By FWSF Member, Mauri Schwartz, CEO/President, Career Insiders
Establishing a sought after personal brand is often key to advancement and opportunities. There are several practices you can adopt to promote your brand within the company. It’s not rocket science. The challenge isn’t only knowing what to do – but actually doing it. And no one is going to manage your career for you. That’s your responsibility. But others may try to define your brand if you don’t do it yourself. Don’t let that happen.
Please note that nearly everything described in this article is directly useful for making a career transition to another organization as well as in promoting your own business if you’re an entrepreneur. You’ll just be focusing your attention on the external world. So, please keep reading.
Many people think of networking as something you do outside your company – conferences, LinkedIn, industry mixers – and it is. But here’s the truth: networking inside your organization is just as important – maybe even more.
Being an internal candidate doesn’t guarantee an advantage when you apply for a new role. Hiring managers often look outside. To stand out, you need to demonstrate your value, build relationships, and show up as someone people want to work with.
But internal networking isn’t just about landing the next job. It’s about:
Picture this: You need a report from another department, but when you reach out to that person, you learn she’s swamped with another project that is stalled because she’s struggling to build a complex financial model. What do you do?
The third option solves the problem and builds goodwill. Next time, guess whose project will move to the top of her list?
That’s what I call Networking Karma – when you support someone, they naturally want to return the favor.
You don’t need a big event to network. Take every possible opportunity to meet colleagues in person and take advantage of every casual interaction to form a connection. But you can do this virtually, too. Opportunities are everywhere if you look for them. The key is to step outside your comfort zone.
Don’t just wait for networking moments – make them happen. Connect colleagues who could help each other. Encourage collaboration across teams. Share insights on internal platforms or lead a lunch-and-learn. When people associate you with value and connection, your brand grows.
To advance your brand internally, focus on three things:
Formal mentoring programs can be powerful – but remember, a mentor advises, while a sponsor advocates. It’s great if you can identify someone who can do both for you.
Networking inside your company isn’t about working the room or self-promotion. It’s about being someone who:
Your brand grows not just by what you accomplish, but by how you support the success of those around you. And when you do that consistently, opportunities have a way of finding you.
From Connections Newsletter (Member Tips): September 2025
____________________
The suggestions of the contributor do not constitute professional advice and are intended for general informational and educational purposes only. Nothing contained herein is intended to be or should be used as a substitute for professional advice, and readers should not act or rely on this information without seeking specific guidance directly from a qualified professional.
The opinions and information expressed in this blog/post/webpage are solely those of the contributor and do not necessarily reflect the views of FWSF. FWSF is not responsible for any errors or omissions in this content or any damages resulting from its use.