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This post is written by Jenna Dutton, a senior urban planner and changemaker in local government

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  • The problem: Networking is seen as a vital component of career advancement — but is exclusionary.
  • Why it matters: We need more diversity in government.
  • The solution: Strong networks, rather than networking, are the future.

I used to think that I needed to adapt to fit the mould to enjoy stereotypical networking events but then I realised the power of networks over networking.

Remember your first networking event? I suppose in some ways it could be back when we were children meeting kids for the first time in the sandbox or playground. What I really mean is remember your first official professional networking event? After completing my undergraduate degree, one of the most memorable was part of a conference for rural municipalities involving questionable beige carpet, high tables with white table cloths, excess strewn business cards, and endless cheap wine. A melange of ages from us fresh-faced interns to experienced Chief Administrative Officers. Whether as an early career professional looking for a first job or advancement or simply hoping to connect with others, networking has always made me feel like I couldn’t truly be myself.

Stepping outside my comfort zone I realized my full potential through connecting to others and have now taken my career in a far more beneficial direction.

As a former introvert who has more recently become an ambivert (depending of course on the day, and type of setting) these types of events give me quite a lot of anxiety. Although I have become far more comfortable since the earlier stages of my career to me they feel a lot like speed dating, but with far less speed and focus, and typically in a stuffier more poorly decorated room. Similar to many public sector roles, the field of planning is mostly male-dominated, and especially if you go to an event with developers and the building industry there is likely to be less than 30% women.

Right-sizing professional networking

In fact, professional networking itself was established as business networking and has historically been very exclusionary for women and other marginalised groups. Considering that the Covid-19 pandemic entirely stopped traditional in-person networking events, arguments have been confusingly made on both sides that remote working enhances workplace diversity and makes it more hostile for marginalized groups. Some of these types of traditional networking events in my home city of Calgary have historically been held at the Petroleum Club which in all its polished wooden panel glory, was still requiring women to enter through the back entrance in the mid 90’s. The two times I went to the venue I was not surprised to be the only person locking my bike up outside the entrance. Regardless of the gender dynamics, or if you happen to know a single soul in the room, networking can be difficult for anyone.

Working in local government for a number of years I increasingly felt like I didn’t fit in, and not just because of my multi-coloured hair and loud patterned shirts. Whether in meeting rooms or presenting in front of committee members there was certainly pressure to fit inside a box, leading me to decisions like strategically covering up my tattoos. Despite my style, fashion skills, and expertise I was often overlooked even when I was the project lead, a strange feeling of invisibility despite my appearance. While feeling increasingly alone I also realised that when I actually reached out to others, whether direct colleagues, friends, or those in my network, they were experiencing many similar things.

After starting a master’s degree in 2016, I was also hearing a lot of similar comments from my cohort. Whether it was concerns about clueless leadership and gaslighting at work, colleagues being treated unfairly, wondering whether going on maternity leave would drastically impact careers or reflecting on why we all decided to do a full-time master’s degree while working full-time (in some cases while also taking care of young children or during pregnancy).

Promoting diversity, equity and inclusion

This ever-expanding disconnect eventually led me to start Women in Urbanism YYC in early 2019 as a way to engage outside my personal protective bubble, but also as a way to promote diversity, equity and inclusion in urbanism.

I began to finally gain more confidence to say yes to professional development and learning opportunities that weren’t necessarily stereotypical “business networking” but those in which I had more opportunity to meet people different from myself — different backgrounds, fields, lived experiences. So, I started to reach out to similar-minded changemakers in networks in other countries, went to Copenhagen for an urban resilience summer school (which is now a 135+ member global community of practice), met with local organisations to collaborate on initiatives, and asked peers I admire to co-author innovative research with me. These experiences have not only helped me grow as a person but have improved my professional practice as well. Now I can confidently say that my network is one of my greatest accomplishments and strengths. This became increasingly apparent during the pandemic, where connecting regularly with those in my network allowed me to share similar experiences and stories and helped with my mental health (especially in the -30 Calgary winter days).

If your environment doesn’t allow you to be yourself and dulls your sparkle, then many other places will appreciate your magic and enthusiasm. Stepping outside my comfort zone I realized my full potential through connecting to others and have now taken my career in a far more beneficial direction.

If you have ever also found networking exceptionally tedious perhaps it isn’t that you need to change to fit the mould, rather that you have to take chances, be bold, and look for supportive individuals outside your bubble to become part of your network. — Jenna Dutton

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(Picture credit: Unsplash)