I was recently asked how I benefit from my “remote membership” of EPWN, given that although I have been a member of PWA Milan for over a year, I have yet to physically attend a meeting. This question got me thinking about the payoff of being a member of an organization that I use only remotely. This set-up seems to contradict the nature of a networking organizing, which is to bring together its members in special events and seminars in order to exchange ideas, contacts, and experiences. Am I simply lazy? Or am I too influenced by the digital age of impersonal online networking? Perhaps a little of both. But the more I thought about my motivation for joining PWA Milan last September, the more I understood that my approach to membership is more a reflection of my current lifestyle (with all of its advantages and limitations) than an expression of what I traditionally seek from a networking organization. I also realized that this membership has opened doors for me that I could not have expected from as far away as Canada.
As society moves steadily through this ever-expanding global and technologically sophisticated age, I find myself longing for the simple life. My own computer is stuffed to the brim with emails and contacts with whom I have worked closely and yet never met in person. And, while the romantic in me misses the days of pen, paper and letters delivered by post, I must admit that I also enjoy the relative freedom and flexibility of working from anywhere in the world, communicating instantly to family, friends, and colleagues, and being able to access a wealth of information on-demand. Advances in technology and the modern approach to networking have also provided me with a source of comfort through the turmoil of repeated moves, cross-country and internationally. When I consider the experience of my parents’ pre-Internet generation, I wonder how anyone found the courage to leave home.
In the same way that Skype or msn helps me keep in touch with friends around the world, EPWN has played a role in helping me settle into life in Europe. I first read about the organization in an article featuring the network’s founder. At the time, I was considering a move to Europe, a dream since childhood, though I still didn’t know exactly where I would land. Soon after, I was offered a place in the MBA program at SDA Bocconi in Milan and I knew instantly that the first European destination for this new beginning would be Italy. A planner by nature, I wanted to make the transition from Canada as smooth as possible. I knew that I would be at a disadvantage without a command of the local language, so the PWA seemed a perfect place to start. Here was a network through which I could find tips on life in Milan, talk to other women who had already made such a transition, and get the low-down on the professional life as a foreign woman in Italy.
When I first joined EPWN, I wasn’t sure exactly how I would use my membership. So I spent the first few days browsing the message board and reading about different events being held across Europe. Occasionally, I would connect online with a member who has similar professional interests or experience and I looked for opportunities to participate in EPWN activities remotely. One of the first opportunities that I found was with the editing team of the EPWN newsletter. From the outset, I expected that working with this team would enable me to stay active in the organization, while connecting with other members who have a similar interest in communications and journalism. The first project that I undertook was an article about ten EPWN entrepreneurs who are members of different city chapters across Europe. Writing the biographies of these ten inspiring women served as a guide for me to explore potential career paths. Every woman featured in the article has taken significant, and courageous, steps to shape her business. In many cases, the story of branching out into a self-made business is familiar to my personal long-term vision. In writing the article, I took away some fundamental points for a day when I will be ready to follow my entrepreneurial vision through to fruition.
Although my original idea was to attend events after moving to Europe, my best intentions were interrupted by the all-consuming MBA. Despite planning many times to attend a PWA aperitivo or dinner in Milan, school priorities inevitably interfered. Whether it was a group meeting or late class, scrambling to finish a team assignment, or ploughing through a 50-page article on Corporate Governance, time is the MBA student’s most precious commodity. Yet ironically, now is a time more than ever when the benefits of EPWN are evident, as I determine the first steps in the next stage of my career. Whether via the job board, or the recent Groups section, there is a wealth of resources online that help me better understand my post-graduation steps.
So, whether I remain in Milan to develop an entrepreneurial venture, or move to Geneva or London after graduating next December, EPWN will definitely be part of the transition. And while I intend to make the time for an aperitivo or dinner during the hectic workweek, I feel confident knowing that if all else fails, my virtual network can be accessed anytime, anywhere. And when lifestyle shifts of this magnitude can be unsettling, I am comforted knowing that I have an immediate support system, both professionally and personally, no matter where I land.