If you had asked me a year ago how I felt about networking, my answer would have come with a hesitant smile and a slight cringe.
As an introvert, networking has always felt like a task I should do rather than something I wanted to do. The word itself conjured images of awkward small talk, insincere interest, and exchanging business cards that would eventually gather dust in the bottom of my bag. It all felt outdated, performative, and frankly… exhausting.
But this year has shifted my perspective in ways I didn’t expect.
Stepping further into my leadership role at Gateway, I knew I had to start showing up in new spaces and engaging with new people. Not because it was a box to check, but because our work at Gateway is fundamentally about connection. And how could I champion that mission externally if I wasn’t embracing it myself?
Redefining Networking: It’s About Real Conversations
What I’ve learned is simple, but powerful: Networking doesn’t have to be about schmoozing or collecting contacts just for the sake of it. It’s about making real connections.
When I meet someone new now—whether it’s at a community event, a conference, or a casual coffee—I’m focused on learning about them as a person. What drives them? What hobbies do they enjoy? What challenges are they facing? Where do our paths overlap?
The best conversations I’ve had this year didn’t happen in an exhibit hall. They happened while grabbing a coffee after a panel discussion. Or during a Zoom meeting that started off as a “quick intro” and turned into an hour-long conversation about access, inclusion, and the evolving landscape of nonprofit leadership.
Networking, at its core, is about being curious and being present.
Real Relationships Take Time—And That’s a Good Thing
One of the most surprising (and rewarding) parts of this journey has been seeing how connections evolve over time.
The people I met at the start of this year are now individuals I collaborate with, brainstorm with, and learn from regularly. These are people who send me an email just to check in to see how my vacation was. People I look forward to seeing at the next community event—not because it’s “good for business,” but because we’ve built something real.
And here’s the magic: When you show up authentically, people remember you. The next time you meet, the conversation doesn’t start with small talk—it picks up right where you left off.
This has happened more times than I can count over the past few months, and each time it reminds me: Building a professional network doesn’t mean constantly meeting new people. It means deepening the relationships you’ve already started.
Why the Word “Business” Feels Outdated
There’s another realization I’ve had along the way: The language we use around networking is long overdue for an update.
The term “business networking” feels too transactional for the kind of work we’re doing at Gateway—and the kind of connections we’re building as professionals in the nonprofit and human services world.
When I connect with someone about Gateway, we’re not talking about products or sales. We’re talking about children finding their voices through speech therapy. We’re talking about adults navigating hearing loss with dignity. We’re talking about Deaf individuals gaining access to interpreting services that empower autonomy and choice.
Our work touches people’s lives in deeply personal ways. That’s not just “business.” That’s human connection.
So now, when I think about networking, I think about relationship-building. I think about community. I think about how we can support each other’s missions and lift each other up.
To My Fellow Introverts: You Can Do It!
If you’re reading this and you also consider yourself an introvert—here’s my encouragement to you: You can do it.
You don’t have to work the entire room at a networking event. You don’t have to fake extroversion. You don’t have to walk away with a stack of business cards. You can still escape to the bathroom when you need a mental break!
You just have to start with one authentic conversation. Be curious. Be kind. Be yourself.
And remember—many of the people you’ll meet feel exactly the same way.
Some of my most impactful connections this year started with something as simple as, “This is my first time at one of these events—how about you?”
Connection Is Core to Who We Are at Gateway
This whole experience has reminded me that at Gateway, our mission isn’t just about the services we provide. It’s about creating spaces where people can connect, communicate, and feel understood—whether that’s through an ASL class, speech therapy session, audiology consult, or school support.
Our organization exists because connection matters. And that includes the way we build relationships with our partners, supporters, and community collaborators.
So here I am—an introverted connector. Excited to keep growing, keep meeting new people at my own pace, and keep strengthening the network of passionate individuals and organizations who believe in the power of communication.
Whether you’re a fellow nonprofit leader, a corporate partner, or someone just starting to engage with Gateway—thank you for being part of this journey.
I can’t wait to see where these connections take us next.
by Emilie Aguilar
Learn More About Gateway
Gateway gives hope, changes lives, and builds connections for Marylanders. Gateway connects people to their worlds and aids individuals in their ability to understand and to be understood. Gateway has grown into an organization that serves more than 4,000 children and adults every year, helping them communicate more effectively. With programming both on our Baltimore campus and through community-based programming, we provide education, access, and medical support to anyone who needs it.
We envision a society where everyone can understand and be understood and where everyone is treated with integrity, compassion, and equity.
