As a researcher in academia, the importance of networking cannot be overstated:  your professional network can be a powerful enabler of future career success. But forming your network takes time and intentionality: it is all about building individual relationships with a variety of people who can step up for you, provide professional guidance and feedback, and offer support, encouragement, and accountability around your career goals.

During the session, you’ll learn how you can proactively build and cultivate a network to help you achieve your professional goals. We’ll discuss questions like:

• What is your current style when it comes to professional networking?
• Which relationships are important to cultivate based on your unique career goals?
• What specific strategies can you apply to proactively cultivate advocate, mentor, collaborator, and/or colleague relationships?
• How can you overcome fear of rejection and other self-limiting beliefs that can act as barriers to networking success?
• How can you best leverage our current hybrid/virtual environment to maximize networking opportunities?

You will leave with a greater understanding of the importance of professional networking and a handful of practical strategies for how to go about doing it.