This Month’s LEAP Recap: Networking as an Organizational Leader
This month, we hosted a discussion with Shannon Parris and Leah Marmo, a non-profit Director with Inglis and entrepreneur, focusing on the art of networking. Whether you're building your business or developing community partnerships, networking is key to success, and this session provided valuable insights on how to approach it with authenticity and purpose, whatever your comfort level.
What is Networking?
At its core, networking is about building and nurturing professional relationships with others to exchange information, resources, support, and opportunities. It’s not about making a sale or promoting yourself but about building mutual success, advancing your career, and expanding your business. Networking allows you to tap into human connections with curiosity—wondering, "Which interesting person might I meet today?"
Key Highlights
Networking is about building relationships, not making sales. Focus on helping others and learning about them.
A meaningful connection is the ultimate goal. Don’t overwhelm yourself with the pressure to meet everyone—just aim for one or two solid connections.
Networking can happen anywhere. Some people may feel more comfortable or at ease meeting people virtually. Others may prefer in-person to read physical cues. Find what pathway works best for you.
Mindset matters. Approach networking events with curiosity and a clear purpose. Treat it like a treasure hunt, where every person has something unique to offer.
Have a "pitch" ready. Include a pain point in your introduction that opens up conversation. Shannon’s “fishing line” example, "I work with passionate change makers who need a partner and a roadmap," highlights both her target audience AND her value / service clearly .
Nurture your relationships. Follow up with LinkedIn connections, emails, or even introductions to others. Consistently give value to the people in your network. This can be different for everyone—approach connection with intention. It can be just as much about helping your connection and them helping you.
Takeaways
There’s no single right way to network, and everyone feels awkward at times. Whether networking gives you energy or drains you, you can tailor your approach to fit your comfort level. Stay curious, be authentic, and most importantly—be open to learning from others. Networking is about forming genuine relationships that can lead to opportunities down the road.
You can catch the full recording of Shannon and Leah's insightful discussion here:
