Build Your Personal Board of Directors through Sidebar & Women In Product
- Date
- 2025-03-21
- Host
- Personal
About this event
The strongest careers are rarely built alone. If you have been looking for sharper feedback, better perspective, or a more intentional way to grow your network, this event is designed to help you think beyond casual networking and start building the kind of trusted circle that can genuinely move your work forward. Through Sidebar and Women In Product, this in-person gathering focuses on one of the most practical ideas in professional growth: creating your own personal board of directors. That means surrounding yourself with people who can challenge your thinking, open doors, share honest advice, and help you make better decisions at every stage of your career. What Is This? This event is a community-centered meetup for people who want more than just another room full of introductions. The goal is to help attendees understand what a personal board of directors actually looks like in practice and how to build one intentionally through real relationships, not vague networking goals. Expect a format that blends connection with substance. Rather than treating networking as a side activity, the event centers it around a clear purpose: identifying the kinds of people who can support your growth, recognizing the value you bring to those relationships, and learning how to cultivate a circle that reflects where you want to go. Because this is hosted through Sidebar and Women In Product, the event also creates a strong context for thoughtful peer connection. You can expect conversations with people who care about growth, community, and building careers with more clarity and support. What to Expect The experience is built around in-person interaction, so come ready to talk, listen, and reflect. You will likely spend time meeting other attendees, sharing your current goals or challenges, and thinking concretely about the kinds of advisors, peers, connectors, and champions you want in your corner. You can expect a mix of: Structured networking designed to go beyond surface-level introductions Conversations about career growth, decision-making, and support systems Opportunities to meet people with different perspectives and experiences Space to think about who is already in your network and where there may be gaps A community atmosphere that makes it easier to start meaningful professional relationships This is not just about collecting contacts. It is about learning how to build a balanced and useful network of people who can help you navigate career moves, expand your perspective, and stay grounded as opportunities and challenges arise. If you have ever felt like networking can be transactional or unfocused, this event offers a more practical lens. The emphasis is on identifying real relationship roles: the person who gives candid feedback, the peer who helps you think through tradeoffs, the connector who broadens your reach, or the role model whose path helps clarify your own. Why Attend Most people know networking matters, but far fewer know how to turn a network into an actual support system. That is where the idea of a personal board of directors becomes powerful. It gives you a framework for building relationships with purpose instead of relying on chance encounters or waiting until you need help. Attending can help you get clearer on what kind of support you need right now. Maybe you are navigating a career transition, trying to grow as a leader, looking for stronger product community ties, or simply realizing that the next stage of your career will require better guidance and more intentional relationships. You will leave with more than a stack of introductions. Value may include: A clearer understanding of what a personal board of directors can include Better language for describing your goals and where you want support New relationships with peers and potential mentors or connectors More confidence in approaching networking as a long-term practice A stronger sense of how community can support your professional growth This event is especially valuable if you want your networking efforts to feel more strategic, more human, and more aligned with the career you are actually trying to build. The conversations here can help you move from passive participation to active relationship-building. Practical Details This is an in-person event taking place on Friday, March 21 at 11:00 AM PDT. If face-to-face conversation helps you build stronger connections, this format gives you the chance to engage more naturally, read the room, and have the kinds of side conversations that often become the most memorable part of a meetup. Because the event is centered on community and networking, it is worth arriving ready to participate. Think about your current career goals, the kinds of people you learn most from, and where you could use more perspective or support. A little preparation will make your conversations more useful and make it easier for others to understand how they might fit into your broader network. You do not need to show up with a polished plan. Curiosity, openness, and a willingness to engage are enough. Whether you are actively building your next chapter or simply want to strengthen the quality of your professional relationships, this event offers a focused setting to do that with intention.
Who should attend
This is for people who want their network to become a real source of insight, support, and momentum. - You are looking to build more intentional professional relationships instead of relying on random networking moments. - You want clearer guidance on how to identify the mentors, peers, advocates, and connectors who can help you grow. - You are navigating a career decision, transition, or growth phase and would benefit from broader perspective. - You value community and want to meet thoughtful, ambitious people in a setting that encourages real conversation. - You work in product or adjacent fields, or you are simply interested in the kind of career support ecosystem Women In Product and Sidebar can help spark. - You are willing to show up, share where you are, and invest in relationships that can develop over time. If you have ever thought, "I need a stronger circle around me," this event is built with you in mind.