Meeting the Challenges through Networking

Abstract

In the last chapter we considered the success factors that the women identified deriving from their own agency and the support of others in the form of mentoring and coaching. The women also valued the support of partners and family, but they rated membership of a variety of networks as very important in their career progress. My review of literature (Coleman, 2008a, see also Bibliography on p. 185) identified networking as the single most discussed factor relating to women’s career success, and networking is the focus of this chapter.

Professional groups provided good contacts. I’m a real networking queen. I’ve always had extremely extensive networks, people I could talk to and bounce ideas off. People I could talk to as sounding boards. I was never shy about asking.

My advice would be for women to be more aware of what is available and find a network that supports you at a particular point in your career and where you can give and receive support. It’s tough when your time is not your own and is deal-driven etc. Knowing what I know now, I should have prioritized one good women’s network. It would have helped. Sometimes you feel like you are the only one who feels like this and I remember the relief I felt talking to my peers.

(views of two interviewed women)