It was a pleasure to visit Munster Technological University (MTU) recently to speak with Master’s-level International Business students about something that has been at the core of my work throughout my career: the value of relationships and the role they play in getting things done.
Thank you to Diane Higgins for the invitation, and to the students for being so engaged throughout the conversation. Their international backgrounds, including Sri Lanka, Ukraine, Germany, Japan, India, Chile, and Kenya, made the opportunity particularly memorable. It was a reminder that the ability to communicate, listen, and connect with people from different backgrounds is not just a valuable business skill. It is essential to building opportunities across borders.
We spent a lot of time talking about the difference between networking and genuine relationship building. Networking can be about making contacts, but relationships are built over time through trust, understanding, and a willingness to help. That is how social capital develops, creating connections that can open doors, bring the right people together, and turn opportunities into results.
There is a very New Jersey way of putting it: “I have a guy.” Knowing someone is only the beginning. Understanding who can help, who is willing to help, making the right introduction, and following through is what counts.
These are lessons that apply whether working across New Jersey, helping organizations navigate opportunities on the other side of the Atlantic, or building connections around the world. The markets may change, but the importance of relationships, communication, and trust does not.
Hopefully, a little New Jersey wisdom is now making its way around the globe!
