Her Impact builds a much-needed table for Canberran WOC in business

Posted on 7 July, 2026

Melbourne-based community platform for women of colour business owners is bringing its dinner club to Canberra.

Have you ever walked into a room as a woman of colour in business (WOC) and found yourself to be the only one there?

This is an experience that Her Impact founder Nola Matogo knows all too well. And it’s why Her Impact is offering a seat at a table with The Dinner Club, an event where you can build meaningful connections with other WOC founders, entrepreneurs, emerging leaders, and industry professionals.

“They say never beg for a seat at the table, so I’m building my own table,” says Nola.

Her Impact is a community platform that helps businesswomen build networks, feel a sense of belonging, and grow professionally and personally. They run events and offer platforms for women to share their stories and collaborate with other industry experts. Nola is a Melbourne-based founder and businesswoman with a background in marketing and supporting small business owners. Throughout her career, she found that there were many spaces where there was a lack of people who looked like her and shared similar experiences.

“While there are amazing women’s communities, I felt there was room for something that intentionally connected like-minded women from diverse backgrounds in real life and amplified minorities.”

This is where Her Impact was born. Nola wanted to create the room she wished she had in her earlier career, where WOC don’t feel like they have to shrink themselves. She wanted them to be centered; not an exception or afterthought.

“WOC are incredibly talented, but they’re often underrepresented in business spaces, leadership, speaking opportunities and high-value spaces” she says.

“I wanted to create curated spaces where they could feel seen and supported.”

Whilst social media has become a major tool in business networking, Nola feels that people are less socially connected than they are digitally.

“People are craving genuine conversations and authentic relationships again, which is why in-person events have become so valuable,” she explains.

Her Impact’s signature event, The Dinner Club, aims to remove the digital barrier and build authentic connections that can’t be replicated online.

The Dinner Club is expanding out of Melbourne and to major cities across Australia, including Canberra. On Monday 16 July, Her Impact is bringing a strong community of like-minded WOC together for a curated dinner at the Laterne Rooms in Campbell. It promises to be an evening of beautiful food, guided table conversations, and meaningful connections.

Her Impact also offers a membership for their Founders Club, a collective for WOC founders and ambitious women who want connection and involvement beyond attending events. The membership includes priority access and member pricing for events, monthly calls and collaboration sessions, expert workshops, and business spotlights. It is the perfect support network for WOC who are working to grow their business, or even if they just want to be surrounded by women who get it.

“Building can be lonely, so having a community that understands, celebrates your wins, helps you navigate challenges and introduces you to opportunities can make a huge difference,” says Nola.

Nola hopes to bring Her Impact to more cities around Australia and expand the events, educational programs, workshops, scholarships, and partnerships. She envisions Her Impact becoming one of the country’s leading communities for WOC businesswomen and founders and eventually reaching cities globally.

“I hope to see more women of colour being impacted, spotlighted and building a strong sense of community.”