How Women Can Build Professional Profiles Early

Many of my female #coaching clients struggle to build and leverage powerful social networks, which can limit their career opportunities. Many women feel uncomfortable "bragging" about their accomplishments, preferring instead to rely on good performance as a primary career strategy. Furthermore, research shows that when they do talk about their accomplishments, doing so has a less positive impact than when men do the same thing. This new research from Carla Rua-Gomez, Gianluca Carnabuci, and Martin C. Goossen shows that women are well served by building high-status networks through shared connections. Women are about one-third more likely than men to form high-status connections via a third-party tie. "Third-party ties serve as bridges, connecting individuals to a high-status network that might otherwise remain out of reach. Such ties help both men and women forge valuable professional connections. But why are third-party ties especially beneficial for women? Because they are not mere connections; they are endorsements, character references, and amplifiers of capability. They carry the implicit approval and trust of the mutual contact. When a respected colleague introduces a woman to a high-status individual, that introduction comes with a subtext of credibility. It signals to the high-status connection that the woman has already been vetted and deemed competent by someone they trust. This endorsement can be a critical factor in gaining access to circles that might otherwise remain closed off due to conscious or unconscious biases." #careerstrategies #women #networking https://lnkd.in/eDBqbQcG

>>>Do you have a networking plan? A sponsor? I've always actively supported women in building their networks. I regularly push my close friends to build their networks. Unfortunately, we are far worse at building social capital than men. What is social capital? Put simply, a high level of social capital means having good relationships with many people and access to valuable and diverse resources. A good relationship denotes strong norms of trust and reciprocity. You could think of this as goodwill, favors, obligation, or solidarity. Women typically have narrow and deep networks, while men have broad and shallow networks. Broad networks help find and spread ideas, while narrow networks provide close support. High-achieving women often have both. Here are 8 strategies to honour March 8 and help women combine local contact with global reach in professional networking: 1️⃣  𝗕𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 - instead of aiming for a vast network, focus on being strategic with a smaller group of people. 2️⃣ 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 - determine what you want to achieve through networking 3️⃣ 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻 - map out how often you want to network and stick to your plan, balancing broadening your network and deepening existing relationships. 4️⃣ 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀: Meeting industry professionals at local events can help expand your professional network. Face-to-face interactions are invaluable. (We are running #LinkedInLocal on March 25! You're welcome to join us in person.) 5️⃣ 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀 - start with LinkedIn. Join an online community. 6️⃣ 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘀 - Find sponsors in your location to gain face time and access to global high-status networks. 7️⃣ 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹𝘀 - volunteer for local events, shop at local markets, or participate in local groups or clubs to build bridges across cultures and languages. Everybody needs friends close by. 8️⃣ 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 -  provide assistance, share insights, and support your network. When I contact my female friends and acquaintances, I'm sad about how little progress they have made in a year. Why don't we prioritize networking? Time constraints, family obligations, and the mode of a single married parent are the top 3 reasons. That puts us at a disadvantage in accessing career advancement, mentorship, and professional support. I want to know your why? If you have the answers, tell us below.↓

“It was 12 PM and my phone rang. The call was from my HR. Not on Slack, but on my personal number. I felt the heat even before picking up the call. She told me… ‘your role is impacted.’” Shared by one of my friends - 8 months ago. She called me the same day and said, “𝙄 𝙨𝙖𝙬 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙇𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙚𝙙𝙄𝙣 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙟𝙤𝙗𝙨… 𝙄 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙤.” And honestly?I wasn’t sad because she was laid off. I was upset because she waited until she needed help to show up online. Because I help so many build their online presence, share their work, learn in public—and she could’ve started way before the layoff hit. But we can’t change the past. What we can do is act now. Here’s what I told her: • Don’t waste time overthinking. You’re not starting over—you’re starting with experience. • Make an actionable 90-day roadmap. What roles? Which companies? What skills? • Start giving and taking mock interviews—it speeds up preparation and builds confidence. • Learn the basics of AI and how it’s transforming your field—it’s a superpower now. • And most importantly—start building your personal brand. People can’t refer or recommend you if they don’t see you. Show your work. Share your journey. Let your profile speak before you do. She followed through. And now? She’s not just working again—she’s building her presence, sharing her story, and helping others. You don’t have to wait for a layoff to start preparing. Start today. Show up now. Build publicly. Brand yourself. --- 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥? Adapting to change and making yourself visible. That’s why I always say: 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰. 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁. Still struggling to build your online presence? DM me “Branding” and I’ll help you get started. #LayoffSupport #PersonalBranding #CareerTips #LearnInPublic #MockInterviews #Upskill #AIinTech #LinkedInForTechies #JobSearchJourney #VisibilityMatters

Day 29 Tip of #WomensHistoryMonth: One hour of investing in yourself can change your life. As promised, I’m hosting a private session to share a resource I use to help women plan their careers. If this sounds helpful, message me and I’ll send you the details. Now, on to ways you can invest an hour in yourself to change your life. Create Your Plan B Whether you’re in a role, in transition, or running your own business, things can shift—fast. Having a Plan B doesn’t mean you’re not committed. It means you’re prepared. A new skill, side project, or alternate path can give you the flexibility to move forward when the unexpected happens. Research shows that people with contingency plans demonstrate greater resilience and are more likely to adapt successfully to career disruptions. Maintain Five Strong Career Connectors Your next opportunity may not come from a job board—it may come from a conversation. I recommend having at least five strong connections you can reach out to for insight, advice, or leads. Make your circle diverse—the more support and perspective you have when it counts, the better. Keep these relationships close, authentic, and reciprocal. Studies on social capital indicate that diverse and active professional networks increase career mobility and job satisfaction. Anchor Yourself with a Mantra When things get overwhelming, your mindset matters. Mantras can be quotes, lyrics, texts from books—anything that inspires or motivates you. Choose ones that speak to you and let them guide you. Psychological research shows that positive self-affirmation and personal mantras help reduce stress, increase confidence, and enhance goal-directed behavior. Build a Financial Plan That Reaches Beyond 12 Months Money gives you choices. Too many talented women limit themselves because of short-term financial pressure. Plan ahead—think about savings, investments, building credit, or creating an additional stream of income. It’s not too late to start having conversations that set you on your path forward. Studies show that women who actively plan their finances report greater confidence in decision-making and long-term financial security. Build a Personal Board of Directors Mentorship is powerful, but having a small group of trusted advisors can be transformational. Think of 3–5 people you respect and trust: a mentor, an industry leader, a peer who pushes you, someone who understands your financial goals. This is your sounding board—and your support system. Research from the Center for Talent Innovation shows that professionals with diverse personal advisory groups are more likely to achieve leadership roles and report higher job satisfaction. These strategies are grounded in both experience and research. They’ve helped me—and many women I work with—navigate change, seize opportunity, and move forward with purpose. #Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment #CareerDevelopment #ProfessionalDevelopment

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗜 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹-𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀. 👉 Don't boast  👉 Be the first to arrive and the last to leave 👉 Don't complain 👉 Don’t share anything personal at work 👉 Keep your head down and your bum up 👉 Your hard work will be recognised, and that's how you get promoted This was commonplace advice 20 years ago, but times have changed, and to keep up, so must your mindset. As Sheryl Sandberg noted in Lean In, too many women (and some men) suffer from “The Tiara Syndrome.” Symptoms include keeping your head down, delivering excellent work and hoping that the right people will notice — and place a tiara on your head! If you still believe that your hard work should speak for itself or self-promotion is for show-offs or job seekers, then you could be letting an outdated mindset sabotage your career. To get the best roles, you need to be known as a leader in your field. Therefore, others need to know the value you bring, which involves talking about your accomplishments and demonstrating your knowledge and expertise online and in person. If you think your mindset could be letting you down then its time for a mindset audit  📋 Write down all of the beliefs you have about career success  📋 Identify which ones need to be updated  📋 Look at the people you admire and identify what they are doing to build their credibility and visibility 📋 Create some new beliefs I'd love to hear your thoughts. Have you ever had bad career advice? ____________________________________________________________ Hi, I’m Sarah Makris I help senior executives and corporate escapees build visibility, credibility and influence through my SHINE Career Accelerator Coaching methodology. hashtag #professionalwomen #thoughtleadership #executivepresence #careercoach #mindset #personalbranding #executivecoach

A mistake I see people make: waiting until a career crisis to start building their professional brand. Just this week, I spoke with a woman who was blindsided by a layoff. She had invested everything in her company's success and nothing in her own visibility. "I won't get caught like that again," she told me, now starting from scratch in a competitive market. Your professional brand isn't a luxury—it's your career insurance policy. 👉 When layoffs happen or or you decide to pivot, the difference between scrambling and thriving is the foundation you've already built. Those consistent posts, comments, and industry insights aren't just noise—they're building a safety net that can catch you when the unexpected happens. 🛟 BTW, professionals who succeed at this aren't necessarily more talented or knowledgeable than you—they simply have support systems that keep them consistent when motivation wanes. Building visibility takes time, and the journey has rough patches. That's why community matters. Surrounding yourself with others on the same path provides the accountability and encouragement needed to stay visible, even when it feels like no one is listening. 👉 Don't wait for the crisis to start building your life raft. ---------------------------- Follow me for insights on amplifying women's voices, strategic visibility, and building success through community. 🚀