The Myth of Merit: Building Visibility Through the Strength of Your Circle

Hard work matters, but so does who knows your work. Learn how visibility, relationships and advocacy can shape career growth. We often hear that if you work hard, do good work and prove yourself, the opportunities will follow. But career growth isn’t always that simple. The people who know your work, recognize your potential and advocate for you can have just as much influence on what comes next. In this session, we’ll unpack the role that visibility, relationships, sponsorship and advocacy play in career growth. We’ll explore the difference between having a network and building meaningful relationships, how to make your work and contributions more visible, and how to develop a circle of people who can support, challenge and advocate for you. Participants will leave with practical ideas for strengthening their professional circles, building visibility in authentic ways and being more intentional about the relationships that can help them navigate change and create new opportunities. Because you don’t have to navigate your career alone — and sometimes the strongest opportunities come through the people in your corner. Milja Saari-Hembruff Milja is a tech leader with deep experience in business strategy and talent development. Over the last two decades, she has been dedicated to building teams, developing top performers and empowered women, resulting in exceptional business results. Milja enjoys empowering leaders across all stages of their professional journey. She brings a wealth of knowledge and strengths in areas such as digital transformation, enterprise business development, and leadership development. Known for her empathetic leadership style and strategic insight, Milja is driven by a mission to help people unlock potential and lead with confidence.