Let's Talk About Networking
Does the word “networking” trigger an anxiety response for you?
You’re not alone.
When most people think about networking, they think about the slimy and transactional form of networking that’s very much grounded in understanding what the other person can do for you. It feels disingenuous, it feels unnatural, some might even call it gross. I can’t blame you.
But since it’s the year of opportunity and we know that our relationships (aka our networks) are a goldmine for uncovering opportunities, we need to get really good at — you guessed it — networking.
I consider myself an accidental networker because:
I HATE networking events, you will probably never find me at one, ever
I am more comfortable in 1:1 settings
One might see these two statements side by side and assume that I’m not someone who thinks about networking or tries to network, but that’s untrue! I’ve found an approach to networking that works for me.
My approach has landed me new jobs, a career in coaching, partnerships, and press. And none of it came from attending a HUGE networking event or engaging in slimy, transactional networking tactics. That’s just not me.
If any of this resonates, this post is for you.
I recently discovered
through . If you’ve been reading my posts, this is the third connection I’ve made through the Hype Yourself online community, through…you guessed it…NETWORKING!I chatted with Isabel, the Founder of I LIKE NETWORKING, about her approach to networking and building a community centered around helping creatives build their networks.
Read on for their insights and highlights from our conversation.
Community Building through Networking
I LIKE NETWORKING originated from trying to provide a sense of community during an incredibly hard time for everyone, globally. The lockdown in 2020 presented a unique opportunity for them to explore new ways to help creatives advance in their careers. The creation of ILN is really a story about leaning on the power of your network during hard times. In this case, the end result continues to impact the lives of many creatives; they’ve mentored 700+ people and grown an online community of over 40k+ people. Impressive.
On finding inspiration during unprecedented times: “During the first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, I had lost my job and saw how little support creatives had. I was talking to tons of people in similar situations and a friend told me she'd pay someone to do her networking for her. She hated it but couldn't see a way to progress in the creative industries without it. I told her I thought I liked networking.”
On the gender gap and how it also applies to our networks: “I knew first-hand how hard it was to enter and navigate the creative industries! Data gathered by LinkedIn in March 2020 showed that women around the world are 14% to 38% less likely than men to have a strong network and a recent report told us we have at least 100 more years to achieve gender equality. So, I decided to act on that since I'm someone who thinks that networking and sharing expertise and resources can be fun. I'd been working in the creative industries for 18 years. I asked my network if they'd like to do something to create a more diverse industry, by giving up some of their time and expertise and that's how it all started.”
On their mission: “I LIKE NETWORKING was born out of a need to address the lack of equity and belonging for marginalized and underrepresented individuals in creative industries. We set out to solve the problem of limited access to mentoring, networking, and professional development opportunities for women and non-binary people within the creative industry, whether they were seeking jobs or aiming to start their own businesses.”
Why networking is critical for creatives (and everyone, really)
In my own experience, networking is about relationship building. In building relationships, you open up yourself to new perspectives and new opportunities and you also get to support others. That perspective rings true for the I LIKE NETWORKING team as well. Isabel cites the Pixar story as a big inspiration for her approach to networking. Why?
“Because it's through stories that we learn, when we are exposed to different ideas our minds thrive. Often it’s when we're not thinking about our creative practice per se that the best ideas come to mind. I also LOVE the whole idea about being exposed to different ideas to spark new ones. It is essential, nothing happens on our own.”
Networking has paid off for members of the ILN community. We talked about the successes they’ve seen in their network:
Some of our former mentees have gone off and done so well that they've become mentors as well. Many started business with people they met in the program some started working with their mentors. It has been incredible. I also met some incredible friends through the process. Jade Coles, Ailsa Inglis and Petra van den Houten are all members of the advisory board and I met them via ILN and online!
Networking tips that we can all learn from
Now you’re ready to network, maybe you’re not quite sure how to create a networking strategy that works for you. Personally, I love online communities and I’ve found that being in a space with like-minded folks, where I can engage asynchronously is perfect for me.
If you’ve found an event or a networking group, the team at I LIKE NETWORKING has ideas on how to approach networking conversations.
Keep it bi-directional: “Don't think about yourself so much. Think about how you can support someone today and your network will flourish.”
Practice active listening: “Listening is key. A great listener is great at networking, you don't have to be pitching yourself or be super extroverted.”
Use your existing skills!: “Everybody already knows how to network - if you've ever made a new friend or engaged in conversation in the coffee shop... those are the skills you need to get started!”
Isabel’s favorite leadership advice
This wouldn’t be The Operator’s Edge if I didn’t ask Isabel about her favorite piece of leadership advice. I couldn’t agree more with her response.
Trust people you work with. If you don’t trust them and give them space to do things on their own you will probably end up with a culture of micromanagement and stifling people's careers and personal development. Be a champion and have a mentor-mindset when leading and you'll have better teams.
And finally, what was Isabel’s professional journey before starting a successful networking community?!
I love hearing people’s origin stories and digging into how they got to where they are. I started my career in agencies as an entry level Media Buyer, for example, then went into Social Media Marketing, then Digital Marketing for non-profits and in education before I completely switched industries and changed my profession from Marketing to Operations. You *can* do both. Because of this, I find it intriguing (and inspiring) to hear about how others got to where they are. Here’s a little bit about Isabel’s (the Founder of I LIKE NETWORKING) path:
I started working very young back in Brazil - I did all sorts of jobs - film runner, event assistant, "person who helps place colored sand in fashion show set" and so on. I've learned a lot and started to get jobs in the film business as a producer.
One day a friend of mine told me he had written a play. Another friend told me he had a music project. Why didn't I started a company to become a cultural producer and talent agent? So I did!
After years of that I moved to London to start my life from scratch (because why make life easier hahah). There, I got jobs in producing and programming across various fields, like dance, performance art and visual arts.
I learned so much chatting with Isabel about her experience starting I LIKE NETWORKING. The conversation also made me think deeply about how networking has opened many doors for me and gotten me opportunities I may not otherwise have had access to.
Would love to hear how you’ve approached networking successfully! Drop a comment :)
If you want to join the I LIKE NETWORKING community, you can find them here on Substack.
If you’re looking for a coach to help you navigate how to tap into your network and get to the next stage of your career, let’s chat!
Thanks so much for sharing!