S1 EP1: Don't Build Your Network, Build Your Relationships
Developing your authentic personal brand is key to building relationships. Aleenah Ansari highlights how to use storytelling to create your brand and help you communicate your story and value to successfully navigate your job search now or in the future. Whether you are on a specific career track or breaking into a new industry, this conversation will help you hone your storytelling skills.
Don’t Build Your Network, Build Your Relationships
with Aleenah Ansari (she/her)
Developing your authentic personal brand is key to building relationships. Aleenah Ansari highlights how to use storytelling to create your brand and help you communicate your story and value to successfully navigate your job search now or in the future. Whether you are on a specific career track or breaking into a new industry, this conversation will help you hone your storytelling skills.
Aleenah Ansari is equal parts storyteller, creative problem solver, and journalist at heart who’s rooted in the stories of people behind code and user interfaces. In her current role as a writer and video producer for Microsoft Inside Track, she creates blogs and videos about the experts who build, deploy, and manage the tools used by 190,000+ employees at Microsoft. Her stories cover everything from Microsoft’s security training and underwater datacenter to the Yammer community used to support visa-dependent employees. Her writing has also been featured in GLAAD, Kulfi, CNBC, The Seattle Times and more. Outside of her day job, you can find her helping early-in-career professionals and entrepreneurs feel more confident telling stories about their identity and work, hosting webinars on storytelling and personal branding, and planning her next trip to NYC.
Aleenah Ansari is equal parts storyteller, creative problem solver, and journalist at heart who’s rooted in the stories of people behind code and user interfaces. In her current role as a writer and video producer for Microsoft Inside Track, she creates blogs and videos about the experts who build, deploy, and manage the tools used by 190,000+ employees at Microsoft. Her stories cover everything from Microsoft’s security training and underwater datacenter to the Yammer community used to support visa-dependent employees. Her writing has also been featured in GLAAD, Kulfi, CNBC, The Seattle Times and more. Outside of her day job, you can find her helping early-in-career professionals and entrepreneurs feel more confident telling stories about their identity and work, hosting webinars on storytelling and personal branding, and planning her next trip to NYC.
Creators and Guests
Host
Michaela Gormley
Michaela Gormley (she/her) is a proud alum of the University of Washington, graduating in 2009 from the Foster School of Business with a degree in Business Administration – Marketing and a minor in Spanish. She recently started a new role in tech sales after 10+ years in marketing. She served as a member of the UWAA GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) Council for two years, including one year leading the diversity, equity and inclusion subcommittee. As a proud member of the UW Alumni community and as a first-generation college student herself, Michaela is passionate about increasing the inclusivity and accessibility of higher education. She is excited to be back for the second round of UWAA Career Conversations and is grateful to be part of a resource that helps others achieve their personal and professional goals. In her free time, Michaela is an avid fan of Husky Athletics and has been a football season ticket holder since graduation. She loves spending time in the sunshine of Eastern Washington with her family and friends and prides herself on being a cool aunt to all of her nieces and nephews.
Guest
Aleenah Ansari
Aleenah Ansari is equal parts storyteller, creative problem solver, and journalist at heart who’s rooted in the stories of people behind code and user interfaces. In her current role as a writer and video producer for Microsoft Inside Track, she creates blogs and videos about the experts who build, deploy, and manage the tools used by 190,000+ employees at Microsoft. Her stories cover everything from Microsoft’s security training and underwater datacenter to the Yammer community used to support visa-dependent employees. Her writing has also been featured in GLAAD, Kulfi, CNBC, The Seattle Times and more. Outside of her day job, you can find her helping early-in-career professionals and entrepreneurs feel more confident telling stories about their identity and work, hosting webinars on storytelling and personal branding, and planning her next trip to NYC. Learn more at Aleenah Ansari’s homepage.
