Growth Edge Leadership Newsletter
Welcome to The Connector’s Brief
- Your new weekly advantage.
I created this space to offer more than inspiration. I want to offer access.
Access to the strategies, the mindset shifts, and the behind-the-scenes lessons that help leaders grow, pivot, and connect on purpose. And today, we start with one of the hardest truths I had to learn:
“Your network is either your ladder… or your leash.”
Let’s talk about it.
Access to the strategies, the mindset shifts, and the behind-the-scenes lessons that help leaders grow, pivot, and connect on purpose. And today, we start with one of the hardest truths I had to learn:
“Your network is either your ladder… or your leash.”
Let’s talk about it.
read more
Briefing #1: Stop Collecting People, Start Building Leverage
We live in a world where “networking” often looks like noise—adding LinkedIn connections we never speak to, collecting business cards at events, or saying “let’s grab coffee” with no follow-through.
But real leadership doesn’t rely on busy connections. It’s powered by bold ones.
Here’s the difference:
Busy Network | Bold Network |
People you vaguely know | People who actively advocate for you |
Shared events | Shared values |
Surface updates | Strategic conversations |
Passive presence | Purposeful positioning |
A bold network builds your brand when you’re not in the room.
A busy network claps from the sidelines, but never passes the ball.
Leadership Nugget: The Silent Skill That Opens Loud Doors
If I had to name the most underrated skill that transformed my network into a ladder—it would be strategic vulnerability.
That means being:
- Honest about your goals
- Intentional with your asks
- Willing to show growth, not just greatness
Power Prompt:
Think about one connection you haven’t activated in a while. Reach out and say:
“I’ve been thinking about how much I value your insight. Can we reconnect this month?”
That’s not weakness. That’s leadership intelligence in motion.
The CORE Method in Action
Your reminder:
CULTIVATE. OPEN UP. REACH OUT. ENGAGE.
This week, practice OPENING UP. You can’t build powerful networks from behind polished masks.
People invest in what they feel connected to.
Let them in—and watch the momentum shift.
Final Word:
Your connections don’t have to be perfect.
They have to be active.
They have to be authentic.
They have to move with you—not just watch you.
Because real success doesn’t come from who you know.
It comes from how you connect with them.
Until next week—stay bold, stay connected.
With purpose,
Janaya Hernandez
CEO, Power of Connection LLC
We often treat networking as a checkbox
We go to the event. We shake the hands. We add the LinkedIn connections. We say things like, “Let’s stay in touch”—and then promptly… don’t.
But here’s the hard truth I’ve learned, both personally and professionally:
Your network is either your ladder… or your leash.
It either helps you rise or keeps you stuck.
read more
The Danger of a Busy Network
A busy network looks impressive. It’s filled with people, notifications, and digital applause. But when you’re at a turning point in your career—ready to make a move, step into leadership, or ask for a seat—you realize something important:
A busy network doesn’t guarantee bold support.
And if your connections can’t advocate for you, introduce you, or vouch for your work—you’re not building a ladder. You’re dragging weight.
What a Bold Network Looks Like
A bold network isn’t about quantity. It’s about connection with intention.
It looks like:
- Conversations that shift your thinking
- Peers who challenge you to grow
- Mentors who speak your name in rooms you haven’t entered
- Colleagues who share opportunities before you even ask
It’s not about having access to people with power. It’s about having people in your corner who activate your power.
Vulnerability is a Leadership Strategy
Let me be clear: strategic vulnerability is a silent skill that opens loud doors. It means being:
- Honest about where you’re going
- Clear on the kind of help you need
- Open to growth—not just showcasing perfection
That’s when relationships deepen. That’s when your name becomes synonymous with value, not just visibility.
Here’s something I encourage my clients and mentees to do:
Reconnect with one person this week. Reach out not to “ask” or “impress,” but to re-engage with purpose. Say something like:
“You’ve been on my mind lately. I value your insight and would love to catch up this month if you’re open.”
Simple. Human. Intentional.
Leading with the CORE Method
I’ve built my career—and helped others build theirs—using my CORE framework:
Cultivate. Open Up. Reach Out. Engage.
In this season, I challenge you to focus on opening up. Share your goals. Be honest about your challenges. Let people into the real story of your leadership journey.
Because the moment you stop hiding behind the highlight reel, you give people permission to connect—not just follow.
Final Thought
The most successful professionals I’ve met didn’t “work the room”—they worked the relationship. They showed up consistently, gave value without an agenda, and weren’t afraid to say:
“Here’s where I’m going—and I’d love to walk with people who get it.”
So let me ask you this:
Is your network helping you climb, or is it weighing you down?
Choose boldly. Connect intentionally.
You’re only one powerful relationship away from your next opportunity.
—
Janaya Hernandez
Author | Speaker | CEO, Power of Connection LLC