Connecting with Julia Boorstin

How have relationships influenced your professional development and leadership style?

My relationships–whether it’s friendships, family, or professional contacts–inspire and energize me. I’m an extrovert and I thrive on the energy I get from brainstorming and discussing ideas with others. My career–first as a reporter for Fortune Magazine and now as an on-air correspondent for CNBC and author of WHEN WOMEN LEAD –has been shaped by the relationships I’ve built with mentors and sources. My first mentor, Andy Serwer, a Fortune editor who I helped report stories, encouraged me to take the risk of going on live TV. That led to my job at CNBC. Brainstorming sessions with my colleagues at CNBC inspired me to be entrepreneurial within the network and to create the Disruptor 50 list, which thanks to collaboration with my colleagues has evolved and grown over the years. And I’m grateful to have close friendships with amazing women who push me to pursue my dreams. My relationships encourage me to be my best, most curious and creative self.

?Do you have any tips for maintaining and building strong relationships?

Follow up with people–and often. Check in without an agenda, and also remember to fill people in on how much they’ve helped you. One of the leaders I interviewed for WHEN WOMEN LEAD , Rent the Runway co-founder and CEO Jennifer Hyman told me about a strategy she uses, which really resonated with me. When she was building the company and asking different industry leaders for advice, she would follow up, not just with a handwritten note–that seems like table stakes–but months and years later to let them know when their advice impacted her approach or decision-making. Her theory–which I totally endorse–is that it makes people feel good to hear how their advice has helped you, and encourages them to keep sharing their insights. I always think to myself “words are free”– if it will make someone feel valued, if I remind them how useful their advice was, why not check in with a text, email or call?

?How have you intentionally built inclusiveness into your circles?

In WHEN WOMEN LEAD I include reams of data about how essential inclusiveness is to drive results. And I have seen both in the research and also anecdotally how easy it is for people to just surround themselves with their friends and friends of friends–and how that limits insights. My approach to counteracting that is to just cold email people. I’ve found a good way to start diversifying my circle is by following a diverse array of people on LinkedIn and Twitter. Then, once I get a sense of people’s perspective or approach, I reach out directly–either through DMs or by finding their email. It takes a while to build trust and build a relationship, but I’ve built amazing new relationships with VCs and founders from far outside my circle, which started with a get to know you call or Zoom.

What community or communities are you proud to be a part of?

I am part of a journalist community–even though we often compete–there’s also a great amount of professional respect among rivals. I’m part of the entertainment industry and tech community–though I sit alongside it as a journalist, I’ve built powerful relationships learning about how both those industries intersect and are transforming. I’m part of a parent community at our kids’ school; I find myself continually impressed and grateful for the way parents step up to help each other out as we juggle the pressures of work and family.?

I also find myself part of a developing community of women in business–it’s not an official network, but I find so many women I meet eager to introduce me to female entrepreneurs and investors, to help me as a journalist understand and report on the companies and leaders who don’t get as much attention. I’ve been so impressed by the generosity of women towards each other–I see them offer each other help and access to their network. I think we’re at a turning point of women in business coming together to lift each other up– unleashing a new power.

Who’s a Connector that's made a difference in your life?

I’ve been so lucky to be in the orbit of so many powerful connectors, I can’t possibly name them all. I think of my first boss, Andy Serwer back at Fortune Magazine, now at Yahoo Finance, who freely lent advice and his rolodex. WHEN WOMEN LEAD , was sparked by the valuable introductions Dana Settle , Greycroft co-founder, made to founders in her portfolio and beyond, and to other investors in her network. Desiree Gruber , CEO of media agency Full Picture has been so generous with her connections to female leaders to help me connect with a range of inspiring voices and spread the word about my book. The generosity of them and so many women, and their faith in me, makes me eager to pay that forward.

Susan McPherson is a serial connector, seasoned communicator and founder and CEO of?McPherson Strategies , a communications consultancy focused on the intersection of brands and social impact. She is the author of The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Relationships.

Follow Susan on?LinkedIn ,?Twitter ?and?Instagram ?and order her new book,?The Lost Art of Connecting , also available on Kindle and Audiobook.