Women's panel Strengthen your network, speak up

Gabrielle Saulsbery//December 18, 2018

Sejal Lakhani doesn’t make any decision without running it by a networking colleague. Whether it’s where to get her car serviced or how to make up the loss of a $1 million client, the Techwerxe CEO taps into her network for everything.

“I think the biggest thing when you’re networking is to remember it’s important to get out there, but figure out what you want to focus on,” she said. “You can’t be part of 50 different things and do 50 different tasks—you’re not going to make it. You need to really focus, hone it in, figure out what’s the best thing for you.”

Lakhani pours all her time into her job, her family, and two organizations, and through that network, she’s found both success and support.

“Between that I’ve been able to make up 75 percent of that lost million dollar client in a year,” she said. “My car has been fixed three times, and I’ve met just the most amazing people and been given the most amazing opportunities.”

Lakhani harped on the importance of connecting with others and making your voice heard at the NJBiz Women in Business panel at the Imperia in Somerset Tuesday morning.

That network can start anywhere from family to former classmates, according to co-founder and CEO of New Providence-based benefits management solutions company EverythingBenefits Rachel Lyubovitzky.

“You have to find these opportunities where they present themselves,” she said. “Always keep your eyes open for what could be your guiding force, your advisory network in your life to help yourself grow.”

Networking, according to the panel which also included Deloitte LLP Managing Director of Global Employer Services Jan Helgeson and McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter LLP Director of Professional and Business Development Nicole Alexander as moderator, is where women in the business world can find their mentors, sponsors, and as Helgeson put it, their “own personal board of directors”—the people are willing to tell you constructively if and when you look bad, so that you’re able to pivot and amend what you’ve done or said.

These mentors and network partners can come from anywhere, panelists said, even if they don’t come from within your organization. Meet-ups, LinkedIn groups, and professional industry associations that host events. Volunteering can turn into network opportunities as well, according to Alexander, who volunteers for the Newark Museum.

When Lakhani left her job on Wall Street, she said, she had no network—so she started attending four or five networking events per day.

“You have to be able to work on your business and not in your business because if you’re constantly working in your business you’re not going to have time to get out there,” she said.

After endless drinks and meals, she said, she’s finally developed her core network in the last year and a half.

“I would meet somebody, and if we hit it off great, If we didn’t I didn’t waste any more time. That’s when you start saying ‘no’ and you move on to someone else,” she said, adding, “Never eat alone. Find somebody to have breakfast, lunch, and dinner with. It’s all about meeting people and developing relationships.”

According to Lyubovitzky, creating a network and making professional strides is a matter of personal accountability.

“Women have to hold ourselves accountable to moving forward our professional growth…even if you’re not in an environment that’s supportive,” said Lyubovitzky.

The panelists also implored women to speak up and make their voices heard, rather than assuming they will succeed and be noticed by keeping their head down and working quietly.

“It’s about understanding your moment to find your voice and to step up and use it,” Helgeson said. “Just really making sure that we’re clear on that. We know when to use our voice, we know how to use our voice. It takes practice sometimes, for some people it’s natural but for others it’s not something that you’re necessarily born with.”