Welcome to the Broad Experience, the show about women, the workplace and success. I'm Ashley Milne tight.

This week, I'm re-releasing a show I put out almost exactly four years ago. It's about networking and women's attitude to networking and how we can

get better at it if we so desire. I have to say, I still don't love going into a room full of

strangers at a conference or event and starting a conversation, but networking is about much

more than that as you'll hear in the episode.

Also, a technical note.

Back then, I wasn't yet in the habit of micing myself when I asked my questions because I wasn't sure I was going to use my questions in the finished show.

So you will hear my questions in this show are a little off mic.

I hope you enjoy the episode.

As always, get in touch if you have anything

to add. You'll hear from me again at the end of the show. Okay, so here's me back in 2014.

This time on the show, the horrors and delights of networking. We read this is an important

part of our careers, but a lot of women can't

stand the idea. We think of networking as, I'm going to meet this person so that they will do

something for me. And I think that is toxic on so many levels. Coming up. Back when I had a regular job, I basically didn't do any networking. I rarely went to

after-work events where I might meet new people in my industry because I thought, hey, I'm busy,

I'm tired, I'd rather do something else at the end of the day.

I saw it as a chore, not something that could potentially help me. And frankly, the whole

idea of networking seemed more like schmoozing, and I wasn't comfortable with that. Then,

I started working for myself. And I began to go to lots of events because I needed to meet people,

but I'd be lying if I said I looked forward to these occasions.

I hated walking up to total strangers with a nervous smile plastered to my face.

...