My Networking Journey: Lessons from Seminars.

When networking first came up in Digital Marketing Seminars Class, I'll admit I felt nervous. Who was I to connect with all these industry pros? I had no clue what to expect. But looking back now, I'm amazed by how much I've grown thanks to those experiences. The activities expanded my network and gave me skills that are gonna be a huge help in my career. Let me share some of the big lightbulb moments!

The Power of Reaching Out

Easily the biggest lesson was the importance of following up with people. After every speaker, I'd send a personalized LinkedIn request and thank you for presenting. At first, I felt intimidated - I mean, why would all these busy executives want to connect with a student like me? But the results blew my mind!

People were so appreciative and willing to share more insights. For example, when I connected with Jennifer Stoll , she not only connected but offered real encouragement for my marketing journey. This taught me that going beyond just listening and leaning in to engage is what builds relationships. It's about showing genuine interest in an ongoing connection. Mind blown!

Priceless Wisdom from Experts

Getting to pick the brains of professionals like Sam Leung in informational interviews was seriously invaluable. Hearing their experiences firsthand shaped my perspectives so much.

Chatting with Sam about leveraging AI in digital marketing illuminated both the huge potential but also the ethical responsibilities we have. I'll never forget his advice to approach AI carefully and originally as I grow in my career. Talk about eye-opening!

And Jennifer's presentation on embracing change as a digital marketer? Major lightbulb moment there too! Her focus on adaptability, continuous learning and understanding consumers stuck with me big time. I'll be applying those insights for years to come.

Access to this kind of personalized career guidance is priceless. I'm so grateful to every expert who shared their precious time and wisdom with me.

The Power of Associations

Expanding my network also meant engaging with pro organizations like AMA, AAF, and CMI. I'd follow them on social media first to see if I vibed with the community before joining.

Getting access to these diverse groups of marketers was a game changer. It exposed me to so many perspectives, mentors, and insights. For example, through CMI I met a content marketer at Cisco who connected me with an intern at her company! I'll definitely stay active even after graduating.

Volunteering Opens Doors

Volunteering allowed me to use my skills for good and meet the most awesome people. As part of a class project, I worked on creating Marketing Audit & Plan for Play Forever to raise Social Media engagement and an omnichannel experience. Working with their marketing team let me apply my skills in a real context. But the best part was connecting with fellow volunteers passionate about marketing for social change!

Being able to see the tangible impact we made was so rewarding. This experience showed me when you give your time to organizations you care about, you get so much more back in return.

Keys to Networking Success

Networking was definitely not all smooth sailing though. Putting myself out there to make cold connections didn't come naturally at first. I often doubted if I was qualified enough to be reaching out to all these high-level people. But their encouraging responses quickly dissolved that self-doubt.

Here are the keys that helped me get over those nerves and gain confidence:

? Taking time to research people and personalize messages.

? Remembering folks genuinely want to help students.

? Approaching interactions with a learning mindset rather than just seeking a job

? Reflecting on the unique value I can offer through my skills and perspectives

This shift to focusing on shared interests and mutual benefits completely improved my experiences.

The Power of Connecting

One connection exemplified how networking can spark meaningful relationships - meeting Emma at an AAF conference. We hit it off right away geeking out over favorite ads!

Afterward, we kept in touch giving each other feedback on projects. Now Emma has become a true mentor. Although we met professionally, it evolved into a friendship based on common passions.

Apart from this, I attended events from Toronto Marketing Hub, and made some friends on the way.

This was a defining moment showing networking is about genuine human connections, not just collecting business cards.

Excited for the Journey Ahead

As the course ends, I'm so proud of the foundations and connections I've built. Moving forward, my goals are to stay engaged through events, mentorship, speaking opportunities, and producing content.

Most importantly, this experience ingrained that networking is about cultivating real relationships, not transactions. I'm so grateful to Wendy Greenwood for the invaluable lessons, knowledge, and connections gained. I can't wait to pay it forward and see where my network leads me next!