Highly Effective Networking: Samantha Myers On 5 Strategies for Successful Networking, Both Online and Offline
An Interview With Athalia Monae
Don’t be afraid to approach people. I often reach out to other small businesses both via email and in person to introduce myself. I might say hi, I own a business and was in your shop or at a party at your place and loved it. I would love to meet for coffee or see if there is a way to collaborate, etc.
The art of networking is pivotal in today’s interconnected world. Establishing meaningful connections can accelerate career growth, foster collaborations, and create opportunities that might otherwise remain hidden. Yet, the dynamics of networking are intricate, often requiring a nuanced blend of authenticity, strategy, and adaptability. And with the digital revolution, networking has transcended beyond face-to-face interactions to virtual platforms, expanding its scope and complexity. In this series, we would like to discuss the art and science behind effective networking. We are talking to seasoned professionals, career coaches, networking experts, and thought leaders who’ve mastered both traditional and online networking techniques. As part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Samantha Myers.
Samantha Myers and Judy Famigletti are the duo behind Let’s Dress Up, a fairy tale themed play and party space for kids with two locations in the heart of New York City. Samantha left a lengthy career in Financial Services in 2018 to become an entrepreneur and small business owner.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series. Before we dive into our discussion about networking, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share with us the backstory about what brought you to your specific career path?
After graduating from college at Tulane University, I got an entry level job in the Financial Services Industry and loved it. Twenty years later after various roles, a merger, countless restructurings, and a couple of career moves I was burnt out and ready for a change. So I decided to answer that nagging voice in the back of my mind that told me I should own my own business. I approached Judy about coming on as a partner at Let’s Dress Up and an entrepreneur was born.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?
The whole experience of transitioning from a lifetime in a regimented office career to being a small business owner has been a wild ride. Though my two chapters in life seem to be polar opposites the most interesting thing is that so many lessons learned in my business career naturally translate to the role of small business owner.
You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
- Hard Work — Nothing can take the place of hard work. You just have to get things done. Your effort level is one of the things that is firmly within your control. Do work you are proud of and that ultimately others will respect you for.
- Resilience — Learn to bounce back. Learn to accept the ups and downs that arise on any career path. You can be disappointed, you can be frustrated, you can take a (brief) time out, you can have a (small) pity party but then you have to pick yourself up and figure out how to move forward.
- Honesty — Be honest, know who you are and what you value. Be authentic in all your relationships. Admit when you make mistakes. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. Let’s begin with a basic definition so that we are all on the same page. How exactly do you define “Networking?” Is it just about meeting new people?
To me networking is not just meeting people, it is reading people, making connections, and cultivating both new and existing relationships.
In today’s digital age, how important is face-to-face networking, and how do you balance it with online networking?
There is really no replacement for meeting someone live and in person. But in today’s busy and digital world, it is certainly possible to get started and make meaningful connections online as well. It’s best to take advantage of the various tools at your disposal to achieve your networking goals. For example, you may be in a Facebook Group where you are connecting with small business owners online, but then you may also attend a local Women in Business lunch event and both are equally valuable and useful for gaining different perspectives.
How do you maintain and nurture professional relationships over time, both in person and online, to ensure they remain fruitful and mutually beneficial?
Don’t view this as an overwhelming time-consuming task on your to do list or it will be paralyzing. Social media is a great avenue for keeping in touch because it allows for quick comments or messages that keep you on each other’s minds. You can comment on someone’s post, shout them out on your own channels, or direct message them. All of these touchpoints work as small ways to help keep the connection alive.
Beyond that, I try to always be responsive, even if it’s to say I have to get back to you when I have more time. I proactively reach out to check in and share ideas. I love to make further introductions, connect other people and refer business when possible. I also go out of my way to be a customer of other peer businesses so I will buy a product or service which in turn puts my money where my mouth is. Networking feeds on itself and can be built into a little community, you just have to keep an eye and ear out.
How important is personal branding when it comes to successful networking, and how can individuals develop and maintain a strong personal brand both online and in person?
As a small business owner, I always keep in mind that my personal brand and my business brand must be aligned. Of course, I have business owner boss mode and mom in leggings at school pick up mode, but I do make an effort to handle myself the same way across various situations. Consistency is key in real life and across the various digital platforms. This is especially important to remember when posting things that live forever on the internet and reach a much wider audience.
I realize that not everyone will connect with me or even like me, but that’s okay as long as I am consistent and true to myself. The relationships that tend to work over time are based on honest connections and not from being fake or disingenuous and telling someone what they want to hear.
What is your advice for young professionals who are just starting to build their network? How can they effectively reach out to and connect with experienced leaders in their field?
Take all the opportunities you are presented with. Be a sponge. If someone is willing to share wisdom with you, listen. Early in my corporate career there would be outings or opportunities to engage with company management and executives; I always attended. I didn’t always feel like it and some were a waste of time, but I knew that it was an opportunity to show that I was serious about my career and introduce myself to people in other parts of a very large firm. Have a current and up to date presence on a few social platforms that make sense in your industry, i.e. LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram. Also look for groups where you already have something in common, for example school alumni groups are a great place to start and likely have both an online and in person local presence.
Do you prioritize quality or quantity of connections? How do you determine when to invest more time in a particular relationship?
Quality wins for me. As a mom and small business owner, my time is at a premium. I look for people that I click with and prioritize investing time into those connections. I am open to everything, but when I find myself trying to convince people to work with us or I am constantly the one reaching out, I tend to let those connections go to the bottom of the list pretty quickly. It has to be a two-way street. where our values align, and we have a similar outlook on collaboration and success.
What are your “5 Strategies for Successful Networking, Both Online and Offline”?
- Join groups. Look for groups to join both online and in person. For example, as a small business owner, I look for local groups like community boards, neighborhood associations, the chamber of commerce, business improvement districts, schools and parks. On top of that I also look for other small business owners in the kid’s party space regardless of location. Then I might look for women in business organizations and school alumni groups.
- Don’t be afraid to approach people. I often reach out to other small businesses both via email and in person to introduce myself. I might say hi, I own a business and was in your shop or at a party at your place and loved it. I would love to meet for coffee or see if there is a way to collaborate, etc.
- Don’t be salesy, self-promotional or one way. You have to take these relationships one step at a time. If you go into it thinking about what the other person can do for you or come on too strong it can be a real turn off.
- Respect other people’s time. Always be respectful of other people’s time. Keep intros short, sweet and honest. If you meet for coffee or jump on a call, be sure to be direct and gauge when it’s time to wrap things up.
- Be prepared and follow up. See how I snuck two in there? But the before and after are both so important. First, be prepared for the environment you are stepping into. Get the context of who will be there, things you might have in common, things you hope to gain by going. And afterwards be sure to follow through on anything discussed. People often say, I’ll reach out with ideas or to connect you with my friend, but a majority of people forget this step or don’t bother. You can stand out by being one who does. It proves you mean what you say and are willing to take the time to stay on their radar.
What role does diversity and inclusion play in your networking approach? How do you ensure that your network is inclusive and represents a broad range of perspectives and backgrounds?
You learn much more by listening than talking. If you do that and expose yourself to a variety of situations, this will happen organically. Ideas come from everywhere. I vary the groups I am in, vary the businesses I collaborate with and am always, always, always open to people’s ideas.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
As a working mom in a women owned business whose main customer is young girls… I am all about girl power at the moment. I think the more we collaborate, share ideas and lift each other up, the better off we will all be. I am trying to set an example for my own daughter that will help her be a leader in the next generation.
How can our readers further follow you online?
Website www.Letsdressupnyc.com
IG @letsdressupnyc
Thank you for the time you spent sharing these fantastic insights. We wish you only continued success in your great work!
About the Interviewer: Athalia Monae is a product creator, published author, entrepreneur, advocate for Feed Our Starving Children, contributing writer for Entrepreneur Media, and founder of Pouches By Alahta.
Highly Effective Networking: Samantha Myers On 5 Strategies for Successful Networking, Both Online… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.