Scholar Shares Reflections on the Art of Networking

I have come to a realization that it is possible in life to inspire others through the power of a story. In my early years as a kid, I always looked at planes flying over my village in rural Zimbabwe and wondered if I would ever get to see the inside of one. Financial limitations were a consistent impediment that formed the fabric of my resilience and outlook towards life.

Despite not having much by way of finances, my parents did their best to enable my primary and secondary education. At the tertiary level, my parents, friends and other family members once again did their best to support me where possible, and upon my graduation with an Economics degree from the University of Zimbabwe in 2010, they believed that I had reached the summit of my potential and was ready to take on the “real world.”

“The Serendipity of a Great Network,” my first book, is the story of what happened to me after I was ready to pack in and settle for a life of economic uncertainty and difficulty in my native Zimbabwe. It’s the story of how I began to understand the importance of building networks of like-minded people.

My life trajectory was changed by a brief Skype encounter with one of my former students, whom I had tutored in 2011, and who was destined to pursue his undergraduate studies at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Canada. It was through this Skype session that he recommended that I apply for the MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program; a program dedicated to educating the next generation of young leaders from Africa. Three and half years later, the young man who had never flown boarded a plane headed to Vancouver, Canada. Through the Scholars Program, I also managed to attend the Skoll World Forum in 2015; a conference that brought together accomplished entrepreneurs from around the globe to meet and critically discuss issues on how to accelerate global development. I was challenged and exposed to a new way of networking, such as personal networking, which I believe left a huge impression and a quest to find ways to increase my contribution in the community.

In “The Serendipity of a Great Network,” I chronicle the virtues and benefits of receiving and giving mentorship and the power of effective networking. I also qualify the essence of staying on top of life and business situations by smartly managing myself against the passive time factor. Time is the most precious resource known to humankind, and the ability for one to maximize the “smart use of time” is one of the differences in levels of development across the globe and also the nexus between success and failure in people’s own lives. In my view, the best way to maximize the return on one’s time use stems out from logically planning ahead of time and proactively executing these plans whilst also quickly learning, unlearning and relearning from the wisdom of others.

The other anecdote I also share in the book is how to apply effective networking. To me networking is an art as opposed to merely a coincidence. One should not be afraid to reach out and find mentors out there who can provide useful guidance and insight. I also recommend reading up extensively on one’s areas of interest and learn fast how other thought leaders and pioneers in respective fields have succeeded or failed in their endeavors.

Without a doubt, I know that there are a lot of young brilliant leaders with a similar background like mine, looking up in the sky wondering how they can change their present situation for the better or, looking for a life changing connection to take them to a higher level. It is upon these merits that the stories of my life become a book, perhaps a manual others could use and find strength and inspiration in dealing with their own issues.

Through all my experiences, starting from a small village in rural Zimbabwe, to attaining my first degree at the University of Zimbabwe and now as a Masters graduate of the University of British Columbia, I believe I have a unique perspective to share with the world. I have lived in both the developed and the not-so-developed worlds, which gives me a unique perspective about life. I sought to build a narrative that speaks to people of all ages, creeds, colors and genders and also to expose them to relate and draw strength in the perseverance, resilience of myself and others.

I share my story so that citizens of the world (from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas and Oceania) can be inspired and motivated to make a difference in their own communities, whilst persevering towards their goals. The world is becoming increasingly connected and in this new “digital village,” despite one’s geographic location, effective networking places a crucial role to success or failure of individuals or businesses. I myself am living proof of that.

Isaac Jonas is a MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program alumnus from the University of British Columbia (UBC), Canada. He is the author of the recently published book, “The Serendipity of a Great Network.” His personal website is isaac-jonas.com. The book is available online.