My Network is My Energy, Never a Burden

Guest Post – Gabriela Robles, Chief Executive

During this season of gratitude, I’ve been intentionally reflecting on all the things for which I am thankful. In past writings, I’ve shared my love and respect for my parents and the tenacity I inherited. Beyond my parents, I’ve come to recognize how much of my energy comes from my whole community, particularly my network of personal and family friends, and mentors. My network lifts me in challenging times and celebrates in moments of joy. It’s a rare and beautiful thing to have people in your life invested in seeing you thrive.

When I consider the impact of my network, I see how they’ve shaped my life and the power they hold to drive our collective progress.

Most of my closest friends are women. These friendships aren’t burdensome. They span decades, and even if I haven’t spoken to them in years, I can pick up the phone as if no time has passed. Years ago, during my cancer treatments, one friend I hadn’t seen in a decade flew in to support me without hesitation. This epitomizes the strength of my network.

Moreover, each of us brings different perspectives, a shared understanding of our experiences, and dedication to one another’s success. These connections offer diverse insights that help me navigate life.

My extended network includes mentors and mentees. Interestingly, most of my career mentors have been men, some of whom I never imagined would see potential in me. These mentors guided me and opened doors, connecting me with women of influence who have helped steer my career path.

Mentorship is about helping someone reach their potential and, when possible, extending the opportunities given to them. Recently, I connected with one of my college peers, who helped me find a professional connection for one of my mentees who had lost her job. In connecting these two women, my mentee was offered a job, which she thrives in over a year later. This is the energy force of networks, as they create support pathways, as others have done for us.

The importance of networks was evident in my family growing up. My mother, who was an immigrant, relied heavily on the support of other immigrant women in our neighborhood. Even though they couldn’t work outside the home, they shared resources and looked out for each other. They organized Tupperware parties, helped with school events, volunteered, and got their children involved in extracurricular activities.

While my mom initially couldn’t vote, she volunteered at the polling place in our neighbor’s garage. She understood the power of her vote and passed that on to me. She took photos of me when I was old enough to vote because it was such a big deal. Growing up in the light of my mom’s friends who, even with limited education and finances in this country, knew they needed to come together and identify opportunities and advocate for their kids and, honestly, for all of us in our community.

This early model of community building and networking taught me the importance of leaning on each other, finding strength in shared goals, and never doubting the impact of small acts of support.

Our networks are powerful assets, communities of care that inspire resilience and nurture growth. Beyond friendship or professional connections, they create a circle of people who energize each other. And in an increasingly fast-paced world, these connections are invaluable. Whether through friends, mentors, or community members, these relationships keep us grounded, remind us of our shared humanity, and empower us to move forward together.