Summer’s officially ended. That fabulous vacation is probably a distant memory. We’ve dropped the kids off for their first day of school after taking those embarrassing photos denoting the grade they’re entering. And, our college students are all settled on campus. Whew!!

For many individuals, it’s challenging to begin a conversation with strangers—especially at a networking event. Below are some ideas to help you get started.

When I began my career in public relations in the 1980s, I was the only minority and the only woman on a 10-person communications team. Today, there are many more women in the communications field, but there is still a lack of diversity when it comes to people of color. And, both women and people of color become even more scarce as you move up the management ranks.

Last week I spoke at the Women’s Leadership Roundtable of the National Association for Environmental Management (NAEM).  Nearly 175 women in science and engineering attended.  The two-day conference focused on Personal Branding and Communications. Ironically, I spoke on the Power of Networking.  So, how could I not practice what I preached—especially when it came to following up with those I met at the conference.  Remember, the real work of a conference comes afterward.