When I came to the Hartford Foundation 13 years ago, I had extensive board, higher education, and governmental experience and networks, but I didn't know the field of aging or foundations, nor did I have a network in either area. Fully recognizing that I would need to expand my network to succeed, I initially developed a twofold strategy. First, I sought to build on my existing institutional contacts to meet key leaders in these new areas. Second, when I could not reach them through my existing network I contacted them directly. I made lists of key contacts, set aside time each week to meet two or three leaders, and attended local, state, and national health care meetings.
For example, a Columbia University trustee willingly organized a lunch with Karen Davis, the president of the Commonwealth Fund, who is an extraordinarily rich source of information on governmental health policy. From Bob Butler, the president and CEO of the International Longevity Center, whom I contacted directly, I gained a wealth of information on the aging field. Both individuals remain an important part of my network and have helped me expand it.
I firmly believe that peer networking is one of the best ways to build a career. That is why it is one of the four pillars of leadership development that we discuss in our 2008 Annual Report. The other three are formal training, mentoring, and answering the call. For example, the Building Academic Geriatrics Nursing Capacity (BAGNC) Leadership Conference provides participants with an opportunity to learn new leadership skills, to grow their networks, and to recognize the power of their knowledge and expertise to transform care for older adults. Drawing several hundred nursing scholars from across the nation, attendees include postdoctoral scholars and fellows, mentors, BAGNC alumni, directors of the Hartford Centers of Geriatric Nursing Excellence, and other nursing leaders.
Scholar Dana Carthron says it best: The BACNC experience "gave me the confidence to take on" the presidency of the Little Rock Black Nurses Association. Through this connection, Dr. Carthron became involved with the National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurses Associations, which then led the National Minority Quality Forum to select her for training in effective lobbying of political leaders and policy makers. "These opportunities would not have been available if I hadn't been a BAGNC scholar," she says.
I am delighted that Hartford grantees are building their networks, which are enabling them to succeed in their careers and improve the health care of older people. So, to those of you who are reading this blog, take out your pens, write that list, and make those calls to build your network.