North Bay Woman

S P R I N G 2 0 1 7 | NORTH BAY WOMAN 49 pursue their work, passions, ideas and what's next." The Hivery occupies a beautiful, naturally-lit open space above Balboa Cafe in downtown Mill Valley, and provides office amenities such as copy machines and Equator coffee in a Zen- influenced working area. But, says Kraaijvanger, "what we're doing is much more than a space to work." Megan Flatt, consultant to female entrepreneurs, agrees. One of the original members, she came to The Hivery when it first started in the loft of a Sausalito art gallery three years ago. "One of my friends and I were talking one day about how hard it was to work at home," Flatt explains. "We were joking about renting a space together and that very day I got an email about an event with The Hivery." Flatt joined as a co-working member, one of three membership levels available. The co-working option includes free attendance at events, workshops and seminars as well as shared office space. And although she came for the work space and enjoys the events, Flatt found so much more. Recently, for example, Flatt was working at The Hivery getting ready to launch her podcast but was having some last-minute trouble. The woman next to her took her photo and posted it on Instagram. Another woman at the table, who already had a podcast, happened to see the post and sought out Flatt to offer assistance. "Every day I see stories of collaboration like this," Kraaijvanger explains. "When you bring women together, you find that innate wanting to support each other." That philosophy of women helping women also attracted Jodi Klein of Klein Consulting in San Francisco. She heard about The Hivery through Speak to Me, which sponsors speaking events for and by women. An article in the newsletter caught her eye and she signed up for The Hivery workshop "What's Next?" "That introduced me to The Hivery," says Klein, who later joined as a Community Member, which gives her free access to events and parties, as well as discounts on workshops and space rentals. Klein, who is also an activator for SheEO, a nonprofit of women helping women, notes that "The Hivery also connects you to other outlets that help women help themselves." One of those opportunities was a Hivery event on International Women's Day, March 8. Here, Klein and Flatt joined Clockwise from left; Standing room only at the International Women's Day event at The Hivery; office space with unique ceiling detail; packed house at International Women's Day event. – Photos provided by The Hivery

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