Networking For Women

𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐫 𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞-𝐃𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠? We all know that networking is key to career growth. But let’s be real—some people treat it like a transactional game rather than building meaningful relationships. When I first started networking, I thought it was all about connecting with big names and sending cold DMs. Turns out, that’s not how real relationships are built. Here’s what I’ve learned about networking with integrity and respect: 🔹 𝟭. 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 🚫 We’ve all seen it—someone connects with you today and asks for a favor tomorrow. ✔ Instead, build relationships before you need them. ✔ Offer value before asking for help. ✔ Engage genuinely—not just when you need something. 🔹𝟮. 𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 🤝 Want someone to remember you? Help them first. ✔ Share an opportunity. ✔ Introduce them to someone useful. ✔ Engage with their work meaningfully. Networking is a two-way street. If you only show up when you need a job or referral, people will notice—and avoid you. 🔹 𝟯. 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 ��𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗴𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 🎙️ There’s a difference between showcasing your work and shameless bragging. ✔ Focus on sharing insights, not just achievements. ✔ Celebrate others’ success, not just your own. ✔ Be someone people want to associate with. 🔹 𝟰. 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗕𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗘𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 🚦 ✔ Cold messaging? Make it personalized, not copy-paste. ✔ Asking for a coffee chat? Be clear about your intent. ✔ Got a ‘No’ or no response? Move on, don’t chase. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝙍𝙪𝙡𝙚: 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙇𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙃𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣, 𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙖 𝙎𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙋𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝. 𝙊𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙩, 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨. #Networking #CareerGrowth #BuildingRelationships

Networking and socializing are not the same thing, though many people treat them as if they are. Socializing is about enjoying the moment. Networking is about investing in relationships that grow over time. They often overlap, but their intentions differ. You can socialize without networking. And you can network without making it feel transactional. In fact, the best networking rarely feels like networking at all. It’s catching up with a former colleague, congratulating someone on a promotion, making intros, or checking in just because it’s been a while, not because you need something. Socializing ends when the conversation ends. Networking continues long after, because the relationship doesn’t. When you stop asking, “What can I get from this relationship?” and start asking, “How can I nurture this relationship?” networking becomes natural. And that’s when it becomes truly powerful.

Build relationships and not a network. "Networking" is cringeworthy for many, especially those who feel it is selfish, wrong, or uncomfortable. The good news is that nobody wants to be at the receiving end of your networking efforts too. If you are trying the same old networking tips that promise to boost your connections but leave you feeling more disconnected than ever, that is because networking is killing relationship building. Stop networking and build genuine relationships. You can do that by thinking about a few things. ➡️ Be genuinely curious - Be interested in learning more about the other person in the conversation. ➡️ Find commonalities - Find common topics like books, kids, dogs, and food but remember that while discussing such common topics can be a good icebreaker, relying solely on these surface-level interests can hinder deeper connections. Dig a little deeper into shared passions or experiences to foster a more meaningful bond. ➡️ Relationships over transactions - Don't treat networking as a transaction. Look for ways to help others genuinely without expecting an immediate return or any return. Building a network based on mutual support and generosity fosters authentic connections that go beyond mere self-interest. ➡️ Notes of gratitude vs. genuine appreciation - Sending notes of gratitude can be powerful, but they lose their impact if they become a routine gesture. Instead, express genuine appreciation when someone has truly made a difference. Personalized and heartfelt acknowledgments go a long way in building lasting connections. ➡️ Public networks vs. personal connections - Investing in public networks can widen your reach, but don't neglect the importance of personal connections. Balancing both public and private networks ensures a well-rounded and authentic approach to relationship building. Remember fostering genuine relationships is important. By avoiding the common pitfalls of networking and focusing on authentic connections, you will be building a network that truly matters.

The fastest way to end a professional relationship before it begins is to make your first interaction an ask. It happens all the time. Someone starts a new job and immediately messages the CEO or a senior executive: "Can I pick your brain?" "Would you have 30 minutes for coffee?" "I'd love to learn from your career journey." It feels ambitious to the sender, but to the recipient, it often feels transactional. Think about it from their perspective. They don't know you yet. They haven't seen your work, your judgment, or your contributions. Yet your very first interaction is asking them to give you their most limited resource: time. The highest achievers approach this very differently because they understand that relationships are built before they're needed. One of the most valuable networking strategies I've learned came from my friend and co-author, Andy Lopata FLPI FPSA PSAE. He calls it the 24-7-30 Rule, and it's brilliantly simple. Within 24 hours of meeting someone, send a brief note reminding them where you met. Seven days later, share something relevant to your conversation, like an article, podcast, or insight. Thirty days later, reconnect again with something of value. Notice what's missing. There isn't an ask. There isn't a request for coffee. There isn't a request to "pick their brain." Instead, you're building familiarity, trust, and credibility one thoughtful interaction at a time. Most people think networking is about making introductions. The people who build extraordinary careers know it's really about mastering the follow-up. I recently chatted with Kate Snow of NBC News about how to do networking right...because opportunities rarely come from a single conversation. They come from relationships you've intentionally nurtured over time. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Dr Ruth Gotian is a scholar and keynote speaker on success and high performance. 🎤 She speaks to organizations, President's Clubs, leadership offsites, and associations. 🔎 Her work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Fortune, Harvard Business Review, and Fast Company. ▶️ Press follow and set the 🔔 to "Always" to learn how the world's highest achievers succeed, and you can too.

Women, Want to Network Like a CEO? Start by Rethinking the “Old Boys’ Club” Playbook Research from Kellogg shows that women gain the most in networking when they don’t just copy traditional male-dominated strategies. Instead, the best results come when women focus on strategic alliances with other women — but with a twist. This study is more than a “fix the women” story; it highlights systemic gaps in career networking that women can actively navigate and reshape. Here's the playbook for women that I recommend: 🔹 Go Beyond “Visibility”: Central networks matter for everyone, but women benefit most from building connections that share private insights essential for navigating biased structures. These insights, often from trusted women colleagues, can make all the difference in understanding workplace nuances, including the politics and protocols that are frequently unsaid. 🔹 Diversify Close Connections: Avoid echo chambers by connecting with well-networked women who bring unique perspectives from other workplaces, industries and sectors. This diversity amplifies exposure to insights outside of a narrow view, enabling women to approach career challenges with a broader, more strategic lens. 🔹 Invest in a Balanced Network: Successful businesswomen cultivate visibility and depth in their networks — relationships that provide access and specific, actionable guidance. Women can follow this approach by building wide-ranging connections and trusted relationships, offering invaluable, gender-specific career advice. 🔑 Leadership Call to Action 1. Support strategic networks that give women access to public and private information. 2. Host events that encourage diverse, meaningful, strategic mentorships and sponsorships. 3. Coach women to prioritise networking as a core career-building activity—strategically and persistently—because effective networks don’t just happen; they are cultivated with purpose. 4. Provide women with training on building and leveraging a strategic network, in person and online. Further Resources in first comment👇 #Networking #Mentorship #Diversity

Networking as a young woman in corporate isn’t always about exchanging LinkedIn profiles. Sometimes, it’s about learning how to take up space: confidently, quietly, and intentionally. Here’s what I’ve learned (and unlearned) along the way: 1/ Learned: People remember how you make them feel, not just what you say. A thoughtful question > a rehearsed elevator pitch. 2/ Unlearned: You need to be extroverted to be well-connected. Some of my strongest connections started over quiet one-on-one coffees. 3/ Learned: Following up isn’t pushy, it’s professional. Staying in touch doesn’t mean being transactional. 4/ Unlearned: Networking only happens at events or conferences. Sometimes, it’s just helping a colleague, replying with context, or saying, “I’d love to learn more about your work.” Networking isn’t just about visibility. It’s about creating resonance, and showing up consistently and authentically. #networking #earlycareers

𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴. Stop networking. Start being someone worth remembering. Nobody built a career worth having by collecting LinkedIn connections like loyalty points. Here's what networking actually looks like for most people: Attending events they don't want to attend. Sending connection requests with no real reason. Writing "great to connect!" to strangers they'll never speak to again. Following up once, getting ignored, and calling it bad luck. That's not networking. That's performance anxiety dressed as professional development. The people who actually get opportunities don't work the room. They become the reason people remember the room. What "worth remembering" actually means: You have a point of view — and you say it, even when the room disagrees. You show up consistently enough that your name comes to mind before someone has to search for it. You do work that makes people want to tell someone else about you. You're the person who follows up with something real — not a template, not a "just checking in" — something that shows you actually paid attention. The difference in practice: Networking asks: "Who do I know that could help me?" Being worth remembering asks: "What have I done that makes someone want to help me?" One is transactional. One compounds. What I stopped doing: Sending cold connection requests to people I didn't know with nothing to offer. Attending every industry event because I thought visibility meant showing up — not standing out. Treating my LinkedIn like a directory instead of a body of work. What I started doing: Writing what I actually think — not what sounds safe. Helping people publicly and asking for nothing immediately. Being so specific about what I do and what I believe that the right people find me and the wrong ones self-select out. The opportunities that changed my career didn't come from the people I reached out to. They came from the people who came looking — because something I made, said, or wrote gave them a reason to. Stop trying to know the right people. Start giving the right people a reason to know you.

“Networking feels so fake.” If that thought has ever crossed your mind, you’re not alone. For so many women, networking sounds like an endless game of forced smiles, awkward small talk, and handing out business cards to people you’ll never hear from again. But here’s the thing: networking isn’t about faking it. It’s about building real connections with people who can inspire, guide, and open doors for you, and yes, you can do it without feeling like a fraud. If you’re a woman looking to scale your career, networking isn’t just helpful, it’s essential. And it doesn’t have to feel transactional or cringy. Here are 3 networking strategies to build meaningful relationships and grow your career: 1. Forget “Networking.” Think Relationship-Building. Stop thinking of it as networking and start thinking of it as making friends for your career. The best connections don’t come from an exchange of business cards, they come from genuine conversations. Ask questions, listen, and find common ground. Relationships grow from real connections, not rehearsed elevator pitches. 2. Be the First to Give, Not Ask. Here’s the golden rule: always lead with value. Share an article that might help someone. Recommend a book. Offer an introduction. When you focus on giving rather than getting, people will naturally want to support you when the time comes. 3. Show Up Where It Matters. Don’t waste time at every event in town. Be intentional. Join communities that align with your goals, whether it’s industry groups, women-led initiatives, or niche meetups. And don’t forget LinkedIn. post, comment, and engage. Consistent visibility builds trust. Networking isn’t about being fake or transactional. It’s about creating relationships that help everyone grow. It’s about showing up, being authentic, and knowing that sometimes the best opportunities come from the connections you least expect. 📌 P.S. What’s one networking strategy that’s worked for you? #networking

She hadn't spoken to her former manager in 4 years. She'd thought about reaching out a dozen times. But every time she started typing, she stopped herself. "It's been too long. She's going to know I'm only reaching out because I need something. It's embarrassing." I hear this constantly from mid-career professionals. And I want to name what's actually happening here, because it's not embarrassment. It's a story you're telling yourself about what the other person is thinking. Most of the time, that story is wrong. The people in your past network aren't sitting around waiting to judge you for going quiet. They've been busy living their own lives. And when someone they used to work with reaches out after a few years, the most common reaction isn't suspicion. It's genuinely good to hear from you. The gap isn't the problem. The silence is. Here's how to reopen the door without it feeling transactional: Don't lead with the job search. Lead with the relationship. "Hi [Name], I know it's been a while, life gets busy on both sides. I've been thinking about you lately and wanted to reach out and reconnect. I'd love to hear what you've been up to." That's it for message one. No mention of your search. No ask. Just a genuine reopening of a door that's been closed for a while. Let them respond. Have a real exchange. Ask about their life, their work, what's changed. Then, in a follow-up message or on a call, try this: Once you've genuinely reconnected, not in the same breath, but after a real conversation, you can be honest about where you are: "I'm actually in the middle of a career transition right now and being really intentional about who I'm talking to. You've always had such a strong network in [field/industry]. Is there anyone you'd recommend I connect with, even just to learn more about what's happening in the space?" Notice what you're not asking. You're not asking them to hire you. You're not asking them to refer you for a specific role. You're asking for an introduction to someone in their world, which is a much smaller ask and one most people are genuinely happy to make. One name from someone who knows you is worth more than 50 cold messages to strangers. My client sent that first message on a Tuesday afternoon. Her former manager responded within two hours. By the end of the week they'd had a 30-minute call, caught up properly, and her manager had offered to introduce her to three people in her industry. None of that would have happened if she'd kept waiting until it felt less awkward. The awkwardness doesn't go away before you reach out. It goes away because you did. Is there someone in your network you've been meaning to reconnect with but keep putting off? This is your nudge. ♻️ Repost for someone who has a name in their head right now but hasn't sent the message yet. 👋🏼 Follow Giselle Moratin, MBA for more job search strategies.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗷𝗼𝗯, 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲. Networking isn't about asking for a job. It's about making it easy for someone to understand you. I speak to women in tech every week who are spending hours on their job search. All applications. Very few conversations. When I ask why they're not using their network, I hear: "I don't want to be transactional." "I feel awkward asking for help." Good. Because transactional networking doesn't work. It signals desperation, not direction. Real networking is about being understood and referable. Here's how to move from connection → conversation → advocacy. 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 → "I'm drawn to [company] because of X. Has that been true in your experience?" You've done your research. You're inviting honesty. → "I'd value your perspective on what it's really like to work there." Curiosity builds rapport faster than self-promotion. 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 → "What made you decide to join?" People open up when they feel seen. → "What's been most important in your growth there?" Now you're learning, not pitching. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 → "I saw you moved from X to Y. I'm exploring a similar transition and would value your perspective." You've created alignment. → "What tends to differentiate people who get hired here?" Now you're accessing insight most applicants never get. Once you've built real connection, this is where you transition. Not by asking for a job. But by making yourself easy to advocate for. 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 → "I'm targeting [title] roles focused on [specific outcome]. Does that align with what you're seeing in the market?" You're speaking the language of impact. → "I'm particularly interested in solving [specific problem]. How are teams thinking about that internally right now?" Value awareness before opportunity awareness. → "Is there anyone else you'd recommend I speak with?" Momentum without pressure. You don't need to ask for a job. You need to make it easy for someone to advocate for you. Applications are low leverage. Conversations are high leverage. If you're job searching in tech, this is the standard now. Comment "NETWORK" and I'll send you the outreach framework I share with my clients. ♻️ Send this to someone who's stuck in application mode ➕ Follow Kari Russo for practical job search strategy