🌸 🗓️ TechSheThink 5-Week Article Series: “The Empowerment Stack”

Networking. The word alone makes some women in tech want to hide behind their screens and “accidentally” mute the Zoom. But here’s the truth: your network is your cache—it stores opportunities, support, and the kind of wisdom you can’t Google.

Why Networking Feels Icky (and How to Debug That)

We’ve been told networking is:

• Passing out business cards like they’re limited-edition NFTs

• Pretending to like every webinar biscuit and lukewarm coffee

• “Selling yourself” (ew)

No wonder it feels fake. But real networking? It’s relationship caching—building authentic connections that help your career load faster when you need it.

Step 1: Reframe the Goal

Don’t network to get something. Network to exchange value: a tip, a resource, a cheerleader moment.
Ask:

• Who’s doing something inspiring?

• Who might benefit from something I already know?

• Who would I actually like to have a 15-minute chat with—no agenda, just curiosity?

Step 2: Start Where You Are

Your network isn’t out there, in some VIP Slack group. It’s:

• The colleague who always tests your code without being asked.

• The LinkedIn connection who leaves thoughtful comments.

• The woman you met at a webinar who said, “That’s exactly what I was thinking.”

Cache them. Follow up. Drop a “just thought of you” article link. It’s that simple.

Step 3: Automate the Follow-Up (Without Being Weird)

• Set a quarterly “network refresh” reminder.

• Share one useful thing—an article, insight, or job lead.

• Congratulate their wins (genuinely, not with a template).

Why Allies Matter in Tech

Because opportunities rarely arrive as job ads. They arrive as:

• “Hey, we’re hiring soon—want me to put your name forward?”

• “You’d be great for this panel, should I connect you?”

• “We need someone who thinks like you—interested?”

Your Next Step

• Identify three people to reconnect with this week.

• Send one message that asks nothing—just offers value.

• Add any wins to your Tech Wins Folder (see Week 1).

• Networking Tips for Women in Tech

• Building Professional Relationships in STEM

• Career Growth Through Networking

• Women in Technology Support Networks

• Authentic Networking Strategies