The Power of Networking

Over the past summer, I was invited by Bill Imada of the IW Group to the Emerald City, where I had the experience of a lifetime representing the NMGZ Community. Some of my favorite memories from this trip included fine dining, sightseeing, and connecting with strangers who I can now proudly call friends.

Along with 25 other like-minded young professionals and college students from across the United States, I had the incredible opportunity to meet and speak with executives from Microsoft, Starbucks, WE Communications, Seattle magazine, GeekWire, JoySauce, and Westfield Mall. Engaging with inspiring leaders such as Kass Sells, Matt Ashworth, Anthony Rodriguez, Navdeep Singh, Jonathan Sposato, Dominic Carr, Gretchen Ramsey, and Brent Colburn brought out the best in me and reshaped my outlook on the future of business.

Listening to professionals who had overcome countless obstacles in their careers and are now thriving inspired both me and my peers to approach our own career decisions with greater confidence. As a young professional who graduated from the University of North Texas, I often panicked about the next steps in my life as my time at UNT was coming to an end. One of the most reassuring lessons I took from this trip was hearing Microsoft executives share how their career paths looked completely different after graduation compared to where they are today.

Their advice made me feel far more at peace with where I am in life right now. While I may not know where I’ll be five years from now, I do know this: the community I found in Seattle will always be rooting for my success, just as I will be rooting for theirs.

Thank you again to the NMGZ Community for welcoming me as a member. I look forward to witnessing and, hopefully, contributing to the immense growth that awaits us all in the future.