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Networking Redefined: Courage, Community, and Career Gold
This is your The Woman's Career Podcast podcast.
Welcome to The Woman’s Career Podcast. I’m so glad you’re tuning in today, because we’re diving right into a game-changer for career growth—networking effectively. Whether the idea of purposefully mingling makes you energized or uneasy, it’s time to claim your seat and use networking as a tool for real empowerment.
Let’s start with one truth: networking isn’t just exchanging business cards or adding connections on LinkedIn. Professor Deborah Gray from Central Michigan University points out that true networking is about relationships—genuine, two-way relationships built on support, advice, and advocacy. At its core, meaningful networking is about knowing who can help you—and who you can help in return.
Women, research shows, tend to build broad and supportive networks, but sometimes we hesitate to use them. As executive coach Dana Theus reminds us, that hesitation often comes from old patterns that treat self-advocacy as selfish. It’s time to reframe that. Networking is not about opportunism. It’s about generosity and reciprocity, but it starts by owning your own value and showing up authentically.
If you’re an introvert, here’s the good news: you don’t need to work the room. You can focus your energy on intentional, smaller interactions that build genuine trust. Try volunteering for a new project, reaching out for a coffee chat, or offering to help on a committee. These lower-stakes settings let you form connections in ways that feel manageable and true to yourself. Think quality over quantity—one strong relationship can often open more doors than ten shallow ones.
Extroverts, this is your chance to play to your strengths—attend events, join panels, or become the connector introducing others. But keep it targeted. Take time to listen as much as you share, and resist the urge to collect contacts for numbers’ sake. True influence comes from being known as someone who adds value, not just someone who is visible.
No matter where you fall on the introvert-extrovert spectrum, specificity is your superpower. Instead of the generic “Do you know of any jobs?”—try “Could you introduce me to someone in the marketing department at Johnson & Co? I’d love to learn more about their sustainability projects.” People want to help when your ask is clear.
And here’s a piece of wisdom for everyone: celebrate rejection as information, not failure. When someone says no, it’s not a judgment—it’s a step toward the right fit, freeing you to keep moving.
Finally, networks are only as strong as they are diverse. Women thrive not just when our professional circles include men and women alike, but when we cultivate a strong inner circle of other women. That’s where we get the nuanced support, the confidence boosts, and the inside knowledge only another woman can offer. According to a 2019 study, women with a close-knit group of female peers in their circle rise higher than those who don’t.
To wrap this up: networking is not just a skill, but a practice in community and courage. Whether you’re making the first move, following up, or offering a listening ear, you have the power to create networks that uplift you and others—on your own terms.
Thank you for spending your time with me today on The Woman’s Career Podcast. If you found this episode helpful, be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss the conversations that will fuel your ambitions and expand your circle.
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Published on 1 week, 6 days ago