Internal networks do an awful lot to help break down barriers between various communities and to build a better sense of understanding and awareness.  Whilst the purpose of these networks varies from one company to the next the focus is usually on support, knowledge and personal development.

If you sit on a committee or are the Chair of one of these networks we understand and respect that you often volunteer to undertake these roles alongside your normal mad day jobs, so:

Here are 4 ways we can help you:

• If you want to be connected to other networks in London, we can make those introductions for you (after all we are networkers ☺)
• If you want to help your members network, we can do teach them for you
• If you want an independent view on how to grow & develop your network, we can coach you.
• If you are looking to set up a new network, we can advise you.

All of our training and coaching is tailor to your needs.  If you would like to hear more please contact us so we can chat about the options in more detail.

The next wave

What will internal corporate networks look like in 5 years time? What will sponsors be looking for and will their budgets be based on tangible change? Without a doubt their look and feel will be unique to each company but there are underlying goals that are true for all. There is evidence that internal corporate networks do make a difference to retention, development, performance related issues and are a commercial benefit to their organisations.

Whilst it is great to know that internal networks will carry on making a difference to the lives of their employees, the volunteer chairs and committees still need support, ideas and advice.

Here are just some of the internal corporate networks that Heather White/ we have worked with:

Accenture, AT Kearney, Better Bankside, BT, Capco, Connecting Women in Technology (which is a woman’s collaborative between the top technology businesses Dell, CISCO, Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, HP, Avaya & Google), eBay, Ernst & Young, European Professional Women Network, everywoman, GE CAS, KPMG, Metropolitan Police Service, Nomura, RBS, Royal Mail, Women in Technology.

What the clients said:

Jill M. Naas, Director, Investment Operations, Russell Investments - “Heather has been a wonderful, patient resource in our quest to start and grow our Women’s Network in EMEA. We have an existing Women’s Network at our headquarters, where I helped to grow it over the last two years. As we are just starting one up in EMEA, I wanted to be mindful of the cultural and general people differences between the US and the UK. Heather was a great resource who coached me on some ‘tricks of the trade’ and best practices. She also identified pitfalls she could already see in the set-up that had been proposed prior to my arrival in London. She was great at listening to where we’d been, addressing some of the challenges I had seen in the US and suggesting how to mitigate those types of issues within the new network. The advice and recommendations she gave me have already helped me and the network immensely”. 

Charlotte Sweeney, Head of Diversity & Inclusion, Nomura International PLC - “I have worked with Heather in both my capacity as Head of Diversity & Inclusion for Nomura and as President of the European Professional Women’s Network (EPWN). In both capacities Heather has worked with me on how the respective networks (internal to Nomura and the external network) can find their place in the market, identify and communicate around its unique selling point and support / link in to the overarching business. The way that Heather coached me through my thinking was hugely helpful and has resulted in a detailed business and action plan being pulled together for both. I really valued Heather’s input and support and will certainly work with her again in the future.” 

Tim Jones, Partner, KPMG LLP - “I approached Heather as I wanted some general advice on how to best foster a network. I wanted to know what a successful network looked like, and how I could identify realistic objectives for the network. Her experience meant that she was able to pull on a number of global examples that really helped develop my thinking around these questions. Heather also helped by providing me a structure which I could use to get the most from my new network, as well as to support its further development. I’m sure that her support and advice were essential to the success of the first face to face network meeting”