The Inestimable Value of Your Network

Welcome to the 111th edition of “In Touch”. As always, I would love to continue the conversation so please hit reply and let me know what you think.

Story of the Week: “The Inestimable Value of Your Network"

Last week I found myself in Lisbon, in a room full of hospitality leaders. Not just any leaders—these were Cornell University alumni, gathered from across the globe. CEOs, GMs, hoteliers. They hadn’t gathered for a tourism expo or a standard industry conference. They had come together for something far more meaningful: each other.

This group makes a point of meeting annually in a different country—London last year, Lisbon this year, Poland next. But it’s not the location that matters. And it’s not even the Ivy League name on their diplomas that truly connects them. What binds them—and what fuels their progress—is the strength of the network they’ve built since graduation.

I witnessed it firsthand. These weren’t just polite conversations and LinkedIn exchanges. This was deep, honest sharing. People challenging each other’s thinking, offering battle-tested insights from the front lines of leadership, and doing so with generosity and trust.

One moment stood out: Daniel Baernreuther, GM of the legendary Gleneagles Hotel in Scotland, stood up and shared the exact HR strategies that helped his team succeed. It was practical, powerful and proven. And he wasn’t alone. One after another, attendees added to the conversation, helping good ideas grow into great ones.

Even when the event ends, the energy continues—through a WhatsApp group that’s more like a lifeline than a chat. Instant feedback, real-time support. An ego-free zone where everyone is invited to grow.

We often talk about education as a springboard. But what keeps us moving forward is not what we have learned but whom we continue to learn with. Find your people. Give freely. Stay connected. Because the ideas you share today may be the ones that return to you tomorrow—stronger, richer and from someone who remembers your generosity.

Porter Gale said it best: “Your network is your net worth.” And I couldn’t agree more.

Words of Wisdom

“Succeeding in business is all about making connections.“ Richard Branson

“The true value of networking doesn’t come from how many people we can meet but rather how many people we can introduce to others.” Simon Sinek

A Question to Ponder, dear friend.

Can you share an example of how networking has helped you professionally?