In this insightful webinar hosted by Rebecca Prejean at the 2024 Women and L&D Conference, Kim Scott delves into the crucial role of purposeful networking in the learning and development (L&D) sector. Kim, a seasoned educational technologist and instructional designer who transitioned from being a social studies teacher, now leads an international team at K Scott Learning Consultants. She emphasizes that networking is often overlooked despite its significant benefits, highlighting a statistic from Forbes that 85% of jobs are filled through networking rather than traditional hiring methods. Kim shares personal anecdotes to illustrate the power of networking and encourages interactive participation from the audience to assess their networking skills. She elaborates on the essence of networking, which is about building relationships where mutual professional help is possible through the exchange of information, resources, and support. Kim challenges common misconceptions about networking, stressing that it's not about the quantity of connections but the quality and mutual benefit of those relationships. Through the webinar, Kim provides practical strategies for effective networking, including leveraging social media, attending specific L&D events, and even simple acts like sharing LinkedIn profiles during webinars. She also addresses common barriers to networking, offering solutions tailored to different challenges such as time constraints, geographical limitations, and social anxiety. Kim's presentation is not only a guide on networking but also a call to action for participants to develop a personalized networking plan, emphasizing the diverse ways to unlock opportunities through purposeful connections in the L&D field.
