Interview with Manon van den Berg
An interview with PhD Student Manon van den Berg about the second TOPX Expert & Networking Meeting - Value of Networking on 25 March 2021.
April 2021
What is TOPX?
TOPX is a platform for ambitious women in Life Sciences. The platform aids to connect successful, inspiring and influential women in the Life Science sector. The platform encourages women to share their personal experiences, give practical tips and help each other to reach the top. Moreover, the platform provides you with a wide and valuable network. TOPX welcomes woman who are seeking to develop their leadership and management skills, or, like me, seek to widen their network and look for inspiration and mentorship.
Why did I join TOPX value of networking event?
I decided to join TOPX because I was keen to broaden my network. Being a PhD student, my network is limited to the academic sector. For many years, I was curious to learn and understand the Life Science sector outside of academia, but connecting with people in the industry was challenging for me. Luckily, I found TOPX, which provided me with the opportunity to talk to woman in a safe, informal and welcoming environment. I am at the start of my career and this network event gave me an incredible insight to future career possibilities. It left me with numerous new network-connections and I finally felt like I was taking the first steps in finding answers to my many questions!What did I learn during the TOPX event?
During the TOPX event “value of networking” we had the pleasure to hear the experiences of three successful, incredible and charismatic women. Each speaker told her own vision on how to develop a meaningful and valuable network. The inspiring talks left the audience with an intrinsic motivation to work on their own network!
The first speaker, Carmen van Vilsteren, Chair of Top Sector Life Science & Health and Director Health at TU/e, explained that building a network is challenging. Relationships are built on trust and respect, so it takes time and effort to connect with others. She gave us the tip to prepare for networking events, for example by trying to find common ground with the people you want to talk to. Tineke Van Hooland, CEO of Epic 10, claimed that the “network always wins”. She explained that her diverse and meaningful network was helpful for her job, but also enhanced her personal growth. “Networking is a skill that you can learn and practice”, she mentioned. She told us not to be afraid of networking, but just be bold and do it one step at a time. Sangbreeta Moitra, award-winning TEDx speaker and strategist on Brain-Science Driven Leadership Transformation, talked about the three A’s. Authority, authenticity and adaptability are crucial for networking. She ended her talk by challenging all of us to do the “10 NO challenge”; a game to teach us not to be afraid of rejections but to embrace it instead.
Would I recommend TOPX to other (PhD) Students?
I would definitely recommend TOPX! The “value of networking” event was a great opportunity to have an honest conversation about real-life career struggles, with a very diverse group of inspiring women in the Life Science sector. It can be frustrating to find the right connections outside the academia, but with this group I felt like I was ready to take the next step towards my future. I was immediately able to put the advice into practice. I am very pleased and excited to be part of this platform, that allows me to connect to woman that I regard as my role models.
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