How Women’s Networking is Redefining Leadership

She’s Got Coffee in One Hand, Confidence in the Other

Women aren’t waiting for networking events anymore. They’re making real connections in line at the café, in airport lounges at 7 AM, or between meetings. And they’re doing it with grace, grit, and POOLit Connect.

Because let’s be honest, traditional networking has always been awkward, performative, and exhausting. Women today aren’t interested in forced icebreakers or exchanging cards over stale muffins.

They want something real. Something strategic. Something that fits into their already full lives, not another thing they need to perform at.

Why Women Need to Network (More Than Ever)

Why Women’s Networks Are Crucial & The importance of (women’s) networking

Underrepresentation in Leadership

• Globally, women make up 42% of the workforce but only 31.7% of senior leaders.

• In India, women hold just 17% of C‑suite roles and 20% of board seats : Without networks, visibility, and access, doors remain closed, making it vital for women to build connections proactively.

  
  

Funding Gap for Female Entrepreneurs

• Worldwide, only 2.3% of venture capital funding goes to all‑female founding teams.

• In the UK, female‑led startups received just 1.8–2% of VC funding in early 2024, a drop from previous years.

• Globally, women entrepreneurs face a $300 billion financing gap. When traditional channels fall short, strong networks become the bridge to capital, mentorship, and opportunity.

  
  

Mentorship Deficit

• Across industries and regions, only about a quarter to one-third of women in senior roles have ever had a formal mentor.

• A shocking 63% of women surveyed had never had any mentor at all. Mentorship boosts promotion odds, confidence, and retention, yet it's missing for most women. Networking opens doors to relationships that nonprofits and corporate programs often overlook. (TOI, Financial Times)

Why Networking Is Not Optional—It’s Strategic

• Networking = Visibility & Access

  • Most leadership roles, investments, and partnerships originate from personal recommendations and trusted relationships, not public job listings.

  • Strong networks help bypass gatekeepers and biases that slow women’s careers.

• Networking Drives Influence & Legacy

  • Connections with peers, mentors, sponsors, and allies amplify your voice and help you carry others forward as well.

  • Women leaders lift other women; 43% of female founders report being inspired by women already in business, and 41% say they started their businesses because they saw someone like themselves succeed.

• Networking Supplements Structural Gaps

  • When systemic obstacles exist, such as funding bias or promotional inequality, personal relationships often become the path around them.

  • Networks unlock access to under-the-radar roles, angel syndicates, and informal mentorship.

But behind every powerful woman? A powerful network.

Networking isn’t vanity. It’s visibility. It’s access. It’s a strategy.A strong network leads to promotions, partnerships, board seats, investments, and opportunities that don’t get posted on job boards.

And yet, studies show women often network less, or at least, less aggressively than men. Why?

Because the system was never designed for us.

From Connections to Command: Tips for women’s networking

Let’s be honest, women don’t need another “networking tip.” We aren’t just collecting contacts. We are building circles of trust. We are building movements. And most of all, they’re building each other up.

Traditional networking is about being seen. Women’s networking is about being supported. That’s why when women network, they don’t just climb; they carry others with them.

1. Talk Like You Mean It: Skip the “Sorry to bother you” energy.

   Say, “Hey, I noticed we’re both in marketing. Mind if I grab 2 minutes?”

2. Be clear, concise, and confident. You’re not lucky to be in the room; you earned it.

3. Own Your Micro-Moments: Those 5 minutes in the airport café? That 2-minute elevator ride? They’re golden.

   Pro tip: People remember conversations with emotional resonance. Ask something unexpected: “What’s something exciting you’re working on this week?”

4. Be Discoverable: Using tools like POOLit Connect, keep your profile sharp and intentional. A good bio can spark conversations for you.

   Think: “UX Researcher | Curious Connector | Always down to chat over coffee or drinks.”

5. Give Before You Get: People remember those who help. Recommend a book. Share an article. Offer feedback. It sets you apart as someone who builds, not just benefits.

6. Follow Up Like a Boss: Use your follow-up to build a relationship, not a transaction.

   Try, “Loved our chat by the boarding gate; I’d love to keep the conversation going over coffee next time you’re in town.”

Hidden Networking Hacks (You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner)

Here’s what every woman should keep in her toolkit:

1. Voice notes over long texts: Add warmth and personality.

2. Create a 'power intro' template: A 2-line “Here’s who I am + why I’m reaching out,” which you can tweak and reuse.

3. Find allies, not just mentors: peer networking often leads to faster referrals and collabs.

4. Track your connections: Use notes in your contacts or apps like Notion to remember names, interests, and follow-up plans.

5. Ask for introductions: Don’t hesitate; women who’ve made it know the power of paying it forward.

Women Who Built from Scratch and Slayed

Here’s to the women who didn’t wait to be invited in; they built their spotlight.

• Falguni Nayar: Left investment banking at 50. Built Nykaa from scratch. Revolutionising makeup and skincare for women.

  
  

• Radhika Gupta: Called herself “the girl with the broken neck.” Now MD & CEO of Edelweiss, reshaping finance.

  
  

• Aditi Gupta: Started Menstrupedia to break period taboos and revolutionize education for young girls.

• Karishma Kewalramani: Founder of Fae Beauty, creating makeup and skincare that’s genderless, inclusive, and unapologetically real. No filters, no fairness, no fluff, just bold beauty on her terms.

And to the reader scrolling this blog with a bold idea and a packed Google Calendar, you’re next.

POOLit Connect—The Weapon of a Wonder-Woman 

She doesn’t have time for fluff. She has ideas, ambition, and a full inbox. She’s not waiting for permission; she’s making moves.

POOLit Connect helps her make the most of every moment, turning everyday places into

networking zones.

• Verified professionals only

• Instant discovery, wherever you are

• No pressure, no performance

  
  

With POOLit Connect, you can meet verified professionals around you in real time, no pressure, no pitch deck, no awkward intros.

Final Thoughts: She’s Not Waiting for a Seat at the Table. She’s Bringing Her Own.

To every woman who’s doubted her worth, her voice, or her place in the room, this is your reminder:

You’re not just networking. You’re leading. You’re building. You’re taking up space. You’re turning quick hellos into lifelong alliances.

So bring the sass. Bring the confidence. Bring the coffee. POOLit will handle the rest.

POOLit Connect