Cultivating Meaningful Connections

💥 After 20 months building THE ELEVATE GROUP , working with thousands of mid- to senior-level women across the globe, I need to say something that many won't like but need to hear: 90% of women are damn good at their jobs. But far too many are still trapped in a quiet victim loop Before you scroll past thinking “Not me,” let me show you what it actually sounds like: • “Our culture is just toxic” • “I’m too exhausted to network after hours. • “My manager doesn’t even understand what I do.” • “We’re a flat organization. There’s nowhere to grow.” • “HQ in London doesn’t take regional roles seriously.” • “I’d go for it, but I’ve seen what they do to women who ask.” • “There’s never been a brown woman promoted to VP here.” • “I’m excellent, but I’m not into self-promotion, it is not who I am.” • “The real decisions are made at the bar after work, and I don’t drink.” You’re not wrong. ❌ But you’re not moving either. Yes, the system is unfair. Yes, men often get a head start. Yes, HQ does favor its own. But repeating the injustice is not a strategy. You don’t get promoted for narrating the power gap. You get promoted by navigating it. Your promotion work begins after your actual work ends. The women who break through VP and above? Here’s what they’re doing differently: ⚡ They study quarterly earnings reports to understand what keeps their execs up at night - and speak that language. ⚡ They schedule calls with US peers at 10 PM Asia time because proximity to power > personal comfort. ⚡ They volunteer for the messy, cross-functional stretch assignments others avoid because they know value is built in discomfort. ⚡ They don’t wait for mentors. They build reciprocal networks that exchange visibility & information. ⚡They track the metrics that keep the CEO awake, not their immediate boss. Are they exhausted? Often Are they rewarded overnight? Rarely. Are they playing the game by male rules? Sometimes. Yet, they refuse to outsource their power to systems or managers. They don’t waste energy resenting the rules. They channel it into mastering the moves that matter. If you recognize yourself in any of those 10 quotes above, it doesn’t make you weak. It makes you honest. So ask yourself honestly: How badly do you want it? Because this isn’t about waiting for fairness. It’s about doing the work only the top 0.01% are willing to do One of those moves is getting sponsored. If you’re serious about making that leap, join me and Uma in "The Power of Sponsorship" 📅 June 26, 7:30 PM Singapore Time 🌍 Open globally 🔗 Link in Comment We’ll unpack: • How we got sponsored in our own careers • The game behind closed-door promotions • How to speak so your name echoes after you leave the room 📩 Can’t join live, sign up to get the full recording + distilled summary afterward. 📣 Come. Ask. Challenge us. Or just listen. But don’t stay quiet in the waiting room of your own career. 👊 Because you deserve more than that

Before designing a workshop, I always ask myself: Where does this group need to go 'from' and 'to'? Understanding their starting point helps me define how I want them to leave the session and what success looks like. Take the Work on Climate community workshop I facilitated a few years ago as an example. This vibrant community—tens of thousands connected via Slack—shared similar goals: transitioning their careers into climate work. Yet many hadn't, yet, developed personal connections in the community. Once I pinpointed their journey's start and destination, I broke down the session using the Kaos Pilots 5E model (guide in the comments 👇🏼). Designing a session that instilled pride in being part of a global movement while fostering personal connections in breakout rooms. With over 200 participants, the energy was palpable. And, I knew the workshop was a success when one participant, inspired by our discussion on how they could continue to support one another, took the initiative to form smaller accountability groups to keep the momentum going. How do you start your workshop design process? Picture: a piece of paper with hand written 5E process outlined with the description FROM Group of passionate individuals committed to finding climate work but not connected to each other. TO a community of individuals who are connected to a handful of others who are on similar paths & feel they belong to a wider movement.

Meaningful partnerships are important to me. Lately, a significant portion of my work has involved connecting professionals in the healthcare innovation sector. My trip to Dallas last week started with organic introductions I made in 2024. Some may view making business introductions as a simple and quick process. The process takes time, and time has a cost. In healthcare, innovation doesn’t thrive in isolation; it takes the right connections to move ideas forward. But real impact happens when we prioritize relational partnerships over transactional exchanges. It’s about building trust, fostering mutual respect, and creating opportunities that solve real problems. Here are my thoughts on how to make meaningful introductions: ✅ Lead with Value, Not Ego. Don’t focus on what’s in it for you. Prioritize how both sides benefit from the introduction. Relationships built on genuine value last longer and go further. ✅ Know the Gaps Before You Fill Them. Understand the pain points of both parties. High-impact connections happen when you address a critical need or opportunity. ✅ Vet Ruthlessly, Introduce Thoughtfully. Not every connection is worth making. Be selective and introduce only when there’s a clear alignment of values, goals, and capabilities. Protect the integrity of your network. ✅ Do Your Homework. Before making an introduction, ensure you have a thorough understanding of both parties to effectively explain why the connection is significant. ✅ Frame the Introduction with Context. Set the stage. Provide both parties with sufficient background information to understand the relevance and potential of the relationship. Clarity upfront fosters respect and avoids wasted time. ✅ Stay in the Loop (But Don’t Hover). Follow up to see if the introduction was valuable, but don’t micromanage the outcome. Relationships that thrive are built on trust, not control. ✅ Be a Problem Solver, Not Just a Connector. Your role doesn’t end with the introduction. Be available to offer insights or guidance if needed as the relationship develops. ✅ Protect Your Network’s Trust. Introduce only when it makes sense. One mismatched connection can erode trust and weaken your credibility. Guard your network’s reputation as carefully as your own. ✅ Build for the Long Game. Relational partnerships aren’t built overnight. Consistently show up, add value, and nurture trust over time. Sustainable impact comes from authentic, long-term connections. ✅ Celebrate the Wins. When a connection you made leads to something great, acknowledge it. Recognize the impact and reinforce the power of trusted relationships. Relational partnerships move healthcare forward. When trust and respect are the foundation, introductions become catalysts for real change. If you’re serious about advancing innovation, be intentional with your connections. It’s not about quantity. It’s about quality, trust, and lasting impact. 🔥 #healthcareonlinkedin #partnerships #innovation #sme

Sales tip. You’re a real estate agent. You cold call a homeowner with an expired listing. They pick up. You introduce yourself. They sigh and say: “I’ve had bad experiences with agents in the past.” Now you’re at a fork in the road. If your intent is to book the appointment, you might lean forward and say: “Totally understand. A lot of people feel that way. Let me show you how I’m different. I specialize in tough markets. Got a few minutes Thursday or would Friday be better?” Sounds smooth. But it doesn’t feel safe. Why? Because what you’re really saying is: “I hear your concern… but let’s move past it so I can get what I want.” Even if you’re a good person. Even if your heart’s in the right place. It still feels like a pivot. Now imagine a different path. Same call. Same moment. Different intent. This time, you lean back and say, gently: “Bad experiences?” (With a slight up-tone, like an invitation to share.) That’s it. In therapy, this is called mirroring. It helps people feel understood and safe. It shows you’re attuned—not rushing to fix, just present. No pitch. No proving. No “I’m different.” Just space. And maybe… they open up: “Yeah. One guy overpromised. Another barely communicated. Felt like I was doing all the work.” Now you’re not in a sales conversation. You’re in a human one. From here, something real can unfold: Trust. Connection. Permission to keep going. Because when people feel heard, they’re more open to hearing you.

During times of change or uncertainty, it’s normal to feel the urge to act, but not know where or how to begin. One of my go-to moves when I hit that moment is to connect with others. In the workplace, change rarely happens in isolation. If you’re feeling uncertain, odds are your teammates are too. This is where the strength of connection matters most. Research shows that helping or being in service to and with others boosts our engagement and well-being, sometimes referred to as the “helper’s high.” If you’re not sure how to get started, try these small actions: ➡️ Check in on your peers - This is a natural (and maybe obvious) place to start by going and checking in with your teammates, cross-functional stakeholders etc. See how they are doing, demonstrate that you care for their well-being and are there to support them. It will earn you goodwill, but also may help you feel better and not solo. ➡️ Create conditions for groups - In addition to checking in on a 1:1 level, go ahead and create space for groups of people to connect and share with each other. By acting as a facilitator or convener, you can bring people together so they can share, connect and learn from one other. These can be actual connection moments (in-person or virtual) but they can be as simple as spinning up a group text, slack channel or other communication forum for people to connect. ➡️ Go first in building trust - Uncertainty can raise our defenses. Be the person who lowers them. Lead with openness, authenticity, and a touch of vulnerability. When you show you can be trusted, others are more likely to follow your lead. These actions may seem small, but that's often what we need to feel like we're making progress, or to grab a sense of stability. How are you finding ways to connect with others during times of change and uncertainty? #leadership #change

In the last 10 years, I managed over 100 accounts myself and probably interacted with over 2000 that my team manages. After building 100s of relationships, I've discovered something surprising. Trust isn't built through grand gestures or perfect presentations. It's built through consistency. Research shows when B2B customers view a vendor as a trusted adviser, they generate 1.5x greater revenue and are 2.5x more likely to repurchase. But here's the shocking part: only 31% of B2B customers believe their vendors truly understand their needs. This gap isn't just concerning, it's a massive opportunity. There are four pillars that transform ordinary vendor relationships into unbreakable partnerships. 1 - Competence Not just expertise, but applied knowledge that solves real problems. As Samuel☔️ Thimothy wisely noted, "Your goal as a business is to prove to your customers that you're their best shot." 2 - Integrity In B2B, where multiple stakeholders are involved, ethical consistency isn't optional, it's essential for survival. 3 - Reliability Meeting deadlines isn't just about calendar management, it's about proving your client can build their success on your foundation. 4. Empathy Understanding your client's business as if it were your own. This isn't just good service; it's good business. I recently read the story of a global packaging supplier who revolutionized their approach by creating a dedicated insights department. Instead of just delivering products, they delivered market intelligence. The result? Their customers now view them as indispensable partners, not interchangeable vendors. Building trust isn't an event, it's a daily practice. It's delivering slightly more than promised, consistently over time. It's acknowledging mistakes quickly. It's celebrating your clients' wins as if they were your own. Kelly Van Arsdale put it perfectly: "The more reliable and professional you can be, the more likely someone is to continue being a customer." What's one small consistency you could implement tomorrow that would build trust with your clients? Share in the comments, I'd love to learn from your experience. __ ♻️ Reshare this post if it can help others! __ ▶️ Want to see more content like this? You should join 2297+ members in the Tidbits WhatsApp Community! 💥 [link in the comments section]

There’s a lot said about networking these days — the good, the bad, and sometimes, the very uncomfortable. Some people see it as a chore, others treat it like a performance. We’ve all been to those events where the energy feels transactional, the conversations superficial, and the only thing exchanged is a name card you’ll never look at again. And that’s exactly the kind of networking I’ve always tried to move away from. Having gotten my hands on Ryan LIM’s new book last night on, “The Business of Networking: Networking for Business – Build the Authentic Connections That Drive Success,” I’m glad to have the time today to finish it. Written in an easy, storytelling style — it doesn’t lecture or overwhelm. Instead, it invites & prompts. It encourages reflection. Each chapter is intentionally crafted with space to pause, think, & even jot down your own thoughts — a rare and welcomed structure in today’s content-heavy world. And at the end of every chapter, Ryan distills practical networking tips seen through the eyes of Dylan, the protagonist in the book, that make the journey actionable, not just aspirational. But beyond the tools and strategies, what stood out was the ethos behind it all which I also endorse: networking should never be transactional because people can smell/feel it a mile away. Real networking is really about building true, authentic relationships — the kind that bridge the personal & professional because you actually care about the person in front of you. That care, that intention, is what transforms a casual conversation into a lifelong connection. It’s how doors open, how trust is built & how partnerships begin. And yes, that kind of networking takes time, presence & heart. But it’s the kind that has served me well in my career & life. At PHOENIXUS, it’s essentially how we’ve been growing our community for the last two years. By showing up fully & lifting each other up. By offering space to be seen, heard & supported. The friendships and collaborations that have grown from this space shows us that no one truly thrives alone — and we don’t have to. If you’re looking for a thoughtful, practical & heart-centered guide to rethink how you network — this book might just be the nudge you need for the “what” & “why” of networking. Watch this space for potentially more to come as Ryan ends off with a suggestion on a part 2 related to the “How” of networking! #TheBusinessOfNetworking #WeekendReads #Phoenixus #RelationshipBuilding #NetworkingWithHeart #AuthenticConnections #Reflections

Leadership Transformed: It's All About Connection Now. Connection is still very much underrated. "The distance between you and your team in remote leadership is not measured in miles, but in the strength of your connection and the clarity of your direction." - Unknown Remote work has accelerated the end of command and control. Other ways are needed. Trust in your employees and emotional intelligence have moved to the center. Delegation is no longer enough. You need connection and even closer collaboration with your employees. As we navigate the complexities of remote work, the essence of leadership has shifted dramatically. My journey has taught me that the true power of leadership lies in creating connections, not just assigning tasks. Leading a team from behind a screen showed me that technology is not a barrier but a gateway to building deeper relationships. Here's what I've learned:   1️⃣ Clear expectations and goals are key 2️⃣ Communication is not just important; it's everything 3️⃣ Being available and responsive shows your team they matter 4️⃣ Trust isn't just nice to have; it's the foundation of everything we do 5️⃣ Offering support and assistance ensures that employees move forward 6️⃣ Collaboration isn't just about working together; it's about thinking together 7️⃣ Virtual team building activities foster team spirit and strengthen bonds among team members. Creating a thriving remote work environment isn't just part of the job; it's an opportunity to forge deeper connections and drive unparalleled performance. It's time to redefine leadership for the digital age. Image Credit: Kim D. Snyder --- 🔔 Enjoy my posts? Follow me Eva Gysling, OLY #leadership #culture #agileleadership #coaching

Nobody Tells You This About Breaking Into Climate Policy & Global Advocacy – An African Perspective You work hard. Attend the conferences. Build experience. Yet somehow, it still feels like you’re on the outside looking in. Because in climate policy, expertise alone isn’t enough. This space runs on unspoken rules that no one warns you about. If you’re a young African passionate about climate action, here’s what I have learned along the way: Your voice matters more than your title. I have been in rooms with world leaders and policymakers. The ones who make an impact aren’t always the most senior, they’re the ones who ask the right questions and bring fresh ideas. In Africa, where young people are often told to “wait their turn,” this is even more important. Speak up. Your solutions matter. Most opportunities don’t come from applications—they come from action. Some of my biggest breaks didn’t come from filling out forms. They came from showing up, taking initiative, and proving my value before anyone asked. In places like Zambia, where formal opportunities can be limited, create your own. Volunteer. Start something. Visibility isn’t bragging—it’s how change happens. You can lead groundbreaking projects, but if no one knows about them, they won’t open doors. Document your journey, share your insights, and tell your story. If we don’t showcase African climate leadership, who will? Adaptability is more valuable than expertise. Policies shift. Funding changes. Crises emerge. The people who thrive in climate advocacy are those who can pivot, learn, and respond quickly. Africa is on the frontlines of climate change—resilience and innovation are our superpowers. Stop waiting for permission. There’s no “perfect moment” to start. If you have an idea or a perspective that needs to be heard—put it out there. Want to break into this space? Here are some opportunities to explore: 📌 Global Climate Fellowships – Programs designed to equip young leaders with the tools to shape policy and drive climate action. https://lnkd.in/g5qqTZXi) 📌 International Climate Conferences – If you want to influence global policy, you need to be where decisions happen. https://lnkd.in/g-KGP9qi 📌 ImpactShip – A curated list of funding, fellowships, and climate leadership opportunities straight to your inbox. Sign up here https://lnkd.in/gs_BsZSA) Africa has the solutions the world needs. It’s time we take our place at the table. 🌍✨ #ClimateAction #AfricaLeads #ClimatePolicy #YouthInLeadership #ClimateAdvocacy hi

7 Practical Super Connector Tips for the more analytical, precise, and reserved This post is for you if… You value connection deeply Yet tend to approach it cautiously With a focus on correctness and preparedness You want connection to feel real but not reckless Intentional Not performative You see the socially engaged people laughing up circles and all of a sudden it feels as the entire room is for them You feel on the outside looking in at social events (Tip many others feel this way, you just don't know it) Here’s how to ease into authentic connection without sacrificing your nature: ⸻ 1 Prepare to Be Present You thrive on preparation soooo... use it to your advantage Before an event or conversation Jot down a few open-ended questions or reflections You’re comfortable sharing Presence isn’t just a feeling It’s something you can plan for Try this: “What inspired you to get involved in this work?” “I read something recently that made me think____have you ever experienced _____?” ⸻ 2 Redefine “Perfect” Connection isn’t about being polished It’s about being real Aim for the true response Not the perfect one It’s okay if your thoughts are still forming People connect through process not perfection Try this: “I’m still thinking through this, but here’s what I’m noticing…” ⸻ 3 See Vulnerability as Precision of the Heart Vulnerability might feel “messy” But think of it as honest clarity You don’t have to overshare Just acknowledge what’s real Try this: “I’m not usually one to jump into networking, but I do love meaningful conversations.” ⸻ 4 Focus on Shared Standards You love systems So frame connection around shared goals Ask what someone is building What they value What challenge they’re navigating Look for the overlaps Try this: “What systems or tools have helped you most in your work lately?” ⸻ 5 Give Yourself Permission to Pause Pausing is your superpower Let silence serve the moment You don’t need to fill it Stillness builds trust Reward your brain with this thought: “Stillness builds trust" ⸻ 6 Practice Low-Stakes Reps Presence is a muscle And small settings are your stage practice Start with 1:1s Small circles Familiar rooms Confidence builds with repetition And the uncertainty starts to fade (I practice connection everywhere I go—boldly Not because it’s always easy But because forming familiarity through relationship matters to me) ⸻ 7 Know That You Belong You don’t need to be bubbly to be magnetic Your calm Your clarity Your curiosity That is your shine Lead with it The right people will recognize it ⸻ In short: You don’t have to become more extroverted You just have to translate your strengths Thoughtfulness Clarity Intentionality Into connection Be real, not right Let your calm, composed presence Do the connecting And remember The most visible person in the room Isn’t always the most relational I often seek out the observers in the room They tend to offer the richest dialogue