Networking always conjured up images of an 80’s salesperson for me - the quintessential figure with a bulky Motorola, donned in a power suit, harbouring secrets behind a knowing smile. These characters, now almost caricatures in my mind, held the same cunning and mystery as villains in spy movies. 

So, when I reached the juncture where networking became a necessity, I felt torn between the corporate persona I thought I had to adopt and the creative, paint-stained adventurer I truly was. The two seemed mutually exclusive. If only I’d known then what I understand now. 

Networking, at its core, is about engaging in conversations and forging connections. It sounds straightforward, perhaps even rudimentary in today’s world. 

It’s about business connections, right? People you can sell to? 

Here, I invite you to challenge this conventional perception.