Agora (ag·​o·​ra): a gathering place, especially the marketplace in ancient Greece. 

Agora. It's not a word you commonly hear today. But at one point in history, an agora, most famously the Agora of Athens, was the central place to go for gatherings, discussions, community, and more. If you wanted to know what was happening in our area and, more importantly, be a part of the comings and goings, this was the place to be. 

A Modern-Day Concept of the Agora

Much like the ancient agora served as a hub for conversation and progress, women in the fleet industry need a space of their own—a modern agora—where they can connect, share experiences, and strengthen their presence in what has traditionally been a male-dominated field.

While we would all ideally love to have access to one place that we know we could meet with all the women in this industry, we know that these days it isn't as feasible. The idea of having a place that we could all get to within a day (no flight required) to spend time sharing ideas and learning from your peers doesn't work for everyone. 

How, then, do we create a modern-day agora where women can connect and support one another despite geographical barriers? The answer is that there isn't a one-size-fits-all modern day agora for women today.

And Old Concept with a 21st Century Spin

I think you have to find what works for you and make that a space where you connect, learn, and grow your community, even embracing the idea of multiple agoras that serve the same purpose of gathering, whether in person or virtually. 

So perhaps your agora is on Zoom, where you can talk with a group of women on a regular basis. Or maybe your agora is at a specific conference where you're not only able to meet in person with other women but meet women who are new to the industry. Maybe that connected is in the form of micro-agoras such as an online forum (FleetShare is one great place to start). 

Wherever you decide to go for community, the most important part to remember is that you are going somewhere. As women we need to continually be building each other up, sharing ideas, and building our connections. And that is what the agora is about.