DECEMBER 2020 | 15
COLUMNS
How to network virtually As every entrepreneur knows, networking can make or break your business. From finding a possible business partner to connecting with venture capitalists, those Friday drinks at your co-working space hold endless possibilities. Now, however, we’re all working from home, and it’s become a lot harder to meet new people. You might find yourself lacking inspiration, feeling demotivated in your business, or craving interaction with like minded individuals. The pandemic has stopped us being able to do many things, but networking isn’t one of them. Here are some ways you can network virtually - without any awkward Zoom quizzes. Go old school Before the arrival of LinkedIn, Bumble Bizz, and co-working hubs full of entrepreneurs looking to network, connections were made through friends of friends. Read any of the classic business books by the likes of Dale Carnegie or Mark McCormack, and they’ll say that your success comes down to who you know. You don’t have to come from a family of well-connected entrepreneurs - you can build your own valuable network that will help you achieve your business goals. Start by going old-school, and think about everybody you know. Do you have friends or friends-of-friends who would be interesting to connect with? Reach out! A personal introduction helps break the ice, and gives you something to talk about. You never know - your friend’s former colleague could end up being your business partner. Join online communities Online communities have come into their own during the pandemic. Opt for something industry-related, or for a more general community where you can meet people who run all types of businesses. The benefit of online communities is that they often have built-in
networking activities. Look for online directories listing members alongside information about their industry and business, and reach out to people who look interesting to you. Some communities also hold coffee roulettes, pairing members each month who then meet for a 30 minute virtual coffee. Random pairings allow you to meet people you might not otherwise have connected with, opening your business up to new opportunities for collaboration. You might also have the chance to host a workshop within your online community, opening up your business to new possible clients. From personal experience, my membership of Found & Flourish, an international supportive community for female entrepreneurs, had led to endless new clients and opportunities which I could never have foreseen. It’s worth doing some research and making use of free trial months to find an online community that suits you. Turn to social media Social media has a bad reputation for being a distraction when it comes to work. But when it’s used wisely, you can use Instagram, Facebook, and particularly LinkedIn to connect with new people of interest. On Instagram and Linkedin, make use of hashtags to find people to connect with in your industry. Consider joining a couple of free Facebook groups, introducing yourself and asking if anybody would like to connect. These groups are also useful for asking specific questions, like recommendations for an accountant or business lawyer, or tips for good online courses. Make sure that your profile across all social media channels is up to date, and shows you at your best. No one wants to respond to a message from a half-empty profile, or one that doesn’t explain what you and your business do. Ensure
you’ve got a profile picture, you’ve shared key information in your bio, and you provide links to your website for added authenticity. Once you’ve started a conversation via social media, suggest having a virtual coffee date or phone call so that you can develop your relationship further. Stick to ‘owned’ channels as much as possible (email, phone calls, texts) so that if LinkedIn or Instagram were to shut down tomorrow, you wouldn’t lose all your contacts. Alumni groups Finally, consider approaching people in alumni groups. These might be hosted on Facebook or LinkedIn, and include everyone who attended the same high school or university as you. You might not have been friends at the time 10 or 15 years ago, but it could just so happen that your former classmate is now a high-profile CEO, and you’d love to grab a virtual coffee with her. Don’t just stick to your former year group, either - search for people a few years above and below you, and see what they’re up to now. Your shared educational background gives you something to talk about, and you never know what might come out of it! Written by Phoebe Dodds Founder of BURO155
And the winner is … (no, not the election)
After eight weeks of singing, dancing, acting, sewing and design challenges, and dozens of original looks strutted down the runway, the Netherlands has its first Drag Superstar – Envy Peru. The fifth international version of RuPaul’s Drag Race came to the Netherlands mid-September and showcased the top drag performers in the Netherlands (and one from Belgium) with looks that were ‘everything’ and left us ‘gagging’! And with the best track record in the franchise’s her-story, the Amsterdambased Latina drag queen was crowned the first Dutch Drag Superstar. Anyone who knows me knows a few things about me: I love to travel, I can mix a perfect cocktail, coffee is my best friend, and I am an über-fan of the competition show phenomenon known as RuPaul’s Drag Race. So you can imagine my excitement when it was announced that my beloved Drag Race was coming to the Netherlands! And this season in my beloved Netherlands did not disappoint. The eight-episode season featured some of the best looks, fashion, performances, fun and humour of any of the other seasons. And like most of the other seasons, the backstories of the contestants, including their trials and hardships, were on full display.
THT 9 _CS.indd 15
While the show is undoubtedly entertaining because of the talent, the ‘campiness’ and the sheer joy it brings, it is becoming a very important cultural and social symbol beyond recreational viewing. Season after season the show is serving as an educator to the masses on important LGBTQ+ and social subjects, it highlights the reality of marginalized groups subjected to bullying and ridicule, and it offers a beacon of hope for LGBTQ+ youth who feel out of place in their current surroundings. Once limited to the lesser-frequented neighbourhoods’ cabaret scene, the worldwide sensation that is drag is now on the international television and internet stage for the whole world to enjoy. This season’s winner, Miss Envy Peru, is a perfect example. Envy, or Boris Itzkovich Escobar ‘out of drag’, is a native of Peru, having come with her mother to the Netherlands when she was four years old. In his youth, Boris knew he was different, but coming from a Latin American ‘macho’ culture, as Envy described it in her on-screen confessionals, those feelings were suppressed. Envy even recalls realizing she was gay and wanted to deny it even to herself, since it in the culture she was from it was something to be ashamed of. Furthermore, only knowing stereotypical things about gay culture, she didn’t want to be associated with it and didn’t come out until age 21. Later, learning about LGBTQ+ culture, particularly what this culture entailed for a gay man, Envy got to opportunity to not only be her true self, but to express herself in an artistic, fashionable way, that took her all the way to winning the first season of Drag Race Holland.
Other stories emerged of bullying and being disowned by friends and family. But what the contestants display time and time again is that by believing in yourself, ‘finding your tribe’ and not letting society and other people’s opinions hinder you – you can achieve anything you put your mind and heart to. It’s an amazing message to young people all over the world who might feel marginalized or forgotten or may be in a similar situation – many of these stories are shared on the show and even some who were inspired as youths by the show are now contestants on it. Recent seasons have also opened up the discussion about gender identity and gender roles. The statuesque contestant from Rotterdam, Ma’Ma Queen, used the stage of the show to express their non-binary gender identity through jaw-dropping looks, fashion and unforgettable acting and performing. But it was when their father joined the show for the infamous ‘makeover challenge’ and they walked the runway together in full drag and with fake pregnancy baby bumps that the message of acceptance by family members was really brought home. The beautiful story of allowing their child to be themselves put a tear in everyone’s eyes. Many people might see the show as entertainment for the LGBTQ+ community, but its message and appeal transcend this limited perception. It offers messages, learning and new perspectives and yes, a whole lot of fun, campy entertainment! Written by Marla Thomson Marla Thomson is a freelance writer
11-11-20 22:12
