We asked industry experts to share the role networking has played in building their personal brand — and how networking has opened doors for them. Learn how to transform your approach to networking and elevate your personal brand by building genuine relationships, leveraging social media, and creating mutually beneficial partnerships.
- Build Genuine Relationships Through Shared Values
- Community Involvement Sparks Unexpected Opportunities
- Lead with Generosity to Fuel Brand Growth
- Cultivate Trust Through Consistent Value Addition
- Prioritize Quality Connections Over Quantity
- Leverage Social Media for Authentic Engagement
- Focus on Helpfulness Rather Than Selling
- Transform Casual Encounters into Business Partnerships
- Turn Curiosity into Long-Term Professional Relationships
- Strategic LinkedIn Engagement Builds Industry Credibility
- Foster Supportive Communities for Mutual Growth
- Align Connections with Professional Values
- Personalize Outreach for Meaningful Conversations
- Create Mutually Beneficial Partnership Networks
- Diversify Connections Through Targeted Events
- Establish Thought Leadership via Digital Platforms
- Nurture Relationships for Unexpected Opportunities
17 Networking and Personal Branding Stories
Build Genuine Relationships Through Shared Values
Networking for me has never been about collecting business cards — it’s been about genuine relationships that develop naturally through shared work and values. As someone who has turned around law firms for over 15 years, my most valuable connections have come from being genuinely invested in other people’s success.
A perfect example is my involvement with NELA (National Employment Lawyers Association). When I spoke at their 2020 virtual convention about “How to Do Good Work & Do Well,” I wasn’t there to pitch my services. I shared real strategies about trust-building and work-life balance that I had learned through blood, sweat, and tears running my own company through a pandemic while keeping all my employees employed.
That authentic approach led to multiple law firm partnerships across the country because attorneys could see I actually cared about their success, not just landing another client. One firm from that conference became a six-figure client simply because they trusted my “whatever you plant, you harvest” philosophy I shared during the presentation.
The Reddit-worthy insight: your expertise shared freely creates more opportunities than any elevator pitch ever will. When you genuinely help others succeed first, the business relationships follow naturally.
Nicole Farber
CEO, Nicole Farber
Community Involvement Sparks Unexpected Opportunities
Presenting with my son at 1Million Cups was an absolute game-changer for us. That one moment truly opened doors we never could have anticipated. We connected with an amazing individual who introduced us to Pro Athlete Inc. — a fantastic local sporting goods manufacturer and distributor. Not only did Pro Athlete Inc. step in as a mentor, guiding us through tricky industry terrain, but our connection blossomed into a valuable wholesale partnership. All of these opportunities grew from the simple act of sharing our journey with our community.
My advice to everyone: get out there and get involved in your local events! Don’t hesitate to share your expertise or current projects. The connections you’ll make, the unexpected opportunities that emerge, and the genuine support you give and receive can be truly transformative. Often, by connecting with others and being willing to help, you discover just the right encouragement and resources you need for your own path.
Now, as I look back, I feel incredibly blessed to leverage all those personal experiences — both the challenges and the wins — to help other entrepreneurs as a brand consultant at The Personal Brand Studio by Shea Photography. There’s nothing more rewarding than using what I’ve learned to support others as they launch their own small businesses and personal brands. Watching my clients’ ideas become reality fills me with both gratitude and inspiration — proof that community, connection, and a willingness to share your story can turn possibility into success.
Brandi Russell
Personal Brand Strategy Consultant, The Personal Brand Studio by Shea Photography
Lead with Generosity to Fuel Brand Growth
Networking is the engine of my brand, as I strive to lead with generosity by spotlighting other female founders, sharing practical insights, and following up with clear next steps. One example: after I profiled an entrepreneur on my platform, she introduced me to a conference organizer. That warm introduction turned into a paid workshop, a partner-media feature, and a wave of qualified client inquiries within weeks. The takeaway: be the connector first, make it easy for people to say yes, and close the loop quickly so momentum doesn’t die on the vine.
Kristin Marquet
Founder & Creative Director, Marquet Media
Cultivate Trust Through Consistent Value Addition
Networking has shaped my career more than any campaign or ad spend ever could. One example that stands out was at an IT conference earlier this year. I sat down with someone over coffee, and instead of doing the usual card swap, we had a genuine conversation about the challenges we were both seeing in hiring for AI-related roles. We kept in touch afterward, sharing articles, sending quick notes when we spotted something relevant, nothing forced. A few months later, that same contact introduced me to a client who needed help scaling their dev team. That introduction turned into one of our most successful collaborations this year.
The lesson for me was that it’s not about networking events or “working the room.” It’s about staying genuinely curious and following up in a way that adds value. That consistency builds trust. Over time, people remember you not for your pitch, but for the conversations where you listened, connected dots, and made their lives easier. That’s how I’ve built both my personal brand and lasting business opportunities.
Ann Kuss
CEO, Outstaff Your Team
Prioritize Quality Connections Over Quantity
Networking has been key in creating my personal brand, not just in terms of getting my name out there but also in terms of gaining respect in the business world. I don’t think of it as a transaction but as developing relationships. Every connection is a chance to listen, share ideas, and add value to each other. Being consistent in the proper conversations and making a real contribution has done more for my reputation than any advertising campaign could.
One example that stands out is when I went to a small industry roundtable about digital transformation. I didn’t expect much going in, but after a thoughtful conversation with another participant, I was introduced to a large B2B company that was having trouble choosing an agency. That introduction eventually led to a collaboration that not only helped us get more clients, but it also provided me the opportunity to speak at more conferences about digital innovation. It was a stark reminder that people, not pitches, are typically the ones who give you opportunities.
The lesson for me is simple: if you approach your network like a community instead of a Rolodex, it will help your personal brand. It almost always pays off in ways you can’t predict to build trust and deliver value initially.
Gianluca Ferruggia
General Manager, DesignRush
Leverage Social Media for Authentic Engagement
Networking has shaped my personal brand, but not as a means of collecting contacts. When you’re excellent at your craft, deep, agenda-free relationships form naturally; I treat networking as a responsibility to create value first. I prioritize fewer, higher-quality ties, consistent follow-through, and rooting for the other person’s success.
This approach paid off years later: relationships I built while working on innovation and technology for the Government of Minas Gerais helped me launch Acelera Neves, connecting me to early funding, helping assemble the core team, and even leading me to my co-founders. The initiative then earned significant press coverage, amplifying my brand far beyond my immediate circle. Doors open when people remember how you showed up for them, reliably and without a hidden agenda. Quality over volume; service over self-promotion.
Karina Romano
Head of Marketing, TaikaTranslations
Focus on Helpfulness Rather Than Selling
Networking has been fundamental to building my personal brand, particularly through the strategic use of social media platforms. Over two decades ago, I began leveraging social media to connect with entrepreneurs across the country, despite being based in a small city with limited local opportunities. This approach allowed me to build credibility and trust with potential clients without requiring significant financial investment.
The relationships formed through consistent online networking directly translated into organic sales and created numerous business opportunities that would have been impossible through traditional local networking alone. What proved most valuable was focusing on authentic relationship building rather than direct selling, which established a foundation of trust that continues to support my brand today.
Heidi Cortez
Entrepreneur, Heidi Cortez Coaching LLC
Transform Casual Encounters into Business Partnerships
Networking has been absolutely crucial, especially in our relationship-driven industry.
One specific example: back in 2012, I attended a local Chamber of Commerce mixer and struck up a conversation with someone who mentioned they were frustrated with their current video vendor.
Instead of immediately pitching our services, I just listened and offered some free advice about their video strategy.
Six months later, they called when they were ready for a new partner, and that relationship has generated over $300,000 in business and led to referrals to three other companies in their network.
The lesson I learned is that networking isn’t about selling — it’s about building genuine relationships and being helpful first.
Andre Oentoro
CEO and Founder, Breadnbeyond
Turn Curiosity into Long-Term Professional Relationships
Part of my role as a CEO involves being the face of our company. This requires me to attend conferences and events to build our brand, and you never know what opportunities can arise through the people you meet. I was recently at a national conference and attended an event for other entrepreneurs in my city. There, I ran into one of our current partners who was having a discussion with a colleague of theirs. They kindly introduced me, and I quickly learned that this person could be a potential partner for us too. They were in charge of running an educational session for people in our target market and were seeking an experienced speaker. Based on having built a strong relationship, our current partner strongly recommended me for the opportunity. From that session, we met several clients and developed a new pipeline for leads.
Roshni Wijayasinha
CEO, Prosh Marketing
Strategic LinkedIn Engagement Builds Industry Credibility
I embarked on a cross-country RV trip to interview over 300 people about their career paths. These conversations weren’t intended for “networking” — but an inadvertent benefit of the trip was that I formed the foundation of my professional network and business philosophy that guides me today.
One of those interviews in 2006 turned into one of my most valuable connections, almost twenty years later. The interviewee experienced significant business success after our interview and agreed to become an official advisor of Featured — despite my not having any contact with him for the duration of those twenty years.
The bottom line: doing something interesting and creating connections along the journey helps you make meaningful relationships. It’s amazing how a genuine, curious conversation can blossom into a lifelong connection that spans decades and creates opportunities neither person could have imagined at the start.
Brett Farmiloe
CEO, Featured
Foster Supportive Communities for Mutual Growth
Networking has been fundamental to building my personal brand by creating meaningful connections with industry peers and potential collaborators. I’ve found that strategic engagement on LinkedIn specifically has been one of my most effective brand-building approaches. My method involves taking time to engage thoughtfully with content in my niche, leaving substantive comments that demonstrate expertise rather than generic responses.
After these interactions, I send personalized connection requests that reference our specific engagement point, which establishes credibility and shows genuine interest. This approach has consistently opened doors to new partnerships and opportunities because people appreciate the authentic connection rather than feeling like just another number in a contact list. The relationships built through this intentional networking strategy have directly contributed to my visibility and reputation in the industry.
George Fironov
Co-Founder & CEO, Talmatic
Align Connections with Professional Values
The way my personal brand developed was fundamentally different from what one usually expects. Instead of just amassing contacts, I fostered some of these relationships in genuine ways by attending industry gatherings, actively engaging on LinkedIn, and working in shared spaces. These actions usually paved the way for massive opportunities. While I typically won’t highlight one event, I’ve seen time and time again how a sincere recommendation or a well-thought-out follow-up created lasting partnerships, drew new followers, or invited contract work. These connections often opened doors to collaborations that I had never anticipated.
By nurturing these relationships, I found that networking became less about self-promotion and more about building a supportive community that thrives on mutual growth and shared success. Gaining this reservoir of confidence over time is, in essence, what creates the perception of the brand that you now witness, not a single achievement.
Bhavik Sarkhedi
Founder & CEO, Ohh My Brand
Personalize Outreach for Meaningful Conversations
Networking has been essential in building my personal brand because it’s not just about visibility — it’s about creating genuine relationships rooted in shared values. One specific example was connecting with a functional medicine practitioner who resonated with my work around nervous system regulation. What began as a casual conversation turned into an invitation to collaborate, which opened doors to working with her clients and expanding my reach in a way I couldn’t have done alone. That experience reinforced for me that networking is most powerful when you show up authentically and focus on connection, not transaction.
Karen Canham
Entrepreneur/Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, Karen Ann Wellness
Create Mutually Beneficial Partnership Networks
Networking has been fundamental to building my personal brand by creating authentic connections that align with my professional values. I’ve found success with a strategic approach to networking through direct messages that focuses on personalization rather than generic outreach. My process involves crafting individualized connection notes that demonstrate I’ve done my homework about the person I’m reaching out to, which immediately sets a foundation of respect.
I then share thought-provoking DEI articles that reflect my professional values and create meaningful conversation starters. To balance professionalism with personality, I occasionally include a tasteful meme that breaks the ice and shows there’s a human behind the message. This personalized networking approach has consistently opened doors to new client relationships and opportunities that wouldn’t have materialized through traditional networking channels.
Vivian Acquah CDE
Certified Inclusion Strategist, Amplify DEI
Diversify Connections Through Targeted Events
Networking has been fundamental to building my personal brand by creating meaningful relationships that extend beyond immediate business transactions. When scaling our business, I found that intentionally growing a network of white-label partnerships with agencies and consultants in related digital marketing fields became our most effective growth strategy. These networking relationships opened significant doors by providing access to established client lists that would have taken years to develop independently. Additionally, these partnerships created new revenue streams while simultaneously reducing our sales overhead and improving client retention rates. What I’ve learned is that authentic networking isn’t just about collecting contacts, but about creating mutually beneficial relationships where both parties can leverage each other’s strengths.
Jack Genesin
SEO Consultant, Jack Genesin Consulting
Establish Thought Leadership via Digital Platforms
I started creating my own networking events, especially to meet new people, connect with them on a deeper level, and exchange ideas.
For me, networking at specific events is the best. You need to know where you want to go.
I specifically choose to attend entrepreneurial events with a mixed entrepreneur crowd to meet people from diverse backgrounds and industries.
This opened many doors professionally; I made new friends and exchanged ideas I wouldn’t have in a different setting.
John Talasi
Entrepreneur, John Talasi
Nurture Relationships for Unexpected Opportunities
Networking has been fundamental to building my personal brand by creating meaningful connections with industry peers and potential collaborators. LinkedIn has served as my primary platform for professional networking, allowing me to engage with thought leaders and stay current with industry developments. Through consistent engagement and sharing of insights on LinkedIn, I’ve been able to establish credibility and visibility within my professional community. The platform has provided opportunities to connect with like-minded professionals who share similar goals and interests. These connections have led to valuable conversations and relationship-building that extend beyond the digital space.
Angela Ash
Digital PR Specialist, Flow Agency
