Networking

Why Smart Women Still Do Not Achieve Their Biggest Goals!

The problem is rarely a lack of ambition or ability. More often, it comes down to a leadership skill we rarely discuss: accountability.

Over the past 25 years through the Network, I have seen a recurring pattern. Whether a woman is building a business, leading a team, returning to education or preparing for the next stage of her career, most already know what they need to do. They have attended workshops, downloaded guides, listened to podcasts and invested in their development.

Yet months later, many admit their most important goals remain untouched.

The common assumption is that motivation is the problem. However, research suggests otherwise. Dr Gail Matthews found that people who write down their goals, share them with others and provide regular progress updates are significantly more likely to achieve them than those who keep their ambitions to themselves.

Finding Mentors Online.

Navigating your career path can sometimes feel like walking through a dense forest without a map. When you’re a Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnic (BAME) woman, the journey often comes with unique challenges and barriers. That’s why finding a mentor who understands your experiences and aspirations is invaluable.

Why BAME Mentors Matter

Mentorship is more than just advice. It is a relationship built on trust, shared experiences and mutual growth. For Black and women of colour, mentors who reflect your background and understand the nuances of your journey can provide tailored insights that generic advice simply cannot match.

Why?

Have You Ever Met The Right People

… But Nothing Came From It?

Have you ever had a great conversation at an event …only for it to go nowhere?

Not because the people were wrong but because the connection had no direction.

One member reflected after attending an NBWN session “She stopped introducing herself by what she did… and started sharing what she was building and where she needed support.”

Speak to Be Remembered:

Why the Most Powerful Networkers Do Not Pitch, They Perform Meaning

Most people walk into networking rooms trying to impress. The most effective ones walk in trying to connect. That difference is not semantic. It is neurological.

Research from Princeton University shows that audiences form judgments about credibility, warmth and competence within the first seven seconds of hearing someone speak. Harvard Business Review adds that stories are up to 22 times more memorable than facts alone. In other words, the way you speak in a networking space matters more than what you say.

What makes someone memorable in a networking space is rarely intelligence on display. In fact, the opposite is often true. The people who leave the strongest impression are not those who explain the most, but those who shape belief. They create a sense of coherence, an unspoken understanding that what they are saying…

What If the Key to Growth Isn’t Working Harder, But Connecting Smarter?

We often think of networking as an event, a business card exchange, a handshake, a moment. But in reality, networking is a system. A living, breathing ecosystem that either supports your growth or quietly stalls it!

In an age where remote work is normalised, borders are digital and time is limited, we should be asking "Are we using online spaces to their full advantage?"

This month, I want to encourage you to explore what it truly means to build your 'Networking Circle' online. These aren’t just Zoom calls. They’re intentional containers for insight, accountability and real connection.

Here’s what we’ve learned: