More than handshakes: How networking fuels Black professional growth

In Houston, networking events are becoming increasingly popular as a way to build a professional ecosystem that creates lasting opportunities within the Black community. At one such recent gathering, Protect The Block, billed as a modern Black Wall Street experience, Black professionals exchanged business cards and discussed referral opportunities for future partnerships.

James Mattox III, a 36-year-old Houston attorney, is living proof of what a well-timed introduction can do. A law school friend brought him to a networking event years ago, where he met the person who would become his boss, and ultimately helped him land a job before he even graduated.

“Everyone has a good GPA,” Mattox said. “Everyone has a resume created by AI or themselves. There’s nothing like face-to-face time, where a person sees beyond just ink on paper. They actually understand who you are, what you represent, and if you fit with them.”

Going beyond resumes

For Ciara Johnson, a 30-year-old who transitioned from special education teaching into modeling just months ago, networking feels like a survival skill. 

“You can get into a runway show, or you can get your shoots done just because of word of mouth,” she said. “It’s very integral to being a model.”

Mentorship as the missing link

Mentorship surfaced as a critical but underutilized resource, particularly for Black professionals who may not have inherited professional networks through family or traditional pipelines.

Marcus Castille, a financial advisor who specializes in working with educators, stressed the importance of having a mentor. 

“I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for a mentor,” Castille said. “Someone who showed me the ropes, made me comfortable and confident while I learned the business.”

Mattox, on the other hand, framed mentorship as a matter of access. 

“They introduce you to people that you would probably never run into,” he said. “The mentor has been in those rooms, knows those people. For me, it is important because I have mentors. It is a life goal of mine to help individuals who may not have mentors or may not have the foot in the door that other people would to bridge that gap that I had along my way.”

Offering a broader definition of what mentorship can look like, attorney Whitney Thompson said it does not require weekly check-ins or formal programs.

“It may not be in that traditional sense where you’re on the phone with someone every time you have a problem,” Thompson said. “Sometimes it’s being able to say, ‘Can I sit with you and shadow you? Can I watch what you’re doing?” 

She emphasized transparency as the real currency of mentorship, such as being honest about challenges and failures, so younger professionals do not have to repeat them.

Intentional referrals

When it comes to building economic power within the Black community, professionals highlighted the need to prioritize support for Black-owned businesses and professionals, but to do so with the same rigor applied to any referral.

Mattox argued that his referrals reflect a standard of excellence above all else, even though his network is predominantly Black.

“I want to make sure that that person is well equipped so that when they get a referral from me,” Mattox added. “It’s someone who does their job and does it great.”

Thompson argued that minority businesses deserve to be vetted, not avoided.

“People shouldn’t be shy about supporting Black-owned or minority-owned businesses,” she said. “It’s just important to vet the person, their credentials, and make sure that they have the skill set to do what you need.”

Showing up authentically

Showing up as yourself is another piece of advice professionals offer.

Johnson, still new to the modeling world, said knowing one’s environment and limits is key to being comfortable in networking events.

“Giving yourself grace in this type of field is important because you have to remind yourself that people are going to hire you, especially for models, for who you are, not for who you pretend to be,” Johnson said. “When you pretend to be somebody else, sometimes it can come across as fake.”