Creating Space for Growth
Over the years, I have come to see that many people are not lacking in talent, ability, or ideas. What they often need is the right space. A space where they feel supported, encouraged, and safe enough to step forward, be seen, and recognise the opportunities already around them.
That is the kind of space I have always been keen to create — one that draws on my resourcefulness, diverse experience, and genuine desire to help others unlock their potential.
It is what shaped my business, Your Time Matters, and it is what continues to shape the way I work with people today. YTM was never just about networking. It was always about helping people to learn, grow and achieve and grew from what I had learnt through years of guiding conversations, building relationships, and noticing how confidence and opportunity grow when people feel genuinely welcomed and supported.
What becomes possible in the right environment
Harriet Lammin is one example of what becomes possible in the right environment when someone feels supported, encouraged, and given space to grow.
When I first met her, she was stepping into business ownership after taking over JDA Lammin Architects. She had been designing properties for decades, she knew her craft. What was newer, and far less comfortable, was the visibility that came with leading a business. She suddenly needed to build relationships, grow her confidence, and put herself forward in ways that had not previously been asked of her.
What I saw was someone with real capability who needed the right support, encouragement, and environment to grow into her next chapter.
That is often the role I play. I help people recognise potential, identify opportunities for growth, and have conversations that open new possibilities. I guide and support them as they build the courage and confidence to take the next step.
What matters to me is not just that Harriet felt welcomed. It is what happened next.
With support, she began to back herself more. She became :
more comfortable speaking with people she did not know
grew in confidence, not only personally, but professionally as she found her feet in business.
Over time, I could see her stepping further into opportunities that once would have felt daunting.
Harriet captured that early experience in her own words:
“When I first attended YTM networking I knew that as a new business owner I was going to have to push myself out of my comfort zone a lot more than I was used to in order to make new connections and increase my confidence. Kerryn made this easy with her structured events and warm, welcoming community and with her guidance I began to grow both personally and professionally.”
Step by step, conversation by conversation
That growth did not happen all at once. It happened step by step, conversation by conversation, with encouragement, structure, and space to keep stretching.
I also saw potential in Harriet that she had not fully seen in herself yet, so I invited her to speak at an event. She said yes, nervously, and she did it. Later, I invited her again. The nerves were still there, but something had shifted. She now had evidence that she could do hard things, be seen, and come through stronger on the other side.
Today, she shows up far more visibly in her business, including recording video — something that once would have felt well beyond her comfort zone.
That is the kind of growth I love to witness.
Because Harriet’s story is not unusual. So often, people are far closer to their next opportunity than they realise. They do not need to become someone else. They need support, encouragement, and the kind of space that helps them recognise what is already there.
That is the work I love — creating space for growth, helping people uncover possibility, strengthen relationships, and move forward with greater clarity and confidence.
If you are stepping into something new, navigating change, or sensing there is more potential around you than you are currently accessing, perhaps it is time for a conversation.
Because sometimes the right conversation is where growth begins.
Kerryn Powell is The Network Catalyst. She helps professionals, business owners, and changemakers build confidence, strengthen relationships, and uncover opportunities for growth through conversations that count. Book a conversation HERE
