Pull up a chair, grab a glass of sweet tea and get ready to talk business.

The Southern Coterie, better known as The Southern C, has transformed the familiar warmth of a Southern front porch into a thriving network where female entrepreneurs exchange ideas, find encouragement and build businesses — all while having a genuinely good time.

Created by Cheri Leavy and Whitney Long, The Southern C grew from a shared love of the South and a real admiration for the people, places and businesses that give it its distinct character. What began in 2011 as a creative idea has grown into the perfect business.

“We guess you could say this amazing community and events are our ‘side hustle’ that grew into the business of our dreams!” says co-founder Leavy.

Both women brought successful backgrounds in local and national publishing to the venture, along with a desire to create something more personal, collaborative and community-driven.

The Southern C began gaining momentum as women discovered a place where they could discuss the triumphs and challenges of entrepreneurship with people who understood both. Events filled, word spread, and the community began reaching far beyond its Southern roots.

“As our events began selling out, and as our audience and reach around the country grew, we knew we were onto something. We found that offering female entrepreneurs a place to gather in-person, and grow and learn alongside like-minded women, was in demand,” says co-founder Long. “At this point, we had even more clarity as to what we wanted The Southern C to be and who we wanted to serve and how to build the right team to help us move forward serving this niche.”

Southern Living magazine soon dubbed The Southern C “The Social Network of the South” and “a must-visit virtual front porch.” The descriptions fit. The organization was designed as a gathering place where women can share experiences, spark ideas, celebrate victories and offer the honest support that can be difficult to find while building a business.

But this front porch is anything but sleepy.

The Southern C brings together an energetic mix of emerging founders, experienced entrepreneurs, artists, designers, authors, executives, marketing professionals and makers. Members work in industries ranging from fashion and food to beauty, publishing, wellness and home design. Some are launching their first brands. Others are entering new chapters after years of professional experience. Many are ready to mentor the next generation while continuing to learn themselves.

Although the tools available to entrepreneurs have changed considerably since they launched in 2011, Long says the need for genuine community remains constant.

“The throughline from when we created The Southern C to current is still pretty much the same – provide opportunities for connection and community for female entrepreneurs. We are more connected than ever through technology, but as a result, people crave face-to-face opportunities to engage in real life. While it is easy to be connected online, it can still feel lonely and isolating in the entrepreneurial space, in particular. Because of this, we have found that our community is looking for more meaningful connections, not another old-fashioned networking event. They want trusted communities with continuing education offerings, mentors, peer-to-peer engagement, and thoughtful collaboration opportunities.”

The Southern C responds to that need through an online community, customized app, weekly support Zooms, educational programming, peer mentoring and live events. Expert-led sessions examine the practical realities of entrepreneurship, while deskside conversations, breakout groups and pop-up discussions create space for candid questions, collaborative problem-solving and new perspectives.

Its signature gatherings bring that online camaraderie into the real world. Hosted in inspiring destinations, the organization’s multi-day summits, retreats and workshops combine business education, brand discovery, relationship-building and opportunities to recharge.

The programming is purposeful, but never stiff. Attendees may spend part of the day learning from accomplished business leaders and the rest enjoying memorable meals, signature social gatherings and what The Southern C cheerfully calls “merrymaking.”

“We see the best networking happen naturally and organically over a beautifully set dinner table, at a cocktail party, on the pickleball courts or on the dance floor at the silent disco,” says Long. “That’s what we mean by ‘merrymaking’ – bringing the conversations and connections to life through engaging and intentional programming.”

That balance of business and fun is central to The Southern C experience. The founders understand that important professional relationships are not built exclusively inside conference rooms. They can begin during dinner, over cocktails or while laughing with someone who understands the exhilarating, exhausting and occasionally unpredictable world of entrepreneurship.

“From the very beginning, we wanted The Southern C to feel different from a traditional networking event,” adds Long. “We wanted to bring the conversation out of the conference center. We know that genuine connections and conversations lead to collaborative opportunities so we have embraced that in programming. We have found a pretty special formula with weaving together business and pleasure, which our attendees lovingly call “The Southern C Pixie Dust,” and we agree! When you get this many creative and wildly talented and passionate ladies together, there is magic in the air.”

That pixie dust is coming back to Palm Beach for a three-day entrepreneurial retreat at The Colony Hotel.

The Colony’s distinctive style, collaborative spirit and emphasis on memorable guest experiences make it well-suited to The Southern C’s approach. Instead of treating the property as simply a backdrop, the organization sees it as an active part of the retreat.

“When we choose a retreat location, we look for venues and areas that inspire conversation and creativity, and The Colony Hotel certainly checks those boxes! Sarah Wetenhall is a visionary, and what she has created is truly spectacular,” adds Long. “We often call her the queen of collaboration, and many of our presenters are examples of her trusted and successful partnerships, such as photographer Nick Mele, floral and event designer Lewis Miller and Society Social founder Roxy Owens. The Colony team is amazing to work with, and they take customer service to a whole other level. For us, The Colony isn’t just the venue, it’s a partner in the Retreat experience. “

The Colony’s reputation for style and hospitality complements a program created for women who care about both creative expression and strong business strategy. Its collaborations also offer real-world examples of how relationships between entrepreneurs, artists and brands can lead to meaningful and mutually beneficial opportunities.

The setting extends beyond the hotel. Palm Beach offers retreat attendees restaurants, galleries, boutiques, architecture and landscapes to explore, giving brands and content creators plenty of inspiration.

“Palm Beach is magical,” Long says. “There is beauty and inspiration everywhere you turn and our group appreciates that. The Colony and Palm Beach offer such a lively and vibrant environment for brands and content creators. We love that our attendees want to maximize their time at Palm Beach. Many attendees arrive a few days early or extend their stay post Retreat to experience more of what the area has to offer. And we love knowing that our group is helping support the local business community and economy as a result.”

Palm Beach’s distinctive combination of ambition, hospitality and tradition reflects many of the qualities that define The Southern C community.

“Palm Beach is a natural fit for The Southern C because it blends entrepreneurship, creativity, and style,” explains Long. “That mirrors The Southern C community so well. Our members are founders, artists, designers, authors, and executives who value creativity just as much as strategy. They’re building meaningful businesses, but they’re also passionate about hospitality and relationships and how these tenets can help grow a brand. They can experience this all over in Palm Beach from restaurants to shops to galleries. Birds of a feather flock together!”

The events at the retreat are structured to help attendees return home with useful information and forged relationships that continue growing long after.

“Our hope is that they leave with more than a notebook full of ideas,” Long adds. “We want them to leave with practical insights to grow professionally and personally, and we want them to leave with meaningful connections that last long after the Retreat ends. We are always excited to see what new collaborations blossom as a result of attending a TSC Summit, Retreat or Workshop. We feature these in a monthly email round-up #ISPYTSC that is sent to our database, and it’s such a hit as it enables Summit alums and members to cheer on one another. This way The Southern C circle of support continues.”

The founders also continue to draw on their publishing roots through The Southern C’s biannual print and digital publication. Produced around the organization’s signature events, it highlights people, products and places within the community through founder profiles, presenter interviews and curated product roundups.

More than a networking organization, The Southern C is a way of life. Members roll up their sleeves, brainstorm ideas, exchange resources, celebrate one another and help turn challenges into next steps. The Southern C proves that when smart, creative and action-oriented women gather with openness and purpose, ideas become businesses, and a side hustle can grow into something truly extraordinary.

More than a decade after its launch, Leavy and Long continue to expand the front porch and welcome more women into the conversation. The upcoming Palm Beach retreat represents one of its next chapters.

In The KNOW:

WHAT: The Southern C Fall Retreat
WHERE: The Colony Palm Beach
WHEN: September 29-October 2
INFO:  thesouthernc.com/2026-retreat