The metaphor of the ‘sandpit’ has long been my description of institutional structures, encompassing organisations, companies, and corporations. Historically, these sandpits have been male-dominated spaces, with men setting and understanding the rules because they've been the principal players for millennia. Women have merely tinkered on the periphery, left to observe and learn.

Boys watch and emulate their fathers and other significant men in their lives, learning how to navigate the sandpit, absorbing the subtle art

of networking long before it became a buzzword. They see firsthand how these connections yield benefits – job promotions, opportunities, and advancements.

However, over the last century, women have been infiltrating this sandpit, striving to learn and adapt to these alien rules, which are intrinsically contrary to their nature. Consequently, women have had to dress in manly attire (the tailored suit, dark colours and ‘sensible’ heels), ascend the corporate ladder ruthlessly, sometimes pushing others aside. These were the unwritten rules of the sandpit they wanted to play in. Yet, the rules they had to play by didn't always resonate with their instinctive nature.

I see a paradigm shift happening in our era. Women are pushing back against these pre-set rules, instead opting to create their own 'sandpits'

and establish their own rules – rules that are inclusive, supportive, and nurturing. Women are finding their voices, harnessing their power, and

connecting with like-minded individuals, creating a significant impact – both online and in-person.

Indeed, the rise of female networking and supportive communities in the digital realm is significant. Women are using the power of connection to

advance their causes, just as men have been doing for centuries. They're innovating, founding new enterprises, and shifting the narrative, doing things differently from the established norm.

Hashtags like #hype women and quotes about the damning consequences of women not supporting each other are surfacing. Yet, not all

women fit the hype mould or support every stance taken by their peers. Not every woman will agree with every outlook or stance, but what's crucial is the creation of spaces – sandpits, if you will – where women feel and use their power.

Women are no longer content to be on the periphery or to be constrained by rules that do not work for them. We are playing by our rules in

our sandpits, and in doing so, we're reshaping the world – one grain of sand at a time.