🎙️ Getting Better Podcast [Episode #3]
This is the third episode of the Getting Better Podcast, where I’m interviewing interesting people with unique stories and one idea in mind: sparking curiosity to get better at work and life.
In this episode I’m interviewing Anna Bertoldini, who has worked many years in employer branding in a diverse range of companies (Blackrock, Glovo, NielsenIQ) and in many countries (Spain, Austria, Hungary, Germany and Italy).
We talked about networking and how to get better at it.
Today, Anna works in brand marketing at NielsenIQ, has 30k+ followers on LinkedIn, and helps professionals improve their LinkedIn presence.
🎁 Some of the key takeaways:
Networking is about relationship: Shift your mindset from “What can I get?” to “How can I help?”. The strongest connections come from shared interests, insights, and generosity, not from asking for favors right away.
Cultural differences shape networking styles: Some countries take a formal, structured approach; in others, relationships develop more organically. Regardless of culture, authenticity and consistency matter most. People can instantly sense when you're not being genuine.
Weak ties vs. strong ties: Stanford sociologist Mark Granovetter in 1973 found that casual connections (i.e. weak ties) helped people land jobs more often than close contacts. This still holds true today: Anna, for example, landed two jobs through weak ties.
Common networking mistakes on LinkedIn: (1) Making connections but never really engaging (just adding contacts is not networking). (2) Sending generic connection requests - personalization makes all the difference.
Small actions to start networking on LinkedIn: Engaging with others’ posts is often more powerful than just posting, as it creates real connections.
Familiarity effect: The more people see your name, the more they feel like they know you, even if you’ve never spoken. Show up consistently, not perfectly.
Following up: When reconnecting, reference past interactions, a shared conversation, a piece of news they mentioned. It’s not about being interesting, but about being interested.
Timestamps
00:58 - How do you define networking?
02:06 - How has your global experience shaped your approach to networking?
06:06 - Have you ever landed a role through networking?
08:34 - Have you seen the power of “weak ties” in networking?
10:08 - What are common LinkedIn networking mistakes?
12:20 - What are some small actions to start networking on LinkedIn?
15:20 - What are some unconventional networking strategies that have worked for you outside social media?
If you are interested, listen below the first two episodes:
See you all next Sunday 🗓️
Thanks,
Giacomo
Share this post