Business Profile: Diane K. Danielson, Downtown Women’s Club

Who we’re profiling: Diane K. Danielson

The business: DowntownWomensClub.com

Where to find it: http://www.DowntownWomensClub.com

When did you start your business? The Downtown Women’s Club was founded as networking group in Boston in 1998. I didn’t start focusing on it as a primary business until 2003.

Why did you decide to start your business & why did you choose the type of business you chose? I started the DWC as a way to build my business contacts and never looked at it as a real business until I was laid off from Corporate America and wrote a book about networking (Table Talk: The Savvy Girl’s Alternative to Networking). The book raised an interest in the DWC and expanded it to other cities. That’s when I started looking at technology and how we could use it to manage the clubs in different cities and provide online options for women who don’t have the time to get out and network in person. I found that while I had no interest in running a “traditional” non-profit membership organization, I was really intrigued with technology (blogging, social networks, etc.)

What is your favorite thing about being in business for yourself? The flexibility. I’m a single mom and while I still work more than 40 hours per week, it’s on my time. I also like that as a business owner I’ve learned more about technology and online marketing than I ever would have as a VP of Marketing at professional services company. I believe that even if I went back to corporate America, I would be more marketable than when I left.

What turned out to be harder than you thought? Working without a team to bounce ideas off of. I found that I could create a virtual team, but that was a tough adjustment.

Looking back, what is one thing you know now, but wish you knew back then? To trust my gut.

Do you participate in any business groups (mentoring, networking, etc)? As the head of a business group, I’m obviously involved in the Downtown Women’s Club. But, I also belong to an international women leaders group and a local business networking group.

As a business owner, it can be easy to work all the time – do you have any tips for balancing your business and your personal life? Check the guilt at the door. If I’m with my son, I don’t feel guilty about not working; and if I’m working, I refuse to feel guilty too.

What have been some of your best business successes? Blogging! It showcases my conversational writing style and it’s been a great marketing bit for the Downtown Women’s Club.

What are you planning to do with your business in the future? I would like to grow it both geographically and online. Ultimately I would love to see my business build alliances with other women’s business groups to provide a much larger online and in-person platform for businesswomen.

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