Building and Leveraging Your Network for Career Success

Presentation Description / Summary: There is one common principle highly successful people mention as part of their repertoire for success – networking. Many veterinarians will often ask for advice on both principles to lead them to success. The first step for utilizing these skills is to recognize that much of what we do each day could be considered “networking”. It takes many forms – it can be a one-to-one interaction or in a group setting; it can be impromptu or planned as in mentoring; it can be a transient interaction or built over time. Regardless of its form, networking provides valuable connections that can lead to advice, connections or the next career move. While networking is the aspect of gaining relationships or connections, it is important to establish healthy boundaries within our network of relationships. Boundaries can be uncomfortable to establish and difficult to maintain. However, maintaining healthy boundaries can help you strengthen relationships, avoid unhealthy connections, and improve your self-esteem and overall well-being. Most importantly, healthy boundaries lead to a valuable network and success! In this session, the participants will share how they learned to build bridges and establish effective networks within both their professional and personal lives.

Learner Outcomes: • Learn the “what, where, when and how” of networking. • Discover unique ways to connect outside of your community and build new bridges potentially leading to new paths in professional and personal life. • Gain the courage to have difficult conversations to establish and maintain healthy boundaries within those networks.