6 Comments
User's avatar
E Cruz's avatar

I have basically stopped attending events cold turkey, taking a step back trying to figure out how and where to connect with people genuinely. I do not know yet. Two types of experiences that you describe as well drove me to make this decision:

A- the people that think i cannot be useful to them based on judging my physical appearance (woman, non-white, with an “accent” and not wearing the labels that indicate success to them). Not surprisingly I experienced it a lot in women’s networking events. They probably thought I was an interloper or a junior professional and did not bother to find out I had a higher exec role than they had.

B- the extraction of knowledge for free under the pretext of picking my brain even when they knew I was trying to build a business.

Expand full comment
Elizabeth Lumley's avatar

Agree so much! For me events changed when I was big on Twitter (RIP) because people knew me before they met me. My view on those who dismiss others, you wouldn’t want these people in your orbit anyway. Take care. XX

Expand full comment
Olivia Minnock's avatar

The anxiety point is real, I've agreed to support two recent grads in their fintech job search (they reached out openly and super politely asking if I had any advice) but I had a nightmare last night that they both confronted me about being no help whatsoever 😅

Expand full comment
Elizabeth Lumley's avatar

So real! And then I feel bad for feeling bad!

Expand full comment
Andrew Carrier's avatar

Ahhhh, the dreaded 'are you free for a coffee...'!

Expand full comment
Joyce Sullivan's avatar

I’m here for the Liz-isms! Keep ‘em coming. And, let me know how I may be helpful to you - always.

Expand full comment