Build a network of women

By Ana Kay Yaghoubian, Director, Building for Success, United Way of Southwestern PA

Growing and sustaining networks of women is empowering and one of the best ways to overcome some of the disadvantages women have traditionally faced in the workplace. Building a network often depends on attending networking events or reaching out to people we’ve never met face to face. Networking in any of these situations can be intimidating, especially for more introverted folks.
 
Fortunately, there are many ways to build your network, including options that don’t involve having to wear a nametag! When I came to Pittsburgh from the Washington D.C. area, I met so many amazing women who made networking easy. While it didn’t happen right away, eventually I found folks I connected with and felt more settled. As I grew my network, I was impressed with the things women in Pittsburgh did to support each other, especially when it came to sustaining a network over time, which can be the most challenging part.
 
Being involved with the PA Women Work community has helped me find another excellent resource of women who want to support each other in Pittsburgh. Being a great ally to other women in your network is important. Whether your network is big or small, be a great ally and supporter to the women in your circle. Even a small amount of time and effort can have many benefits for you and others that can last for years to come. But what does being a great ally to one another mean?  
 
Below are a few things you can do to grow and sustain your network of women: 

• Support each other on social media - It only takes a minute to like, celebrate or share someone’s post! Social media is important to everyone’s personal brand, it’s good to react to what other folks in your network share, especially posts that include job openings, new positions, or celebrate an honor or award.

 
While there are many social networks to choose from, if you don’t have a social media profile yet, LinkedIn is a pretty good bet for finding many of the people you see professionally. Spending a few minutes on this channel daily or weekly can keep you in the loop on opportunities to support and grow your network. I find an easy way to reach out to new people is connecting on LinkedIn shortly after an in-person or virtual meeting, showing appreciation for their participation, or just saying it was nice to see them.
 

• Carve out some time - Time can feel like the thing we have the least of, but even taking an hour to review a resume, attend an event, or chat about a challenging work situation can mean a lot to someone. This can be especially important when someone is going through a career transition. Time is indeed incredibly valuable, and when you spend yours supporting another woman in your network, it shows you value the opportunity to show up, and it will encourage people to do the same for you.

 

• Sponsor other women - Sponsoring is a relatively recent name for something that has always been done in more traditional business settings but hasn’t always been done for or by women. In this context, “sponsoring” means naming other women for projects, speaking events or other opportunities to elevate them. Putting someone else’s name forward for opportunities can be the difference between an employer saying they “can’t find qualified women for the job” and that fantastic woman in your network getting the job! Sponsoring someone usually comes in tandem with mentoring or other professional relationships.

 

• Be a mentor - It’s easy to think that being a mentor requires special skills or experience, but no formal training or career milestone is required to be a mentor. If you haven’t already checked out PA Women Work’s 3 Cups of Coffee mentorship program, I recommend it. Whether you want to be a mentor or a mentee, it’s a great way to grow your network, become a stronger professional, and learn about new opportunities.

 
Signing up is simple! (Link to sign-up page). You’ll be paired with a mentor/mentee and spend three sessions together…so PA Women Work does the work to connect you with someone in your field who is capable of helping you achieve your goals. I’ve met some fantastic women this way and learned so much in the process!
 

• Peer to peer mentoring - Peer-to-peer mentoring is just as crucial as traditional mentoring with someone who might be farther along in their career. This form of mentoring can be done with a coworker or someone you meet at a networking event who is in the same place in their career as you.

 
While you may have some things in common, you can always learn from someone else's experiences. This type of mentoring is excellent for sharing challenges and brainstorming solutions. Those in the same professional arena might know of resources you don’t; someone in a different industry might have a totally different perspective or an out-of-the-box solution. 
 

• Be a BIPOC ally - If you aren't someone who identifies as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Person of Color), educate yourself about the systemic issues of racism, the pay gap, and other workplace barriers that BIPOC women face. Sharing resources, being a connector and taking the initiative to educate yourself on the challenges BIPOC people face is important to understanding and supporting women in your network. Sponsoring BIPOC women is an excellent way for women who do not identify as such to leverage their privilege.

 
All these suggestions add up to women supporting each other to reach their goals. There’s no one right way to do it, but there are steps we can all take to grow and strengthen our network while accomplishing our own career goals and advocating for others.
 
I’ve made some great friends that started as people I met while networking, which feels like icing on the cake! Pittsburgh has a great ecosystem of strong, talented, and accomplished women, and don’t forget, you’re one of them!

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