The Ripple Effect of Showing Up: Vulnerability, Networking and Igniting Excellence

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of attending The WIT Network’s Igniting Excellence event in Dallas—a gathering filled with powerful stories, bold women, and deeply moving moments. While I walked away with countless insights from the main stage and breakout sessions, the most unexpected lesson came from something I did before the event even started.

I was headed to Dallas to speak about the power of networking mastery—how to build confidence and take the anxiety and stress out of connecting with others. And as I prepared, I asked myself a tough question:
“How can I practice what I preach?”

That’s when the idea hit me. What if I created a video series to share my own experiences and best practices around networking—specifically how to prepare before showing up at a conference? The idea felt right. But when it came time to actually do it? I stalled.

I found every excuse in the book:
“Oh, the natural lighting isn’t great today.”
“I need to work on my next presentation first.”
“I’ll do it tomorrow…”

Sound familiar?

In hindsight, it was classic self-sabotage. Deep down, I think I hoped I’d run out of time and miss the window to post—giving me an easy way out. Off the hook, but also disappointed.

One morning, while journaling (which I do daily), I wrote this:
“WTH? You just created a course on networking and building confidence, and now you’re afraid to talk about it?”

That hit me hard. I felt frustrated—mad at myself, honestly. So, I flipped the script and asked a better question:
“If someone else was struggling to put themselves out there, what would I tell them to do?”
The answer came quickly:
“Focus on who you can help.”

And that was it. That afternoon, I sat on my couch and recorded three short videos. I was nervous, yes—but also excited. I shared practical networking tips: how to prepare your goals, how to follow up with intention, and how to show up with confidence. I ended each video with a simple invitation:

“If you’re attending Igniting Excellence and want help connecting with others, create a list and share it with me. I’d love to see how I can support you.”

Then something amazing happened.

I received a heartfelt message from a woman named Genevieve. She took my offer seriously—like really seriously. She laid out her networking goals with clarity and intention. She even created a thoughtful list of people she wanted to meet and why.

Here’s part of what she wrote:

“Thank you for the wake-up call and the challenge; this exercise was not easy! My goals are to find a mentor and explore job opportunities in finance, tax, audit, and nonprofit spaces… I’ve put together a list of people I’d love to meet at the conference—starting with you!”

Her message brought me right back to that journal entry. The simple question, “Who can I help?”, was what pushed me to get vulnerable and hit post. And Genevieve’s response proved that when we show up for others, we often get more than we give.

One of my favorite quotes from Dr. Seuss says:
“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.”

Putting yourself out there—sharing your voice, your experiences, your heart—isn’t always comfortable. But it’s worth it. Even if just one person is impacted. Even if you don’t get likes or comments. Sometimes, the ripple starts with a whisper.

Here’s what I learned (or re-learned) in Dallas:

• Vulnerability invites authenticity. When we show up as our true selves, we give others permission to do the same.
• Preparation is power. Genevieve did the work. She got clear on her goals and came ready to take action. That’s how real growth happens.
• Your network grows when you give. Generosity builds bridges. Offering your time, your insights, or even just a kind word can create opportunities that ripple far beyond you.

Let’s keep showing up for each other.
Let’s keep building our dream networks.
Let’s keep igniting excellence—together.