A New Chapter: Local Entrepreneur Creates The Level Up Lit Club
All photos by Samantha Bailey
“What started as a long-time book-lover feeling inspired in her own professional endeavors to branch out and read more business-related works, turned into welcoming others to read along with her, which then blossomed into The Level Up Lit Club.”
“Rising through reading and mutual empowerment.” That’s what The Level Up Lit Club based in Albany is all about.
Created by Allison Beyer, the owner of video production company W Beyer Creative, The Level Up Lit Club is based in the Capital Region, and met for the first time on Dec. 12 at Professor Java’s Coffee Sanctuary. The group gathered to talk about the selected reading, Likeable Badass by Alison Fragale, a book recommended to Beyer by a friend, that explores “how women get the success they deserve.”
But to Beyer’s surprise, there would be a special guest attending the first meeting, thanks to the power of social media. Fragale, whose book was released in September of this past year, was out touring and promoting her new read when Beyer happened to post on LinkedIn that The Level Up Lit Club would be reading Likeable Badass, and she tagged Fragale. The newly-famed author saw it, and expressed her interest in attending the meeting. Excited and a bit starstruck, Beyer quickly got in touch to find a date that Fragale could attend the meeting via Zoom. Beyer then shared the news on The Level Up Lit Club’s Instagram page and the anticipation began.
Beyer said the first meeting, which had eight attendees and the national bestselling author, was both intimidating and amazing. Despite everyone being from varying backgrounds and mostly different entrepreneurial journeys, the biggest concern, funny enough, was technology.
“I think the scariest part was getting the Zoom to work, because it’s like, crossing the miles with her and everything,” Beyer said.
Likely a bit starstruck themselves, the guests were a bit nervous to kick things off with Fragale, but being a college professor, she helped to break the ice by asking who actually read the whole book. From there, the book served as a framework for the group’s conversations about women’s struggle for power in the workplace, the challenge between power versus status, overthinking and imposter syndrome, amongst other topics.
“She ended up having a really candid conversation with us,” Beyer said.
Being able to connect with authors is something Beyer hopes will continue in future club meetings. Additionally, Beyer wants The Level Up Lit Club to be a welcoming place where attendees are reading for the purpose of bettering themselves and their professional lives.
Part of fostering this welcoming atmosphere means that even those who aren’t able to read the entire book assigned to a meeting are still invited. Before the first meeting, The Level Up Lit Club shared on Instagram, “if you didn’t read the whole book, you can still come; this is a space that’s rooted in reading but powered by your energy.”
Furthermore, even though a lot of the current attendees are entrepreneurs, all are welcome.
“I’d like people to know that no matter where you are in your professional journey – or even if you’re not really on that journey right now, like maybe people who are on a break from their career for raising their families or anything – the community is open to everyone,” Beyer said.
Beyer is also transparent about not wanting the club to be an inconvenience for people. Individuals also aren’t pressured to speak at all at meetings if they don’t want to, because oftentimes, professionals in industries like Beyer’s are expected to pitch themselves in networking gatherings, which can be stressful. But the pressure is off when it comes to The Level Up Lit Club.
“I want people to feel like they can come in the room, be quiet if they want to, and just absorb, because I know what it’s like to process information after you leave, and then have all of your ideas,” Beyer said.
Beyer formerly identifies as an introvert herself, so she understands. She also admits that although she owns a company, coordinating and leading a room full of people that hail from different industries is a bit of a challenge for her. But she’s eager to tackle it.
What started as a long-time book-lover feeling inspired in her own professional endeavors to branch out and read more business-related works, turned into welcoming others to read along with her, which then blossomed into The Level Up Lit Club.
From here, Beyer hopes to see the expansion of the reading community that incorporates local and national authors of the books assigned in a space that uses reading as a framework for empowerment and networking.
Follow @leveluplitclub on Instagram to get involved. A new book cycle will start in January, with the intent of a meeting in April.
