This past Saturday I attended the Diverse Smithies Series’ second meeting. “Diverse Smithies: Connecting, Coaching, and Celebrating Together” is a new project coordinated by the Office of Alumnae Relations that brings alumnae of color to campus to offer a series of workshops for students. Last month we had three alumna give a talk titled “Authenticity, Activism, and Community Connections,” which focused on ways to build inclusive and just communities. This month we had two alums give respective talks about cultivating personal growth and addressing implicit bias. All of the speakers are such inspiring Smithies! I am truly blessed to have had the opportunity to network with them. Networking and connecting with Smithies from diverse backgrounds is my favorite part of the series. All the participants went to the Lazarus Center to get free business cards before the first meeting, so we were on our networking game! It helped that the organizers provided us with business card holders early into the series (see picture above). With these new skills and connections, I truly feel like I am on the path towards professional success.