The Importance of Networking

This blog frequently covers the topic of networking, which, in my opinion, is an essential part of the path to success as a female leader. Leadership in all forms requires support and partnership, and for all that bask in how far they got without support, consider how much further you might have gone with some strong allies. 

My mother, for example, grew up with almost nothing and worked her way into senior leadership. When I ask her how this happened, she responds that men I know call my uncles and friends gave her frank advice and opportunities without which she would not have the life she does today. Given the current leadership statistics in the United States, looking for a strong combination of male and female allies is always a smart move. Like many other efforts to minimize disparities and inequalities, a good approach is an allyship to support you, encourage you, and lift you up when necessary. 

Growing up in a household where “it’s not what you know, its who you know” was commonly tossed around, I saw that many of my childhood opportunities arose from my family’s networking system. From meeting scientists to setting up a 501(c) 3, a network was the key.  I am always looking for more connections to create, from teachers and family friends to classmates and other acquaintances. 

A significant concern of many is that networking can seem insincere. However, the reality is that one’s networking system should become a group of people upon which one can rely upon and trust to help them in a given situation. As I mentioned, quite a few members of my mother’s network have become like family, which has allowed us to ask, “who do I know that can help me with this?” We can then reach out to our friends for help, and they can reach out to us, given everyone more significant opportunities and greater chances of success. When you are no longer afraid to ask for help and reach out, you open yourself up to greater chances of success. 

In my interviews, I found that many women in leadership wish they had started networking earlier on and were still in contact with friends from high school. In hoping to learn from their advice, I try to utilize social media and apps like Linkedin to keep in touch with everyone I meet so I can support them in their endeavors, and in the end, we can ask each other for advice or help when needed.