Katie Coccia, Senior Manager of Human Resources and Facilities

We just hosted another Connelly Partners Empowering Women’s Networking Event, which offered both CP and non-CP women the chance to meet someone new, make meaningful connections, and learn about personal brands. 

But what is a personal brand? And how is it different from a reputation? 

Simply put, a reputation is built on trust and is influenced by how others view your actions and conduct. A personal brand, however, is the image that you want others to have of you [1]. It is intentionally and strategically designed to convey your unique value and it sets you apart from others in your field [2]. It gives you the tools needed to fight imposter syndrome, all while helping you gain support from people who will elevate and speak up for you [3][4]. 

At the event, attendees wrote down one word to describe their personal brand and shared it with their peers. We saw many powerful words like evolve, curious, brave, and more. I left the event feeling energized and inspired, and I caught up with a few colleagues to hear their thoughts.

The personal brand word exercise was fun and uplifting. I liked how it painted a picture of everyone’s personalities and key strengths—highlighting how powerful we can be when we join forces and are eager to learn from one another. My word was “enthusiasm” as I take pride in approaching my work with positive energy and optimism—to encourage my teammates and create a more collaborative environment, even when facing challenges. – Courtney Marlow, Senior PR & Social Media Manager

This was my first women’s event. I got to talk to and connect with ladies at CP from other departments that I otherwise never get a chance to talk to. I feel like I learned more about them, and people learned more about me. My personal brand word was “trust!” I find when there is trust in the workplace, it builds the comfort to work and speak up especially when you have a new idea. – Chandani Patel, Staff Accountant

I loved meeting people in other roles and hearing about their work experience. My word was “authenticity.” I feel like with advertising authenticity is important. Telling stories in a way that resonates is important to me in my work, and it was cool to talk with folks in other disciplines who also shared that same value! – Alexa Caruso, Junior Art Director

Now that you know a little more about personal branding and why it is important, it’s your turn! What word describes your personal brand?

Watch for details on our next Women’s Networking evening. If you aren’t on the invite list please reach out to Ashley Campbell. 

Sources:

1. What’s the Point of a Personal Brand? – Harvard Business Review
2. A New Approach to Building Your Personal Brand – Harvard Business Review
3. Find Your Voice, Communicate Your Value: How to Build a Personal Brand as a Woman – LinkedIn
4. How Women Can Develop and Promote Their Personal Brand – Harvard Business Review 

Ashley Campbell, Group Brand Director

Empowerment (noun)
em·​pow·​er·​ment
The act or action of empowering someone or something: the granting of the power, right, or authority to perform various acts or duties. [1]

How many times have you seen an event, conference, or piece of content coupling females with empowerment? But have you ever taken a step back to look at the definition? I personally hadn’t. “Granting of the power” is an eye-opening definition of the word. As women, we should not be granted the power, it should be inherent in our being. The reality here is that being granted the power is not all that powerful.

In case you missed it, we just ran our third “CP Empowering Women’s Networking” event in Boston. Leading up to the gathering, the definition of the event name shed some light on a problem that my colleagues and I felt we needed to address. Sure, networking should create a sense of empowerment. But the power is already within us.

At each of these events, my colleague Michele Hart-Henry, Managing Director of CP Health, and I lead a networking exercise that encourages our guests to chat with someone they have never met. Last month our topic was imposter syndrome. 

We have learned over time that these programs foster positive discussion. So, after reflecting on the name of our event, we determined that our April event topic should be ‘Stepping into the Power.’ We asked guests to discuss an example of a situation where they were either proud of embracing their power, or a time they wished they had stepped into it. 

This fostered wonderful conversation. We learned of times where these women were proud of using their voices to support and sponsor their colleagues. We also learned of times where they felt they voiced an opinion and were unfortunately shut down and wished they had not given up.

So, as you read this blog, we ask that you consider rethinking the word “empowerment.” Instead ladies, embrace the power you already have.

Please keep an eye out for our next Women’s Networking evening, which we plan to hold this summer. We’re excited to announce a new name via this fourth Connelly Partners event, but you’ll have to stay tuned to learn more!

If you aren’t on our invite list please reach out to me, Ashley Campbell. And while you’re at it, feel free to send event name suggestions my way as well. 

Sources:

1. Merriam-Webster

Michele Hart-Henry, Managing Director, CP Health

Fostering Growth and Connection

In January, we were thrilled to host our second women’s networking event, attended by over 60 women from various industries, ages, and career stages across Boston. Our Empowering Women Network event series aims to create an environment that encourages genuine connections and conversations, acknowledging that women and men network differently [1]. Our focus aligns with the broader trend of women’s networking events, which provide a safe space for women to share experiences and challenges [2]. 

Why Does an Advertising Agency Host Networking Events?

Networking is crucial for women in the workplace – any workplace – as it helps them identify role models, find mentors and sponsors, and expand their business relationships. The way we see it, though, it goes beyond just connecting with people; it’s about building a community to share ideas, solve problems, and create opportunities for one another. And since so many of our clients and employees are women, it’s a logical way for us to support them.

When I approached our President, Steve Connelly, about starting the series, he threw his support behind the idea. As he said recently, “I don’t know what you all talk about or do since you won’t let me in, but I know this is important for us to support.” In fact, so many of our people see the importance of this effort that we have a whole army – women and men – who work behind the scenes to make sure the events go off without a hitch. 

As I explained to Steve and to everyone who attends or asks, our goal isn’t exclusion. There are well-researched gender differences in forming networks and discrepancies in access to and use of networks, making it more important for women to have psychosocial and social support [3]. 

Among our goals for forming the series, along with enjoying food, beverages and fellowship in our really cool and inviting space, is to use the event to share helpful information that our guests and our employees can implement in their personal and professional lives. 

During our first event, we focused on networking 101 basics – name tag placement, handshakes, and using QR codes instead of business cards. This time, we broke into smaller groups and discussed imposter syndrome, exploring whether it’s an intrinsic or a workplace issue and discussing strategies to combat it [4].

More Events on Tap

The Empowering Women Network series will continue, sponsored by our agency. Future events will continue to focus on topics relevant to women in the workforce, providing a platform for discussion, connection, and empowerment. The goal is to support women in their professional journeys, helping them navigate challenges and celebrate successes in a supportive and inclusive environment.

Our next gathering is slated for this coming spring and we’d love to have more women join us! If you’d like to be on our mailing list for that event, or if you’d like to learn more about our network, email me at MHartHenry@connellypartners-old.local.

Sources

1. Why Women Need A Professional Network – Forbes
2. The benefits of women’s networking groups – Fast Company
3. Networking: The Most Important Thing Women Should Do for … – Entrepreneur
4. End Imposter Syndrome in Your Workplace – Harvard Business Review