Building a Diverse Local Business Network

I was recently asked in an interview what one underrated skill has been surprisingly valuable in your career. It is such a great question and one that caused me to reflect on my answer. I settled on this... Cultivate meaningful connections If I could turn back time, I'd tell my younger self to invest wholeheartedly in building and nurturing a strong professional network. I've always been a people person, but early in my career, I underestimated the true power of genuine connections. When I moved to Singapore, I was essentially starting from scratch. The familiar faces and established relationships I relied on were thousands of miles away. It was a humbling experience but also a transformative one. I learned that networking isn't just about exchanging business cards or attending industry events; it's about forging authentic relationships with people who share your passion and can offer valuable insights, support, and even unexpected opportunities. It's about giving back, paying it forward, and fostering a community of growth. Today, my network is one of my most valuable assets. It's a source of inspiration, knowledge, and collaboration. It's a safety net when times get tough and a springboard for new endeavors. So, my advice to my younger self would be: Start early and don't stop: Building a network takes time and consistent effort. Be sure to start making connections before a crisis or a move to a new country. Cultivate relationships throughout your career, both within and outside your industry. Focus on quality over quantity: It's not about how many people you know, but the depth and strength of those connections. Seek out individuals who inspire you, challenge you, and share your values. Give more than you take: Be generous with your time, knowledge, and support. Offer to help others, make introductions, and share your expertise. The more you give, the more you'll receive in return. Embrace diversity: Seek out connections with people from different backgrounds, cultures, and industries. Diverse perspectives can spark innovation and open doors to new opportunities. Stay Connected: Networking is an ongoing process. Make time to nurture your relationships, even when not actively seeking new opportunities. The picture is of two of those amazing connections I made when I moved to Singapore; Anna Norriss - Marketing Strategist and Anna Seefeldt - Brand Strategist at Pink Pineapple. My professional (and personal) experience here wouldn't be the same without you.

I have audited hundreds of LinkedIn profiles—entrepreneurs, founders, and C-level executives—and one mistake keeps showing up: 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒂𝒓𝒆 "𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦" 🚫 Limiting your network to competitors, colleagues, or prospects is like living in an echo chamber—you are only hearing the same voices, the same ideas, and the same perspectives. ✅ 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐬𝐚𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡. Here is why: 🔹 Fresh Perspectives: Engaging with people outside your industry sparks creativity and innovation. 🔹 Cross-Industry Opportunities: The best collaborations happen at the intersection of different fields. 🔹 Broader Influence: A diverse network amplifies your personal brand and unlocks unexpected opportunities. Think about it: 🌟 A tech founder connecting with healthcare professionals could lead to groundbreaking AI solutions in medicine. 🌟 A marketing expert networking with sustainability leaders could create impactful green campaigns. 🌟 A CEO engaging with startup founders could gain fresh strategies for innovation. I have seen massive 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 𝐛𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐟𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐲 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤—and I apply the same strategy when helping my clients build their personal brands. 📈⚡ 📌 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡. 𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐭. Your next connection could change everything. Who is the most unexpected but valuable connection you have made? Drop it in the comments! 👇 #personalbranding #professionalbranding #personaldevelopment #professionaldevelopment #personalgrowth #professionalgrowth #linkedin #linkedinstrategy #growthmindset #humanconnection #networking #diversification

From vernacular household in Nasik to Dubai boardrooms in 15 years. The secret wasn't fitting in…. Backstory:Growing up in Nasik, I was the kid who spoke Marathi at home but dreamed in English. My grandmother's Panchatantra stories taught me something Wall Street never could: "The clever fox doesn't hide its color. It uses it to navigate every forest." → That wisdom became my business philosophy. When I walked into my first Mumbai corporate office, I didn't look like the other candidates. Different background. Different accent. Different perspective. The hiring manager later told me: "We didn't hire you despite your differences. We hired you because of them." Fast forward to Dubai boardrooms: • I'm the only one who speaks 3 languages fluently • I understand both Eastern relationship-building AND Western efficiency • I see opportunities others miss because I think differently I stopped trying to blend in. Instead, I started leveraging what made me different. My 3-pillar framework for turning "different" into "profitable": 1. Cultural Intelligence as Competitive Edge - can read a room in Mumbai AND Dubai - understand nuanced communication styles - bridge gaps others don't even see 2. Diverse Networks = Diverse Opportunities - my Marathi connections opened doors in India - the UAE relationships created Middle East partnerships - the "outsider" status made me memorable in every room 3. Pattern Recognition Across Cultures - what works in Indian family businesses? - how do UAE investors really make decisions? - where do Western frameworks fall short? Your ‘different’ is your differentiator. Your ‘outsider’ perspective is your insider edge. → That accent you're trying to hide? It opens doors in global markets. → That unconventional background? It gives you insights others pay consultants for. → That ‘not fitting in’ feeling? It means you're bringing something new to the table. To every professional who's ever felt like the "only one" in the room….. Stop apologizing for being different. Start monetizing it. Thoughts? #journey #lifelessons #differences #uae #India #venturecapital #dreams

A coffee shop queue, a delayed flight or a casual chat at a bookstore—some of my most valuable business #connections have started in the most unexpected places. Three years ago, I started a simple morning walk routine. Today, my 7 AM walking group has organically become my most trusted circle of advisors. Meaningful #networks are not always formed at formal networking events. They come together in everyday moments, when curiosity meets conversation. ✨ And multi-dimensional connections are created - ‘Constellation Networks!’ I call this the Network #Diversity Quotient (NDQ): 1️⃣ Lateral Connections (40%): At our recent #LeadHER Roundtable, I witnessed something remarkable. Our panellists, all senior women in business, ended up creating as much value for each other as they did for the audience. One leader's cross border expansion challenge became another's opportunity for collaboration. 2️⃣ Vertical Growth (30%): This isn't just about mentoring down. The most impactful relationships flow both ways. My own Gen-Z marketing team constantly reverse-mentors me on digital trends, while I share traditional business wisdom. It is a beautiful osmosis of knowledge and skills. 3️⃣ Cross-Pollination (30%): Some of the most successful startups I've worked with, were founded by peers who met in completely unrelated contexts. They weren't "networking" - they were building genuine relationships that eventually evolved into powerful business partnerships. 🚀 Real Impact: Two founders who met at our very first LeadHER Connect event in London last year went on to launch a joint venture. They didn't come to the event actively looking for business partners - they were simply sharing challenges over coffee. That's the magic of constellation networking. A Simple Framework I Use: - Quality > Quantity: Focus on deep, meaningful connections - Authentic Value Exchange: The best connections start with "Here's how I can help" not "Here's what I need" - Diverse Perspectives: Mix industries, generations and backgrounds. Stay mindful of everyday moments: Some of my most valuable connections happened by chance, not at networking events! True network power isn't about collecting business cards. It's about building a constellation of authentic relationships that evolve with your journey. How are you building your constellation? #LeadershipInsights #NetworkingReimagined

How I built a DIVERSE Community (Exact Steps) I often get positive feedback about the diversity within the Amsterdam Founders Club: • Gender • Ethnicity • Nationality _____ I realized how important diversity is after hearing a story from a woman who vowed never to return to a certain community - because she felt like she didn’t fit in. 😔 Entrepreneurship SHOULD transcend gender, nationality, and ethnicity. But too often, it doesn’t. That’s why I decided to build a founders community that feels like home for everyone. _____ Here’s how I built such a diverse community: _____ 1. Make diversity a priority from day one You attract more of who’s already in your community. See a imbalance? Fix it immediately. For example:  If I see >70% male signups for an event, I only invite female founders until balance is restored (and vice versa) This sometimes means choosing diversity over short-term profit. _____ 2. Practice radical openness I welcome people I disagree with. I welcome people who disagree with each other. The events are to discuss entrepreneurship, not politics. As a result, political “enemies” become friends at my events. _____ 3. Show diversity in event photos People scan event photos, they’re asking: “Will I fit in here?” Make sure your photos answer with a clear “Yes”. _____ 4. Choose a diverse leadership team Once you’re ready to choose leaders in your community, consider diversity. _____ Thoughts?

For years in corporate, I honestly thought I didn’t need to network. My calendar was full. The work kept coming. I was surrounded by people every day. Surely that meant I already had a solid network… right? Except, it didn’t. After one redundancy and then another, I learned something confronting: Your network isn’t the people you simply work with. Your network is the people you can call when everything shifts. Networking isn’t the conference you went to last year. It’s not the LinkedIn request you accepted but never nurtured. Networking is a practice. And like any practice, it requires consistency, attention, curiosity and a little care. We wouldn’t expect to go to the gym once and walk out with abs. So why do we expect to “network once” and have support when we need it most? So how do you build a stronger, more meaningful network? Here are some simple and genuinely effective ways to start now: Create a weekly connection ritual. Check in with 2–3 people. Say hello. Share something useful. Be human. Reconnect with old colleagues. Most people are genuinely delighted to hear from someone they once enjoyed working with. Your shared history is the door opener. Diversify your circle. Don’t stay only within your role or industry. Expand into tech, HR, OD, operations, strategy, change, community, alumni. Range builds resilience. Share your thinking publicly. One short post, comment, or reflection a week builds familiarity. Visibility creates opportunity. Ask for conversations, not favours. A 20-minute chat can create clarity, spark ideas, or open unexpected doors. Give before you ever need to receive. Make introductions. Recommend someone. Share insight. Trust is built long before it’s required. Join circles that stretch and challenge you.Masterminds, associations, professional communities, these put you in rooms that can genuinely change your trajectory. For me, this last one has been a game changer especially since stepping into my own business. I joined ELEVATE and chose the incredible Janine Garner as my mentor. She often says, “Your network is your net worth,” and her book "It’s Who You Know" deeply shaped how I think about the people I surround myself with. I’m grateful for my Core Four: My Promoter: Amanda B. My Pit Crew: Dawn Shepley My Teacher: Hala Batainah My Butt-Kicker: Janine Garner Thank you for walking alongside me on this journey. If you’re in a steady role right now and think you “don’t need to network,” trust me your future self will thank you for the connections you invest in today. Building your network isn’t a safety net. It’s a springboard to the next version of you. So… what are you doing to improve or maintain your network in 2026? Perhaps joining my Level Up lounge lunch will help you meet your next networking contact; you can book in here. https://lnkd.in/gYeYwTbY I'd love to welcome you to the table. Warmly, Amanda Executive and Team Transformation Coach