Hi Reader!
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Almost two years ago, a good friend of mine, Nic Mooney (my best friend and future podcast co-host, though neither of us knew that then) had invited me along to her new networking meeting. She had just become a host for the Socially Shared Women's Business Network, and in all honesty, I didn't really get it.
It felt strange to me that she'd thrown her lot in with this other brand - I couldn't understand why she'd give her time to this thing that wasn't her incredible business, and I wanted to go along to try and see what she saw.
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I remember walking into that room thinking:
“Okay Ro… don’t be weird. Don’t overtalk. Don’t undertalk. Don’t let anyone know you’re nervous. Don’t say anything stupid. Don’t make it obvious you’re sweating.”
Because despite what people assume about me now, I wasn’t “a natural” at networking. So I'd always avoided it.
I didn’t glide in.
I didn’t own the room.
I definitely didn’t deliver a perfect elevator pitch.
I was awkward. I rambled. But that room made me feel at home, supported, valued. I started to see what Nic was going on about. So I kept going. Even though it was uncomfortable. Because I knew - even then - that these rooms were important.
I kept practicing. I honed my elevator pitch. I became a member and started giving talks. I tested follow up strategies. And... I got good at it. I good at capturing attention, good at delivering value, good at converting.
And after 18 months, this June, something happened that I will never forget. I stood on the stage at the Socially Shared conference as the closing speaker - the highlight of my year. It showed me that I absolutely adore being on that stage. It showed me that practice pays off. And ... it was where I met Dawn Owen properly for the first time.
That moment changed everything.
It cracked open doors I didn’t even realise were there.
It turned into the partnership I announced last week.
It set the tone for the woman I’ve been becoming ever since.
All because I kept walking into rooms before I felt ready.
Networking doesn’t come naturally. It takes practice
We have this myth that some people are “born networkers.”
I suspect people who are in the same room as me these days would think that about me. Nope. What they are is practiced.
Here’s what networking really requires:
Writing and practicing your elevator pitch​
Not to be robotic - but so you don’t panic and blurt something chaotic, or suck up everyone's time rambling around the point for 20 minutes.
Practicing conversation skills​
Including the incredibly underrated skill of knowing when to stop talking.
Practicing listening​
Real listening. Not waiting for your turn to speak. Not thinking about your pitch. Listening for connection points.
Practicing confidence regulation​
aka learning not to shrink when you meet someone impressive - understanding that you have something incredible to offer the room.
Practicing showing up​
Even when you’d rather stay home in fluffy socks avoiding humanity altogether. And ESPECIALLY when you're too busy. The best time to network is when you're busy - it's when you're most animated and interesting.
Does it feel uncomfortable in the beginning?
YES.
Should it?
ALSO YES.
Because new things always feel uncomfortable.
The discomfort doesn’t mean you’re bad at it - it means you’re becoming someone who can hold bigger rooms.
Why I’m stepping into hosting my own group
So, as I told revealed to you last week (and has now been officially announced), from January, I’ll be the Sutton Coldfield host for Socially Shared.
I’m so excited I could explode. Because this is an opportunity to do something that matters.
Low cost. High value. Real connection. No forced cringe.
My first group will be on January 15th, and I’ll be running a hands on workshop:
✨ Your 2026 Marketing Strategy - From Scratch
If you’re anywhere near Sutton Coldfield - or you fancy a trip - pop it in your diary.
This is the room I wish I’d had YEARS ago. Supportive, and warm, and full of women who get it. A place where you can practice, grow, and rise.
If you want to make networking WORK for you…
This won’t shock you, but:
Networking works best when you have a clear message, clear offer, and clear plan. When you put the work in before, and the follow up after.
I’ve distilled everything I’ve learned, practiced, and honed into one simple course: Five short recorded videos with everything you need to turn networking into a successful, repeatable lead generation tool.
Those five videos will walk you through:
- What to do before the event so you’re not winging it in the room
- How to introduce yourself in a way that’s clear, compelling and actually memorable
- What to pay attention to while you’re there (and how to make a lasting impression)
- How to follow up so conversations turn into coffee chats, then clients
- How to build a repeatable system so every event feeds your pipeline instead of just your imposter syndrome
It’s the exact process I’ve used to turn “I don’t really get networking” into
➡️ speaking gigs
➡️ collaborations
➡️ partnerships
➡️ and now… hosting my own group.
You don’t need to be the loudest person in the room. You don’t need to be “a natural extrovert.” You just need a plan, some practice, and a room that wants you to win.
And that’s what I want Socially Shared Sutton Coldfield to be.
So if you want to be in that room with me on 15th January… make sure it’s in your diary, and I'll make sure you guys are the first to get the link when the tickets are live.
Keep walking into rooms before you feel ready.
One day, you might just look up and realise you belong on the stage too.
See you next week,
​Ro x
P.S. I’m genuinely curious - on a scale of 1–10, how confident do you feel about networking right now? Hit reply with your number and one sentence about why. I'll read every response and reply with a suggestion to help.
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