How to overcome your networking fears and develop your business and behavioural skills.
In this blog, part of the Future Leaders in Treasury careers series, Mohamed Kortam, Regional Treasurer MEA at Lesaffre, provides insights into how you can overcome your networking fears as an introvert:
"I never thought “networking” would be a skill I needed. I was always more comfortable with spreadsheets than small talk. But at some point, in my treasury career, I realised that although I had the technical skills to do the job, it wasn’t enough.
Growing up, I was naturally introverted. I often found it challenging to initiate conversations or stand out in social settings. I think this may have been why I was drawn to a career in finance - an environment where I felt more at ease working with spreadsheets, ERP systems, and numbers rather than with people. But as I developed my career and grew into senior roles, I hit a wall. Despite having the technical skills, I struggled to advance as quickly as I expected. The reason was simple: my work was only visible to those who worked directly with me.
As an introvert I knew trying to force myself to become an extrovert would feel unnatural. Instead, I chose to embrace my introversion and learn how to navigate the professional world on my own terms. I dived into articles, books, podcasts, and videos, not to learn how to become someone else, but to figure out how to channel my energy effectively as an introvert. Along the way, I picked up some practical techniques that genuinely transformed how I approach networking and professional visibility.
Networking as an introvert treasurer: a different game
In treasury, networking isn’t optional, it’s essential. Whether you’re attending a conference, meeting with banks, or having discussions with potential partners, your ability to connect with others directly impacts both your business and your career.
For extroverts, this feels energising - it’s their fuel.
But for introverts like me, it’s the opposite. Networking drains our energy.
Change your mindset
One simple mindset shift helped me: Treat your energy like a budget. Spend it wisely.
My top tips for attending a conference or event:
When attending a multi-day conference, plan intentionally:
• Decide ahead of time who you want to meet and what topics you aim to discuss.
• Avoid overstaying or getting stuck in lengthy conversations with a single person or partner.
• Identify when your energy peaks during the day. For example, if you know you’re sharpest from 12 PM to 2 PM, then focus your participation during that window. Attend, execute your networking goals, and leave.
• Don’t force yourself to be “on” all day - that only leads to burnout, making you emotionally and mentally checked out and decreasing your communication quality.
My top tips for attending business meetings
Managing meetings as an introvert requires intentional structure:
The impact
These small adjustments have made a significant difference to me and have enabled me to:
• Build more meaningful connections.
• Run efficient, high-impact meetings.
• Grow my visibility and reputation as a treasurer, beyond just those who work directly with me.
Final thought
I would summarise how I have developed my networking skills into:
1. Embrace introversion as a strength: recognise that you need to develop your business and interpersonal skills to advance in your treasury career and come up with strategies to help you do this while remaining authentic to yourself.
2. Strategic networking for introverts: shift your mindset and apply intentional strategies (e.g., planning ahead, managing energy peaks, and avoiding burnout), to navigate networking and meetings effectively.
3. Tangible professional impact: These adjustments will lead to meaningful improvements in relationship-building, meeting effectiveness, and professional visibility, ultimately supporting your career growth.
So, the next time you attend a networking event - plan your schedule, focus on using your energy strategically and stay authentic to who you are."
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This blog was written by Mohamed Kortam, Regional Treasurer MEA at Lesaffre who is a member of the Future Leaders in Treasury working group. To find out more about the group please visit the Future Leaders in Treasury webpage.