A simple “Hello” can go a long way.
Mastering Professional Networking
On 21 June 2023, I was privileged enough to attend a workshop held at Western’s brand-new Bankstown City Campus. Hosted by Lucy Lin as part of Launch Pad’s new Women & Multicultural Program, the workshop focused on the topic of ‘Mastering Professional Networking’ and the importance of developing critical skills like effective communication to create authentic connections
The event kicked off with a networking presentation from Antoinette Khalil, who discussed her personal experiences with starting her practice in a male-dominated industry.
Antoinette also spoke about how she was able to seek the help of like-minded individuals from the Canterbury Bankstown Chamber of Commerce (CBCC) to help elevate her connections and business. By being associated with a trusted brand (like the CBCC), this helped her foster new relationships with other small businesses in her local area. Antoinette also discussed her personal tips to effectively network with others.
A key point throughout her talk was being able to build confidence to promote yourself and your business. She went on to explain that having a consistent social media presence acts as a visual representation of where people can learn about you and your business.
The event continued with a panel session discussing multiple areas and approaches of networking from three seasoned entrepreneurs. The panel consisted of
- – Antoinette Khalil (Principal Solicitor of Khalil Lawyers and Chair of Women’s Committee CBCC)
- – Michael Azzi (CBCC member and sponsor)
- – Jeffin Johnson (Co-founder of Thinkgrid Labs)
Main items of discussion revolved around the importance of building trust and authenticity for your business. All panellists agreed that is never easy to start networking but by identifying your businesses strengths, this will cultivate into developing genuine connections in the long-term.
Ways to deepen relationships with new contacts was also discussed in the panel. A key component to this is having a clear presence on social media platforms such as LinkedIn and/or Facebook to help keep warm contacts. A simple acknowledgement or conversation can go a long way to maintaining professional courtesy and branding over time.
In addition to the presentation and panel session, multiple activities took place throughout the event, allowing attendees to work on their practical networking skills. This came in the form of talking to strangers and evaluating the importance of networking to themselves.
The evening ended with the announcement of the $250 lucky door prize winner, courtesy to JD Sports Australia. Networking continued well after the event, where both attendees and panellists were able engage in meaningful conversations and connections.
Having participated in last night’s event, my key takeaways were:
- Understanding the importance of having a clear outcome you wish to achieve from networking events
- Utilising both authenticity and confidence to build your personal brand
- Having a consistent engagement strategy online is critical to keeping warm contacts
Learn more about the Women & Multicultural program below.