I can’t speak to the experience of others, only my own. I have said in plenty of speaking engagements and conversations that my path and exposure early in my career made a difference for me. I don’t know what it would be like to step out without the first ten years of my career.

As a technology trainer in the late 90’s, I was thrown into a lot of places with a diverse group of people. I was able to build my network with that first tech job. I was providing education and really teaching people. I showed up and showed out, and they learned and followed me. I am not saying that I didn’t work for it – I certainly did. I just so happened to build a network accidentally. Once I recognized what I had, I became intentional about it.