Vicki Messenger WIBN

Having worked in the corporate sector for 18 years in finance recruitment and IT sales, and then deciding to retrain and start a business when I started my family, I know very well what it’s like to juggle a business whilst raising young children.

My first mission as a new business owner was to get out there and meet new people through networking, and that is how I came across WIBN. I remember how nervous I was at my first meeting and how little I understood about how it all worked (I had prepared a full PowerPoint presentation, not realising that I only had 1 one minute to talk about my business!).

Since those early days, forging connections and building relationships with other like-minded businesswomen has become, by far, my favourite business activity, never mind my most effective marketing strategy. The benefits of being part of the WIBN community have been incredibly far-reaching – from gaining new clients, collaborations, and friendships, to the learning and growth I’ve experienced from being surrounded by such incredible businesswomen. And now, as a Franchisee, I get to do all this several times a month across my seven groups in the Thames Valley – it doesn’t feel like “work” at all!

Now an award-winning networker (Networker of the Year 2025 Thames Valley Business & Community Awards), I love nothing more than leading my eight groups across the Thames Valley and online as a Franchisee of the leading UK's professional women's networking organisation WIBN (Women In Business Network).