WWN by Anggie Salazar Ep08: Aminah Plock
Hi, everyone! I'm Anggie, VP of Sales and Marketing at CROING l Creative Agency a women-founded and women-led creative agency. Today, I'm thrilled to welcome you to another edition of our newsletter and podcast, Women Who Network: A Series of Connection and Success. As I always say, networking has been pivotal in my career, and I’ve found through many conversations that it’s an area where many women still lack confidence or need encouragement to explore further.
I’m super excited to introduce our special guest today: Aminah Plock . She lives in New York City and is the Executive Social Media Lead at IBM.
Why did we start this newsletter?
At CROING, we’re motivated to inspire and empower professional women to feel more confident in networking. We believe that by sharing stories and experiences, we can encourage more women to connect and grow together. I’m super excited to introduce our special guest today, Aminah. Thank you so much for joining us and for being part of this initiative. I’m confident that your story will motivate many women to embrace networking with more confidence.
Networking is everywhere: 6 degrees of separation
Anggie: How has your approach to networking evolved over time?
Aminah: During my senior year of high school, I moved from Brooklyn, New York, to a rural area. I quickly learned how to acclimate and meet different people, and I had to let go of judgments because I was often the first Black person my classmates had ever met. With today’s technology, I’ve learned you may run into those people again. You can meet people anywhere, anytime, and you just never know. For me, networking doesn’t just happen at scheduled industry events with name tags. Valuable connections can happen anywhere and can profoundly affect your career. I firmly believe in the concept of six degrees of separation—you know someone who knows someone who knows someone.
Anggie: Yes! The first time I heard about that theory, I was like, “This makes so much sense.” But I think to believe it, you need to have the right mindset. You have to believe that it’s possible to reach anyone, and actually, I gave a talk about networking on LinkedIn titled No One is Unreachable. It’s true—opportunities are out there, but you need to believe they’re attainable and surround yourself with people who can help you achieve your goals.
Aminah: Absolutely. I love LinkedIn’s feature where it shows if someone is a first or second degree connection. Often, the person I’m looking to connect with is only one or two degrees away.
Conversation starters that can get you places
Anggie: What strategies do you use to establish meaningful connections when you network?
Aminah: I have a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising and a minor in Marketing. My grandmother was a seamstress, and she could create patterns perfectly just by looking at someone. My best friend is the Brooklyn Gemologist, so she teaches me about stones and jewelry. I might not always remember people’s names, but I always remember what they wore when we met. My appreciation for different cultures and styles, especially non-branded ones, helps me start conversations by complimenting someone’s clothing or accessories.
People often share the story behind their outfit, which opens up the conversation naturally. Whatever you have enables me to give compliments to people on their clothing or their accessories. That's 1 of my conversation starters when I'm anxious, and you learn so much about the person, because they'll tell you where they got the piece, or why they're wearing a certain piece, or why they chose to wear that day.
Anggie: Wow, that’s such a unique approach! Complimenting someone’s style is a great way to break the ice, especially at networking events where people put a lot of thought into what they wear. It’s such a great conversation starter and shows that you appreciate the person and are interested in what they have to say.
Aminah: Yes, exactly. It’s a light topic that can lead to deeper conversations. I also believe in lifelong learning, so I’m always taking courses on emotional intelligence and listening skills. Social media isn’t one-size-fits-all, so understanding people and how to speak to them is crucial. Lastly, I think people often forget that there’s no hierarchy in networking. Interns, young professionals, and even the security person at the front desk are all valuable contacts. Young people will become leaders, and networking with them shouldn’t be taken for granted.
How to network inside your organization
Anggie:That’s such an important point. Networking isn’t just about what someone can do for you now; it’s about building long-term connections. Thank you so much for sharing that, Aminah. Do you mind sharing a moment in your career where networking played a key role?
Aminah:Absolutely. After quarantine, like many of us, I had to deal with a lot of anxiety and adjustments. When I joined a new organization, it was crucial for me to make connections and build trust with my new colleagues to do my job well. I made every effort to participate in Webex meetings, be present, and engage with my colleagues. I learned about their situations, whether they had a cat crossing the screen or were dealing with other challenges. I approach every networking opportunity with patience and kindness because you never know what someone is going through.
Anggie: That’s really insightful, especially now when virtual meetings have become so common. It can be challenging to navigate camera-on or camera-off situations, and it’s important to respect people’s comfort levels. I love your approach of offering flexibility and understanding in these interactions.
Aminah: Right now, I think I've always done this, but especially now after quarantine, I approach every networking opportunity with patience and kindness, both for myself and those I interact with. We experienced this full-time of working through COVID and quarantine, and you don’t know how people handled it. So, I don’t take things personally.
There’s so much more information about anxiety and neurodivergence, right? Someone might not look at you or respond in a way you expect. So, whether someone’s on my team, they’re an intern, or someone I’m first introduced to, I just try to respect people’s time and energy. You never know what someone’s going through before you meet them.
One of my best practices is that after an introductory call with a colleague, I assure them that in future meetings, the camera is optional. I can hear them smile; we can hear each other smile. It’s fine—no pressure.
Recommended by LinkedIn
Anggie: That’s really cool. Thank you so much for sharing that specific detail. It’s kind of difficult for people to navigate these meetings with the “camera on, camera off” debate. It’s become a thing, right?
Aminah: Absolutely, it’s pressure, especially as women. We feel like we have to get dressed, do our hair, and look a certain way. I have interns, and one thing I always tell them is to put a post-it over their own image during a call if they feel distracted by it. It helps them focus on the content of the conversation rather than how they look on screen.
Anggie: That’s a great tip! I love that. It takes the pressure off and lets you focus on what’s important.
Aminah: Exactly. And it’s also about creating a safe environment for everyone to contribute. Networking should be about genuine connection, not about putting on a performance.
Stories of Connection: Aminah Plock’s edition
Anggie: What's the most unexpected opportunity that came from networking, or a connection that you have working?
Aminah: So this is an easy and quick one. I stepped out of my comfort zone. I went to this networking event like a barbecue. I was introduced to the DJ. And we've been married for 14 years. And I never would have gone like I did not know anyone I was like, I don't know if I want to go to this. I remember circling the block, and like I don't know, but I went in and I went.
Anggie: Oh, my God! Just totally thank you so much for sharing that amazing story.
Anggie: Do you have a networking story like from something that didn't go as planned?
Aminah: Oh, my gosh, yes, so I have paid conference fees, and traveled far and wide to go to events where there were these prominent personalities. People are at the top of their game, and I have to admit there are times when I let my anxiety and my imagination just get the best of me. So I just froze. I think they call it like analysis paralysis. Right? I was so worried about not being up to their standards, or not being able to make a good impression that I made no impression at all. So in the end I feel like we all lost out because they didn't get an opportunity get to know me. I didn't get an opportunity to know them. And you know sometimes I'm haunted by those opportunities that I missed. But I'm diligent about not doing it again.
Anggie: Thank you so much for sharing that because for the people listening or reading this interview. Maybe they are at that spot right now. So it's important to understand that that's not like a stopping point. That you can go from there and do it better next time, and that.
I think anxiety can be a little or a huge part of any event that you go, but once you start going and have these tips that we're giving here, and during our other interviews, then you can be more confident and go and do it. Sometimes I say, like, it's like ripping a band-aid, like, I need to talk to this person, and I'm gonna do it. So let's go.
Aminah: Yes, and I can tell you a funny story about that. When I broke out of my shell I went to a networking event. It was one of those where you go from cold to hot right? They turn up the heat in the event or something, and I was standing there, and I was like, Oh, my gosh! I'm sweating so badly. And you know what I did. I found someone else who was sweating, and I was like, wow! It's hot in here, isn't it? We didn't think it'd be this hot, and they were like, no, I still talk to that person today.
Anggie: that’s an amazing tip, I just shared in another interview that I look for people that look like me. Yes, I think that it makes me more confident at the beginning, and then I can start, you know, mingling with more people. But I think these tips are really cool for people that are starting to go to events, or, you know, to have in hand. I think that they're pretty helpful.
Anggie: What advice would you give women who are just during their professional careers, or hesitant to engage in work.
Key Takeaways and Tips from Aminah:
Thanks Aminah! As I always say: Don’t forget, that your network is your net worth.
Stay tuned for more inspiring stories in our next edition of Women Who Network: Stories of Connection and Success, every Tuesday and Thursday
If you want to be part of or propose someone for this space, please email me at anggie@croing.com
Until next time, keep networking and growing!
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