Episode 36: You Don't Suck at Networking (Plus Some News)

Episode 36: You Don't Suck at Networking (Plus Some News)

From Communications Business Advisor by Tara McDonagh

December 1, 2025 · 26 min · Season 1 · Episode 36

About this episode

Tara McDonagh discusses the myth that women are bad at networking and redefines authentic networking for women in communications.

Welcome to the Communications Business Advisor ™ podcast with host, Tara McDonagh. In this episode, Tara gets real about one of the biggest myths she hears from women regularly: that they "suck at networking." Spoiler alert, they don't. They just don't network like men. Tara explains how traditional, low-touch "networking" settings … PRSA or IABC events, chamber breakfasts,, award dinners, conference receptions … were built for how men connect and network, not women.. Instead of trying to "fix" women or force them to network like men, which doesn't work, Tara redefines what authentic networking looks like for women in communications today. Women's networking is grounded in connection, deep trust, vulnerability, reciprocity, friendship and shared growth. From there, she opens up about her own year-end business planning retreat and what's next for Raise the Tide ™ for women in the Communications field … including big news about its evolution into a full ecosystem designed to support every woman in the communications field, whether corporate, non-profit agency, or consultant and across geographies. In this episode, Tara covers: Why women don't "suck" at networking … they just…

People in this episode

Host: Tara McDonagh

Topics covered

  • networking
  • women in communications
  • gender differences
  • business planning
  • trust-based networking

Keywords

  • networking
  • women
  • communications
  • business planning
  • trust
  • vulnerability
  • reciprocity

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Raise the Tide, PRSA, IABC

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