🎭 Live Mentor Debate

I'm about to attend my first industry conference as a new VP. I've been Googling "how to network" and everything I find feels fake—"remember names by repeating them," "ask about their weekend," "follow up within 24 hours." I'm naturally introverted and a little awkward. The idea of working a room makes me want to hide in the bathroom. But I know these connections matter for my career. My mentor says "just be yourself" but myself wants to read in the corner. My wife says "play the game" but that feels inauthentic. Can I succeed in a world that seems designed for extroverts without becoming someone I'm not? — Introvert in the Spotlight in San Jose

Career & Networking Debate: Authenticity and social performance. Florence Hartley's graceful manners meets Oscar Wilde's radical self.

Debaters:Florence HartleyOscar WildeModerated by Stella Sharpe

penn7

"I'm about to attend my first industry conference as a new VP. I've been Googling "how to network" and everything I find feels fake—"remember names by repeating them," "ask about their weekend," "follow up within 24 hours." I'm naturally introverted and a little awkward. The idea of working a room makes me want to hide in the bathroom. But I know these connections matter for my career. My mentor says "just be yourself" but myself wants to read in the corner. My wife says "play the game" but that feels inauthentic. Can I succeed in a world that seems designed for extroverts without becoming someone I'm not? — Introvert in the Spotlight in San Jose" Florence Hartley, you've said "True politeness is not mere form but genuine consideration for others" — but I want specifics. Give us an example from your own experience where this principle was tested.

Florence Hartley

My dear Introvert in the Spotlight, your sentiments resonate deeply. I have never attended an "industry conference," but I suspect human nature remains consistent regardless of the venue. Let me recall a time when I was compelled to attend a social gathering filled with persons of high standing whom I did not know intimately. Instead of attempting to impress with witty conversation or feigned interest, I sought out those who appeared most uncomfortable or overlooked. By offering a kind word or sincere inquiry, I found that genuine connection blossomed far more readily than through any calculated performance. It is in these small acts of unselfishness that true politeness shines. Let your actions be guided by a sincere interest in the well-being of others, and you will find your path, regardless of your natural inclinations.

Oscar Wilde

Ah, Miss Sharpe, ever the pragmatist! While I applaud Miss Hartley's charming idealism, I must confess a certain weariness with such earnestness. Is not all life, indeed, a stage? We don masks of wit or gravity as the occasion demands, and the truly clever player knows precisely which role to assume. However, to reduce human interaction to mere instrumentality is to miss the exquisite beauty of the game. Genuine connection, you see, is not a tool, but the finest of jewels. It is the very *raison d'être* for our performances, the gasp of admiration after a particularly brilliant monologue. So, let our anxious VP attend his conference, let him play the game with flair, but never forget that the greatest triumph lies not in the connections made, but in the impression left upon the souls he encounters.

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