Valuing Your Peers and Building Your Network

Neelam and Amanda drove a vigorous conversation about the power of networking, the diversity of ideas that it breeds, and its ability to keep you fresh, exacerbate blindspots and open doors in your career. With every word that left their mouths, the energy radiating from the “networking gurus” grew. 

Amanda and Neelam noted that growing thriving networks requires an element of opening up. Naturally, this leads to an exploration of vulnerability — a topic that has been raised consistently at Creative Careers. They agree that creative careers are inherently entwined with personality and principle, which is caveated by some advice: “be personal but bring what’s relevant.”

People were building their networks and many probably did so without even thinking about it as networking. They were just connecting with like-minded peers, building the foundations of friendships and cracking open the door to opportunity.

The latter part of the session comprised of peer-led discussions, Ioana and Phoebe shared their upcoming creative projects which provided attendees with the opportunity to engage in constructive conversations about their projects and ideas. Ioana , introduced her zine-making workshop under Artizine, inspiring attendees to explore the world of "radical imagination" through zine creation. The audience, a mix of seasoned zine-makers and novices, eagerly absorbed Ioana's creative vision and embraced the sense of community and skill-building she aimed to foster. Meanwhile, Phoebe showcased her Crep Project concept, Limpieza en Progreso, shedding light on the stories of cleaners through the marks on their shoes. Her infectious enthusiasm and punchy tone resonated with the audience, leaving them with a heightened awareness of the people and experiences often unseen in daily life. Phoebe and Ioana’s vulnerability and requests for feedback dissolved any barriers that may have remained. And the breakout session got people engaging with each other, really living the networking experience and feeling its almost tangible power sparking throughout the room.  

Top tips on networking

• The more networking events you attend, the more you will recognise people and the easier it will become – “It doesn’t feel like it at the moment. But London is small.”
• Send a follow-up DM or email if you don’t do it in the room. 
• Stay connected: message congrats, say you respect something that they’ve achieved, keep their name somewhere etc.
• Think about networking as friendship-making it can be transformational rather than just transactional.

Sharing creative projects

• Ask yourself - How do you want people to feel when they’re engaging in your creative concept? What’s the emotion you’re trying to evoke?
• Testament to the idea that you get more joy from giving a gift than you do from receiving one.