Last month we proudly announced our shortlist of the best-connected women in British business. After an incredible response from voters all over the world, we can now reveal the talented, respected and brilliantly connected women who have made it to the final six. Here they reveal how they network and why it's so important
Polly Gowers, founder, Everyclick.com
In her own words
I'm a believer that you get out of life what you put in. Creating a network is a
by-product of trying to make something happen. It's about more than networking – it's about relationships. We use technology all the time. My BlackBerry is surgically attached to my body. My connectivity is much more about staying in touch with people I've met. I'm not interested in how many followers I have but how many people open and respond to our mail.
My advice
is to talk to people – it is the personal connection that matters. The old-fashioned basis of creating a relationship doesn't change – once you've got that groundswell of following, then you can start to leverage it using technology. Once you start using multiple channels, never abuse that person's privacy or integrity… the original relationship you had with them.
@giveasyoulive
In your words
Polly Gowers has remained focused on achieving her business goals with a concept that was at the time, and remains to some extent, unique. Like any early-stage and growing business it has had to survive in exacting times that has pushed even the most experienced of us to the limit. Polly recognises that connections are very important in business at whatever level and can be invaluable in maximising opportunities as well as helping when times are tough. She has never been afraid to ask.
Tim Powell, University of Warwick Science Park
Lynne Franks, founder
of SEED (Sustainable Enterprise and Empowerment Dynamics)
In her own words
Being well connected is intrinsic to my business – it's a huge part of what I do. I've been in media and PR since I was 17 years old, so it's my job. All women enjoy building relationships. I use my intuition, creativity, and empathy to be a good communicator: it's about listening as well as talking. You build contacts over a long, long period of time.
Everything I do has integrity – it's about having depth as well as breadth. I don't work at networking: I don't have the time. I use all social media – it's a different kind of connection. That's what's great about it: one tweet can reach thousands of people in seconds. I do still have face-to-face meetings – I'd say I
spend three days a week in meetings. Now I've got B.Hive (a women's business networking club), I've got the place and the space. Never abuse your connections or friendships – I don't ask favours of any of them. It's about creating a healthy business relationship on merit. Go to the networking events, and be prepared to work hard if you really want something.
@Lynne_Franks
In your words
Lynne Franks has a strong network and contacts book but there's a difference between knowing people who might help you in some way and creating a network that interacts successfully and abundantly. Lynne supports women on a global basis – from those under violent threat to those with commercial ambitions. She encourages every business concept to nurture its own community and ecological impact. This is the true sense of being connected.
Lyndsey Whiteside, Inspired Thinking
Bindi Karia, VC/Emerging Business Lead, Microsoft BizSpark
In her own words
Being connected is core to my role at Microsoft. Without both my internal and external industry connections, I could not be effective at my job. My network helps my customers – it's as simple as that. The more, better and deeper connections I have, the more useful I am. It's important to combine different ways of connecting and not to just rely on one tool. Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and good old email are all incredibly powerful ways of staying connected. But the best connections start with face-to-face meetings and attending and speaking at industry events. Nothing replaces real human interaction.
You have to be able to add value to a relationship once it's established and it is very important to stay in touch. I don't believe that people in my kind of position are
at their best working in isolation. It is important to surround yourself with smart people. Don't be selfish: always try to be
prepared to help your network/connections without necessarily expecting anything in return. The greater the contribution you make, the more people will value you and will respond in kind.
@bindik
In your words
Bindi Karia is a fabulously well-connected woman who has used her clout for the good of everyone around her in the emerging technology industry in the UK (and further afield, too). Her deep and excellent network has made a terrific difference to dozens of young companies, within and outside of
her Microsoft portfolio. She's a real hero and someone who deserves to be rewarded for giving back.
Milo Yiannopoulos, Commissioning editor,
Start-Up 100
Lucy Marcus, founder, Marcus Venture Consulting
In her own words
Connecting with people is more important than ever. In a world where new and interesting ideas can come from anywhere, true value is found by breaking through
the silos of sector-only or country-only knowledge and relationships.
It is not just about the number of people you know or the mountain of business cards you collect, but rather about the depth and authenticity of the relationships you build and sustain, the depth and maturity of the connection you have with one another, and about nurturing and valuing the free flow of ideas.
The integration of social media tools and the use of technologies such as Skype means that used properly, the online and offline exchange of ideas can be seamless. We need only keep an open mind and be on both "transmit" and "receive" to be able to find new, dynamic ways to work together. One of the most exciting developments that technological advances have facilitated is the breaking down of the hierarchy of ideas. Technology allows great ideas to bubble up no matter whether they originate from a young woman entrepreneur in Japan or an elder statesman in Africa.
@Lucymarcus
In your words
Lucy Marcus is a major contributor in the world of corporate social responsibility and board governance. She is a key adviser to CSRwire leadership and our readers around the world depend upon her advice.
Jan Morgan, CSRwire
Shaa Wasmund, founder, Smarta.com
In her own words
I'm a firm believer in building long term-relationships, not simply "networking". I have been helped by some of the most unlikely of connections and we can learn from everyone. Being well connected enables me to connect and help more people. Collaboration is the most important word in my business dictionary. I've found Twitter to be an invaluable way to help make introductions, but nothing beats spending real time with people in person.
I don't feel that I work at it at all. It should come naturally – these contacts should be people you enjoy spending your time with. Social networking has had an enormous impact, but it's not enough to be well connected, you also need to be well respected. Listen more than you talk. Be interested in people for who they are, not what you might be able to get from them. Give freely, give generously and give without expectations.
@shaawasmund
In your words
Shaa Wasmund should make the cut. She is all about connecting people, building networks and supporting new businesses. Shaa is a down-to-earth person who represents how business should be done: honestly and openly while reaching out to others and helping them in their journey. She's an inspiration.
Elizabeth Hodgson, Civicboom.com
Carole Stone, chairman, YouGovStone
In her own words
I have assiduously kept a record of people I have met and found interesting throughout both my professional and my personal life. Once I've met them I try my hardest to keep in touch. I think we can all learn from each other's experiences – how other people cope with what life throws at them. Nothing compares with face to face – so often I have found a real meeting invaluable – but my trusty mobile is constantly at my side. Networking for me is not an add-on – it's an essential.
Good networking is making the most of the people you meet to your mutual advantage. There's no question that being well connected has helped my business grow, bringing new opportunities to bid for work, or learn about ideas that help me expand my horizons. Your business and your reputation will be built by word of mouth based on your ability to deliver what you've promised. Add people you want to keep in touch with to your database, cross-referencing where you met, and invite them to something in the near future, before they forget who you are. I have an electronic database of contacts – now over 40,000.
@YouGovStone
In your words
Not only is Carole Stone the best connected (she has the numbers indexed to prove it) but she does the most with those connections. She is a tour de force and makes incredible things happen.
Cindy Irvine, Jenson8
