Last month marked the three and a half year anniversary of my 85 Broads membership. More importantly, it marked my transition from a student member to a professional. For the past few years I have been talking about 85 Broads – THE professional women’s networking group – and now I am finally one of the professionals. This time was also marked by my transition from running a campus club (85 Broads @ Columbia University) to being a part of the NY leadership board. Thus it seems an apt time to sit back and reflect on what this network has meant to me over the years and how my relationship with it and as a part of it is growing and evolving.

What I have realized is that at the end of the day, there’s just something about connecting. Technology has allowed us to connect through social media, blogging, and online social networks such as facebook and the one we are on right now. When I think about what 85 Broads has meant to me, in a word, it is connection. When I first joined 85 Broads I was a transfer student just entering my second semester at Barnard College. For me, the college experience and the 85 Broads network has become almost indistinguishable. Certainly that is not reality, but in my mind, as I reflect back on those three amazing years, I cannot imagine life – college life or otherwise – without the support, breadth, and inspiration of the 85 Broads network. Joining the network gave me opportunities to connect with professional women in the New York City area as well as women across the world through the online network and benefit from their wisdom and experience. The network of mentors, teachers, role models, and friends not only opened doors for me, but opened my eyes to different paths and possibilities that I hadn’t known before.

So many times the question has been posed: Why do we crave connection? It’s good for business, without a doubt. Since the 1980s Mark Granovetter and other sociologists were able to determine the importance of networking in getting a job. And above just getting a job, it broadens our rolodex of resources for work, referrals, and partnerships. This is clearly a given benefit of the 85 Broads network, with members who have reached the pinnacle of success in just about every industry. But I believe it also feeds the soul. There is just something about connecting. About engaging with other people, however different or similar, and trading stories, laughs, advice, feedback, and maybe even a drink. The networking events that are attended by 85 Broads members always have a particular buzz about them. It just seems like people are enjoying themselves – we’re having fun! And this is what I love about 85 Broads. It is a group of women, both online and off, who are smart, savvy, and talented professionals who also are interesting and interested human beings.

Life is busy. There is only time for so much, and as one of the many brilliant 85 Broads members once told me “there are only so many hours in the day, only spend time on it if you enjoy it.” As I’ve graduated from college and entered the working world, I’ve come to truly appreciate this sentiment. And I’ve made an effort to follow it, which is why I have made space and time for 85 Broads. I enjoy being involved and feeling connected. And I have realized why in college I would be up until 2am on conference calls, take a “nap” and get up again at 5:30 to post the product of our labors (once for an entire week straight) for our fledgling campus chapter – because that connection is worth something to me – worth a lot actually.

I find that the energy of the network is contagious and becomes a way of living. I am so grateful to the women of this network who have given me the time of day, an email reply, a cup of coffee, a key introduction, or even several hours of their very busy lives. There are times when I did not understand why they were so committed to me, my success, or the success of our club, and it wasn’t until I started to “pay it forward” so to speak that I really GOT it. In physics, energy can neither be created nor destroyed - only transferred and transformed. But there is something about interacting with others, about helping others, that has a synergistic benefit to both parties – and everyone around them. It breads energy, creativity, and enthusiasm, which in my mind are essential to happiness and health.

So thank you, women of 85 Broads, for your advice, stories, jokes, and friendship. I look forward to growing, learning, and laughing with you for years to come!