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When people think of networking, they often picture formal conferences, job fairs, or corporate mixers held in boardrooms. But truthfully, some of the most valuable connections are made during the summer months, when schedules loosen up, moods lighten, and professional events become more relaxed and social.

If you’ve been meaning to grow your circle, summer is the ideal season to make meaningful, strategic connections that can shape your career. Here’s why:

People Are More Social and Open
The w

People seem to be afraid of networking. They have many excuses to avoid it. Yet in-person networking remains vibrant today whether you are a small business owner, a job hunter or a member of some affinity group that brings people together. Attending networking meetings provides increased exposure, knowledge, leads, suggestions and ideas to help you become more effective in your professional life. READ MORE AT THE BIG GAME HUNTER

Chicago – Over 2,000 Hispanic high school students representing 45 high schools in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Tennessee, Oregon, and Nebraska have pre-registered to attend the launch of USHLI’s 2023 Student Leadership Series (SLS). The series will continue throughout the year nationwide.

The goal of the SLS is to motivate public school students to make education their personal priority, take responsibility, improve their academic performance, graduate and prepare themselves to me

For all businesses, but particularly smaller teams and start-ups, networking is essential to building relationships and gaining opportunities to grow the business. These opportunities are more than just referrals for new customers. Networking is a popular way to share ideas and collaborate with fellow business owners. But, networking is a true art form and there are definitely some ‘do’s and don’ts’ to consider for it to be successful. Here are some tips to help you on your way to becoming a ne

More than being an excuse to treat oneself to nachos, tacos, mezcal and margaritas, Cinco de Mayo has a history that runs deep and continues to serve as a vehicle conveying Mexican culture, pride and values.

Here are a few things to know about the day. READ MORE AT THE NEW YORK TIMES

Entrepreneurs rely heavily on the networks of contacts and communities they form at industry events, conventions, business lunches, etc. The problem? We have been following the social distancing rules for Covid-19 for more than 15 months. READ MORE AT ENTREPRENEUR

Networking. A word that can summon fear into even the most resilient of entrepreneurial hearts. However, little else can grow your business as powerfully as networking can.  At its core, networking is the process of building relationships. Over time, these relationships will reveal interesting and worthwhile opportunities for you. READ MORE AT BUSINESS2COMMUNITY

Networking… many people see it as a necessary evil in the business world, and for some it can be difficult to master. Networking connects people with one another, sparking new ideas, forging new partnerships, and making an event worth attending. Sounds great, however, the problem with networking is that it can be, well, awkward. If you’ve ever turned up to a gathering as a “newbie” or first timer, you’ll know the feeling of hovering by the doorway, not knowing who to approach or where to begin. 

Imagine you are presenting to 1,000 people. The lights come up, and as you leave the stage you are confronted with a dozen or so people from the audience.

Hands thrust out, many asking direct questions about your content. Others are more subtle, and just pass you their cards or say they loved your speech.

You’ve likely attended a speech like this, eager to get a word in with the presenter. But it’s easy to forget that people are busy, especially those who are more high profile (and giving speech

If you desire to move forward in your career, you’ll need to brush up on your networking skills. The thought of interacting with people you may not know very well and selling what you have to offer may be nerve-wracking, but it’s a necessary evil if you want to make meaningful career moves. How do you network without making a bad impression? The Cheat Sheet consulted Vicki Salemi, a careers expert at Monster, and Chelsea Krost, brand consultant and host of The Chelsea Krost Show, for advice on h

Networking can feel a bit like going to the dentist: You know it's important to your overall career health, but it can be so painful. So it’s understandable that you might want to take a no-nonsense approach to these events. Your time is in short supply, and really, we’d all rather spend whatever’s leftover from a 4060-plus hour workweek at happy hour with friends, not chatting it up with random strangers. Yet, as tempting as it might be to get straight to the point with your laser-focused caree

Getting a personal introduction to a strategic investor or business partner means everything to an entrepreneur. Likewise, executives depend on being able to pick up the phone to get insights into a new market or find the world's greatest marketing guy.

Business life has always been about connections. Business leaders spend decades building and cultivating those relationships. They cherish their networks because they know it's their most valuable asset. And they're not about to do anything stup

Need a job? You need to network. Have a job and want to keep it? You need to network. Networking should be a career-long endeavor that is just as important as performing your job in an excellent manner. Here's why. First, if we have learned anything over the past four years, it's that job security does not exist - if it ever did. One big economic downturn - or any number of other variables you cannot control - and you could find yourself sending out resumes and hoping for a call.

Once you get t

There is no one more hashtag happy or "Like" giddy than the average Hispanic online.
Hispanics are the most active group on social media networking sites, according to a new Pew Report, reinforcing the importance of this young demographic to the future of mobile advertisers, web-sites, and apps.

According to the survey, 80 percent of Hispanic adults in the U.S. use social media, that's more than whites (70 percent) and African Americans (75 percent).

The survey shows an increase from 72 percent

Have you ever watched a small child enter a new social situation?

Perhaps it’s a playgroup or a local park. Depending on the child, she will likely take a while to play on the perimeter and observe the others, before picking someone to play beside.

Eventually, the child will interact with the strangers, finding some point of common interest -- the same yellow shovel, a cute flower on both their dresses. She doesn’t mind if they’re boys or girls, black or white. She doesn’t ask about religion or

Andrew Sund, President, St. Augustine College

Andrew Sund is the President of St. Augustine College (Chicago), which for over 30 years has been serving the higher education needs of the Hispanic community. He assumed office on July 1, 2008.

During his five years as president, St. Augustine College’s enrollment has increased by 39%. Additionally, under his leadership the college opened a new site in Southeast Chicago, developed new programs, strengthened accreditation and has guided St. Augustin