Many view networking as a means to find a new job, a prospect for new customers, or to grow their network for down the road; of course, this isn’t true for everyone, especially for me. I view networking as a means to share my knowledge, what I have learned along the way, but most of all, I love helping others; it is what gives me the greatest joy in my life. And if you read on there is a woman who lit my path during my journey and she can light your path too!

Many things make me happy, but if you asked me, “Lauren, what makes you the happiest?” The answer is simple when I help someone, make them smile, or do something without expecting anything in return, isn’t that what networking is all about?

My husband asks me all the time, why do you help strangers, you have so many things on your plate,

simple--God gave me many gifts so I believe in sharing my gifts with others. We have all been there, there is a company-wide email about a significant downsizing at work, or your boss leaves the company, so the writing is on the wall; better get networking. While yes, this may be true, but honestly, shouldn’t we all be networking every day to help others--I say Yes.

Now, for why I decided to write this article. When I lived in Florida, I worked for Office Depot. I later became their agency for special events, corporate philanthropy and started a PR division for the JKG Group (no longer in business). But my favorite project was leading public relations for an amazing women’s conference Success Strategies, (which ended in 2007), whereby I was able to draw 50+ reporters on-site every year (remember the days when media actually attended an event, and you had face-to-face interaction, I actually enjoyed those days). Leading PR for the conference was genuinely a fantastic experience. I met some amazing iconic women business leaders, both CEOs who led companies, women entrepreneurs who became iconic CEOs like Sara Blakely, and many more. However, one woman, Robbie Motter, I met in 2006--altered my life.

Robbie was the recipient of Office Depot’s Businesswoman of the Year award on behalf of the National Association of Female Executives (NAFE). So how did Robbie alter my life? Well, at the conference in 2006, I just really “clicked with her” she was just a beacon of positivity and energy. She encouraged me to start my own PR consulting business and due to some personal reasons, I decided I needed to relocate back to the northeast. However, I wondered how can I leave my job and pack up; well, I did, and Robbie was instrumental in kick-starting my consulting business.

She gave me the courage and start my own business, LG Connections. I led some projects for Office Depot, but then Robbie recommended me to organize, structure the agenda ad lead public relations for NAFE’s regional conference in California (and not too shabby, the conference was at the Ritz Carlton in Laguna Niguel.) Shortly after I completed the project in early 2007, I realized that being an entrepreneur wasn’t for me; while I am glad I did it, I needed a steady stream of income and health benefits, but I dared to do it because of Robbie. So I started interviewing and landed a PR agency job in NYC, and two months later, I met my husband, John. Coincidence, I think not! I sometimes look back and think had I not met Robbie or had the courage, I probably never would have met my husband, the stars were aligned.

To this day, Robbie is a dear and personal friend! Robbie’s favorite motto, “Just show up!” And Robbie not only shows up every day in the lives of so many women she makes others want to “show up.”

So flash forward to now, Robbie started her own non-profit women’s networking group, Global Society for Female Entrepreneurs (GFSE). I joined in late 2020, why did I join? It was a no brainer; I wanted to support Robbie, but I also wanted to see if I could help some of the members. There are so many opportunities to connect with women across the U.S., virtual events, fun Zoom sessions, business growth opportunities and meeting new women you may otherwise

not have the chance to connect with; it’s truly an organization focused on authentically supporting women.