No woman is an island. Here, AllBright reveals new research on online networking, and speaks to a founding member about the power of sisterhood in building a brand.

It feels strange to be talking about networking at a time when we’ve never been more disconnected. Due to the impact of Covid-19, businesses and offices across the globe have closed their doors, with workers confined to their homes and communication across Slack, Zoom and Microsoft Teams becoming the norm. In just a few short months, the world of work as we know it has changed beyond recognition.

Yet despite our physical distance, networking is still key – in fact, it’s arguably more important than ever. Having a solid network of connections and contacts to rely on during this period is critical to both business and brand success. And for women, having a strong and supportive sisterhood has never been more vital – and is something that we are now actively looking to find.

New research from AllBright has shown that, yet again, women have pivoted with confidence during Covid-19, with an upsurge in interest in online networking emerging from the pandemic. More than half (54%) of the women surveyed are choosing to focus on advancing their careers in their spare time, while a massive 80% feel more motivated to take part in online networking compared to online dating.

Considering the huge benefits of networking, these findings should come as no surprise. Networking is crucial during a job hunt, with data from 2017 showing that companies didn’t advertise for 70% of their vacant roles, with other research finding that around 85% of job roles are filled through networking. With Covid-19 impacting economies across the globe, we all need a strong and supportive sisterhood around us, now more than ever.

Of course, the benefits of networking don’t end once a job offer has been secured. And even though face-to-face meetings and mingling are currently on pause, there are still a myriad of ways to network from home – and a myriad of reasons why you should give it a go.

“I’ve pivoted my business model slightly since the start of the pandemic, and I’ve really relied on the support of my network to help me keep things flexible,” says Alison McDougal, the founder of personal styling service, Alison.Style. With a background in fashion tech, Alison started her career at The Chapar before moving to Marks & Spencer, where she launched the brand’s first online styling platform, Try Tuesday.  

Alison is quick to point out that the support of her network hasn’t only been important during the pandemic, but that she has always considered networking to be an essential part of her business. In fact, it’s one of the reasons she chose to become a founding member of AllBright back in 2018.

 “When I initially launched my business I was feeling a bit distant from other people – I was working from home every day and keen to expand my network, which was harder than I thought,” she says. “I tried networking events but struggled to find ones where I could actually meet like-minded people who were in a similar situation to me. AllBright has such an incredible network of women who are members, and that’s what initially drew me in to join.”

Almost three years later, Alison now considers the connections she has made at the club and online to be a “critical” part of her success.

“It’s been game changing for my business,” she says. “All the supporters of my brand and the people that I’ve been able to lean on have been connections I’ve made at AllBright. I never would have met them in another way – we’re all doing our own thing, but supporting each other at the same time. There’s a real passion to see success for each other.”

Despite the pandemic, Alison’s business is continuing to thrive, and she’s added another 120 clients to her books in the past year. She’s also expanded her team, having just hired an assistant. She credits her strong sisterhood – and the sisterhood of her sisterhood – as a key part of this continued success.

Alison McDougal, Founder of Alison.Style

“It’s bonkers, and so much of that success has been through word of mouth,” she says. She also credits the women in her sisterhood with keeping her motivated and knowing her worth, accelerating her productivity, confidence and profits.

“One woman, who works in tech, quizzed me on why I was setting certain rates for my work. She told me to ‘think like a man’ and to really know my worth – that definitely helped me unleash my potential!” she says. “I also share tips about successful working strategies with another member, who I met across my desk at AllBright, such as the importance of taking regular breaks and setting up a to do list in the morning.

"We also have really deep conversations about our mental health and motivation. These things have been so powerful in creating our friendship and helping us to get the most out of working for ourselves, too.”

If you’re keen to boost your network, you're going to love AllBright's new Sisterhood Matching programme, designed to give you tailored connections to help you build your network. Get started today - your new business partner, mentor or industry ally could be waiting!