Five Questions with Karen Eck

When Women in Media spoke with visibility strategist Karen Eck in 2023, Collabor8Women was still relatively new and one of several ventures she was involved in, alongside her PR consultancy eckfactor and professional development brand, The Power of Visibility.

The business, she co-founded with stylist and creative director Samantha Theron, Collabor8Women, has created a different kind of networking event for professional women, one built around considered, curated in-person connection.

Q1. You've built a career around visibility and connection. What's been the smartest move you've made along the way?

Co-founding Collabor8Women and recognising the impact that intentional networking can have on a community of women and what they can achieve with genuine collaboration.

We have evolved, but the essence of our monthly Signature Events has stayed the same. At Collabor8Women, we carefully curate our guests around tables of eight, each guided by an experienced regular, and we use tools that genuinely help people connect, especially those that introverts love and extroverts embrace.

What I’ve learnt is that whether you’re a manager or a freelance editor, networking is a hugely valuable career skill that you can develop. And yes, it can be practised.

Q2. How has the industry changed during your career and why is networking more important than ever?

More people now experience a sense of isolation at work, whether that’s in the home office or a hybrid environment. We’ve seen a growing appetite for in-person connection that feels real and genuinely useful, not awkward or left to chance, especially in the age of AI.

AI can support your work, but it can’t build relationships for you.

It can help you edit, research and organise your thinking, but it can’t replace presence, read a room, or build trust across a table.

What we’ve seen at our events reflects that. We’ve seen countless collaborations sparked, business deals done, new clients secured, and ideas generated. But no one comes expecting to do business. They come to build great business relationships.

Recently we sat one guest who was releasing a gourmet food product next to a founder of a packaging company. We just knew they would be on the same page with respect to their values and interests. What followed was a collaboration that saw a new product launched with a clear brand identity and market positioning. Without any hustle, she did significant sales by succinctly communicating her passion for her business and what sets her apart. She just happened to be sitting with the person who was looking for her services.

The people who will do well are not just those who know how to use AI, but those who know how to build relationships around their work. Human connection will matter more, not less, so my advice is to turn up in person, to pick up the phone, to follow through, human-to-human.

Q3. What skills have helped you most along the way?

My number one skill is that I like to pick up the phone and have a conversation.

Texting has its place but being able to start a conversation with a stranger, ask a good question and build rapport quickly is still invaluable. It’s a skill worth holding onto, especially for younger people who have grown up communicating through their fingertips.

That confidence also feeds into networking. People often use personality as a barrier, as if you’re either naturally good at it or you’re not. It doesn’t have to be awkward or transactional. At its best, it’s simply about being interested, generous and open to where a conversation might lead.

Q4. What's the best advice you've received?

“Don’t focus on what you want to say, focus on the questions you want to ask.”

It has been useful at every stage of my career, from walking into rooms where I knew no one, to meeting prospective clients and building communities such as Collabor8Women.

There can be pressure to arrive with the perfect pitch, but the more powerful approach is to be prepared, thoughtful and genuinely interested.

The more you understand about someone, their business, challenges and values, the better your questions become. And better questions create better conversations, build trust and uncover opportunities that rarely come from simply trying to be impressive.

Q5. What do you want women to understand about the power of networking for business?

Developing your professional network before you need it is key. You do not build it only when you need a new job, a new client, a fresh idea or a confidence boost. You build it steadily, through real conversations and shared experiences. That is how trust grows, and how opportunities do, too.

I also think many women have told themselves that traditional networking is just not for them.

Collabor8Women was created for exactly that reason.

If you’re looking to meet like-minded women, expand your thinking and be part of a unique collective that values generosity over hustle, we’d love to have you join us. Find out more www.collabor8women.com.