Networking Building Relationships, One Alumna at a Time By Leslie Maxwell, ’01
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ne of the foundations of being a student and alumna of Meredith College is building relationships. Students build relationships with each other, with faculty, and with staff and administrators. As alumnae, they are encouraged to keep those ties strong, reconnecting at reunions and staying connected on Facebook. Thanks to a Meredith-sponsored organization, alumnae are also encouraged, now more than ever, to stay connected professionally. Networking Angels, an organization of Meredith alumnae founded in 2009 by Michelle Rich Goode, ’73, and Emily Harper, ’09, provides a way to connect professionally, to build and nurture relationships, and to help Meredith students and alumnae develop in their careers. Harper connected with Goode, an established professional in the Raleigh area, a past president of the Meredith Alumnae Association, and a past member and chair of the Meredith Board of Trustees. Initially, the pair decided to invite alumnae from all graduating years to join them monthly at the Royal Bean, a coffee shop across Hillsborough Street from Meredith. Now, each month, Networking 20
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Angels draws around 35 women for a meeting at a Raleigh-area business or restaurant. According to Clarky Lucas Davis, ’96, a volunteer with Networking Angels, the group is a “great way to expand, first of all, your connection to Meredith, and second, your ties to the business world.”
made in Networking Angels as the most important part of her career development: “Networking Angels has been valuable because people get to know you. You have a relationship. I don’t care what industry you’re in—your career connections will help you advance.”
“An alumna who owns a business or is well connected can help others transition to a new career or start a career.” —Hilary Allen According to the 2011 book “Business Networking and Sex (not what you think),” women often network more by building relationships than by seeking business transactions. The relationship-building provided through Networking Angels—with women at all stages of their careers—is invaluable. Harper sought out this type of relationship-building after she graduated in 2009. She wanted to build professional relationships, yet most of the people she knew from Meredith were in the same position as she— just starting out in their careers. Davis, too, cites the relationships she’s
Amy Losordo, the assistant director of career development in Meredith’s Office of Academic and Career Planning (ACP), says that it’s important that Meredith alumnae have a good definition of “networking.” Instead of the common perception that networking is asking for a job, said Losordo, “it’s really just learning how to talk with people and find commonalities and looking for opportunities to help that person.” In other words, according to Losordo, it’s building relationships and then finding ways to continue relationships. Networking Angels provides Meredith alumnae different opportunities to build