40: How to Build a Professional Network for Women Leaders

That promotion you did not get? It was probably not decided in a performance review. It was decided on a golf course, at happy hour, or in a conversation you were never invited to.Informal networks at work are where the real career decisions get made and most women are not in those rooms. Research shows that 70 to 80 percent of promotions and high-visibility opportunities are driven by professional relationships, not performance alone. Yet women's networks are 30 percent smaller than men's, and the gap widens at every level of leadership.In this episode, SisterSmart Leadership Coaches Jill and Sara Spencer break down everything you need to know about building influential professional relationships and developing career sponsorship strategies that actually work. You will learn how to network professionally without feeling self-promotional, how to build strategic relationships when you are working remotely or in a hybrid environment, and how to identify the sponsors and senior leaders who will champion your next promotion.Whether you are trying to rise from director to VP, get noticed by senior leadership, or simply figure out how to build the kind of network that opens doors, this episode gives you a clear, practical framework to make it happen on your own terms.WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE:01:50 -- Why informal networks at work drive promotions more than performance and what you can do about it04:30 -- The biggest misconception women have about professional relationships building (and the mindset shift that changes everything)08:45 -- Formal vs. informal networks and which one is actually driving career advancement11:00 -- How to build the professional networking muscle with just one hour a week15:30 -- Creative, low-pressure ways to connect that do not require evening events or forced small talk19:45 -- Hybrid work networking strategies, how to stay visible and build relationships when you are not always in the office24:00 -- How to map your network and close the gaps that could be holding back your promotion28:30 -- Career sponsorship strategies, how to identify and build relationships with the senior leaders who will advocate for you33:00 -- Three action steps you can take this week to start building a network that moves your career forwardTHIS EPISODE IS FOR YOU IF:You are a woman in leadership who wants to move from director to VP or into senior executive rolesYou have been waiting for your hard work to speak for itself and it is not workingYou want professional networking tips that feel authentic, not sleazy or self-promotionalYou are looking for a career coach for women who understands the real barriers to promotionYou want to build executive presence and get noticed by the right senior leadersFREE RESOURCE MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:Stakeholder Mapping Guide: https://sistersmart.ck.page/fb7440c515 ALSO MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:Free Passport to Promotion Private Podcast -- 7 Steps to Get Promoted from Director to VP: https://joinsistersinleadership.com/7-steps Apply for the Sisters in Leadership Program (12-month coaching for women leaders): https://joinsistersinleadership.com/ Explore Leadership Courses for Women: https://sistersmart.com/leadership-courses ABOUT SARA SPENCER:Sara Spencer is a SisterSmart Leadership Coach who specializes in networking strategy, professional relationships building, and career sponsorship strategies for senior women leaders. Sara works with women inside the Sisters in Leadership program to help them build the influential networks and executive presence that open doors to the next level of leadership. Her coaching approach is practical, authentic and designed to fit the real demands of women navigating both career and life.ABOUT SISTERSMART LEADERSHIP:SisterSmart Leadership is a coaching practice that helps women rise from director to vice president and beyond. Founded by executive coach and leadership coach Jill Avey, the flagship Sisters in Leadership program uses a proven 7-step framework to help women build the skills, visibility and networks they need to advance into senior leadership on their own terms.—Register for the Free Executive Presence for Women Masterclass: The 3 keys to Increase Authority and Influence, happening live on Thursday, August 8 at 12 PST.A replay will be available for those that register! https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAkdOsrDItGdHchQv1BXFozsGRUjL74xlK#/registration —🌟 FREE MASTERCLASS: Achieve Your VP Promotion: 3 Steps to Success in the Next Yearhttps://sistersmart.com/register-sil—✈️ FREE PASSPORT TO PROMOTION PRIVATE PODCAST: 7 STEPS TO GET PROMOTED FROM DIRECTOR TO VP Get access to the Passport to Promotion Private Podcast—👩‍💻 APPLY FOR THE SISTERS IN LEADERSHIP PROGRAM An 12-month coaching program for women leaders who want to rise up and fulfill their career potential and get promoted from director to VPJoin Sisters in Leadership to Get Promoted to VP—💻 EXPLORE OUR LEADERSHIP COURSESWe offer a few leadership courses for you to begin sharpening your skills from meeting management to executive presence and productivity.Sign Up for a Leadership Course—👋 CONNECT WITH JILL 🌐 Website: https://sistersmart.com/ 🎥 YouTube: https://linktw.in/uWD3ko 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillavey/