karen’s journey is a powerful reminder that business growth doesn’t always come from doing more.
Sometimes it comes from doing things differently.
From creating spaces where people feel comfortable, supported and connected.
And from building communities that genuinely want to see each other succeed.
🎥 Watch the full interview with Karen Heap on the Class Business Academy YouTube channel and hear how she built Socially Shared, scaled it with intention, and why community-led growth continues to shape everything she does.
