EP:50 | Elizabeth Bethune – “Women Empowerment: The Journey of Connection” – The Hype Squad

Join Charli as she sits down with Elizabeth Bethune, founder of The Gathering AO, a community of female entrepreneurs in Auburn and Opelika, Alabama. In this heartfelt and candid conversation, they discuss the challenges and rewards of building a supportive network for women in business, the complexities of motherhood, and the power of personal growth. Elizabeth shares her journey from launching The Gathering in Montgomery to creating impactful events in a new town and reflects on the importance of connecting women both personally and professionally.Tune in to hear insightful discussions on business, family balance, and the importance of vulnerability and connection.Don't miss this episode packed with inspiration and real talk about the highs and lows of entrepreneurship and parenting.Connect with Elizabeth:Instagram: elizabeth_ellen_The Gathering Instagram: thegathering_aoFacebook: TheGatheringAOConnect with Charli:Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.charlimcconnell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@charli_mcconnell_co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cmco.womenscoach⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@‌charli_mcconnell_co⁠⁠

Welcome back, Hype Squad!

Some days it feels like you’ve got 37 tabs open and one of them won’t stop blasting music. Business. Family. Your own growth. Underneath the noise is the real heartbeat—connection. That’s where The Gathering AO comes in.

The spark that started it

Elizabeth will tell you straight: she was lonely. She was building a business, mothering hard, and still feeling isolated. So she did the brave, simple thing—she posted an invite on Instagram. No big strategy. No perfect plan. Just, “Hey, want to meet up?”

A handful of women showed. Then a few more. Soon, a quiet bar turned into a hum of conversation—women swapping stories, asking real questions, and exhaling because someone finally said, “Same.”

“I thought it was just me,” became the unofficial tagline of night one.

What The Gathering AO actually feels like

This isn’t name-tag networking. It’s shoulder-dropping community. Think:

• Real intros (the kind without résumés)
• Roundtable convos that go beyond small talk
• Shared wins and stuck points—business, motherhood, life
• Leave-with-something takeaways: a new contact, a next step, or just relief that you’re not doing this alone

You walk in carrying ten things. You leave with clarity on one next right thing.

Elizabeth’s through-line: build with heart, grow with sense

From day one, Elizabeth protected the soul of this space: honesty, warmth, and action. As momentum grew, so did the practical questions:

• How do we keep this accessible and sustainable?
• How do we scale without watering it down?

She’s exploring a membership model and other structures—not to make it complicated, but to make it consistent. Same heart, stronger container. That’s the work.

A year of “live”

Elizabeth chose “live” as her word of the year. Not the Pinterest version—present, steady, human. That looked like:

• Showing up even when the house wasn’t spotless or the plan wasn’t perfect
• Celebrating small milestones (a packed table, a brave share, a new friendship)
• Saying yes to herself as much as she says yes to others

Growth has been messy, beautiful, and absolutely worth it.

Why it matters for you

You don’t need more contacts; you need a circle. The Gathering offers:

• Belonging: “These are my people.”
• Perspective: “Oh, there’s another way to handle this.”
• Momentum: “I know my next step.”

If you’ve been waiting for permission

Here it is. Ask for company. Say yes to the invite. The first step is the only heavy one—and it’s where momentum begins.

Join us

Ready for community that actually supports your goals (and your whole life)? Come to The Gathering AO.

This is bigger than a business card exchange. It’s connection, confidence, and action—on repeat. Let’s do the dang thing. Follow along @thegathering_ao on instagram.

XO,
Charli