Networking

At Professionelle, our motto is ' Bringing Professional Women Together'. Networking is a key career resource and one that as professional women we can control. We are passionate about networking and hope to convince you with about its importance for your career.

In this section you'll find many resources on why networking is important for women's careers, what makes networking events successful, how to network in an authentic manner and much, much more.

Don't forget to check our Events tab to find out when the next networking seminar is in a town near you, and stay tuned as we perfect our online networking through phone and video conferencing!

And remember: networking is a bit like a box of chocolates - you never know what you're going to get!

Latest articles

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  • 14 August 2010 By Sarah Wilshaw-Sparkes Comments: 7
    Working in a Male Dominated Environment

    Here at Professionelle, we’ve been developing materials for a networking seminar on working in male-dominated environments. It turns out we have lots of passion around this topic! In the following op-ed piece, Sarah lets off some steam and shares war stories about her experiences in heavily male-dominated environments. We’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences too…

  • 10 February 2010 By Galia BarHava-Monteith & Sarah Wilshaw-Sparkes Comments: 0
    Professionelle: Networking 2010 Style

    Professionelle has a unique approach to networking. In our events you get to meaningfully network with other professional career women by engaging on meaty topics relevant to your careers and lives beyond work – much more than chats over wine. To find out how, read all about it!

  • 24 November 2009 By Sarah Wilshaw-Sparkes Comments: 0
    Women at the Top by Frances Denz

    This handbook for aspiring women directors is written by a woman who has triumphed over adversity to become a director duly accredited by the Institute of Directors (IoD) and now engaged on a number of Boards. At Professionelle we are working to demystify the paths to the board room and whether you know a lot about governance already or are embarking on your journey, there is likely to be something in this handbook for you.

  • 30 September 2009 By Sarah Lochead-MacMillan of the SLM Group. Comments: 0
    Networking in Times of Need

    When the going gets tough, the tough stay connected. Connecting, networking, permeates all your life and if you develop the connector habit you can create sustainability in all areas. By building successful relationships, by adding value to others first,you can ask others for help and lean on others when you really needed to. And, boy, says Sarah Lochead-MacMillan, did she need to...

  • 01 September 2009 By Galia BarHava-Monteith Comments: 0
    A Springboard for 'non-traditional' directors

    Governance and women is a topic on which we try to keep current. Many Professionelle member express an interest in finding out more about what directorships are and how one gains access to becoming a director. Turns out the 'old boys' club nature of New Zealand directorship is as hard for younger men who don't have the traditional background for directorships to infiltrate as it is for women.

  • 10 June 2009 By Sarah Lochead-MacMillan, SLM Group Comments: 0
    The Truth About Networking

    In today's climate, few of us have unlimited funds to spend on marketing ourselves and our products, or on any form of advertising. So here's a secret: people like to do business with those they have met face to face, or with people recommended to them by someone they have met in person.

  • 06 June 2009 By Sandra Beale (submitted by Brian Morris of The Institute of Business Studies) Comments: 0
    Ten Important Steps to Better Networking

    Networking is vital to grow businesses and personal support networks. Read on for 10 practical steps to make networking work for you

  • 25 January 2009 By Sarah Wilshaw-Sparkes Comments: 0
    Successful Networking Events

    Sarah recaps on what we have learned about designing and organising networking events over Professionelle's not-quite-two years of operation. It's been a steep learning curve, and with a couple of real surprises along the way. We've not seen many of these insights written about elsewhere, so we think they're well worth sharing!

  • 12 January 2009 By David Maister Comments: 0
    Young Professionals: Cultivate the Habits of Friendship

    David Maister is well known writer on issues facing professional service firms but his thoughts apply much more widely. His 2005 article on an important aspect of client relationship building - friendship - contains many transferable lessons to networking. He provides advice from how (and why) to make small talk, to the attitudes and approaches that help you build social capital in meaningful and authentic ways

  • 07 January 2009 By Galia BarHava-Monteith Comments: 0
    Professionelle's Passion for Networking

    At Professionelle we have both come a long way on becoming convinced of the power of networking. Part of Professionalle's promise is bringing professional women together and we keep working on ways to deliver on that. Here, Galia extensively recaps on why networking is so powerful and shares practical tips women can try to increase the effectiveness of their networking.