If you work in the energy sector, your career will not be shaped by job boards alone. Progres opportunity and visibility often come down to relationships, who knows you, how well they know you, and whether they trust you enough to speak your name when you’re not in the room. That’s why this conversation matters.

In this episode of Energy Sector Heroes, I’m joined by Andy Lopata, author of multiple books on professional relationships and mentoring, to unpack what building a strong network actually looks like in practice, especially for people who find networking uncomfortable, intimidating or performative.

We talk openly about why asking for help feels hard, how to approach senior leaders without feeling out of place, and why many careers stall not because of lack of capability, but because people don’t invest enough in relationship depth. We also explore practical ways to engage on platforms like LinkedIn without feeling transactional, and how to show up in conversations with confidence, whether that’s one to one or in front of a room full of people.

This is a practical conversation about career momentum, not self promotion.

🔑 Key Takeaways

💬 Networking works best when it’s not about “networking”

1. Andy explains why focusing on people you genuinely want to know rather than what they can do for you leads to stronger, longer term professional relationships.

🤝 Asking for help is not weakness

1. We unpack why most people hesitate to ask, how to frame requests from a position of confidence, and why allowing others to help you actually strengthens relationships.

👀 Senior leaders are not as unapproachable as you think

1. The episode breaks down how to start conversations with experienced professionals in a way that feels respectful, natural and grounded without trying to impress or perform.

✅ Actionable Takeaways

📝 Audit your current network

1. Identify who already knows your work well enough to support you and who you need to deepen relationships with through follow up and consistent engagement.

📩 Make your outreach about them, not you

1. When messaging someone, lead with curiosity: ask what they’re working on, reference something they’ve shared, or acknowledge a conversation you’ve already had.

🎯 Practice asking for specific help

1. Replace vague requests with clear ones for example, asking for an introduction or advice on a defined decision and be comfortable with a “no.”