Last week, I led a webinar for the Boston University alumni community and walked them through The Power Position (recording) framework I built.
Nobody discovered me. I pitched the opportunity. (Full circle moment given I was a PR major.)
I’m breaking this down for you because the mechanics are more repeatable than they look and most people skip the easiest step.
The proximity problem
Once you decide that you want visibility, you still have to go out and do the work. I went through my own trial and error period. From erratically posting and timidly commenting to cultivating my LinkedIn feed, starting this Substack, and owning the topics that I want to be known for.
It took time, and sometimes I felt that I was talking to myself.
Over the past couple of months, I’ve used the ‘low-hanging fruit’ marketing concept. Basically, what are your quick-win strategies that are low-cost and low effort? Who is someone interested in what you have to offer and that you have access to? I looked at the rooms I was already standing in, and I raised my hand.
Four times, same move
Boston University. I’m an alum and a career coach. Those two facts sitting together make me useful to a community I already belong to. The alumni team runs career programming, and I have a relevant framework. That’s not a cold pitch; it’s a match nobody had made yet.
ICF South Florida. I’m a member of the chapter, and there was an open call to present for International Coaching Week. My pitch was that my framework was something I could teach to fellow coaches that would benefit their clients.
La Mesa with Lori Munoz. We met at a networking event and stayed in touch. We’re both interested in supporting mid-career women through pivots and transitions. It was a natural pairing to become a Coach when she created a related community.
The Bloom. I’ve followed the social impact community for years because of my career in global health and development, running programs across 11 countries. There was a shared language and experiences; no translation required. It was a no-brainer when they posted a call for Coaches. (FYI: If you’re a Bloomer, I’m hosting a fireside chat, “Redefining Social Impact Careers: A Fireside Chat on Creatively Rethinking Your Path” 8/26/26).
Four opportunities:
Cost $0
Effort: Minimal (I already had the framework, a couple of hours to create the decks and lead presentations)
Gain: At least 100 event participants, 1 public recording, 15+ new LinkedIn contacts, 1 client lead.
Each one of them started from a point of connection.
The audit
Here are three questions to help you find two or three rooms where you can step into the spotlight.
Where do I already have standing? Alumni networks. Professional associations. Communities where you are a member. Former employers. Parent groups. Spaces where you have credibility and name recognition.
What do I know that this room needs? The specific overlap between your expertise and their problem. For BU, that was alumni who want a clearer read on their next career move, and I have a framework for exactly that.
What problem does this room have? Every community has a recurring gap. Programming committees need speakers. Newsletters need contributors. Newer members need mentors who are a few years ahead. Find the gap that matches your expertise
Then you pitch with a concrete offer. “I’d like to run a session on X for the chapter, 45 minutes, here’s the outline” makes saying yes easy compared to, “Let me know if you ever need speakers.”
Why this is the job search too
The same structure runs underneath a job search, which is what I’ve been living for the last several months.
Applications are you asking a stranger to evaluate you against a document. Slow, high volume, low conversion.
The alternative is positioning yourself as the answer to a problem someone already has, somewhere you’re already known. A former colleague who knows what you’re looking for. An alum connection in the functional area you’re interested in. A community where your background is the shared language.
A couple of weeks ago, a former coworker who knew about my job search thought of me when a role opened, and referred me. I was contacted by the recruiter the same day that I applied, and within four days I interviewed with the hiring manager. That doesn’t happen from a cold application.
It happened because I’ve activated my network; they know what I’m looking for and what I have to offer.
Great advice. I’m looking to get into speaking eventually. Not right now. Way too much going on! But I’ll definitely be holding onto this information.