In my book Afro in the Boardroom chapter 3 and 8 I speak about networking, It’s a word that gets
thrown around at every conference, corporate retreat, and professional event. We’re told to “build
networks,” “make connections,” “exchange business cards.”
But here’s the truth: networking isn’t about collecting names. It’s about building bridges. It’s about
being remembered, not just noticed. Real networks don’t live in piles of business cards, they live in
conversations, trust, and shared strategy.
For Black women, this goes even deeper. Networking isn’t just a career strategy, it’s often a lifeline
to spaces we were never meant to enter alone.
The Difference Between Contact and Connection
I’ve attended enough professional events to know how easy it is to mistake activity for impact. We leave with a stack of business cards, a few LinkedIn requests, maybe a polite follow-up email that
fades into the void.
But a true network isn’t built on transactions. It’s built on intentional relationships, the kind that lead
to real doors opening when it matters most.
A contact may remember your name.
A connection will speak your name in the room.
That difference is everything.
Power Moves Happen in Rooms You’re Not In
Let’s be honest. Many of the most powerful decisions, contracts, promotions, partnerships, happen
long before official announcements. They happen in the conversations after the meeting, at the
dinner table, on quiet calls between trusted people.
The key isn’t just getting into the room. It’s ensuring your name travels further than your presence.
That happens when you build networks grounded in trust, reciprocity, and respect.
“It’s not who you know, it’s who knows you, trusts you, and is willing to advocate for you when it
counts.”
My Own Lesson in the Power of Networks
Early in my consulting journey, I was doing excellent work but hitting ceilings. I didn’t yet understand that relationships move faster than CVs.
Then, one day, someone I had met months earlier at a small community event, someone with
influence, mentioned my name for a consulting opportunity I didn’t even know existed.
That one introduction created opportunities in my career. Not because I was the loudest in the
boardroom. But because I had built a real connection, a relationship anchored in trust, not a card
exchange.
Networking as Sisterhood
This is where sisterhood becomes strategy.
For many of us, traditional networking spaces aren’t built with us in mind. But when we centre
sisterhood, we create networks of shared power. We look out for each other. We open doors, speak
names, and pass the baton without fear of losing our own shine.
Sisterhood-based networking isn’t about hierarchy. It’s about collective elevation. It’s the whisper of,
“She would be perfect for this.” It’s the DM that says, “Apply, I’ll vouch for you.” It’s the woman who
says your name in the room because she remembers what it was like to be overlooked.
The Strategic Side of Networking
Let’s strip away the fluff: real networking requires intentional strategy.
Here’s what I’ve learned:
- Clarity matters. Know who you are, what you stand for, and where you’re heading. People
can only open the right doors if they know which one’s matter to you. - Give before you ask. Reciprocity builds trust. Add value before you look for it.
- Follow up with intention. Not with desperation. A thoughtful note, a genuine check-in, a
shared opportunity. - Build slowly, not superficially. A few strong allies are worth more than a hundred casual
contacts. - Stay visible, not performative. Authenticity keeps doors open longer than performance ever
will.
Networking vs. Performing
This is important:
networking isn’t about changing who you are to fit in. Too many of us, especially in
corporate spaces, are pressured to perform, to speak a certain way, dress a certain way, shrink a
certain way.
But the most powerful connections I’ve ever made were the ones where I showed up
fully myself. Not polished to perfection. Not trying to prove. Just present, grounded, and intentional.
People remember truth. Realness travels further than performance.
Five Ways to Build Networks That Open Doors
- Lead With Authenticity
You are your most powerful asset. Don’t water that down to fit in. - Invest in Long-Term Relationships
This isn’t a sprint. It’s about nurturing connections over time. - Be Generous with Access
Speak someone else’s name. Make introductions. Build your network by building others. - Curate Your Circle: Not everyone should be in your inner circle. Build networks that align with your values.
- Stay Rooted in Purpose. Networking without purpose is noise. Networking with clarity is power.
A New Model of Power
The traditional model of networking is about climbing ladders. Our model, the model I’m calling for
is about building bridges. When we operate this way, our networks don’t just open doors for us, they open doors for those
coming behind us. That’s legacy. That’s leadership.
Final Reflection
Networking is not about being in every boardroom. It’s about being in the right rooms, and being
remembered in the ones you’re not in.
It’s about people who speak your name with respect, not obligation.
It’s about doors that open not because you forced them, but because someone who believes in your
work held them open.
“Business cards are paper. Real networks are power.”
So, as you step into your next boardroom, event, or conversation, don’t just network to be seen.
Network to build something real. Build bridges. Build trust.
English