How can professionals approach networking in a less daunting, more authentic way?
Stop calling it networking. Sophia Goring's advice is straightforward: go into any professional conversation with an open mind, without pressure — and simply treat it as a genuine conversation, the kind you already have every day. That single shift removes the anxiety that the word "networking" tends to trigger.
Not every conversation will lead somewhere. Goring is honest about that — some opportunities will come to nothing. But others will open doors to new career paths or lasting friendships. The key is staying open without over-investing in the outcome.
The label itself is the problem — not the conversation
Goring makes a precise distinction: the moment you label an interaction as "networking," people freeze. The word carries weight — expectations, performance, agenda. Strip that label away, and what remains is something people do effortlessly every day.
A genuine conversation, entered without a script or a goal to "make connections," is both more comfortable and, ultimately, more effective. The value emerges naturally — it doesn't need to be forced. You can listen to this exchange in full on Listenly, where Goring and her fellow panellists explore what authentic professional connection looks like in practice.
Mentoring, for me, has given me a purpose. Seeing people build confidence, overcoming obstacles, they've set goals that they thought were impossible. Seeing them achieve those goals has been rewarding.
Karen Anderson — Executive Director, Women's Utilities Network.
Anderson has led the Women's Utilities Network for just over two years, steering a community that has grown dramatically since its founding in 2018 — when five women in the utilities sector decided that being "the only female in the room" was no longer acceptable. Under her stewardship, the network's annual event at Future Utilities has grown from a handful of mentors and mentees to a gathering of well over 100 women and allies. She speaks regularly at industry events and is a visible advocate for gender diversity across the utilities sector.
See also
How has the Women's Utilities Network mentoring event grown over the years?
Two years ago, the Women's Utilities Network event at Future Utilities had only half a dozen to a dozen mentors and a few mentees standing in the reception area. Today, the same event draws well over 100 women and allies — a transformation that reflects the network's reach across the utilities sector since 2018.
What is the Women's Utilities Network and how was it founded?
The Women's Utilities Network was formed in 2018 by five influential women in the utilities sector who realised they were often the only females in the room. They founded the network out of a shared conviction that increasing gender diversity in utilities could have a real and lasting impact on the industry.
Key takeaways
- The word "networking" itself creates pressure — reframing it as a simple, genuine conversation immediately lowers the barrier.
- Go in with an open mind: not every interaction will lead somewhere, and that's fine — some will open unexpected career doors or friendships.
- Authentic connection doesn't require a script or an agenda; it works precisely because it mirrors how people naturally communicate every day.
- This mindset underpins communities like the Women's Utilities Network, where over 100 women and allies now gather — built conversation by conversation since 2018.