Transforming Networking Anxiety into Passionate Connections: Experience from an MBA Student

William Ajayi is a second-year, full-time MBA student with a concentration in Management at the Zicklin School of Business. He is about to start his last semester and is expected to graduate by May 2025. In his free time, William enjoys watching soccer and recently found a new hobby by joining the film club at Baruch. Jerell Mantuano, an undergraduate finance student in the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College, and college assistant for the Graduate Career Management Center, spoke with William recently about anxiety in networking. “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” This common phrase can strike fear in the hearts of introverts, unsure of where to begin building their networks. Anxiety, a lack of confidence, or self-doubt can make the most knowledgeable candidates struggle to communicate effectively with seasoned professionals. If this struggle is relatable, you are not alone, and breaking through these struggles takes practice and patience. To explore net...