How one learner rebuilt his network, and his confidence.
When Owen Zheng enrolled in the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies (SCS) course, Networking: An Intelligent Approach to Levelling Up Your Leadership Skills, he expected to pick up some helpful tips. What he didn’t anticipate was how profoundly the course would transform his entire approach to building and maintaining professional, and even personal, relationships.
Since completing the course, Owen’s confidence in networking has grown tremendously. Previously, he would have hesitated to reconnect with people after extended periods, fearing they might have lost interest, but the course helped him to understand that even with time gaps, a genuine effort to reconnect can be well-received.
“For example, despite a two-year gap with my former mentor, he was open to meeting up, which showed me that meaningful connections can be revived,” he explains. “Now I’m more willing to take chances on re-establishing old connections or reaching out to new ones, knowing that time isn’t necessarily a barrier.”
Since the end of the course, Owen has had opportunities to apply the strategies he learned in class to strengthen his professional circle.
“I’ve been more proactive about nurturing relationships with mentors and close professional contacts,” he says. “This intentional approach has made my network feel more supportive and beneficial.”
The course also helped Owen understand that networking isn’t limited to career advancement, with the skills he learned in the course extending beyond his career and into his personal life.
“Now, I’m more intentional about understanding how people around me can play various roles in different areas of my life. The course taught me that my network isn’t limited to career growth; it can also include friends or acquaintances who support personal development,” he says. “This perspective has helped me cultivate a more well-rounded and balanced network, benefitting both my professional and personal life.”
Zheng’s mindset about networking in social environments has also evolved. He says his approach to networking in social settings has become more purposeful. Whereas previously, he felt pressure to continuously meet new people, now he’s more focused on strengthening meaningful connections within his current network.
“Instead of spreading myself thin by attending every networking event, I now prioritize opportunities to reconnect with valuable contacts, aiming to move those relationships deeper within my network,” he says.
Zheng credits the success of the course largely to instructor Jean Chow’s supportive teaching approach creating a safe, encouraging learning environment.
“I’m a huge fan of classroom discussion,” he says. “Jean encouraged us to share our own stories and experiences to the class and let classmates give feedback. By doing so, the storyteller could have other people’s advice and suggestions that could apply to his or her own networking strategy. In addition, Jean always emphasizes there are no right or wrong answers, which boosts people’s willingness to give real opinions.”
To learn more about Networking: An Intelligent Approach to Levelling Up Your Leadership Skills, please visit our course page.