True Story: How I Used Caroline's Advice to Network

Incredibly nervous. That’s exactly how I felt when I decided to contact Lindsay Irvin, an executive at a popular bridal magazine. I have always admired the work that she and her colleagues have done with their publication. Normally, I would have never attempted to get in touch with someone that I hadn’t met before. At least not until I read Caroline Vazzana’s Making it in Manhattan. In her book, Caroline encourages the reader to reach out and make connections with people in industries that they would like to work in to become successful. By taking the advice given in Making it in Manhattan and applying it to my personal life, I made a lasting professional connection.

Despite the fact that I was worried Lindsay would think I was over-enthusiastic for reaching out even though I hadn’t ever met her, I drafted an email asking if she would be available to chat via Zoom for an informational interview. In my message, I explained a bit about myself and why I wanted to specifically hear Lindsay’s perspective on the publishing industry. It was out of my comfort zone, but I decided that if I wanted to make a difference in my life, I needed to follow through – and I was shocked when she replied to my email that same night! Lindsay expressed her interest in wanting to chat with me and we set up a time to have an online call.

A couple of weeks later, the day finally came. I woke up early, fixed my hair and makeup, and put on a cute red blazer with a fun top underneath. I made sure my outfit was professional but still showed personality, even though it was a virtual meeting, showing that I took our meeting seriously.

In the minutes leading up to our meeting, I was so anxious. Reaching out like this hadn’t been something I had ever done before. I didn’t know what to expect. Lindsay answered the call, and she was immediately so kind! I had prepared a few questions beforehand about the industry Lindsay works in, but we ended up deviating from those a bit as our conversation continued.

We talked about her educational background and professional journey. She also gave me indispensable career advice that I will remember forever. Our conversation was one of the most productive and encouraging conversations I've ever had with anyone in my professional life. Lindsay was extremely impressed that I had reached out to her to learn from and network with her. She explained that not many people have the courage to do that in the current day and age we live in.

Getting to know Lindsay has been so impactful on my life. Her wisdom about the industry she works in allowed me to understand what qualities and skills I need to improve on in order to thrive in my future career. If I hadn’t taken Caroline’s guidance and applied it to my life, I would have missed out on making a professional connection that has shown interest in my life and goals. So, grab your copy of Making it in Manhattan and follow along with Caroline on Instagram and TikTok!