I’ve always hated networking. Crowds drain me, small talk feels like running a marathon in flip-flops, and promoting myself? No way. I was convinced that being an introvert meant staying in my corner and hoping opportunities would just… show up. Spoiler: they don’t.

A year and a half ago, I joined Infiniti Connects, mostly because I didn’t want to miss out, and honestly… I was terrified. Walking into a room full of people, trying to say something meaningful without feeling fake—it was intimidating.

But here’s what happened: I realized I didn’t have to be loud to matter. I could just show up, share my work, talk about my bakery, listen, and people noticed. Slowly, I started feeling less like the awkward introvert and more like someone who actually belonged.

I watched, I learned, and bit by bit, confidence grew. Each conversation, each connection, was a tiny win. I didn’t have to force it, and I didn’t have to change who I was. And somehow, that’s when doors started opening—collaborations, ideas, people genuinely interested in what I had to offer.

Being an introvert doesn’t mean hiding forever. It means showing up in your own way, on your own terms, and letting the right people notice. Sometimes, it’s uncomfortable, sometimes it’s slow, but it works… more than I ever imagined.