In our latest Guest Spotlight interview, we chat with Rhonesha Byng, founder and editor of Her Agenda, a website Forbes has called one of the 100 Best Websites for Women. She’s a LiquidSpace guest at workspaces around Manhattan and below shares more about the community she has built at Her Agenda and her love for workspace freedom.
Tell us about Her Agenda.
Her Agenda is an online platform that bridges the gap between ambition and accomplishment for professional millennial women. Our online content works to inspire our readers by offering actionable advice and also showcasing to them what accomplished women look like by highlighting the real stories of successful women. We provide access to a database of resources and opportunities curated by Her Agenda contributors from across the United States to help them connect, learn and find training. Our motto is “No One Ever Slows Her Agenda” so our mission is to help goal oriented millennial women discover the tools and inspiration to help them achieve what’s on their agendas.
When did you launch the site, and what prompted you to do so?
I launched the site while I was still in college and it’s evolved so much since then! What initially prompted me to launch the site was that I recognized a gap with my peers, specifically women, when it came to ambition and achievement. I was lucky enough to find my career niche within journalism pretty early. That discovery coupled with the mentors and information I had access to about career opportunities through them was priceless! I was able to land a job working at a major media company straight out of school with a company I already knew and had the chance to work for in college. I propelled at a faster rate not because I was more talented or special but because I knew where to go, and had the support of those who came before me. Opportunities and resources I felt were all around me but my peers for some reason were not seeing those same things. So I wanted to create a resource, a hub, where they could get inspired, get advice and get access to resources to help them on their journey.
What’s the best part of being your own boss?
The best part is the flexibility! I am accountable for my actions and I run a website so I literally can work from anywhere with a WiFi connection. That’s absolutely priceless!
You mentioned in a recent post on Her Agenda that you hate routine lifestyles. So tell us, what does workspace freedom look like to you?
For me, workspace freedom is about having the flexibility to match your workspace to your to-do list. Workspace freedom is not being chained to a cubicle and being there because you have to be. Instead, it’s working from places where you are inspired and productive and being able to decide each day where that will be and what that will look like.
Any favorite moments with LiquidSpace you can to share?
I went to The Yard in NYC and I had such a great experience! The community managers at the front of the house were so welcoming and genuinely interested in what I was working on which immediately led to a conversation about potential collaboration. That’s one thing I love about coworking spaces in general. Everyone is working on something great and everyone has a growth mindset and are open to connecting in ways that benefit both parties. The right partnerships and collaborations are key when you have a startup and limited bandwidth.
Also, I had an amazing experience at WorkHouse NYC because it was a gorgeous day and they had a roof in addition to a deck area that I could work from! Working outside in the summer makes powering through my to-do list and tasks a bit easier because I’m not staring out the window wishing I was enjoying the sun. I am able to work and enjoy the sun at the same time! How perfect is that!?
Editor’s note – recommended reading:
Over on Her Agenda, check out the recent articles 3 Things You Must Do When Coworking (by Rhonesha) and How To Match Your Workspace To Your To-Do List (by LiquidSpace’s own Jamie Lewis). There’s a special LiquidSpace offer included in both stories!
