A few weeks ago, I wrote about one of my favorite things to do: connect great women to great women.
The responses made me smile because so many of you wrote back and said, “That is so you.“
They’re right.
There are few things I enjoy more than recognizing the possibility between two people and opening the door to a conversation. Over the years, I’ve watched introductions turn into partnerships, friendships, podcast interviews, speaking opportunities, and businesses that grew because the right people met at the right time. I’ve always believed that one meaningful introduction can create a ripple effect far greater than either person could have imagined.
Sometimes those introductions happen one conversation at a time. Sometimes I open the door much wider.
This week, I found myself making a list of people to reach out to on behalf of one of my clients, Jen Thompson, who is hosting the Women of Mergers & Acquisitions Impact & Growth Summit this fall.
As many of you know, before building my coaching business, I spent more than two decades in the corporate world. One of my roles included leading the marketing and branding integration of more than twenty acquisitions. Along the way, I built relationships with remarkable women and men throughout the mergers and acquisitions community. Over the years, that circle has continued to expand as I’ve met more leaders, entrepreneurs, advisors, and dealmakers working in this space.
As I looked over my list, I realized I knew more than twenty-five people who might benefit from attending the conference or who might know someone who would. So I began reaching out, one conversation at a time.
Every outreach carried my endorsement. I felt good reaching out because I know Jen, I believe in her vision, and I trust the experience she’s creating.
It’s moments like these that remind me why I never take opening the door to my community lightly. For years, I’ve described this way of leading and building relationships as your Connection & Collaboration Quotient™.
What I’ve learned over the years is that a high Connection & Collaboration Quotient™ also carries responsibility. Every introduction, invitation, recommendation, or opportunity you share is an extension of your reputation. You’re lending your credibility, your relationships, and the trust you’ve spent years building. That’s why I don’t simply ask, Who should I connect? I also ask, Who will honor the trust behind this opportunity?
If you’ve been in business long enough, you’ve probably experienced both sides of this. You’ve introduced someone who created tremendous value for everyone involved, and you’ve introduced someone who never fully stepped into the opportunity that had been opened for them.
Those experiences remind us that opening the door is only the beginning. Every opportunity to step into someone else’s community comes with a responsibility to steward the trust that made that opportunity possible.
As I’ve reflected on this over the years, five principles continue to guide me.
1. Build relationships before you need them.
The strongest relationships aren’t built during moments of need. They’re built over years of curiosity, generosity, shared experiences, and genuine care. Your Connection & Collaboration Quotient™ grows every time you invest in a relationship with no agenda beyond getting to know another remarkable human being.
2. Learn to recognize possibility.
One of my favorite gifts is seeing the potential that exists when two people meet. One woman may need a stage. Another may be looking for a speaker. One entrepreneur may have the perfect solution to someone else’s challenge.
A high Connection & Collaboration Quotient™ isn’t just about knowing people. It’s about recognizing the possibilities that emerge when the right people come together.
3. Open doors with intention.
I don’t open doors simply because someone asks. I do it because I genuinely believe the relationship, opportunity, or invitation has the potential to create value for everyone involved.
Every recommendation, introduction, and invitation reflects your credibility. When you choose to share your relationships, you’re extending trust you’ve spent years building. That’s something I never take lightly.
4. Steward the trust behind every opportunity.
If you’re fortunate enough to have someone open the door for you, the responsibility shifts. When someone welcomes you into their community, they’re sharing years of trust they’ve built with the people they know. Honor that gift. Follow through. Communicate well. Respect people’s time. Look for ways to create value. Make the person who opened that door feel grateful they did.
Every opportunity to step into someone else’s community comes with a responsibility to steward the trust that made that opportunity possible.
5. Pay it forward.
One of the greatest ways to honor an opportunity is to become someone who opens doors for others. Share your relationships thoughtfully. Look for opportunities to create meaningful collaborations. Introduce remarkable people when you see the potential for something bigger than either could create alone.
That’s how the ripple effect continues. One conversation. One opportunity. One thoughtfully opened door at a time.
That’s the real joy of connection.
When I look back over my career, nearly every meaningful opportunity can be traced back to a conversation and someone who was willing to open a door. I’ve always tried to honor those moments because I know the trust behind them was earned over many years.
In a world where technology makes it easier than ever to find people, trust remains our greatest currency. We earn it through consistency. We strengthen it through generosity. And every time we choose to share it, we have the opportunity to create a ripple effect that extends far beyond ourselves.
That’s the heart of a high Connection & Collaboration Quotient™.
I’d love to hear from you. Has someone ever opened a door that changed the trajectory of your business or your life? And how has that experience shaped the way you now open doors for others?
P.S. One of the connections I shared in today’s article is for my client, Jen Thompson, and her Women of Mergers & Acquisitions Network Impact & Growth Summit. If you or someone you know is part of the M&A community, I hope you’ll take a look: https://events.humanitix.com/2026woman-impact-and-growth-summit
