Post by Milena Dold-Scheidegger

What I've Learned About Building a Powerful Network Your network shouldn't just grow. It should evolve. My finance years gave me strong professional relationships built on trust and expertise. Then I started IRALIS, my fine jewelry brand on a mission to bring transparency to the diamond trade. And my network didn't replace itself; it expanded beautifully and added a whole new dimension: a network that challenges how I think, shares their hard-won lessons, and shows up for each other. I'm so grateful for the incredible people I've connected with recently. Mirabela Lauterbach, Anna K. Milojevic Keller, Marina Cvetkovic, Carolina Ledergerber, Lovisa Walker, Adelina Toader, Christiane Wessel, Marilena Freidl, Margareta K., Leonie Brieler, Moritz D., Louis Becker, Fiorella Larissa Erni, Anastasia Tocco, Petra Becker, Dr. des. Helena Hlasová, Yuan Yao, PhD, Julia Albers, Katharina Lissowski, Elvira Häusler, Valentina Trösch-Baud, Alison Trepp, Viktoria Szalontai, Derya Akcakoyun, Simona Loretz, Linda Durisch, Gianluca Trezzini, Vlada Djidjeva, Marija Sarenac, CWMA, Lukas Gysin, Larissa Zengerling, Jasmin Schlüchter, Sven Flory, Samara Basso, Carolin Schneider, Franziska Demmig, Franziska Tück, Noëmi Kaufmann, Noemi Gwalter-Rubino, -> The fellow founders who've been incredibly generous. -> The leaders who've pushed me to think differently about business, motherhood, and what success actually means. -> The people building brands across industries who inspire me and hold me accountable. Thank you for expanding my world and challenging me to grow. My Key Learnings: Show Up First: Make meaningful introductions Celebrate their wins Give before you ask Put Ego Aside: Admit what you don't know Ask questions Be genuinely curious Connect Across Industries: Don't stay in your bubble Cross-pollination creates the best opportunities Each industry brings different perspectives Be Intentional: Invest in personal relationships, not virtual Seek feedback Stay in touch beyond transactions Focus on who energizes you and challenges you The Bottom Line: Don't abandon the network you've built on a different career path. Expand it. Add new dimensions. Connect with people who challenge how you think. The best connections push you to grow. Thank you, my dear network. What have you contributed to your network recently? 🫶🏼