What Does Networking Mean To You?

Honestly, my networking journey started way before undergrad. I grew up in a family that was constantly entertaining, so talking to adults and listening to their stories was normal for me.

When I got older, and networking was more intentional, I realized three things mattered.

The first is you can never be too professional. My dad taught me this, and it was reiterated to me by a UVA professor, David Smith.

Second, you want to find what drives the person you're talking to, and what makes them successful. Understanding their desires and motivations is key.

Lastly, be clear about your intentions. Are you calling to hear their story? To learn about an industry? To ask for a favor? Figuring out how to articulate this is challenging, but it’s important. People respect transparency.

Talking to adults is something that came easy to me, but learning how to craft it from more of a social setting to a professional one took time. It was the mentors I made at UVA who helped me with that, more so than any class or anything I did.