I just finished from a meeting and it ended with "R said xyz about you and we have an offer for you. This is a paid opportunity where you will join us to help grow talent in the city."

I met R last year at a workshop and we were in the same group doing problem-based learning.

It was just something I said during the workshop that made R ask for my LinkedIn and email. This week R mentioned my name in an established firm and they scheduled a meeting immediately. Today it ended with "we want a brilliant doer and builder like you. Thank you so much."

This is why I always tell students and others who I train during workshops that wherever they find themselves, they should always feel confident to share ideas/suggestions/skills during interactive learning processes (workshop, summit, hangouts, online conversations/forum, etc.).

You don't know who is listening and watching you. When we talk about personal branding, a lot of people think it's only about social media or online presence. In reality personal branding is how you make conscious and intentional effort to present yourself in any space or place.

Same experience I had with YWCA Canada in 2018. I attended their national leadership summit and I wasn't afraid to share some tips on mindset Psychology with the participants. I remember the emotions in the hall that day during and after my speech.

Next thing I got an invitation to join other senior representatives at the House of Commons to use my voice in telling the stories of women and advocating for more opportunities/resources. We got $1.25M funding to continue the work that the Y-women are doing across Canada.

Anywhere you go, please 'soro soke' (speak up, use your voice, ask questions, share ideas, participate actively in the learning and networking process).

It was the sorosoke mindset that made R see value in me and mentioned my name where decision makers are. #Learnwithbren

Be your authentic self. You can share ideas, ask questions % participate in any learning or networking activity by being confident (not cocky), humble (intellectual humility), & having a beginner's mindset (don't display I-Kow-It-All mentality or unnecessary ultracrepidarianism).

Always be an empathetic listener. Trust me when I say that how we listen with empathy and then respond with grace, shows or tells a lot about who we are and the values that you stand for.

This was my experience during UNACanada training in 2017. @pompomdorin knows this.

You don't always have to be the loudest in the room but your graceful manner of asking questions, sharing ideas and even affirming other people in that learning space/workshop/webinar/networking activity can be your defining moment.

Be gracious/tactful in any space.