The Anti-Networking Secret: How We Proved In-Person Mentorship is NYC’s Ultimate Power Move
In an age of endless Zoom calls and carefully curated digital lives, it’s easy to forget where the real magic happens. It’s not behind a screen. It’s in a handshake, a shared laugh, a spontaneous conversation that sparks an idea you never saw coming. It’s about getting out of the house and connecting with other humans, face-to-face.
This past January, my company, We-Rule, put this philosophy to the test. We gathered at the iconic Museum of the Moving Image for a tech fair with a mission. Hosted by the incredible Queens Borough President, Donovan Richards, we threw out the old rules of networking and focused on one thing: creating genuine, lasting connections.
We brought together brilliant students and seasoned professionals for a day of flash mentorship. The energy was electric, fueled by mentors from some of the most influential institutions in the world: Cornell Tech, American Express, Parsons The New School, Chase Bank, Vogue, NYU, Goldman Sachs, and more.
The result? It was more powerful than we could have imagined. And it all came down to one simple question: "How can I help you?"
When a Mentorship Spark Ignites a Movement: Erika & Her Mentee
The true measure of an event isn't the names on the guest list; it's the relationships that continue long after the day is done.
Take powerhouse TV host and founder Erika De La Cruz (@TheLAGirl). She connected with a mentee, and their conversation wasn't just a 15-minute chat; it was the beginning of a collaboration. That single meeting has now blossomed into a major project, "Hispanic is Iconic," set to launch this fall. This is what happens when you move beyond pleasantries and into purpose. A real-world meeting created a real-world movement. It’s a testament to the fact that when you show up with a genuine desire to support someone else, you can end up building something beautiful together.
From Mentee to Mentor: A Full-Circle Success Story
Mentorship isn’t just about giving back; it’s a beautiful, cyclical ecosystem of support. There’s no better example than our former intern, Terence Biney.
Years ago, Terence was a mentee at the non-profit America Needs You. Today, he’s a successful developer at Chewy. At our event, he sat on the other side of the table, mentoring a young woman torn between two incredible job offers. He didn't just give her advice; he shared his journey, his vulnerabilities, and the wisdom he gained from his own mentors.
Terence’s story is a powerful reminder that mentorship is a long game. The help you receive today becomes the help you can offer tomorrow. He is living proof that investing in people is the only investment that guarantees a return.
The Real Secret to Powerful Connections: It’s Not About You
For so many, the idea of "networking" is terrifying. It feels transactional and self-serving. But I want you to reframe it completely.
The most successful and fulfilled people I know don’t walk into a room asking, "What can I get?" They walk in asking, "How can I help?"
This single shift changes everything. It transforms a daunting task into a soulful mission. It opens doors you never thought to knock on. When you approach connection with a spirit of service, you not only make the other person feel seen and valued, but you also feed your own soul. You tap into a deeper sense of purpose that fuels your own ambition.
Don't be afraid to ask for help—it’s a sign of strength. But don't ever forget to offer it, too. This is the currency of true community.
Your Mission: Get Out and Meet Your People
The connections forged at our Queens tech fair weren’t an accident. They were the natural result of putting real people in a real room with a shared purpose.
If you take one thing away from this, let it be this: your next great idea, your next collaborator, your next mentor, or your next mentee is not going to find you through a DM slide. They are out in the world, waiting to meet you.
Go to the panel discussion. Sign up for the workshop. Visit the museum. Start a conversation with the person next to you in the coffee shop. The only way to truly know someone, to build trust, and to forge the kinds of relationships that change your life and career, is to show up.
In-person connection is a necessity, not a luxury. So, get out there. And when you meet someone new, don't just ask them what they do. Ask them how you can help.
