[Networking] can open up diverse opportunities for us, extending beyond just a job offer. In other words, these relationships can help us cultivate a broader range of possibilities.
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Meet Riley, Product Manager at a big name gaming company and learn how Growbie helped her in networking
Please tell us about your your background
Riley: Hello future Growbies, I'm Riley. I'm a Product Manager at a gaming company. When I graduated with my Bachelors, I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to do. Influenced by the overall environment, I thought transitioning from a technical role to a non-technical role might be easier in the future than the other way around. So, I chose to become a software engineer. But, I discovered my interest in exploring a path working in products. As a result, I attended the Integrated Design Management program at MIT to delve deeper into relevant knowledge.
Why do you think networking is important?
Riley: One key realization I had when transitioning from school to the workforce is the importance of finding our roles in a new professional environment. Often, this depends on our self-awareness, something developed via continuous communication with others. With that, building interpersonal relationships, aka networking, is beneficial not only for expanding our social circle but also for receiving valuable feedback from others.
These interpersonal connections can open up diverse opportunities for us, extending beyond just a job offer. In other words, these relationships can help us cultivate a broader range of possibilities. As we establish these connections, we gain insights into the world around us and gain a deeper understanding of ourselves.
Why did you choose Growbie?
Riley: A friend of mine mentioned Jashin and her stories to me in a WeChat group, leading me to learn more about her background. And I was impressed!
I thought she was someone with excellent interpersonal skills, as she can clearly articulate her goals and values. Meanwhile, I find myself in a stage where I need to enhance my own interpersonal abilities. Coupled with the reasonable pricing of the courses, I've decided to give it a try.
Share a Growbie moment! - a moment that you step outside of your comfort zone to explore possibilities and that leads to personal growth.
Riley: I'm such a classic introvert. Having to receive uncertain feedback from others scares me a little. During this time, Jashin consistently emphasized the concept of embracing feedback. This notion sparked a deeper exploration of social interactions for me. In class, when it came to practicing a personal elevator pitch, I approached it with the mindset of "I probably won't do terribly, so why not give it a try?"
After the Networking Bootcamp, I received feedback from classmates with varying perspectives. These comments proved to be very beneficial for me. Moreover, this experience made me realize that standing out and expressing myself isn't as intimidating as I had thought.