I’m Kristen Carter and I’ve been here with Sunwest for about 5 years now. I have learned so much during my career, but I feel one of the biggest takeaways that I want to share is the Power of Networking. I know you’ve probably heard this from professors, mentors, and many others but there’s a reason for it. Networking is truly one of the greatest tools you can have at your disposal, no matter what business you’re in. For me it’s come to my rescue countless times at work by allowing me to introduce a client to a strategic partner or contact. Head over to the Sunwest blog to read more about a specific example. Beyond work, networking has opened so many doors for me to develop myself professionally. For example, I got plugged in with a Young Professionals auxiliary group at a local nonprofit and then I found myself serving on the advisory board, which has helped me develop my leadership skills among many other things. In my opinion it can also be rewarding, because just like you lean on others in your network, they lean on you – so it presents a great opportunity to help others by offering your knowledge and expertise when they’re in need. And lastly it pushes you out of your comfort zone.  Networking means initiating conversations with those around you, attending events you may not have before, or joining relevant groups. So no matter where you are in your career, I highly encourage you to get plugged in to your local community. Research groups geared towards networking, your specific industry or maybe even an age group like Young Professionals for example. I promise it’ll be worth it.