Re-imagining Networking

Where friendship meets opportunity

Re-imaging Business Development

Let’s Re-imagine how we make business connections and start writing our own rules of engagement. My intention for 2026 is to be in rooms that I never knew existed in order to learn and expand my personal and professional network.

This week I attended POSSIBLE Miami, a marketing conference that my brilliant and beautiful friend Casey DePalma McCartney, the Chief Strategy and Brand Communications Officer, for Unilever US recommended I attend.

I am so glad that I did! The conference delivered on the expected panels and networking but attending alongside a good friend in a completely different industry offered a glimmer into another world.

I have always known that Casey is a superstar, but it was truly so much fun to see her in her element. She was outstanding on every panel she participated in and her warmth and expertise were on full display.

I met her remarkable and inspiring network. I participated in a Roundtable with Alexis Ohanian Sr. 🏛️7️⃣7️⃣6️⃣ and Chief Marketing Officers at major brands. I was able to offer my lens as a former federal prosecutor on AI, where innovation may be moving faster than governance and internal guardrails to protect it.

I was likely the only lawyer in every room I entered while at POSSIBLE Miami and I found myself introducing my practice and how I work with brands and companies. Turns out that is not as easy as it sounds! Thankfully, being introduced by a friend who understands the media and marketing space intimately made it easier. While Casey’s expertise can help elevate any brand, it was our decade plus friendship that made all the difference for me in the room. Where I may have understated my 21 year law career, Casey, my incredible friend, framed my capabilities and experience in a way that I would not. And, in doing so, making my conversations richer and my impact in the room greater.

Likewise, because I have witnessed Casey’s work ethic, creativity, leadership and commitment to her teams and company firsthand, I was able to promote her in casual conversations with authority and authenticity. I was able to celebrate her in a way that she would never.

Casey and I met when our now 13 year olds were toddlers. We have had a front row seat to the sacrifices it takes to be a working mom, supporting and cheering one another on when times were challenging. The ROI on this conference blended the business with the personal. It was a window into a friend’s professional world, which made me understand her better, strengthening our friendship and our ability to open doors for one another.

I highly recommend you try attending a conference with a friend in a different industry. Let’s continue to disrupt the outdated leadership models that were not designed for women. You might even find time for a morning walk by the ocean with a friend and a cup of coffee before the day begins—something that is hard to come by.