At Kayo’s recent M&A Summit, three of the trailblazing Co-Founders of Exponent Women, Amy Weissman, Nanette Heide, and Justine Mannering, had a candid discussion on how to transform networking into true professional momentum.
Their conversation centered not only on the value of showing up but on the intentional steps that turn connections into partnerships, deal opportunities, and long-term business relationships.
The Power of Showing Up Consistently
For many in the room, women’s networking events are no longer a novelty. They are becoming a foundational part of professional growth. Yet while attendance has increased, conversion rates still lag.
The panelists emphasized that consistency matters just as much as participation. Building visibility across events creates familiarity, and familiarity builds trust, an essential ingredient in any transaction-driven field.
Trust is particularly critical in private equity, investment banking, credit, and advisory roles where deal flow relies heavily on relationships. All panelists reflected on how their own long-term careers were shaped by repeatedly investing time in cultivating meaningful professional circles, even during the early years when women were far fewer in the industry.
Beyond Networking: Building Influence and Intentional Partnerships
From sourcing new opportunities to sharing market intelligence to connecting colleagues across sectors, relationship-building becomes most powerful when it extends beyond individual gain.
The speakers also highlighted that relationships take time to mature into deal activity. Successful conversion often happens when there is genuine alignment, sector expertise, complementary roles, or shared strategic priorities. Patience paired with persistence is often what turns a friendly conversation into a transaction months or even years later.
Closing the Gender Gap in Deal Conversations
Despite progress, women still face barriers when it comes to turning participation into revenue-generating activity. Structural gaps remain—unequal access to networks, fewer senior sponsors, and limited exposure to high-impact transactions.
The panel emphasized the critical role Kayo and other women’s networks play in addressing and overcoming these barriers. By expanding the ecosystem of women in finance and creating intentional spaces for connection, the industry can accelerate the pipeline of women sourcing, leading, and closing deals.
From Conversation to Conversion: A Collective Movement
What emerged from this session was a clear call to action: women must continue showing up, connecting, and supporting each other, but also deepen their engagement. That means following up after conferences, revisiting connections regularly, and stepping confidently into opportunities to collaborate.
As the Exponent Women founders reminded attendees, the ROI of relationship-building isn’t measured only in deals closed. It’s measured in the strength of the networks women build together and the doors those communities open for years to come.
Written by Adele Du
Adele is a Community Engagement Associate at Kayo Conference Series