Networking at Adobe’s Create Now Chicago Event
Networking is one of the most valuable, lifelong skills emphasized to anyone aspiring to be in the working field, and as a Communication and Media major at DePaul, I have become well aware of its importance in my professional journey. Surprisingly, because of my major, many people assume that I am a social butterfly who thrives in social situations, when my actual reality consists of an outrageous amount of social anxiety when confronted with moments of social interaction. My introverted nature has made the idea of networking and pitching myself to others seem like an incredibly daunting task, which has resulted in some level of insecurity that I may not have the capability of making meaningful connections with people in my field. Despite this fear, when choosing a college to pursue my higher education at, DePaul’s location in the city of Chicago intrigued me as I saw it as an opportunistic place that would challenge me to take advantage of all the possibilities available to me.
Opportunity Is Everywhere
Chicago is a creative hotspot filled with visionaries and inspiring individuals who all possess endless stories, advice, knowledge, and support for anyone in the community, and as one of the most popular and diverse cities in the country, opportunities can be found brewing in the many professional and creative networking events happening all over. A recent networking endeavor I found myself partaking in was Adobe’s Create Now event, a showcase dedicated to presenting some of Adobe’s latest features in Creative Cloud that was open to any creatives in the city. Although I am an avid user of Adobe’s programs, I honestly had no idea that this event was occurring, but after being asked to tag along a couple of my friends who wanted to attend, I thought that this could possibly be a worthwhile experience.
To be frank, there were two facts that had initially lured me into coming to the event: the free entry and the offer of free food. Even though it was clear that networking was the true focus of the evening, my anxieties turned it into the thing that made me reluctant to go. Thankfully, the reassurance of having company made me feel more comfortable with the idea of meeting new people which allowed me to switch my perspective into a more positive one. Upon signing into the venue, the networking was immediately in full swing, and although that filled me up with nerves, it became pretty apparent to me early on that networking wasn’t too difficult when you’re in a room full of people who are all open to starting conversation. Especially being in a trio with my friends, it was very easy for us to be approached by friendly faces and to learn about their work and passions, and before we knew it, we already had a small group of new friends whom we went about the rest of the event with.
Showing Up For The “Pursuit of Excellence”
Besides the networking portion of the event, my favorite segment of the night was a presentation by Gracie Koh, a creator based in Chicago, who shared her journey into becoming the renowned female director and filmmaker she is known as. Within her story, she emphasized her lifelong goal of being in the “pursuit of excellence,” and how this aspiration has guided her throughout the ups and downs of her career. As another young, Asian, female creative hoping to one day be able to make waves in the media space the way Gracie has, it was especially inspiring to be able hear her words of wisdom, but to also be able to see myself in her story and feel, in that moment, that I can be just like that in my future. Being able to witness and listen to her story and advice amongst a crowd of aspiring creatives was a moment I felt incredibly grateful to be able to share with everybody in that room. It is experiences such as the one I had at this event that make me feel so privileged to be in a position and place that allows me chances to grow as an individual in ways I never could have if I had been anywhere else.
Before the event, I had only walked in with the small hope of at least conversing with one new person throughout the entire evening, but contrary to my doubtful expectations, I found myself leaving with dinner plans with newly made friends, a collection of Adobe-themed freebies, and most importantly, a feeling of pride for showing up. The concept of networking can seem incredibly intimidating for people like me who view socializing with strangers as something outside of our comfort zones, but if anything, this experience has reinforced the belief that there will always be a seat for me at any table I come across as long as I show up.