Power of Networks

Power of Networks- that was the topic of a panel I was invited to speak at for a UN event.  

If you weren’t there, you missed a great discussion and a powerhouse panel of women changing the world…one network at a time.  

Last week, I got a call from someone I worked with when I started in the firestop industry back in 1999. Back then, I was as green as green could be. (I worked for Hilti so the goal was to be red.) I was told that Dave Gifford, Tom Lennon and Kevin Harvey would ALWAYS help answer questions I had. I often had to email the field teams with questions about the market in their area and without fail, those three and likely a handful of others always responded. None of us knew it at the time, but they were the start of my firestop network that I treasure to this day.  

The other day Dave reached out to me asking if I knew something about a very obscure topic. I didn’t have a clue, but it made me feel good that he valued me as part of his network (because that’s how networks work).  

Here is the fun part. The very next day, I was on a call with a guy who I figured would have the answer to Dave’s question. I asked him and 15 minutes later he sent me the answer and a little bit more.  

If you don’t have a network like this. GET ONE.  

None of us can do it alone. When we support one another, it’s amazing what we can accomplish.  

If you: 

  1. work in construction 
  1. want to do things right  
  1. know you need help from time to time 

Please do this: 

  1. add me to YOUR network  
  1. call me when you need help. 

PS: Thank you to EQUALS Global Partnership’s webinar series, Uplifting Women by MGA member of its Leadership Coalition Co-chaired by UN Women and Ernst & Young, for hosting our webinar on The Power of Networks.