Marina Ivanov has never believed networking is about collecting business cards or seeing how many people you can connect with on LinkedIn. The relationships that have made the biggest difference in her career and in building her company, Apex, have come from genuinely getting to know people, showing up for them, and staying connected even when there wasn't an immediate business opportunity attached to it.

In this session, she will share some of what she has learned along the way as an entrepreneur and leader in transportation. Building a company has taught her very quickly that relationships matter. They can open doors, create opportunities, help you grow, and sometimes give you the support you need during the hardest seasons of business and leadership.

But networking doesn't always come naturally, and we sometimes make it harder than it needs to be. In this session, we will talk about how to walk into a room with confidence, start a real conversation, get outside of your comfort zone, follow up without it feeling forced, and - most importantly - how to stay connected and build relationships long after an event is
over.

This session will also challenge the way you think about networking, particularly as a woman in this industry. Building a strong network isn't only about creating opportunities for ourselves. It's also about using the relationships and influence we build to make introductions, open doors, advocate for others, and help another woman find her seat at the table.

Whether you're early in your career, stepping into leadership, growing a business, or simply trying to find your place in this industry, hopefully you walk away seeing networking a little differently. Not as "what can this person do for me?" but as "how can I be of service?"