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

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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 networking challenges and how to overcome them, I had the pleasure of interviewing William. His numerous experiences demonstrate how to break out of a negative mentality surrounding networking and develop the skills necessary to thrive in these situations instead. Here are three key takeaways from our conversation that can help individuals overcome anxiety while networking and working with others:


1. Shift Your Networking Mindset

William’s first step was reframing his view of networking from a transactional job hunt to a genuine exchange of interests and personal journeys. William shared, “All my best successes in networking came when I stopped focusing on what I could get out of it. Instead, I tried to understand the other person’s career journey and how their work shaped who they are.” This mindset shift allows him to put himself in others' shoes and correlate their journey to his own life and identify common interests. His ability to align personalities transforms formal impersonal conversations into an active discussion around a topic with mutual passion. William describes his view as, “They’re human just like me. They have their own interests, goals, and values, and I can connect with that.” His perspective highlights how necessary it is to break internal biases towards networking to breathe life into a conversation and create meaningful connections.


2. Market Yourself with “Positive Bragging”

While actively engaging with someone on a personal level is key, it’s equally crucial to know how to communicate your value. How can you confidently share your achievements with executives without seeming boastful, while also separating yourself from equally talented candidates? William believes this was a challenge for him. “I used to compare myself to others and think, ‘they’re probably better than me.’ I was so afraid of rejection that I wouldn’t even apply to positions or approach big companies at recruiting events.” He overcame this by intentionally putting himself in situations that required him to introduce himself and talk about his strengths and get comfortable  with “positive bragging.” “I’ve done it so many times now that I’m comfortable talking about what I bring to the table. I don’t want to appear cocky, but I’ve learned to frame my achievements in a way that flows naturally.” This perspective ties into a concept known as “positive bragging,” which is sharing your accomplishments in both a prideful and empathetic way that requires self-awareness, especially on tone and delivery. With this technique, you learn how to celebrate your hard work without neglecting others and maintaining a balanced perspective that acknowledges both successes and challenges. When sharing your accomplishments, emphasize the effort behind them by describing the challenges you faced or acknowledging how others supported you. This allows you to celebrate the well-earned achievements you’ve made while remaining relatable and authentic. A practical exercise can be to write down three accomplishments you’re proud of and practice framing them as part of a journey. While bragging typically has a negative connotation, this exercise will help to create a balance of modesty and self-advocacy that will improve the way you brand yourself.


3. Communicate Yourself Confidently During Internships

Networking isn’t limited to career fairs or events; an additional challenge lies in communicating effectively with superiors in an internship with high pressure especially when you hope to impress. William encountered a relatable experience when he interned at PrinceTech, a tech startup. William's strategy for making the most of his time at the startup was to ask questions and show his passion for learning. “I appreciated my bosses for giving me the opportunity to be there. I wanted to show that appreciation by being eager and asking as many questions as I could.” He worried about asking questions that seemed unnecessary and might make him look inexperienced. However, he overcame this by realizing his bosses genuinely valued his authentic interest. “I learned that people love helping others grow, especially when they see you’re truly invested in learning,” he shared. This mindset helped him stop hesitating and allowed him to build stronger relationships with his supervisors. His passion helped him be resilient to the challenges and anxiety he faced in navigating an unfamiliar role and left a positive impression on the people he worked with. It’s important to align your actions with an authentic desire to grow, which creates opportunities for you to build connections with others.

 

From my conversation with William, I found his struggles to be relatable and the ways he overcame them to be admirable. His journey teaches us that overcoming anxiety around networking and self-presentation takes time, but the result is worth the effort. Whether meeting a professional at a recruiting event or communicating with your boss during an internship, William’s experiences offer valuable lessons. Having struggled with communicating effectively in networking situations myself, stepping out of my comfort zone introduced me to new ways to grow, especially by engaging with others. Networking and communicating are skills you develop through action. I hope this article inspires you to push yourself to attend events, strike up conversations with professionals, and embrace the process of networking. Every interaction is a chance to grow better at communicating. Start now, your future connections are waiting.

 

About the author:

Jerell Mantuano is an undergraduate student in the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College, completing a BBA in Finance. He is working as a college assistant for the Graduate Career Management Center.


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