In the best company
Nic Sowden (left) and Rachel Hirst (right) are the women behind event series In Good Company, which launched in Sheffield in June 2021.
Rachel Hirst and Nic Sowden are the creative minds behind the Sheffield event series In Good Company, which aims to connect the women of the city through immersive and meaningful social evenings. Since launching their original concept in June 2021, Rach and Nic have hosted numerous soul-stirring events, attracting an amazing cohort of Sheffield women that continues to evolve.
Having attended a number of the events myself, I can attest to the incredible energy that emanates from inside the high ceilinged hall of IGC’s chosen venue, The Mowbray, as one approaches its impressive glass doors. Once inside and mingling with the creative, stylish and industrious women that these events attract, any sense of self-consciousness or trepidation is quickly dispelled. These women are impressive, yes, but they are also welcoming, down-to-earth and - quite simply - lovely.
This positive atmosphere is in no small part down to hosts Nic and Rach, whose backgrounds in art direction and copywriting respectively have made them a powerhouse team, capable of creating something that is not only aesthetically beautiful but is also experientially valuable. I caught up with the two best pals recently when they popped in for a mini shoot, to ask about their inspirations and ambitions for the future.
You’ve created something really special with IGC and you must be incredibly proud. What have you found most surprising and/or gratifying about its success?
Thank you for your kind words. Not completely surprising (because we had a hunch there would be an appetite for this), but definitely most gratifying is the huge response we've had and the incredibly inspiring, diverse and lovely community we have built. For that, we are immensely proud and thankful to everyone who attends our events, interacts with us on social media, and spreads the word.
You’re both women who work in the creative industries. How do you find navigating that world as women and what advice would you give to others wanting to make headway?
There's no denying it's an industry dominated by males, but being a woman in these creative spaces is definitely a superpower - it allows us to look at things from a different perspective and bring fresh, relatable ideas to the table. We both feel very strongly about making sure we're visible for younger women to see two passionate 35+ women working hard and still in love with our careers.
Around the same time you launched IGC, you both went freelance (I think?!). You need to have a good amount of self-belief and confidence to this. Do you find that confidence arises easily or is it something you continually have to work on?
We'd both say that confidence and self-belief don't come easily and freely every day, but it does grow. We draw upon the many years of experience we both have in our professions, and we're each other's cheerleaders for those moments of self-doubt.
Lots of women of our generation feel a pressure to be on top of things in all areas of our lives, all at once. As freelance creatives who are also running this event series, how do you manage to balance your time and maintain your mental health and general wellbeing?
We're really thankful to have created The In Good together as best friends, and it's because of that connection we certainly prioritise each other's (and our own) wellbeing and mental health. We love running The In Good, so it is always a pleasure to work on, but when life does get busy, challenging, or just too much for one of us, the other is right there, ready to pick up where we need to and keep plates spinning.
Finally, what are your future ambitions for In Good Company?
This is a hard one to answer because I think we could speak all day about what we'd dream of for The In Good. Our main aim for now, though, is to keep growing the community, creating spaces for more meaningful connections to be made, spotlighting Sheffield talent and providing events that light women up. It's an absolute privilege for us to be at the heart of this brand, and while it means so much to so many women, we will continue to work hard on it.
To find out more about In Good Company and to book onto their next event on 8th November visit www.theingood.co.uk or give them a follow @theingood
