Why networking is more than visibility for women

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

I've left more industry conferences than I can count feeling more isolated than when I arrived. They're great for vendor demos and regulatory updates. But as a woman? And an introvert? These events left me feeling like an outsider looking in. They created more anxiety than advancement. The very networking they promoted felt isolating. So I built Women in Consumer Finance. Here's what it feels like when you design specifically for women: ☕BREAKFAST Industry events → Wonder if you'll know anyone → Grab coffee, sit alone Feels like: lonely, anxious WCF → Join your pre-assigned team table → Teammates already know your name Feels like: safe, positive 🎤GENERAL SESSION Industry events → Sit among crowd in huge ballroom → Famous keynote you'll forget next week Feels like: a solo experience WCF → Sit with team & connect over shared experience → Stories from women just like you Feels like: a shared experience 💡BREAKOUTS Industry events → "AI and the Future of Finance" → "Federal & State Regulatory Update" Feels like: Surface-level info WCF → "Juggling Kids & Career: Real Talk for Working Moms" → "Visibility for Women Who Hate Self-Promotion" Feels like: They get me ⏸️BREAKS Industry events → Wander the exhibit hall → Check email, return to room for conference call Feels like: An obstacle to get through WCF → Shop for gifts in curated marketplace → Bond with your team in trivia or scavenger hunt Feels like: refreshingly fun 🎉EVENING Industry events → Hotel bar networking or vendor-sponsored suite crawl → Feel the pressure to come back with leads Feels like: socially exhausting WCF → Like you're immediate family at a wedding reception → Dancing and laughing with your new tribe Feels like: tiring, but in the best way ✈️DEPARTURE Industry events → Promise to "stay in touch" (you won't) → Return to work with same network Feels like: checked a box WCF → Exchange phone numbers with new friends → 8-10 genuine connections who respond to your calls Feels like: transformative experience The difference? Industry events = networking and staying current WCF = women's career advancement The results? Within one year of attending WCF: → 58% take on tasks previously outside their comfort zone → 37% get recognized for contributing at a higher level → 52% begin mentoring others in their company → 1 in 4 receives a promotion at their company → 1 in 5 gets a new client from relationships built at WCF → 1 in 5 speak at conferences or webinars for the first time Because relationships - not contacts - drive career success. And belonging - more than anything else - drives the confidence needed to step up. ♻ Repost to share with women who deserve to feel less alone in their careers. 🎫 Get in on the advancement, November 10-12, in Charlotte! https://lnkd.in/e7cJ7_6U 📥 If this spoke to you and you'd like to get to know each other, please DM me!

Despite equal talent, women still face unequal access to networks, capital, and visibility. That’s why women-only spaces matter. I used to wonder why “women-only” events exist. After attending a few, here’s what I learned: 💜 People shared salary strategies and feedback candidly- no performance tax. ✔️ Mentors and sponsors formed quickly because the trust barrier was lower. 🙍♀️ Women practiced high‑stakes conversations without the double bind. Key takeaways: ✔️ Mixed rooms aren’t always neutral. Women still experience more interruptions and higher standards to prove competence, often with lower pay. When we provide these spaces, we create: 😊 Psychological safety → honest conversations, real problem‑solving, and tangible outcomes (open salary talk, tough‑conversation practice, real sponsors). 📞 Dense networks → mentorship, sponsorship, and role models at every level. Founders meet investors without the performance tax, and mentors can be direct about the playbook. Leaders: fund and legitimize them. Allies: support outcomes and referrals. Organizers: share takeaways so the whole org benefits. #supportwomen #mentorship #boss #leadership

Can we talk about why women's networks look different? 🤔 Because here's what I've noticed (and the research backs this up): We're depth-over-breadth networkers. Which isn't bad - those deep connections are GOLD. But we also need variety in our networks. We tend to connect with people who look like us, are at similar career levels, and earn similar salaries. Again, not terrible, but we're missing out on the power of diverse perspectives and opportunities. We invest HEAVILY in our relationships (as we should!) but then feel weird about asking for referrals or introductions. Like, we'll bend over backward to help someone, but asking them to connect us with their colleague? Suddenly we're all "Oh, I don't want to bother them." 🙄 And here's another thing - we simply have less TIME. Between work, family, and everything else on our plates, networking often gets pushed to the bottom of the to-do list. Understanding these patterns isn't about beating ourselves up. It's about being strategic and building a strong diverse network to support, and who can support you when you need it! P.S. If this landed with you, give it a share - there's probably some women in your network who need to hear this too! 🥰

"Doing great work is enough" That’s the lie we (as women) wish was true, isn’t it? But let’s face it—excellence without visibility is like winking in the dark. No one sees it. No one knows. No one cares. And here’s the twist: For many women, self-promotion gives us the ick. Awkward. Forced. Gross. But here’s the truth you need to hear: You can advocate for yourself without feeling like a walking sales pitch. The trick? Don’t focus on YOU. Instead... focus on THEM: – Build alliances with people who matter. – Get curious about their goals. Share yours too. – Let them see your work, your wins, your big-picture vision. Because when you nurture relationships, something interesting happens. Your name? It travels WITHOUT you. – A manager praises your idea in a meeting you never attended. – A peer mentions you in a conversation with the execs. – A quiet nudge turns into career-changing momentum. Fun fact: I've magnetised 2 x £30,000 pay rises in my career, without even having to fight for them. And here’s where it gets even better: As others amplify your value, you start to feel it too. That fear of being “too much”? Gone. That hesitation to speak up? Replaced by strength. This isn’t about boasting. It’s about building. Building a network. Building advocacy. Building leadership. So I’ll leave you with this: Who’s talking about you when you’re not in the room? ...and who NEEDS to hear your voice right now? (plot reveal: WE DO!)

🔥 New Issue of Collaboration Is Queen is Live! This month's featured article: "Why Seasoned Women Over 50 Need Allies, Not Contacts that Don't Work" Here's what I've learned after 20 years of building social capital through collaboration... The women who thrive aren't the ones with the biggest networks. They're the ones with the strongest alliances. I've spent decades proving that collaboration beats competition every time. But here's what I wish I'd understood sooner: not every connection becomes a collaborator. And that's exactly where most of us get stuck. In this issue, I'm sharing: ✨ Why traditional networking leaves seasoned women exhausted ✨ The velvet rope strategy that built LinkedIn (and how I'm using it now) ✨ How to identify true allies vs. surface-level contacts ✨ The partnership approach that creates lasting business relationships I built my entire business around the power of collaboration. Now I'm teaching you how to do the same. Because at this stage of our careers, we don't need more people who'll "keep us in mind." We need allies who'll actively champion our success. Ready to shift from networking to true partnership? 👉 Read the full issue. If this resonates with you, please share the article with other seasoned women who need to hear this message. What's been your experience? Have you found your true business allies yet? #CollaborationIsQueen #WomenInBusiness #Partnerships #WomenOver50 #BusinessAllies