Why You Should Reach Out to Other Women

Women Only Communities and Networking Events can play an important part in helping women find contacts that they need in a friendly and open environment. It is important to remember that it is important for women to find allies, sponsors, mentors, managers, and role models (both male and female). Women-only networking opportunities help you build stronger relationships with the other women in your industry and your peer group.

What we get from other women is different from what we get from men. In additional to talent and hard work a female professional often need support from people around her to be successful. This is often through championing, sponsorship and mentoring. Relationships with female mentors, sponsors and colleagues are worth cultivating (and women-only networking can help you achieve this.)

Mentors

You should aim to have a variety of mentors. However, a female mentor can provide you will career development advice but also in other areas of life that might be more difficult for your male mentors to understand such as work-life balance, returning to work after having kids, dealing with sexual harrassment etc.

Sponsors

At times having a sponsor can be more important than having a mentor. Depending on your company (and your personal goals) if you are lucky enough to have a sponsor you may find it easier to build a relationship with a female sponsor and tap into their network. A senior female can be a really powerful connection. Although there are times where a male sponsor can at time be more effective (or more available).

Allies (Peers and Colleagues)

Finally, we all know that women can uniquely help each other at work in terms of emotional support and friendship. It is very important to build a lateral support network in the workplace of both male and female colleagues. However, you may find closer relationships and bonds are formed with your female colleagues.