Love this - better than my ex investment banking network is only the network I got in a scale up where I was in a team of ex bankers / consultants. That was a perfect mix of like minded people who started their career in a similar way but were all fed up with this “straightforward 30y banking or consulting or pe path”. Almost 5y on I still have coffee chats and drinks regularly with some of them and get so many inbound opportunities through that network.
So many people underestimate staying connect to people you get along with and find interesting. No matter what they do in the future, it’s so worth an occasional “how’s life” message
YES i love that! they would have been the coworkers you trauma bonded with in the banking job haha. startups are such a great place to find these people
Curious to hear more of the downside here: isn’t there a risk that “relationship currency” becomes a kind of soft gatekeeping that only really works for people who already start with access to high‑status networks, while others are effectively told to “network harder” on top of jobs, caregiving, and financial pressure? How are you thinking about safeguards or alternative paths for people who don’t have the time, personality, or social starting point to make this strategy realistically viable?
thanks for the thoughtful question! this is anecdotal and personal of course, but I found that i have a much larger and more "powerful" network now in startups, marketing, creator economy, than I ever did in banking despite that being more prestigious and high status, because I don't think meting people in my industries as networking anymore. I'm genuinely SO excited to meet and learn from everyone I come across in this new space. When it feels like play, you build relationship currency naturally.
If you don't have the time, make time. Find the people who will resonate with your personality (for me, that wasn't the bankers). Social starting point? message someone, ask a question, talk to someone - don't overthink the first step. Join curated communities if that feels like an easier entry point. I often found that these were the excuses I made (not saying you are!) when I was in the wrong industry with the wrong people
Love this - better than my ex investment banking network is only the network I got in a scale up where I was in a team of ex bankers / consultants. That was a perfect mix of like minded people who started their career in a similar way but were all fed up with this “straightforward 30y banking or consulting or pe path”. Almost 5y on I still have coffee chats and drinks regularly with some of them and get so many inbound opportunities through that network.
So many people underestimate staying connect to people you get along with and find interesting. No matter what they do in the future, it’s so worth an occasional “how’s life” message
YES i love that! they would have been the coworkers you trauma bonded with in the banking job haha. startups are such a great place to find these people
Curious to hear more of the downside here: isn’t there a risk that “relationship currency” becomes a kind of soft gatekeeping that only really works for people who already start with access to high‑status networks, while others are effectively told to “network harder” on top of jobs, caregiving, and financial pressure? How are you thinking about safeguards or alternative paths for people who don’t have the time, personality, or social starting point to make this strategy realistically viable?
thanks for the thoughtful question! this is anecdotal and personal of course, but I found that i have a much larger and more "powerful" network now in startups, marketing, creator economy, than I ever did in banking despite that being more prestigious and high status, because I don't think meting people in my industries as networking anymore. I'm genuinely SO excited to meet and learn from everyone I come across in this new space. When it feels like play, you build relationship currency naturally.
If you don't have the time, make time. Find the people who will resonate with your personality (for me, that wasn't the bankers). Social starting point? message someone, ask a question, talk to someone - don't overthink the first step. Join curated communities if that feels like an easier entry point. I often found that these were the excuses I made (not saying you are!) when I was in the wrong industry with the wrong people
Thanks Hannah! I think the “wrong industry, wrong people” explanation nails it for me! Great article.
Love this! Really resonates, thank you!