Networking is Preventative Care, Not Urgent Care

With over a decade of experience serving the medical device industry (and more than 11,000 followers on LinkedIn), Trisha Aure, Senior Director of Operations & Delivery at Square-1 Engineering, has built a reputation not just as an operational leader, but as a connector. In our recent Lunch & Learn session, Trisha shared a practical, honest look at what networking actually means, and what most professionals get wrong.

Networking Is About Relationships
When asked what comes to mind when people hear the word “networking,” responses ranged from “leveraging contacts” to “opportunities” to “relationships.” Trisha made one thing clear: networking is about building relationships which require consistent, intentional interaction.
They don’t happen overnight, grow through sporadic outreach, and certainly don’t thrive when approached with a purely transactional mindset.
Early in her career, Trisha admits she attended networking events because she “had to.” It was encouraged, even tied to performance reviews. But without intention, the impact was minimal.
Everything changed when she became actively involved in industry organizations and stepped into leadership roles. By serving as a membership chair and moderating events, she was forced outside her comfort zone and into meaningful conversations.

Start With Your “Why”
One of the most practical frameworks Trisha shared was starting with clarity:

• What are your personal and professional goals?
• What do you want to achieve in the next 6 months? 1 year? 5 years?
• How can networking support those goals?

Instead of joining every association or attending every event, she recommends narrowing your focus.
Identify what matters most, whether that's a mentorship, leadership growth, women in STEM, medical device innovation, philanthropy, and choose associations aligned with those priorities.
She also advises attending a few events before committing to membership. Observe the audience. Assess alignment. Evaluate the return on time and financial investment. Networking should be intentional, not reactive.

Set Realistic Goals Before Every Event
One of the biggest mistakes professionals make is showing up without a plan.
Rather than aiming to “meet 10 people,” Trisha suggests setting attainable goals such as:

• Meet 2 new people.
• Reconnect with 1 existing contact.
• Volunteer for an upcoming committee.
• Schedule 1 follow-up coffee.

Unrealistic expectations create frustration. Small, consistent wins build momentum.

What Happens After the Event Matters More
Attending is only half the equation.
Trisha emphasized that the follow-up is where relationships are either nurtured or lost.
Her advice:

• Send a short LinkedIn message referencing something specific you discussed.
• Suggest a simple next step (coffee, lunch, or reconnecting at the next event).
• Keep it genuine.

The key? Don’t overcomplicate it. Don’t sound scripted. And don’t treat it like a sales exchange.
People can sense authenticity, but they also sense transactions.

The Power of Being Genuine
A recurring theme throughout the session was authenticity. A great book that Trisha mentions in her session was "The Go Giver" which talks about how it is good to help others with no intention of receiving anything in return, and by genuinely offering people your time/connection, you will open yourself up to amazing opportunities.
As mentioned earlier, be careful of living in the mindset of giving without immediate expectation of return. Start showing up to support others, make introductions, host small gatherings, and create a space for others to connect with each other.
Earlier in her Square-1 career, she launched a small group called “Consulting & Coffee,” bringing together professionals at different stages of their consulting journeys. It didn’t need to scale to 100 people to be valuable. It needed to be intentional.
Her philosophy:
If you can’t find the community you’re looking for, build it.
Start small. Ten people is enough. Focus on value. Let growth happen organically.

Networking Is a Long Game
One of the strongest takeaways from the session was this:
Network when you don’t need something.
Relationships compound over time. Sporadic outreach only when you need a job or favor weakens credibility.
Whether you’re early in your career or a seasoned leader, the formula remains the same:

• Be intentional.
• Set realistic goals.
• Follow up thoughtfully.
• Stay genuine.

Networking isn’t about collecting contacts.
It’s about building a community that grows with you.

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