Why Women in Government Contracting Need More Than Another Network

Government contracting is not short on information.

There are plenty of webinars. Plenty of LinkedIn posts. Plenty of events that explain what to do. Countless panels where successful women share their journeys from stages across the country.

And yet, women: especially women-owned businesses: are still underrepresented at the prime level, undercapitalized, and often navigating this space alone.

That's not a coincidence.

The Real Gap in GovCon Isn't Knowledge

It's access, proximity, and support.

Most women I speak with don't struggle because they aren't capable. They're smart, driven, and absolutely qualified to win in this space. They struggle because they:

• Don't have a safe place to ask "basic" questions without judgment

• Don't have proximity to peers who are actually winning and scaling

• Don't have a trusted circle where collaboration is encouraged: not gatekept

• Can't find mentors who genuinely want to lift others up, not just collect LinkedIn connections

The data backs this up. Women own approximately 20% of small businesses in America, yet the federal government's goal for women-owned small business procurement is only 5%: and that modest target has been met just twice since 1994. Even more telling? Less than 1% of federal contracting dollars are actually set aside for women-owned businesses, despite the stated goal.

This isn't a capability problem. This is a system problem.

GovCon's Complexity Favors the Connected

Let's be honest: government contracting is complex by design. The rules change frequently. The landscape shifts with every administration. The procurement process can be overwhelming even for seasoned professionals.

And complexity always favors those who already have strong networks.

When you know someone who's been through a similar challenge, you get answers faster. When you have proximity to people who are winning, you see what's actually working: not just what sounds good in theory. When you're part of a community that shares resources freely, you don't have to figure everything out from scratch.

But here's what I've observed over the years: many existing networks in this space operate with an undercurrent of gatekeeping. Information is shared selectively. Connections are made transactionally. And women, particularly women of color and those without traditional "industry credentials," often find themselves on the outside looking in.

What Women Actually Need (And It's Not Another Panel)

I've had countless conversations with women at every stage of their GovCon journey. From those just getting started with their first WOSB certification to seasoned contractors looking to scale past the $10M mark.

What I've seen over and over again is this: when women have access to:

Real conversations (not polished highlight reels) Peer-level collaboration and teamingMentorship that isn't transactionalAccountability and shared momentumA space to be vulnerable about challenges

They move faster. They win smarter. And they stay in the game longer.

The traditional networking model: show up, exchange business cards, follow up with a LinkedIn connection: doesn't create this kind of environment. It creates surface-level relationships that rarely translate into meaningful support when you need it most.

The Power of No-Gatekeeping Community

Real community looks different. It's built on the principle that everyone's success creates more opportunities for everyone else. It's rooted in the understanding that the government contracting market is massive: $700+ billion annually: and there's more than enough opportunity for all of us to thrive.

In a no-gatekeeping community:

• Questions are welcomed, not judged

• Information flows freely because knowledge shared is knowledge multiplied

• Collaboration happens naturally because trust has been established

• Success is celebrated collectively because it proves what's possible

• Challenges are discussed openly because vulnerability creates connection

This kind of environment doesn't happen accidentally. It requires intentional cultivation and clear community values that prioritize lifting each other up.

Why Traditional Networks Fall Short for Women

Most networking events and professional associations in the GovCon space operate under an old-school model that wasn't designed with women's needs in mind. They focus on:

• Formal presentations instead of authentic conversation

• Individual achievement rather than collective success

• Information hoarding as a form of competitive advantage

• Hierarchical relationships instead of peer-to-peer support

For women, especially those juggling business ownership with family responsibilities or those who don't fit the traditional "contractor" mold, these environments can feel performative rather than supportive.

We need spaces where:

• You can admit you don't understand something without losing credibility

• Asking for help is seen as smart, not weak

• Sharing a resource or connection doesn't diminish your own value

• Being a work-in-progress is not only acceptable but normalized

Introducing GovCon Queens 👑

This is exactly why I'm excited to announce the launch of GovCon Queens: a women-only community built for connection, collaboration, and growth in government contracting at every stage.

GovCon Queens isn't another networking group. It's a community designed around the principle that when women support women, everyone wins.

Here's what makes it different:

No Gatekeeping: Information, resources, and connections are shared freely. Your success doesn't diminish mine: it proves what's possible.

Real Talk: We discuss actual challenges, not just highlight reels. Struggling with cash flow during a lengthy contract award process? Let's talk solutions. Dealing with imposter syndrome as you pursue larger opportunities? You're not alone.

Peer Collaboration: Members are encouraged to team together, share subcontracting opportunities, and support each other's growth: because together we're stronger.

Mentorship Without Agenda: Experienced contractors share knowledge not because they want something in return, but because they remember what it was like to need that guidance.

Community Over Competition: We operate from an abundance mindset. The federal market is huge, and there's room for all of us to succeed.

The Time for Women Supporting Women is Now

Recent developments in federal contracting make this community more important than ever. With policy changes affecting small business set-asides and increasing scrutiny on diversity initiatives, women-owned businesses need strong networks more than they need another webinar about SAM registration.

The government contracting industry is at an inflection point. We can either continue operating in silos, competing for crumbs, and perpetuating systems that keep women underrepresented: or we can build something better together.

GovCon Queens is choosing the latter.

Join the Movement

If you're a woman in government contracting: whether you're just starting out, scaling up, or looking to give back: I invite you to join us at www.govconqueen.com.

This isn't about collecting more LinkedIn connections or attending another virtual event where you mute yourself and multitask. This is about being part of a community that believes women supporting women isn't just nice: it's necessary.

Because here's what I know to be true: when we stop gatekeeping and start genuinely supporting each other, we don't just change individual trajectories. We change the entire landscape.

The government contracting space needs more women winning at every level. Not just as subcontractors, but as prime contractors. Not just in traditional "women's industries," but across defense, technology, professional services, and beyond.

And that transformation starts with community. Real community. The kind where your success is celebrated, your challenges are supported, and your growth is everyone's victory.

Ready to be part of something bigger than networking? Ready to join a movement that's changing how women succeed in government contracting?

Welcome to GovCon Queens. Your throne is waiting.