Guest Speaker: Zhuorui Li

- MS in Environmental Engineering from Stanford University (CEE)

- Co-Chair of the Stanford China Education Practitioners and Innovators Association

- Chairperson of the 2022 Illinois China Summit

In the featured article, "How To 'Network Up' With Your Business Idols And Elevate Your Success" on Forbes, it is pointed out that traditional educational institutions often overlook teachings on essential business skills like networking, social capital, and emotional intelligence. Consequently, individuals enter the professional arena unprepared, resorting to face-to-face cold calling as a primary networking strategy. This practice tends to prioritize sales over relationship building.

The philosophy of networking is likened more to farming than hunting, with a focus on nurturing relationships. The underlying principle is that when individuals are known, liked, and trusted, particularly in a business context, they become a source of referrals. Today's episode will further explore the concept of networking, emphasizing its importance not only in cultivating connections with influential figures ("network up") but also in building meaningful relationships with peers and subordinates ("network down").