The Collective
Collaborative Community Creates Collective Power of Connections, Opportunities for Entrepreneurs
The Collective creates collaborations and connections for creatives and entrepreneurs throughout Northwest Indiana. Mandy Wester launched the community in 2019 to cultivate synergy for small business owners.
“At its core, it’s about helping people connect, get their name out there, find opportunities they may not have found on their own, and feel like they’re part of something bigger than just running a business by themselves,” she said.
“That’s really where the name The Collective came from. It was never about one person or one business. It’s about what can happen when people bring their ideas, connections, resources, and strengths together and use them to help each other and the community around them.”
Mandy took on an entrepreneurship role with her artisan skincare company, The SpOiled Housewife, and was exposed to the needs of other creatives who were squeezing in building a business around full-time jobs and raising kids. Her conversations led to The Collective Group, which has evolved over the years.
“We do events, educational programming, consulting, community partnerships, and we also have our nonprofit, The Collective Events, Inc., which operates purpose-driven events like Farmed & Forged Market,” she said. “It’s all connected by the same idea: How do we support local businesses while also doing something good for the communities we’re in?”
She has found her community can be a base for a variety of entrepreneurs’ needs.
“My role is really a mix of creating opportunities and helping people access the ones that already exist,” she said. “Running a small business can be really isolating, and I want people to feel like they have a community around them, people they can learn from, resources they can access, and someone in their corner when they need it.
“The projects I’m proudest of are always the ones where everyone walks away with something positive.”
Mandy sees herself as “basically a professional hype woman” and architect of connections.
“There’s nothing better than connecting two people and finding out six months later that it turned into a client, a partnership, a whole new part of someone’s business, or something I never even saw coming. I love seeing those little connections turn into something bigger.”
Small businesses’ strong role in thriving communities propels her continued advocacy role and dedication to entrepreneurs.
“I think advocating for them means making sure they don’t have to figure all of it out alone. It’s about creating connections, opening up more opportunities, and making it easier for business owners to access the people and resources that can help them keep moving forward,” she said.
“They create jobs, bring people into our communities, support local causes, keep money circulating locally, and contribute so much to the places we live and work. But there’s also a lot that comes with running a business, and most owners are learning and figuring things out as they go. When small businesses have the support they need to keep growing, the whole community benefits.”