Developing a Strong Professional Networking: Make Your Contacts Count

In today's fast-moving world, it’s not just what you know—but who knows you. Whether you're launching a career, shifting fields, or navigating graduate school, your professional network can open doors you didn’t even know existed.

In this practical and energizing talk, Annie Rao, MBA, shares how to move beyond small talk and start building intentional, lasting professional relationships. Drawing from her experience in leadership development, strategy, and consulting across academic and corporate spaces, Annie offers concrete tools for finding mentors, expanding your circle, and making sure your name comes up in the right rooms.

This session is perfect for students, early-career professionals, and researchers thinking beyond academia. Learn how to make your contacts count—and how to become the kind of contact others want in their corner.