Ask for It: A Roundtable on Networking with a Clear Ask

You know how to network. But do you know how to ask? There's a difference between showing up in the room and actually asking for what you want once you're there. Most of us stall. We hesitate. We wait for the "right moment" that never comes. And we leave with a stack of business cards and none of the things we actually came for. This EmpowerHER is different. We're not doing a lecture. We're having a real conversation, and then we're practicing. What to Expect We're opening with a conversation between Desireé and our facilitator AdeOla about how they met, their networking journeys, and the results that came from actually asking. Then we're opening it up to the room. Popcorn style, we'll talk about what stops us from asking: the fear, the hesitation, the stories we tell ourselves. And then we'll break into smaller groups to practice making the ask in real time with real people. You'll leave with more than a good conversation. You'll leave with increased awareness, real clarity on what you want to ask for, and new connections who already know what you need. This session is for you if:You're an entrepreneur or corporate professional who knows how to work a room but struggles to make the ask. Whether you're looking for clients, collaborators, opportunities, or introductions, this is where you practice saying it out loud. Run of Show 🕘 9:30 AM — Doors open. Breakfast is waiting. Come ready to connect. 🎤 10:00 AM — Desireé and AdeOla open with their story. How they met, what they asked for, and what happened next. 🙋🏽‍♀️ 10:30 AM — Group discussion. What stops us from asking? Let's name it. 👥 11:00 AM — Small group practice. Make the ask. For real this time. 🙌 11:30 AM — Wrap up, linger, keep connecting. Workbox is a co-working space so feel free to stay! About Our Facilitator AdeOla is a Chief of Staff, Strategic Partner, and Operations Leader who steps in when vision is clear but execution is stretched. She builds structure around big ideas, aligns cross-functional teams, and brings operational clarity to founder-led and growing businesses, so founders can stay focused on what they do best. With a background in creative production, storytelling, and cross-functional leadership, AdeOla moves fluently inside fast-moving, vision-driven environments. She's led campaigns, multimedia projects, investor initiatives, and experiential events from concept to execution — always balancing creative ambition with operational discipline. She sits between vision and feasibility, translating ideas into structured systems and measurable outcomes. And on December 18th she's bringing that same clarity to the EmpowerHER room to help us all get better at asking for what we actually want. Tickets Thanks to our partners, we're able to keep ticket prices low. 🎟 Early Bird — $25 (limited availability)🎟 General Admission — $35 Ticket includes breakfast, coffee, a takeaway bag, and full access to the EmpowerHER Q4 experience. Spots are intentionally limited to keep the room intimate, grab yours early.