Andy Lopata

The Power of Professional Relationships

Successful organisations, projects and careers rest on strong relationships. Whether with colleagues, clients, suppliers, investors or others, if you have a network developed on deep relationships, you then have people who will refer you, advocate for you, feed you advice and insights and support you in whatever ways you need.

In this talk, Andy explores the fundamentals of building, nurturing and leveraging strong professional relationships. During the session he looks at:

• Where are the gaps in your professional relationships?
• Understanding the ‘Relationship Matrix©’ and how it helps projects thrive
• The importance of cognitive diversity
• The 7 Stages of Professional Relationships
• When to be transactional and when to be friends
• Knowing how to make it easy for your connections to support you when they are ready to

You can’t do it all on your own.

Whatever you think about your abilities, and whatever you’d like other people to think, you will achieve so much more in your career and in your role if you’re open to the support of others. Yet, unfortunately, whether because of time pressures, the need to save face, or sheer lack of focus, very few of us achieve anywhere near the level of success that our network could help us reach.

This session is designed to help you change that. Over the course of this interactive session, Andy will share some powerful stories from his book, ‘Just Ask’, and we will look at:

• Why we don’t like to let anyone help us.
• The importance of a trusted network and where to find it.
• When and where to share.
• The role of mentors and sponsors.
• Why vulnerability is so important and can be a positive experience.

Participants in this session will go away with a much clearer focus on how to harness the power of their network to find answers, to challenge them, and to drive their career or business to the next level.

People look to their leaders for strength and direction, particularly in times of uncertainty.
But does that mean that leaders need to know all of the answers, all of the time? At a time when people are being encouraged to share their vulnerability, how can leaders do so while still commanding respect? If, indeed, it is desirable for them to do so.

Author of ‘Just Ask: Why Seeking Support is Your Greatest Strength’, Andy Lopata explores the apparent contradictions between vulnerability and strong leadership. Andy proposes that not only is vulnerability an asset for leaders, but it is a sign of strength and works to the benefit of the leader as an individual and the people they lead.

In the talk, Andy discusses how we expect our leaders to be strong, and be seen to be strong; to be resilient and to be seen to be resilient; to take the lead and be seen to take the lead. Culturally, we are conditioned to see these qualities as the polar opposite of vulnerability, but Andy argues that, in fact, each of these qualities is aided by leaders being more vulnerable and authentic.

This can be delivered as a keynote talk, a facilitated discussion, or a combination of the two.

Many senior executives are asked to nurture future talent.
In a highly competitive workplace, advice, guidance, and insights from someone who has navigated their way to the top can be invaluable. However, effective mentoring relationships do not necessarily just happen.

Andy Lopata, the co-author of next year’s Financial Times Guide to Mentoring, will explore why mentoring is so important and discuss how to ensure mentoring relationships have every chance of working for both parties.

In this presentation, Andy will discuss:

• The gap between understanding the value of mentoring and the degree to which it’s embraced.
• How to create more value from your relationships as a mentee.
• How to create more impact as a mentor.
• Why everyone should advocate for mentoring and ensure that others have the opportunity and desire to embrace it.

Mentoring is not just about offering advice – it’s about understanding the unique needs, expectations, and environments of both mentees and mentors.
This talk will explore why traditional mentoring approaches often fall short in today’s fast-paced, diverse, and ever-changing world. Through real-world examples and practical insights, you will learn how to better navigate the mentoring relationship, whether you’re seeking guidance or offering it, and how to create meaningful, impactful connections.

Whether you’re a mentor or a mentee, this session will show you how to approach the mentoring relationship more strategically. You’ll discover how to treat individuals as unique, adjusting your methods to their specific needs and preferences – whether that means challenging them, offering support, or simply understanding how they respond to different styles of guidance. You’ll also learn to adapt to the generational and cultural differences that are increasingly shaping today’s mentoring experiences.

This session is ideal for both those looking for mentorship and those mentoring others. Learn how to foster a more collaborative and effective mentoring environment, leveraging both AI tools and personal approaches to create transformative relationships. Whether you’re seeking guidance for your career or providing it to others, this talk will help you rethink the way you engage with mentoring to ensure both parties gain the maximum benefit possible from the relationship.