What's a question you find yourself asking over and over in your work?
The question I ask myself all the time is this: how can I have lots of fun and make lots of money (in that order)? I want to have a great life and do great things, but most important of all:
I want to enjoy my day-to-day!
I've been super lucky to work on projects in the past, like designing experiences for Airbnb, where I loved it so much that I couldn't believe it counted as a job. That's always what I'm searching for in my work life.
What's something small you do consistently that most people wouldn't see but that shapes everything?
Reaching out to people, all the time. It's the focus on my Substack, Connection Pending, where I'm on a mission to redefine networking from something everyone hates, to something that can totally change your life.
Even when I'm busy, or doing other things, or stressed, or not feeling my best, I try and sow seeds that will one day turn into something exciting. This looks like sending a DM to someone on Instagram or LinkedIn, replying to someone's email newsletter, or going to an event in my city to meet some new people. The more of these seeds you sow on a regular basis, the more amazing opportunities will come your way.
I've met some of my closest friends from doing this, and you can take an approach that suits your personality, no matter how introverted you are. This approach has really shaped my entire career, but it's not so noticeable from the outside.
What kind of relationships form around what you’ve created?
One of my favourite parts of my work is hosting dinners and events via Social Capital, the business I run with two friends. We book a table at a restaurant, figure out how much food we'll need for 14ish people, and then sell tickets at that price. We cold invite people on LinkedIn, including people from some of the world's coolest companies, like Nike, Reddit, Meta, TikTok and Apple. 99% of the time, people want to come, and it's so exciting.
Nothing makes me happier than when people who've met at one of our events go on to become great friends and hang out themselves. It's really the best feeling ever.
What are you unwilling to compromise on, even if it would make things grow faster?
Day to day enjoyment. I take great pride in my work-life balance, and it can definitely take a hit from time to time when work gets very busy. It's a privilege to work for yourself, and of course that sometimes means sacrificing your evenings to finish up work. That said, I wouldn't be able to compromise on my day to day enjoyment and my freedom for more than a couple of months at a time.
It's the best thing to be able to take off a morning here or there, or to take an impromptu trip to visit a friend. I would find it very hard to compromise on that, even if it meant growing faster and working for more clients.
Who or what are you watching closely right now?
I am lucky enough to spend most of my days talking to and collaborating with interesting people.
There are so many communities that I'm a part of, like the US-based Old Girls Club, and the members in that community are always doing interesting things. I used to live in Sydney, so I always keep an eye on the startup space in ANZ: A-Chau Le's From Scratch dinners in Auckland always look great. I also love what companies like Tracksuit and Ideally are doing, even though it's not directly tied to my day-to-day work. In New York, I love following the startup Rodeo, which was founded by former Hinge co-founders, and is where my great friend Liz Friedland works. They're building a very cool product, and I know that everything Liz touches turns to gold, so I'm excited to see what Rodeo does next!
What inspires you outside your own field?
Anyone who's doing something they're passionate about! I have some great friends in Paris who are very inspiring to me: Anna Meerson is a private chef, and Emma Moon runs a very successful affiliate PR company.
If you had to describe your work as a gift, who's it for?
Part of my mission is helping people see that a (work) life you love is only a couple of conversations away. I'm all about teaching people how to network in a way that feels good and easy, and that you really can achieve anything you set out to do by meeting the right people.
My 100 Connections Challenge got a lot of traction on Substack, which was really exciting: it's 100% free, and is essentially a gift for anyone who wants more from their life — more enjoyment, more money, more fulfilment, more connections...
