Brandon McEachern, the co-founder of Broccoli City, talks into the mic and gestures toward the audience while onstage at the Gathering Spot DC in Northwest — Brandon McEachern

Broccoli City Co-Founder

This year I was glad to send my little cousin to Broccoli Con. While I have more than enjoyed this event in the past, it was nice to gift this experience to a young millennial. She would stand to benefit from the learnings and wisdom that this esteemed gathering was in the habit of dropping. Imagine the lightbulb that went off over my head when I re-read the words of Brandon McEachern, Broccoli City co-founder, about this year's theme: "We’re bringing together community and business leaders to celebrate our culture and work together to provide Black communities, students and young professionals with equitable resources and opportunities." Just thinking about all of the innovative ideas that would be brewing within that conference room practically made me jealous. I had to remind myself that, while I wasn't there physically, I could still watch the event live or after the fact through their on-demand offering. So, I offered her the experience of the year. I am excited for you to read about her day two takeaways below.

As I walked into The Gathering Spot in Northwest, Washington DC, the smack of the ac made me shiver. After walking through the rain my velvet coat was water stained and my mascara was smeared, but I felt elated. The escape from the rain cued, not the ruination of a flawless look (or what had been), but instead the start of an adventure.

No one had arrived yet, asides from managers and staff, and I stood awkwardly to the side as my cousin made introductions. No one really took notice of me asides from the obligatory handshake or nod, and I preferred it that way. It gave me a chance to take in the scene, and what a scene it was. This was not a networking event as I had ever experienced one. I was used to the stuffy colonial buildings of Williamsburg, VA, home of my undergraduate alma mater, where fireplaces filled the place with the smell of smoke, incumbent speakers droned on with their speeches without stopping for breath, and old men in ill-fitting suits kept their hands on your shoulder for a breath too long. I was used to the old way. I’d even venture, the white way.

But here at Broccoli Con…my heart started to flutter. People started walking in wearing brightly colored dresses, sweatsuits, and jeans. Heels over here and Air Jordans over there. Instead of stiff handshakes, there were back slaps. Name cards were eschewed for friendly “How are ya’!” s and one loud and confident “I noticed your notebook; did you also go to...” Excited voices began to overtake the host’s panel introductions. The craziest thing of all, as panelists sat down and people took out their pens, the folks in the back were not asked to quiet down. Instead, they were encouraged with the words, “I see everybody is doing what you supposed to be doing, which is networking and building. So, that’s a vibe and I ain’t mad at you. And you don’t have to be quiet.” I laughed. I had the odd sense that this group of melanated young professionals, while strangers, knew each other on a basic level. The same need to lift ourselves up and open doors for ourselves cut through the different winding paths we took to get to this conference. We all wanted to learn how to give ourselves an edge as young black professionals seeking advancement in a job market that was built to keep us out. Some of us took out pens and computers and others continued networking in the back. We all started to learn about ourselves.

A graphic of the words "Being In Relationship", a term popularized by, canadian company, lululemon athletica, on top of a golden-yellow splash — A term used at lululemon, “being in relationship” refers to connecting and growing together.

Relationships. We learned that this would give us our edge. How marvelously simple although often forgotten. In a job market that throws us obstacles like biased resume processes, non-inclusive job fairs, and skewed IQ tests, it turns out we can close the gap.

Misty Gaither, the Director and Global Head of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (D&I) at Indeed, sits on an orange armstage onstage. She is gesturing toward and answering a question from a member of the audience at the 2022 Broccoli Con. — **D&I’s Impact & Importance in the Workplace**

with Misty Gaither

When it comes to employment, as a basic human right, the gap should not exist at all. As we filter out of school, we are confronted by the fact that mainstream media has pushed a narrative about who we are as black students. Interviewers and potential contacts feel they already know who we are based on the color of our skin, the spelling of our names, and our zip codes. However, Misty Gaither, the Director & Global Head of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (D&I) at Indeed, put it succinctly, “Black people are not a monolith.” We are as diverse in our skills, and interests as we are in our ethnicities. You know this. And I know this. But the average recruiter is either ignorant to the fact or plain uninterested. And that’s what the black millennials and gen-z’ers are up against.

So, back to relationships. We’ve all heard the common saying that your network equals your net worth. Right out of school it is beaten into our skulls that on top of being academically better than our white counterparts, we must also have superior interviewing and networking skills. We need to come off the graduation stage with both flipped tassels and a full social rolodex. How daunting is that? The student receiving this information might push back and ask “Why? Of course, it’s advantageous but shouldn’t a sparkling GPA and pristine portfolio be enough?” Yes, it should be; it is for others. But as a person of color, it often isn’t. We have to do more. Show up more. Rely on social networking more.

And yes, the idea of social networking can seem intimidating. For the introvert, the idea of showing up to a room full of strangers and having to build a connection from scratch might sound like a nightmare. For the person who is already in the throes of their career, the prospect of attending networking functions can feel like a drain on the wallet and a loss of valuable time. In its cookie cutter form, networking can look like handing out business cards, going to happy hour, and rehearsing elevator pitches. But networking is nuanced and that is only one of several ways it can be practiced. It should look different for each person because it should meet the needs of each person. It can look like emailing your old boss from a college internship a few times a year or getting a get-well card for your current boss who’s on leave. Social networking can even show up a simple text with an old college friend or grabbing a coffee with your co-worker. It’s about building and maintaining relationships.

So, while the below ways to break into the networking game are often recommended, they are not the only methods available::

Go to networking events, career panels, and job fairs
Apply for internships

Seek out mentors

A great site to use is Firsthand

Join social clubs
Stay in contact with college classmates or past co-workers
Join your local Alumni Association chapter

Floating blue torsos, with white outlines, on a textured yellow background

Plus another example: Networking is hard work. A person has to be diligent and mindful. But it can also be fun if the person tailors their methods to suit their personality. The above relationship building examples are illustrations of social exchange. A relationship that is cultivated and based in respect and reciprocity can lead to an array of beneficial paths. Moreover, a person might be surprised by where these relationships can come from. At the beginning of this article, I mentioned the panel with Misty Gaither. One of the things she also discussed was networking at one's own level. Instead of focusing exclusively on executives anyone can adjust their perspective to include managers and associates, people who may have roles lateral to theirs but who have a wealth of knowledge about the company of interest. Connections can come from unexpected places. In my own experience, even building relationships with those we already work with can bring opportunities that might have spent years to accomplish otherwise. And below are some ideas and tools to enhance networking skills or provide accessibility:

Identify your personal value proposition and personal brand or reputation
For introverts, use networking apps like WorkFrom, Meetup or Nextdoor

Read “The Squiggly Career” by Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis
Practice relationship intelligence
Be confident about your purpose. Be confident about where you belong.
And finally…

Christopher Gray of Scholly, Brandon Andrews of Gauge, Darrah Joy Clay of Instacart, Aaron Morgan of Voltron Data, and Haywood L Perry of Shark Tank III sitting in orange armchairs on a stage at 2022 Broccoli Con at The Gathering Spot DC — Breaking Into Tech

With Christopher Gray | Brandon Andrews | Aaron Morgan | Darrah Joy Clay | Haywood L. Perry III

Treat others well. Instead of burning through the rolodex of relationships, cultivate. Whatever is put out will come back tenfold. The opposite of burning bridges is building bridges. That can be done by pouring back into your network. The purpose of networking is not to only seek for oneself but to seek for others as well. Treating those within our collective the way we would want to be treated. We have to let the people of color in our networks know that they are not disposable, although the job market will try to convince them that they are. During the “Breaking into Tech” panel, Brandon Andrews, the Co-Founder of Gauge, noted that while we advocate for ourselves, we should also advocate for others.

Ronne B of Girl CEO Inc, Domonique Broadway of Finances Demystified, Courtney Couch of c.luxe Creative, and Tonya Rapley of My Fab Finance, sitting on orange armchairs at 2022 Broccoli Con at The Gathering Spot DC — **How to Position Yourself As An Entrepreneurial Playmaker**

With Courtney Couch | Ronne B | Tonya Rapley | Domonique Broadway

We should ask ourselves how we can make the path easier for those coming behind us? How can we bless those we currently have relationships with while building our own professional and creative skills? No matter what stage in a career one is at, there will always be someone who will need us to give them a platform. There will always be ideas we can support and people for us to invest in. During the Girl CEO panel, Courtney Couch, of c.luxe creative, drove home the point that by treating others right one will receive their own blessings and their social currency will flourish. Like Ms. Couch said, “Let the game come to you.”

You can watch the live recording of Broccoli City’s annual Broccoli Con below!