Networking with Purpose: A Night of Kindness and Connection with Riley’s Way Foundation

By Amanda Steele , Riley's Way Program Marketing Intern

On March 13th, 2024, over fifty youth leaders from across the country gathered via Zoom for an enriching night of personal and professional connections. Representing all of Riley’s Way programs (Call For Kindness, Youth Leadership Retreat, Alumni, Youth Advisory Board), the community immersed themselves in five distinct skill-building workshops. Among these, participants could choose from engaging sessions like "What Should I Even Say? An Introduction to Networking" hosted by Riley’s Way co-founder Ian Sandler , or "Networking for Introverts," led by Riley’s Way Director of Operations Laura Dunn and Call For Kindness Intern Grayson Weatherwax.

I had the privilege to attend the "5 C’s of Personal Branding," facilitated by Call For Kindness Alumni, Esha Venkat and Shreyaa Venkat . The Venkat sisters are founders of the non-profit NEST4US , which has donated over $4,250,000 worth of meals to people in need. They shared insights from their journey of building up their non-profit to managing a volunteer force of over 7,000 members. Known for their active presence across various social platforms, they excel at communicating their message through consistent branding, language, and engagement.

In our small group of eight, the Venkats led a reflective exercise, prompting us to identify our top 10 values, then to distill them to 5, and finally to 3. Participants unanimously expressed the challenge of narrowing down their values, echoing Esha's acknowledgment: "It’s not easy. I’ve done this exercise so many times, and I still have a hard time cutting down." However, they emphasized that defining a few core values will help define your personal brand, and allow you to communicate a clearer message.?

After sharing our values and discovering common ground, we delved into learning the 5 C’s of Personal Branding: Creativity, Connection, Collaboration, Consistency, and Community. The workshop underscored the importance of staying true to your values, sticking to your branding, and consistently engaging with your community. Following these simple guidelines should help youth leaders fast track their engagement and communicate their messages with confidence and clarity.?

Taking the time to reflect on my top three values—Connection, Growth, and Empowerment—allowed me to consider how I might communicate my message through the lens of those values. The workshop was a great space for me to start considering how I show up every day and how to consistently work towards embodying my values.??

Following the workshop sessions, we joined each other in the main room to hear key insights from other workshops. For instance, “Networking 201” with Dylan Zajac explored the concept of "artificial nepotism" and cultivating long lasting relationships, while attendees practiced their impromptu speaking skills in Aarya Dhru ’s "The Art of Public Speaking" workshop.

The event also offered valuable networking opportunities, with each participant engaging in two "speed networking" sessions. Conversations ranged from one-on-one to small group interactions with industry professionals spanning diverse fields, including authors, lawyers, marketers, and journalists. I had the pleasure of connecting with Washington Post writer Sarah Ellison and author Natalie Silverstein, MPH . It was awesome to chat with two successful women who connect with new people every day and create platforms for people to tell their stories. They both shared how important it is to find the things you’re passionate about and work towards them even if it feels like the world is against you. While pursuing a career in male dominated industries is not easy, it’s important to recognize that there are people around you that want to support and encourage you. Connecting with those people can make all the difference.

?Beyond learning helpful tips and gaining new insights, the Riley’s Way Networking event provided me with a space to forge meaningful connections. As I logged off the Zoom call, I felt empowered and eager to nurture both new and existing relationships.