At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown in her city, Tina had made a list of everything she hoped to achieve with all the free time she seemed to have. As time passed, it became increasingly difficult to connect with or meet new people until she stumbled across an internal women's forum.

Fast-forward a couple of months, and Tina is not just surviving at work; she is thriving. So, what changed? And what did the women's forum have to do with it?

While we are progressing toward a more equitable workforce with women who learn from and support each other, it relies on individual effort to move from a dream to reality. Building a network and forging relationships that help you thrive personally and professionally is an important investment you need to make for yourself.

Take Tina’s case. Tina found the support she needed to learn how to manage her time, set boundaries, and build clear communication channels with her peers and leaders through the forum. She made vital connections with people who recognized her talent, drive and capabilities, and helped her achieve her objectives.

Regardless of your role, level, or career path, a pivotal aspect of growth is networking. If you are keen on advancing your career, learning a new skill, or finding a mentor, then it is time for you to start building a network and searching for channels that can help you. Here’s why you should consider becoming an active participant on networking platforms:

• It is an opportunity to meet leaders and peers and create connections to guide your career path. The pace at which you can evolve is remarkably quicker when you have the encouragement and reassurance of women who have navigated the same paths toward success.
• You can use the platform to stay motivated with inspiring stories of resilience, determination and success.
• It is also a chance to contribute to a talent pipeline that opens doors within and outside the community.
• It opens a world of opportunities for learning and development, collaboration and team building. There is so much you can learn from a women’s circle.

Contributing to your networks is important. Once you are a member of women's circles, do you reach out to women in the group? And as a leader, do you reach out to mentor women in the group? In most cases, internal networks are a goldmine of opportunities waiting to be tapped. Here’s how you can contribute to leverage the value that networking platforms have to offer.

• Reach out and find mentors who can help you achieve your goals.
• Share your experiences. You never know when you will stumble across a story that resonates with you or inspire someone else.
• Be a mentor to someone who may be facing challenges that you have faced and successfully overcome. It is a chance to share information or stories about your journey, how you maneuvered the workplace terrain, and inspire other dreamers.
• Create more meaningful relationships and support systems that offer a strong foundation as you progress in your career.

Make good use of the online groups and platforms that invite meaningful conversations. As women professionals, the time is ripe to consciously build your network. Participate in your company’s internal network and join other resource platforms that have inspiring content, stories of leadership, etc. One such platform is the Vaahini network where you can read inspiring stories, get access to useful videos and podcasts, explore career options and connect with women leaders in your sector.

If you are a woman in a leadership position, building a network via forums and seminars will facilitate more opportunities to learn about the changes happening in your workplace or industry.

Stay connected, stay in the know of things, get your word out. And keep moving ahead in your career.

Start building your network by joining Vaahini. Sign up today.