EP:24 - Beyond the Follow: The Truth About Online vs. In-Person Networking

In today’s hyper-connected world, is your follower count really as valuable as you think? Or is real business still happening over in-person coffee chats? In this special episode of Top of Mind, host Hayley Westoby is joined by Sophie Hood (Founder of Soul Tonic) and Lauren Meisner (Founder of Centennial World & host of Infinite Scroll) for an unfiltered conversation on the evolution of networking in 2024. They dive deep into: The great debate: Is online or in-person networking more effective? The controversial truth: Your online presence might not be as important as you think. The biggest networking ‘icks’—from ghosting to “pick your brain” requests. The secret to building meaningful connections (that actually open doors). Why Gen Z is shifting back to in-person interactions—and how brands can keep up. If you've ever wondered whether to spend more time curating your LinkedIn or showing up to real-life events, this episode is for you. Tune in, subscribe, and let us know: Are you team online or team IRL? Top of Mind is an extension of our business Gambit Collective, a pay-as-you-go marketing agency making marketing, social media and personal branding expertise accessible to everyone.   Don't forget to rate, subscribe and review - it helps our podcast grow and allows us to access amazing guests, and unlock more information for you to grow and scale your business. Follow along on your preferred channels: Lauren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenmeisner/ Sophie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-hood-b1b2a3115/ Top of Mind on IG: https://www.instagram.com/topofmind.pod/ Top of Mind on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@topofmind.pod Gambit Collective on IG: https://www.instagram.com/gambit.collective Gambit Collective on LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gambitcollective/ Gambit Collective on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gambitcollective Hayley on IG: https://www.instagram.com/hayleywestoby/ Hayley on LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayleywestoby/ Hayley on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hayleywestoby