BY HILLARY VIDERS
SPECIAL TO NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J.—“Giving” was the theme on April 1 at a networking event hosted by the Bergen Family Center in Englewood and the organization Girls With Goals Who Give.
Lefkes Restaurant in Englewood Cliffs was the setting for both organizations’ brainstorming session, “Networking in New Jersey,” that brought together over 80 successful professionals in various businesses and industries.
Girls With Goals Who Give bills itself as “a modern day support group for female visionaries, hustlers, and every girl in between.”
According to the group’s website, “Girls With Goals Who Give is dedicated to empowering women, creating meaningful connections amongst entrepreneurs, and elevating the lives of others through networking. We work together to give back to charity and add value to each other’s lives.”
At the Lefkes event, giving back really looked good. The setting included a bevy of glamorous and accomplished women, delicious food, live music and a silent auction with 24 luxurious prizes, from spa vacations to Chanel accessories.
Mingling with the guests were Girls With Goals Who Give co-founders Amanda Hall and Lisa Friesel, and Bergen Family Center President Liz Corsini, among others.
Hall and Friesel were excited about this networking event, the second one they have run since they founded their organization one year ago.
“I’m so passionate about helping people make meaningful connections. I have a love of networking and I thrive when I get to know new people. It just elevates my life,” said Friesel, who has a background in marketing and advertising.
Hall, also vivacious and delighted with the turnout, thanked everyone for being so supportive. “From the very first day, you all said that you would be here,” she said.
The highlight of the evening was the featured speaker, Myisha Procter, a classically trained opera singer and networking enthusiast. A 14-year industry veteran, Procter is a specialist in sales training and business development.
First and foremost, you should see networking as less about exchanging names, titles and backgrounds in the hopes that one day that white card in the bottom of your purse could help you secure your next dream job, and instead focus on sharing your story and hearing as many powerful stories as possible,” she said.
Procter encouraged everyone to find mentors as well as become mentors.
“Stories stick with us, connect us and remain with us for a lifetime. Within the fibers of our stories we can find so many other ways in which we can inspire each other, educate each other and coach each other. We become branches on each other’s network trees. A strong network should enhance our lives not just for now, but for years from now.”
Throughout the evening, attendees did, indeed, share their stories as they made new friends and business connections.
In addition to the advice given by Procter, GWGWG also provides tips for productive networking. Check out the group’s blog at www.girlswithgoalswhogive.com/blog for more.
Photo by Hillary Viders