A Good Day Series: The Power of Belonging (Work Like A Girl)
A Good Day is back again. Because when you think about it, a life well-lived is simply a collection of meaningful moments. Our series returns to spotlight the people and companies leading with purpose and doing good, one good day at a time
When you step into the Work Like a Girl Slack community, it doesn’t feel like a networking group; it feels like a group chat that just gets it. One moment, members are dissecting AI trends; the next, they’re debating Taylor and Travis, or cheering each other on as they land that next big role. It’s the kind of space where everyone shows up as themselves, no barriers, no prerequisites, no performance. Just real women, talking about real work and real life.
In this edition of A Good Day, we sat down with Ash Ainbinder, an early advisor and active member of Work Like a Girl, a fast-growing community redefining what connection, mentorship, and leadership look like for women at work. From its pandemic-era beginnings to its bold future vision, Work Like a Girl is building something both deeply personal and powerfully collective.
How did you first get involved with Work Like a Girl?
During COVID, I joined one of Erika’s (Founder of WLAG) Zoom happy hours when she was still at Barstool. It started with her podcast and a run club, and it just evolved from there.
A few of us launched a small mentorship program. We made a Google form, put it out there, and 200 people signed up almost overnight.
From there, the community grew quickly. Erika eventually asked, “What’s missing for women at work?” and that one question turned into Work Like a Girl. In less than a year, we went from zero to nearly 1,300 members in Slack. It’s wild, but it’s also proof that women were craving a space like this.
What do you think makes Work Like A Girl different from other women’s professional networks or communities out there? What do you think draws women to Work Like A Girl, and what keeps them coming back?
We cracked the code on cringey “networking” and built something real, a space where women get to show up exactly as they are. It’s here, female leaders build trust by asking for help, not hiding it. And our ask-and-offer mentality is the heartbeat of the community: it shapes how we talk, how we write, how we connect, and how we share our stories.
It’s not networking. It’s belonging with purpose
In this community, the conversations are anything but ordinary. One minute we’re deep-diving into how AI is rewriting the rules of work, and the next we’re breaking down the latest Travis-and-Taylor saga like it’s game film. And just when you least expect it, someone’s leading a “salary negotiation rally session” that feels more hype-squad than handbook. It’s chaotic, brilliant, and wildly energizing, exactly the kind of mix that makes this place magic.
What’s special is that there’s no barrier to entry. In other professional networks, you often need a certain title, salary, or circle. Here, it’s just: show up as you are. You can find your space and your people. That authenticity keeps everyone coming back. It feels like a group chat that’s equal parts work, life, and everything in between.
How has being part of Work Like a Girl changed the way you approach your own career or leadership?
I’ve always been a team player. I grew up playing softball and field hockey, so the “we” over “I” mentality is built in. Seeing other people win fills my cup. That’s what I love about this community: someone lands a new job, someone else connects two members, or someone has a breakthrough conversation. We all share in it together. That’s success to me.
There’s often pressure for women to ‘do it all.’ How do you define success on your own terms?
It changes depending on the season of life you’re in. In my 20s, I said yes to everything because saying yes taught me what I’d eventually want to say no to.
Now, I’m intentional about where I spend my time and energy. “Doing it all” doesn’t have to mean doing everything. It’s about doing what matters most to you and permitting yourself to define that differently from everyone else.
What kind of impact do you hope Work Like a Girl will have - for its members and for the broader culture of work?
I think less about “changing workplace culture” and more about helping women themselves find their voice and courage.
If being part of this community gives someone the push to chase what makes them happy, whether that’s a new role, a new city, or a new dream, then that’s the impact. That’s the win
What do you think the next generation of women in work needs most - and how can communities like Work Like a Girl rise to meet that?
To be seen as people first. I’ve spent most of my career in male-dominated spaces, and the best environments are the ones where men act as advocates, where respect is earned because of performance and impact, not gender.
At the end of the day, it’s about proving your value and being evaluated on your contribution, not your identity.
Where do you hope to see Work Like a Girl in the next few years?
We’d love to hit 10,000 members and continue to expand nationally and even internationally with local “governors” leading chapters around the world.
We’ve already hosted 5Ks, speaker series, and over a dozen in-person events, and we want to do more intimate and intentional collaborations with other women’s groups. But growth for growth’s sake isn’t the goal; it’s about delivering quality, value, and connection to every woman who joins.
What’s something fun you’ve learned from another woman in this community that’s changed how you lead or live?
After one of our QBRs, a few members were talking about their dream of owning a women’s sports team. That conversation inspired me to look into buying small shares in professional teams like European soccer clubs.
Now I’ve got a spreadsheet tracking potential investments. It’s such a random thing, but that’s what I love about this community: you never know what idea, conversation, or woman will spark something new.
Work Like a Girl isn’t just redefining what it means to “network.” It’s reimagining what it means to belong, to show up as you are, connect with intention, and cheer on the wins (yours and everyone else’s). And if Ash has anything to say about it, the next era of working like a girl is one defined by courage, connection, and women owning their stories - and maybe even their own sports teams.
To learn more about Work Like A Girl:
Website | LinkedIn | Instagram
To Join:
