Our story

Built by women.
Powered by each other.

B.I.G. didn’t start with a business plan. It started with a bumper sticker, a gut feeling, and 40 women who refused to keep their ambitions on hold. Nearly two decades later, we’re still going — and we’re just getting started.

Our Vision

To create a lasting, multi-generational women’s empowerment community that inspires growth, connection, and impact—locally and globally—through education, shared experiences, and genuine human connection, tools, and most importantly an ever expanding community to help women move their lives forward both personally and professionally.

Tara Gilvar

Founder & Visionary, B.I.G.

Like many women, Tara stepped away from her professional career to raise her children. For years, her own ambitions sat quietly on the shelf.

Then in 2009, she spotted a bumper sticker — four words that felt like they were written just for her. She knew she couldn’t ignore it anymore.

So she gathered 40 women from her community and asked a simple question: what would it look like to pursue our goals without sacrificing our families and our lives?

That conversation became B.I.G. What started around a table is now a global movement of hundreds of women — all choosing to believe, inspire, and grow together.

“Remember who you wanted to be.”

Member stories

Our Values

Build enriching and uplifting communities

Treat every woman with respect and fairness

Validate and uplift each other

Offer a supportive platform where every woman’s voice can be heard

Give without calculating outcomes – openly share your gifts and talents without expectations

Provide opportunities that foster long term authentic relationships

Offer engaging business and life advancing educational opportunities

Meet each other where they are and help them move one step forward

Help women advance economically to enable them to have the freedom to make with own life choice

How we got here

Nearly two decades of women choosing each other.

2009: A bumper sticker changes everything

Tara gathers 40 local women to explore what pursuing their entrepreneurial goals — while honoring their families — could really look like. B.I.G. is born.

2012: The pod model takes root

B.I.G. formalizes its local pod structure — small, close-knit groups of women who meet regularly and hold each other accountable. The intimacy becomes the superpower.

2020: B.I.G. goes global online

When the world shut down, B.I.G. refused to. The community moved online and discovered something unexpected: women from Spain, Canada, and across the U.S. could now belong to the same pod.

TODAY: 16,000+ women since 2009 and growing

B.I.G. is now a thriving hybrid community — local pods, global online meetings, workshops, a marketplace, and a brain trust of talented women who show up for each other every single day.

What makes us different

We don’t compete. We collaborate.

Most networking feels transactional. B.I.G. was built on a different belief entirely.

Authentic connection, not networking

We create real relationships that go far beyond business cards — women who show up for each other in and out of work.

Your whole life, not just your business

We know that family, wellness, and finances affect your business. So we support all of it — because you can’t separate who you are from what you build.

A brain trust, not a lecture

Our members teach each other. Hundreds of talented women share their expertise through workshops and coaching — your membership unlocks all of it.

Who joins B.I.G.

This was made for you if you recognize yourself here.

Most networking feels transactional. B.I.G. was built on a different belief entirely.

You're starting a business and need real support, not just advice

You’re early-stage, figuring it out as you go, and tired of doing it in isolation. You want women who’ve been there — and will genuinely help.

You want to grow your client base through authentic relationships

You’re done with transactional networking. You want connections that turn into referrals, collaborations, and lifelong friendships.

You're managing a business and a full life — and need a community that gets it

Family, home, wellness, work — it’s all intertwined. B.I.G. is the only community that supports every dimension of who you are.

You want to be the example — for your daughters and the next generation

You’re not just building a business. You’re showing the women who come after you what’s possible when we believe in ourselves and in each other.

Member stories

Don’t take our word for it. Take theirs.

  • B.I.G. is full of women who are like minded and supportive of each other. Women don't have to be competitive. I believe we're much better when we're collaborative and raise each other up. When you bring a group of women together moving forward, and linking arms with each other so that no one is left behind, you have an unstoppable force. That's how I see B.I.G. We all want what's best for each other.
    When one succeeds, we all succeed.

    Sandra

    Attorney

  • I joined B.I.G. because I was craving something beyond the usual networking scene of quick introductions and exchanging business cards. I wanted to find a community of bold, driven women who genuinely support each other, learn from each other, and actually enjoy spending time together.

    What I found was even better than I expected. These women are out there speaking, writing books, launching businesses, creating incredible things, and generously sharing their knowledge along the way. It’s ambitious, uplifting, and just really fun to be part of.

    Maria D.

  • I came across B.I.G. as I was specifically searching for women's entrepreneurial groups here in the Triangle area. Many of the groups I found were huge and were established long ago, and I wanted to join a smaller group. I also love your mission - which is one I share as both a Realtor and Yoga Teacher (former studio owner). I believe when you lead from a heart of service, your personal and business life blossoms. I particularly like working with students at the studio who are career-driven and  seeking more balance and peace in their busy lives, so B.I.G. is a perfect fit. 

    Heather B.

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