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In a world where online connectivity is instantaneous, it’s easy to assume that traditional networking has lost its relevance. A LinkedIn message, a quick DM, or joining a digital community can make us feel like we’re expanding our network with minimal effort.

But despite the convenience of technology, nothing replaces the power of in-person, human connection—especially for women professionals who are navigating visibility, influence, and career advancement.

A networking opportunity takes me to play elephant polo in the jungles of Nepal

Almost 25 years ago, I faced the prospect of a gap in my resume because a managerial level job that I had been offered was rescinded a month before I was supposed to join. The firm was merging with another accounting firm and the mood was one of laying off people, not new hires.

It wasn’t an easy time for me. I had just returned to India and didn’t have a solid referral network to help me back then. LinkedIn didn’t exist and the only thing to do was look at online job portals, or to send the resume to Executive Search firms and hope for the best.

That was the time when the BPO industry was booming in India and the only jobs that seemed to be available were in these BPOs. Besides the job descriptions didn’t match my profile or experience. 6 months into interviews and dealing with headhunters who couldn’t help, I got angry and decided to employ myself!

The way I saw it, I had an apartment with space for a home office, a computer with printer, a car and a landline phone with fax and answering machine.

The Universe must have approved of my plan because within a month I landed one of the most enjoyable projects ever and even got to play elephant polo in the jungles of Nepal!

One evening my parents were invited to a cocktail party and they urged me to come with them. I wasn’t really in the mood to socialize but something inside me said to go and meet new people, even if over drinks and canapés with small talk.

That evening, I ended up having an engaging fifteen -minute conversation with a couple who took a keen interest in my work. The wife exclaimed that I was just the person Jim would want to meet. She didn’t say much but asked for my phone number.

The next morning, I got a call from the wife asking for my resume which I faxed across. An hour later I was invited on an all-expenses paid trip to Nepal to meet the owner of Nepal’s biggest adventure travel group in the forests of Chitwan for a consulting assignment. The rest is history.

And here’s the truth: none of this would have happened if I had stayed behind a computer screen or decided to watch a movie on the television at home.

We may be digitally connected, but are we really connected?

We live in an interconnected world. Messages are instant, introductions are made in seconds, and social media constantly promises us access to “opportunities.” It often feels as though traditional networking has become optional—almost outdated.

But nothing could be further from the truth.

Digital platforms are excellent for exchanging ideas, discovering opportunities, and connecting with people you might never meet otherwise. They’re a valuable starting point. However, online communication can only go so far.

Online interactions can never replicate what happens when two people share a conversation in the same physical space.

As women professionals, where relationship-building and visibility are essential to career growth, this distinction matters.

Face-to-face interactions allow you to build rapport faster and more authentically. You communicate not only through words but through presence, energy, body language, and the subtle cues that create trust.

These are the very elements that help women sharpen their executive presence and stand out in rooms that matter.

A few seconds in person often give us more insight about someone than weeks of online messaging. That’s because when you’re physically in a space with someone, your brain processes micro-expressions, tone, confidence, and emotional cues far more effectively.

The Power of Being in the Room

There is something quietly powerful about looking someone in the eye, sharing a smile, or hearing the tone behind their words. In just a few seconds of in-person contact, you understand someone’s sincerity, energy, and intentions far more deeply than through text or video.

These micro-moments build trust, which is something that women often need more of in professional environments where credibility and executive presence are constantly judged.

When you are physically present:

• People remember you
• They feel your confidence
• They sense your authenticity
• They’re more willing to champion you.

That’s the kind of connection no online persona can create.

Limitations of the Online World we need to consider

Let’s be honest: it’s easy to look impressive online. A polished profile, perfectly crafted posts, and the right buzzwords can create an image that doesn’t always match reality.

And sometimes, it’s not intentional but just the natural limitation of digital interaction. You simply don’t get the full picture.

That’s why online networking must be a step, not the destination.

Networking is a give-and-take process and fundamentally relational. It requires a willingness to engage, offer value, and build a reciprocal exchange. That level of connection is difficult to achieve through messages alone.

It thrives on human connection. And real connection happens when you move the conversation from messages to meetings.

Start online but don’t stay there

Women often face unique networking challenges which include social conditioning, confidence biases, smaller informal networks and difficulty accessing “old boys’ clubs”.

These challenges and barriers can be overcome if you focus on intentional networking and netweaving to add value to your existing network. One way is to form your own business lunch network.

Think of using online platforms as the first step in your networking strategy. Not the whole strategy.

For example:

• LinkedIn can help you identify decision-makers, mentors, or peers.
• Professional communities and women’s leadership groups can introduce you to new circles.
• Virtual events can help you start conversations and share expertise.

Online platforms like LinkedIn and groups on Meetup or Eventbrite or niche groups on LinkedIn are excellent places to begin building your network. They help you find like-minded professionals, industry leaders, and communities where you belong.

But the goal should always be to bring the relationship offline.

Whether it’s over coffee, at industry events, or at conferences, meeting people in person validates the connection and strengthens trust. It’s why people often say, “It’s nice to put a face to the name.”

Even virtual connections feel more real when you take them one level deeper.

Remember you don’t have to meet everyone. Some people live too far, schedules conflict, or priorities differ. That’s completely fine.

But the women who invest in selective, meaningful in-person relationships are the ones whose networks truly support their career growth.

The true impact comes when you take the next step: moving the relationship from digital to human.

Even today, most meaningful partnerships—referrals, collaborations, sponsorships, and leadership opportunities come from relationships built offline.

There’s no Magic Formula but this works

There’s no perfect script for networking. There’s no one-size-fits-all path. But one principle holds true time and again:

Face-to-face connections create stronger, more influential networks than a purely online approach ever will.

And as women navigating the complexities of leadership, career transitions, and credibility, we need networks that see us, support us, and stand with us, not just “follow” us.

If you’re a woman aspiring to grow your influence, increase your visibility, and elevate your leadership trajectory, investing in real human interaction isn’t optional. It’s a strategic advantage.

So, the next time you’re tempted to rely solely on digital connections, remember my cocktail party story. That fifteen -minute in-person conversation led to my first lucrative consulting assignment I could never have predicted.

Imagine what could happen for you when you put yourself in the room.

If you want to strengthen your executive presence and build a powerful network that supports your leadership journey, explore my coaching program 5-Day Confidence Kickstart for Aspiring Women Leaders.