How IT Teams Can Make the Most of Networking And Why It’s Important

BUSINESS How IT Teams Can Make the Most of Networking - And Why It’s Important

By d-mars.com News Provider

Tf you're an IT professional, you've probably experienced times when you feel isolated in your own information bubble. Your daily tasks, on top of your short- and long-term professional goals, are usually more than enough to demand your full attention. But if you haven't had the opportunity to get outside of that bubble and network with other IT pros, you could be missing out - not only on ways to advance your career, but also to learn about the latest innovations and thought leadership in your field.

As an industry, IT is continually evolving, sometimes at a breakneck pace, so connecting with your colleagues both within and outside your organization is crucial to staying ahead of the game and doing your best, for yourself and your team.

What are the benefits of networking with others in your field? Here are some ways you can benefit from making those connections:

* Staying current on IT news and trends * Learning about career opportunities * Building your own personal brand * Exchanging ideas and insights with peers * Expanding your IT knowledge base * Finding resources to boost your skillset * Meeting leaders in your field who could become mentors podcast or join their Slack group.

Identify high-profile thought leaders in your field so you can follow and engage with them. Don't be shy! Follow them on LinkedIn and connect with them occasionally by asking questions or commenting on their posts. Email or message them to thank them for their contributions or just to connect on a professional level.

Network on a local and national scale

Attend regional and national industry conferences, seminars, and lectures when possible. First search for local meetup or networking IT groups on Meetup.com, or via social networking sites like LinkedIn. Then widen your scope to include national and even international groups. Many IT practitioners expand their networking opportunities by attending conferences like Dreamforce, CiscoLive, and London Tech Week. JumpCloud Community features conversations about all things IT - alongside sharing best practices, career guidance, and news about timely industry topics and products. The community also features a variety of helpful guides and templates for IT admins in their everyday work, career spotlights for those in the field, and an IT meetup network that takes place both virtually and in person. "Continual growth and learning are essential to staying ahead in the IT industry, and there's nothing better for that growth than making professional connections," said Becky Scott, head of community at JumpCloud. "IT admins at small- to medium-size businesses, in particular, will find that they really benefit from networking with their peers throughout the industry."

Ready to get started with your professional networking goals? Learn more at Community. JumpCloud.com.

Source: BPT

To get started, begin with your own company - then start expanding your networking opportunities outward. Encourage your organization's peers to do the same, so you can all benefit from the increased knowledge and professional connections you develop.

Connecting within your own team

How long has it been since you brainstormed and shared ideas with your own colleagues about the challenges you're all facing? When you're at your busiest, connecting with your peers in your company may consist of brief check-ins, plus requests for assistance or information when needed.

Create opportunities to meet regularly with IT colleagues in your own business to discuss issues and goals, as well as new insights, information, and resources some of you may have discovered that could be helpful to the whole team. Join an online community forum

To connect with other IT professionals virtually and stay up to date on industry news and best practices, the

Follow and engage with thought leaders

To stay on top of innovations - and challenges - in your industry, subscribe to top IT newsletters, podcasts, and webinars that provide useful information and conversations in the IT space. You can even find groups that cater to your exact area of expertise. For example, if you're a Mac admin, you can follow the MacAdmins

A Leader in the BLACK BREAST CANCER MOVEMENT BLACK BREAST CANCER MOVEMENT

Sisters Network® Inc. has remained a necessary and vital resource and the voice for Black women in the fight against breast cancer for nearly three decades. What makes Sisters Network special is we are the only national Black breast cancer survivor organization. We have an extensive network of affiliate chapters around the United States to serve Black women. Since 1994, through our programs, Sisters Network has been on the front lines providing emotional support to thousands of Black women facing breast cancer, providing educational resources and mammograms/ ultrasounds, and contributing nearly $1 million in financial assistance.” for Nearly Three Decades By d-mars.com News Provider

Sisters Network® Inc. (SNI) has remained a necessary resource locally and nationally, helping to fight breast cancer in the African American community for nearly three decades. Founder and CEO Karen Eubanks Jackson is a 28-year four-time breast cancer survivor and author who is recognized nationally as a true visionary and national leader in the Black breast cancer movement. In 1994, Jackson founded SNI during her personal fight to survive breast cancer and recognized a lack of “sisterhood” in traditional organizations, a staggering breast cancer mortality rate for African American women, and limited culturally sensitive material. Often referred to as a “breast cancer champion,” Jackson’s primary motivation was to break through the silence and shame of breast cancer that immobilizes African American women, restricts their ability to receive support services, interferes with early detection, and ultimately affects their survival rates. SNI is the nation’s largest and only national Black breast cancer survivorship organization. Jackson, along with a dedicated staff, partners, sponsors, and other supporters continue to lead SNI’s nationwide effort to focus the spotlight on the 12th Annual Stop the Silence 5K increasing breast cancer awareness in our community. Walk/Run held on Saturday, April 23rd The organization provides standardized national educa- at Discovery Green. tional outreach programs, survivor and family support, SNI continues to be the leader in the empowerment, hope, and financial assistance to thousands Black breast cancer movement supporting of women annually through its national network of over thousands of Black women for nearly 30 survivor-run affiliate chapters. One of SNI’s efforts is three decades.

BLACK BREAST CANCER MOVEMENT BLACK BREAST CANCER MOVEMENT Karen Eubanks Jackson, Founder and CEO of Sisters Network® Inc. for Nearly Three Decades

For more information about Sisters Network Inc., please visit www.sistersnetworkinc.org, and for more about how you can support the 12th Annual Stop the Silence 5K Walk/Run, please visit www.stopthesilencewalk.org.

D-MARS: Since your efforts over the years, have you seen more African American women in our community be more proactive when it comes to breast cancer screenings and regular exams? SN: Black women are being diagnosed more frequently with breast cancer and dying at alarming rates as compared to white women and other ethnicities. While we are seeing an increase in Black women talking about breast health awareness, and getting mammograms there is still much more work to be done. We need our women to also participate in clinical trials so we can get better treatment and save more lives. Black breast cancer is just different, and more research is needed. Sisters Network won’t stop advocating, educating, and supporting Black women until breast cancer is no longer a crisis in our community. D-MARS: How has Sisters Network adapted during the pandemic, continuing to successfully serve the community? SN: While the pandemic has been challenging, it also opened up new opportunities for the organization to expand its footprint by hosting a series of virtual educational webinars and a major event last October. “The State of Black Breast Cancer Crisis,” “A National Town Hall,” and “Call to Action” attracted over 2,000 participants. D-MARS: Talk about the 12th Annual Stop the Silence 5K Walk/Run this month and how it’s an important initiative to continue your service in our community and around the nation. SN: Funds raised from the 12th Annual Stop the Silence 5K Run/Walk will support Sisters Network Inc. Breast Cancer Assistance Program (BCAP). Established in 2006, BCAP provides much-needed financial support to survivors and pays for mammograms for uninsured and underinsured women nationwide. To date, the program has provided nearly $1 million dollars in financial support and early detection screenings. Since 2010, the Stop the Silence 5KWalk/Run has attracted over 5,000 participants each year from around the nation who come together to walk in honor, memory, and celebration of the women they love who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. The event is generously supported by Pfizer, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Eisai, Natrelle, TDECU and HEB. D-MARS: Are there any recent awards/honors that you want to mention? SN: Founder and CEO Mrs. Jackson has been honored and recognized for her tireless work in the breast cancer community by BET, the Lance Armstrong Foundation, and Essence Magazine just to name a few. Here are some recent honors Mrs. Jackson has received: Mrs. Jackson was invited to the White House by President Joe Biden as a National Cancer Leader/Advocate to hear more about his war on cancer as he relaunches the Moonshot 2.0 Cancer Initiative. Sisters Network Inc. has been named and certified as America’s Best Charities. Mrs. Jackson recently received recognition for her outstanding work in the cancer community from The Cancer Health 25, and Mrs. Jackson recently received the “She Believed She Could, So She Did” Award from Breast Cancer Wellness Magazine. D-MARS: Sisters Network is the largest and only national Black breast cancer survivor-run organization, now with a new affiliate chapter in Montgomery, Alabama. What does this mean for the organization as a whole? Our organization is continuing to expand into new cities with our affiliate chapter network. Currently, we have 30 survivor-run affiliate chapters and are excited to welcome our new sisters in Montgomery, Alabama. We also have three more chapters that will be announced very soon.