June 5, 2025 • 19 mins
In this empowering episode of the Tourism Hub Podcast, host Despina Karatzias explores the transformative power of intentional networking. Drawing from her own journey in the tourism industry, Despina shares a unique framework she calls "Net," designed to help listeners connect more strategically and purposefully. She reflects on her recent speaking engagement at the City of Monash and Eastern Innovation Business Centre, where she inspired a group of women entrepreneurs to elevate their networking game.
Listeners will discover the three essential steps of the Net framework: narrowing your focus to identify key connections, engaging digitally to maintain relationships, and trading value first to foster genuine connections. Despina emphasises that networking is not merely about collecting contacts but about weaving meaningful relationships that can lead to opportunities and collaborations.
With insightful anecdotes and practical tips, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to enhance their networking skills and build a supportive community. Tune in and learn how to cast your net with intention, creating connections that truly matter.
00:00 - Welcome back to the Tourism Club podcast
01:05 - Networking is foundational to business, yet often misunderstood
02:47 - Networking is about purposeful, intentional and strategic networking
10:44 - E is for engaging digitally. This is where most people drop the ball in networking
14:35 - Trade value first. The golden rule. Networking isn't about what you can get
16:41 - Your network is your net worth, according to the classic networking quote
17:33 - Building a network is all about authenticity, not charisma
Connect with Despina Karatzias:
Website: Institute of Excellence
LinkedIn: Despina Karatzias
Instagram: @despinakaratzias
Follow us on social media for updates:
Facebook: Institute of Excellence | Tourism Hub Podcast
Instagram: @instituteofexcellencehq | @tourismhubpodcast | @despinakaratzias
YouTube: Institute of Excellence | Despina Karatzias
Show hosted by Despina Karatzias and brought to you by Tourism Hub in association with Institute Of Excellence.
Stay connected, stay intentional, and remember to share your networking journey with the world!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
>> Despina Karatzias (00:00):
Sa
(00:31):
Welcome back to the Tourism Club podcast, the
place to be where we celebrate the
stories, strategies and successes
of tourism and small business leaders
across the globe. I'm your host, Despina
Karatius and I'm thrilled to have you here today,
whether you're tuning in from your morning walk, your
(00:52):
daily commute, or that precious moment of,
quiet in your day as you kick into
gear. Thank you for being here. I'm so
grateful.
Now today we're diving into a topic that is
foundational to business, yet often
misunderstood. Networking.
And not just any kind of networking
(01:12):
purposeful, intentional and
strategic stuff of
networking dreams. The kind
that helps you connect with the right people
at the right time in the right way.
When I started my career in tourism, there
was no formal training, no university
(01:33):
unit and not even a single conversation that
prepared me for the one thing that
would become the most powerful thing to
drive growth in my
everything, my career and my
business, my network. It is
the difference by far, that made all the
(01:53):
difference, not just to my career, but
to my entire business that
followed. Recently I had
the greatest honour of speaking at our
local government event, the City of Monash
and Eastern Innovation Business Centre. My home
away from home, surrounded by a
(02:13):
powerhouse group of women
entrepreneurs at ah, different stages of
their business journey. Together with my
wonderful panellists and co programme
facilitators, Jill and Tina,
I share a simple yet powerful
framework that has shaped the way I approach
networking. A framework I
(02:35):
affectionately call Net
M that I will unpack, with you in
this episode.
So settle in and let's get into it on
how you can cast your net
with purpose and intention.
You know that feeling when you walk into a room and
you just know something incredible
(02:57):
is about to happen? That is
the vibe at this recent event.
It was a, room filled
with ambitious, driven women
all ready to take their business to that
next level we all know we have within us.
There's always a level we're on and there's always
(03:18):
that next level. As I mentioned
earlier, I did have the privilege of sharing the
stage as a panellist and
share and speak deeper on something that has
completely transformed my business
and my life, to be honest with you.
Now when it comes to the power of
(03:38):
networking, what I want to really
just put a bit of laser focus on
is not just any kind of networking,
but look at purposeful, intentional
and to a point, strategic
networking. It's the simple framework
that I shared with the group that's a way to
(03:59):
take the overwhelm out of networking
and almost to a point, take the loneliness
out of networking, because in my
experience, particularly in the earlier
days of my career and then
definitely in the earlier days
of my business, it was different.
There's nothing like the
(04:22):
feeling of being
out on your own
networking to a group of people that may
recognise you for doing something
different previously, particularly when you step
out in starting a business.
So I hope this can be helpful and I can talk about that
(04:43):
for days because that's certainly something that
I shared with the room. Just that,
feeling that I will never, ever, that will
never leave me of starting my business
and that first day in my business where I'm no
longer an employee of
and have that big oak tree above my
(05:03):
head of security, than
the day, that fateful day of the 1st
of July, 2014, almost
11 years ago. And just how
much, when I think about that
difference in the journey and to
stay in business 11 years on,
(05:24):
I would have to put networking
and my networks and my relationships.
That's the words and one of the tools
and strategies that I would skyright
that attributed to any level
of staying in business.
Now, did you know that the term
(05:44):
networking originally had nothing
to do with business cards or
LinkedIn connections or anything
to do with business?
Back in the 1500s, it was all
about fishing nets.
Imagine ropes woven together,
each knot representing a
(06:06):
connection. I know over
time that simple fishing
net became a, metaphor for social
and professional relationships.
The strength of your network
isn't about one single rope,
it's about how those ropes
interconnect and support each other.
(06:29):
Don't you just love that?
Cast the net wisely and
widely and your net
won't just catch fish, it'll
catch opportunities, ideas
and collaborations. And
that's exactly what I shared on this
beautiful evening and what I wanted to
(06:52):
convey and share with you
on this episode. Networking
isn't about collecting names and
cards and followers and, you
know, connections on the social media
platforms. It's about weaving
meaningful connections, knot by knot,
(07:12):
and casting that net with
intention. So how do you do
this? How do you cast that net with intention?
Enter stage left Net
is what I'm going with. A
simple, memorable framework that,
(07:33):
distils everything I've personally
learned about networking into three
powerful steps. Now, when
I was preparing for my talk at Monash, and to
give you context during this evening, with
the City of Monash and Eastern Innovation Business
Centre and our incredible sponsors,
(07:53):
we launched an empowering
entrepreneurial programme
specifically catered to women in
business. Now, for my presentation
for this launch event, I knew I
wanted to give These women something they could
remember and apply not just that
day, but every day in business.
(08:17):
Now, that's how Net was born. So it's
not something that exists elsewhere. It
is something that I put a lot of thought
into that for. You know, this programme
that we're launched, or we are, launching is currently
open and I'll put those details in the show Notes
is only open for 15
(08:38):
female led business owners. But I wanted to
the 100 plus that were there that evening something that
they can take away and put it into gear, just like in
the the intention with this, sharing it with you,
that you can apply the same in your business
and career. And really that's how NET
was born. And here's how it
(08:58):
works, starting with N
for narrowing your focus.
Imagine you're at a networking event and
a room full of people. The
temptation is to work the room,
collect as many business cards and make those
connections as much and as wide as possible.
(09:19):
And so you feel like you've networked.
But here's the thing. Networking
isn't a numbers game, it's a strategy.
And the first step in that strategy is
to narrow your focus.
Ask yourself, who are, the key people in
this room who can genuinely
(09:39):
add value to my journey and
whose mission aligns with mine
that I can too add value to
theirs? Where are the
possibilities? Who is speaking? Who is
attending? Identify them in
advance. Research, make a
(10:00):
plan. At the Monash event, I wasn't
there to work the room. I was there
to tune into the energy
of the humans and in this case
the women that filled it. Before
I even knew what someone's business
was all about. I was drawn to those
(10:20):
whose vibe
resonated with mine. Energy
is just, is what fuels me.
People who sparked curiosity and
radiated passion, it
came from their demeanour before they open
their mouth.
And that's something I want you to think about when
(10:40):
you show up and how you show up.
And that's how you can turn
chance encounters into
intentional connections. As, Tim
Ferriss said. If you can't explain that Tim
Ferriss, for context, he was the
author of the Four Hour
Work Week, huge entrepreneur.
(11:02):
And one of the things that Tim Ferris has shared is
if you can't explain your position in eight
words or less, you don't have a position.
The same goes for networking
and why it's important and why you
need and must and make a decision
to show up. if you can't clearly define
(11:24):
why you are there, the kind of
energy you're drawn to and why you're
not and more importantly,
why? You're just traversing the
land of networking events,
collecting contacts and not
strategically building connections.
(11:44):
Okay, so you've made the deep
connection. What's next? N is for
narrow your focus. E is for
engaging digitally. This is
where most people, including I,
yours truly, have dropped the ball
in the past. The event is over, the
(12:04):
business cards are stuffed in your bag and
the opportunity is let to
slip away through your fingers.
Not you. This is where you
engage digitally. Think of it as
the, follow up handshake, a quick LinkedIn
message, a thoughtful email or
(12:25):
even a voice note. Be different. It's
about staying top of mind, but not
just saying, great to meet you.
Be specific, referencing something you discuss,
share a relevant resource or ask a
follow up question. Michelle Janae,
she wrote the book called the Connect
(12:46):
the Heart and Art of Connecting, where she
delves into the art, of networking beyond
business cards and elevator pitches.
Her philosophy emphasises
this true concept of not networking.
Her philosophy emphasises
this true nature and
concept of networking. Not
(13:09):
just being about meeting people. It's
about creating meaningful connections
that bridge people, that, bridge
ideas and opportunities. And in her
words, networking is not about
just connecting people, it's about
connecting people with people, people with
ideas and people with opportunities,
(13:31):
perfectly capturing the essence of
this topic. And when you can't get in the
room physically, that's when the real power
of digital networking comes into play.
And engaging digitally,
this is what I affectionately call
smart collaborations. It's about being
(13:52):
intentional with your online presence
using platforms like LinkedIn, not
just to connect, but to cultivate
your online voice, your brand,
amplify your expertise to
engage and connect and thank and
keep those conversations and connections
(14:13):
alive. Because in today's world, your
online reputation is just
as powerful, if not maybe
more powerful, than your business card.
Okay, so we've covered in for
narrowing your focus, E for
engaging digitally. And we now
(14:34):
come to T.
Trade value first. The
golden rule. Trade
value before anything else.
Networking isn't about what you
can get. Just like
any type of collaboration or partnership
(14:54):
or package in this wonderful industry,
networking is not about what you can get, it's
about what you could give. Think of your network
as a bank account you can't withdraw
without depositing. First. Share
a resource, introduce someone to a
valuable contact, or tag them in a post they
(15:16):
might find useful. At the Monash event,
I didn't just talk about what I do. I
asked and listened far more than I
talked. Now, this is something that doesn't
come naturally and it didn't
in my early parts. It's
an intentional learned
(15:37):
skill. Be more
interested in hearing the voice of
the person that's in front of you than your own.
So whether it was connecting someone to
a podcast, guest, or recommending
another local resource or another local event,
I led with adding
(15:58):
value and listening. And that's
the key when we are leading with
generosity, we're leading and
building those authentic, lasting
connections. As Zig Ziglar,
you know, said. Zig Ziglar, what a cool
name. He said. One of
my all time favourite things.
(16:21):
You can have everything in life
that you want if you will just help other
people get what they want.
And speaking of quotes, now let's talk
about the classic. The classic
networking quote. You can't get more classic than this.
Your network is your net
(16:42):
worth. We hear it so often. But,
what does it really mean? It's not about how
many people you know, it's about how many
people would show up for you,
speak your name in a room full of
opportunities, or open a door when
you need it most. And here's another one,
the richest people in the world look for
(17:05):
and build networks. Everyone
else looks for work. That's by Robert
Kiyosaki. Another classic business
book, Rich Dad, Poor Dad. There's been
a few book mentions, hasn't there? Maybe a book
review would be a good podcast.
Anyhow, let's stay on track
because we need to get one thing straight.
(17:27):
Networking isn't about being the
loudest person in the room or the most
extroverted. As Susan
Cain, the author of Quiet
the Power of Introverts In a World
that can't, stop Talking, she
says everyone shines, given the
bright lighting. So whether you're an introvert,
(17:50):
extrovert or somewhere in between,
building a network is all about
authenticity, not charisma.
It's not about being the life of the party. It's
about being the kind of person people want
to stay connected with. Every connection
is a thread and every thread
strengthens the net. And whether you
(18:13):
thrive in a crowded room or
you're someone that prefers the one on one
conversation, your network can be as
powerful as you make it. If you're
intentional. And there you go, that's the next
strategy. Narrow your focus,
engage digitally, and always
(18:33):
trade value first. Whether you're
at a business event, a community gathering, or
even your favourite coffee shop,
it's not about collecting contacts, it's
about creating connections. So if
today's episode resonated with you, hit
subscribe, leave a review. It matters
(18:53):
so much to this work and showing
up. Share it with someone who could use a little
nudge in their networking a game.
And as always, ignite excellence
in yourself and in those around you.
Stay connected, stay intentional,
and keep building those powerful,
(19:14):
purposeful networks. Until next
time, my dear friends. Go out there.
Be better, and do better today than you did yesterday.
Sa
(00:31):
Welcome back to the Tourism Club podcast, the
place to be where we celebrate the
stories, strategies and successes
of tourism and small business leaders
across the globe. I'm your host, Despina
Karatius and I'm thrilled to have you here today,
whether you're tuning in from your morning walk, your
(00:52):
daily commute, or that precious moment of,
quiet in your day as you kick into
gear. Thank you for being here. I'm so
grateful.
Now today we're diving into a topic that is
foundational to business, yet often
misunderstood. Networking.
And not just any kind of networking
(01:12):
purposeful, intentional and
strategic stuff of
networking dreams. The kind
that helps you connect with the right people
at the right time in the right way.
When I started my career in tourism, there
was no formal training, no university
(01:33):
unit and not even a single conversation that
prepared me for the one thing that
would become the most powerful thing to
drive growth in my
everything, my career and my
business, my network. It is
the difference by far, that made all the
(01:53):
difference, not just to my career, but
to my entire business that
followed. Recently I had
the greatest honour of speaking at our
local government event, the City of Monash
and Eastern Innovation Business Centre. My home
away from home, surrounded by a
(02:13):
powerhouse group of women
entrepreneurs at ah, different stages of
their business journey. Together with my
wonderful panellists and co programme
facilitators, Jill and Tina,
I share a simple yet powerful
framework that has shaped the way I approach
networking. A framework I
(02:35):
affectionately call Net
M that I will unpack, with you in
this episode.
So settle in and let's get into it on
how you can cast your net
with purpose and intention.
You know that feeling when you walk into a room and
you just know something incredible
(02:57):
is about to happen? That is
the vibe at this recent event.
It was a, room filled
with ambitious, driven women
all ready to take their business to that
next level we all know we have within us.
There's always a level we're on and there's always
(03:18):
that next level. As I mentioned
earlier, I did have the privilege of sharing the
stage as a panellist and
share and speak deeper on something that has
completely transformed my business
and my life, to be honest with you.
Now when it comes to the power of
(03:38):
networking, what I want to really
just put a bit of laser focus on
is not just any kind of networking,
but look at purposeful, intentional
and to a point, strategic
networking. It's the simple framework
that I shared with the group that's a way to
(03:59):
take the overwhelm out of networking
and almost to a point, take the loneliness
out of networking, because in my
experience, particularly in the earlier
days of my career and then
definitely in the earlier days
of my business, it was different.
There's nothing like the
(04:22):
feeling of being
out on your own
networking to a group of people that may
recognise you for doing something
different previously, particularly when you step
out in starting a business.
So I hope this can be helpful and I can talk about that
(04:43):
for days because that's certainly something that
I shared with the room. Just that,
feeling that I will never, ever, that will
never leave me of starting my business
and that first day in my business where I'm no
longer an employee of
and have that big oak tree above my
(05:03):
head of security, than
the day, that fateful day of the 1st
of July, 2014, almost
11 years ago. And just how
much, when I think about that
difference in the journey and to
stay in business 11 years on,
(05:24):
I would have to put networking
and my networks and my relationships.
That's the words and one of the tools
and strategies that I would skyright
that attributed to any level
of staying in business.
Now, did you know that the term
(05:44):
networking originally had nothing
to do with business cards or
LinkedIn connections or anything
to do with business?
Back in the 1500s, it was all
about fishing nets.
Imagine ropes woven together,
each knot representing a
(06:06):
connection. I know over
time that simple fishing
net became a, metaphor for social
and professional relationships.
The strength of your network
isn't about one single rope,
it's about how those ropes
interconnect and support each other.
(06:29):
Don't you just love that?
Cast the net wisely and
widely and your net
won't just catch fish, it'll
catch opportunities, ideas
and collaborations. And
that's exactly what I shared on this
beautiful evening and what I wanted to
(06:52):
convey and share with you
on this episode. Networking
isn't about collecting names and
cards and followers and, you
know, connections on the social media
platforms. It's about weaving
meaningful connections, knot by knot,
(07:12):
and casting that net with
intention. So how do you do
this? How do you cast that net with intention?
Enter stage left Net
is what I'm going with. A
simple, memorable framework that,
(07:33):
distils everything I've personally
learned about networking into three
powerful steps. Now, when
I was preparing for my talk at Monash, and to
give you context during this evening, with
the City of Monash and Eastern Innovation Business
Centre and our incredible sponsors,
(07:53):
we launched an empowering
entrepreneurial programme
specifically catered to women in
business. Now, for my presentation
for this launch event, I knew I
wanted to give These women something they could
remember and apply not just that
day, but every day in business.
(08:17):
Now, that's how Net was born. So it's
not something that exists elsewhere. It
is something that I put a lot of thought
into that for. You know, this programme
that we're launched, or we are, launching is currently
open and I'll put those details in the show Notes
is only open for 15
(08:38):
female led business owners. But I wanted to
the 100 plus that were there that evening something that
they can take away and put it into gear, just like in
the the intention with this, sharing it with you,
that you can apply the same in your business
and career. And really that's how NET
was born. And here's how it
(08:58):
works, starting with N
for narrowing your focus.
Imagine you're at a networking event and
a room full of people. The
temptation is to work the room,
collect as many business cards and make those
connections as much and as wide as possible.
(09:19):
And so you feel like you've networked.
But here's the thing. Networking
isn't a numbers game, it's a strategy.
And the first step in that strategy is
to narrow your focus.
Ask yourself, who are, the key people in
this room who can genuinely
(09:39):
add value to my journey and
whose mission aligns with mine
that I can too add value to
theirs? Where are the
possibilities? Who is speaking? Who is
attending? Identify them in
advance. Research, make a
(10:00):
plan. At the Monash event, I wasn't
there to work the room. I was there
to tune into the energy
of the humans and in this case
the women that filled it. Before
I even knew what someone's business
was all about. I was drawn to those
(10:20):
whose vibe
resonated with mine. Energy
is just, is what fuels me.
People who sparked curiosity and
radiated passion, it
came from their demeanour before they open
their mouth.
And that's something I want you to think about when
(10:40):
you show up and how you show up.
And that's how you can turn
chance encounters into
intentional connections. As, Tim
Ferriss said. If you can't explain that Tim
Ferriss, for context, he was the
author of the Four Hour
Work Week, huge entrepreneur.
(11:02):
And one of the things that Tim Ferris has shared is
if you can't explain your position in eight
words or less, you don't have a position.
The same goes for networking
and why it's important and why you
need and must and make a decision
to show up. if you can't clearly define
(11:24):
why you are there, the kind of
energy you're drawn to and why you're
not and more importantly,
why? You're just traversing the
land of networking events,
collecting contacts and not
strategically building connections.
(11:44):
Okay, so you've made the deep
connection. What's next? N is for
narrow your focus. E is for
engaging digitally. This is
where most people, including I,
yours truly, have dropped the ball
in the past. The event is over, the
(12:04):
business cards are stuffed in your bag and
the opportunity is let to
slip away through your fingers.
Not you. This is where you
engage digitally. Think of it as
the, follow up handshake, a quick LinkedIn
message, a thoughtful email or
(12:25):
even a voice note. Be different. It's
about staying top of mind, but not
just saying, great to meet you.
Be specific, referencing something you discuss,
share a relevant resource or ask a
follow up question. Michelle Janae,
she wrote the book called the Connect
(12:46):
the Heart and Art of Connecting, where she
delves into the art, of networking beyond
business cards and elevator pitches.
Her philosophy emphasises
this true concept of not networking.
Her philosophy emphasises
this true nature and
concept of networking. Not
(13:09):
just being about meeting people. It's
about creating meaningful connections
that bridge people, that, bridge
ideas and opportunities. And in her
words, networking is not about
just connecting people, it's about
connecting people with people, people with
ideas and people with opportunities,
(13:31):
perfectly capturing the essence of
this topic. And when you can't get in the
room physically, that's when the real power
of digital networking comes into play.
And engaging digitally,
this is what I affectionately call
smart collaborations. It's about being
(13:52):
intentional with your online presence
using platforms like LinkedIn, not
just to connect, but to cultivate
your online voice, your brand,
amplify your expertise to
engage and connect and thank and
keep those conversations and connections
(14:13):
alive. Because in today's world, your
online reputation is just
as powerful, if not maybe
more powerful, than your business card.
Okay, so we've covered in for
narrowing your focus, E for
engaging digitally. And we now
(14:34):
come to T.
Trade value first. The
golden rule. Trade
value before anything else.
Networking isn't about what you
can get. Just like
any type of collaboration or partnership
(14:54):
or package in this wonderful industry,
networking is not about what you can get, it's
about what you could give. Think of your network
as a bank account you can't withdraw
without depositing. First. Share
a resource, introduce someone to a
valuable contact, or tag them in a post they
(15:16):
might find useful. At the Monash event,
I didn't just talk about what I do. I
asked and listened far more than I
talked. Now, this is something that doesn't
come naturally and it didn't
in my early parts. It's
an intentional learned
(15:37):
skill. Be more
interested in hearing the voice of
the person that's in front of you than your own.
So whether it was connecting someone to
a podcast, guest, or recommending
another local resource or another local event,
I led with adding
(15:58):
value and listening. And that's
the key when we are leading with
generosity, we're leading and
building those authentic, lasting
connections. As Zig Ziglar,
you know, said. Zig Ziglar, what a cool
name. He said. One of
my all time favourite things.
(16:21):
You can have everything in life
that you want if you will just help other
people get what they want.
And speaking of quotes, now let's talk
about the classic. The classic
networking quote. You can't get more classic than this.
Your network is your net
(16:42):
worth. We hear it so often. But,
what does it really mean? It's not about how
many people you know, it's about how many
people would show up for you,
speak your name in a room full of
opportunities, or open a door when
you need it most. And here's another one,
the richest people in the world look for
(17:05):
and build networks. Everyone
else looks for work. That's by Robert
Kiyosaki. Another classic business
book, Rich Dad, Poor Dad. There's been
a few book mentions, hasn't there? Maybe a book
review would be a good podcast.
Anyhow, let's stay on track
because we need to get one thing straight.
(17:27):
Networking isn't about being the
loudest person in the room or the most
extroverted. As Susan
Cain, the author of Quiet
the Power of Introverts In a World
that can't, stop Talking, she
says everyone shines, given the
bright lighting. So whether you're an introvert,
(17:50):
extrovert or somewhere in between,
building a network is all about
authenticity, not charisma.
It's not about being the life of the party. It's
about being the kind of person people want
to stay connected with. Every connection
is a thread and every thread
strengthens the net. And whether you
(18:13):
thrive in a crowded room or
you're someone that prefers the one on one
conversation, your network can be as
powerful as you make it. If you're
intentional. And there you go, that's the next
strategy. Narrow your focus,
engage digitally, and always
(18:33):
trade value first. Whether you're
at a business event, a community gathering, or
even your favourite coffee shop,
it's not about collecting contacts, it's
about creating connections. So if
today's episode resonated with you, hit
subscribe, leave a review. It matters
(18:53):
so much to this work and showing
up. Share it with someone who could use a little
nudge in their networking a game.
And as always, ignite excellence
in yourself and in those around you.
Stay connected, stay intentional,
and keep building those powerful,
(19:14):
purposeful networks. Until next
time, my dear friends. Go out there.
Be better, and do better today than you did yesterday.
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