Stop Asking “What Do You Do?” The Better Question That Builds Real Connection

About this episode

Jessica Wan discusses the limitations of the question 'What do you do?' and offers better alternatives for building real connections.

Most networking starts with the wrong question: “What do you do?” In this conversation, executive coach and classically trained singer Jessica Wan breaks down why that question shuts people down, especially during layoffs, transitions, and identity shifts, and what to ask instead if you want a real connection. We also talk about rebuilding community outside of work, why “together” is her word for 2026, and how her best work happens when the creative side and the business side actually meet.If this hit home, drop a comment with the better question you want to start using. CONNECT WITH JESSICA Website: https://www.jessicawan.com/About: https://www.jessicawan.com/about-jessicaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicamwan/The Ampersand Manifesto: https://www.theampersandmanifesto.com/Ampersand on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5AMXZidOLLlcRSbjo57dC9Ampersand on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ampersand-manifesto-make-your-mark-in-multiple-fields/id1636945117 CONNECT WITH COACHFUL COACHING YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coachfulcoaching Spotify: https://spotify.link/NTBgVJIL3yb Apple: https://apple.co/41Cz5gI CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro: why “what do you do”…

People in this episode

Host: David Fung

Guest: Jessica Wan

Topics covered

• networking
• identity shifts
• community building
• executive coaching
• creative business

Keywords

• networking
• identity
• community
• executive coaching
• creative work

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Coachful Coaching, The Ampersand Manifesto, Spotify, Apple, LinkedIn

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