"At a recent LeanUp treasury community meeting, the host member was helping me set up the room for the following morning. I was expressing my gratitude to her for hosting the event and we began speaking about the value of her membership. Her insight was eye-opening for me. She said LeanUp meetings are “like a health check”. Rather than waiting until a health crisis to see a medical professional, you get periodic checkups to stay in front of any potential problems lurking within.  Although I had never thought of our communities that way, I concluded she was right", said Founding Partner, Bryan Richardson.   
 
She went on to say that LeanUp membership and meetings are like the second quadrant in Stephen Covey’s Four Quadrants of Time Management. Treasury leaders are consumed by the two “Urgent” quadrants and most people struggle to some degree with quadrant 4 (Waste). But it’s quadrant 2 (Effectiveness) that is the most important. It is difficult to focus on because it gets crowded out by the other three. Success in quadrant 2 requires intentionality, thoughtfulness, and planning. It’s where you invest your time to invest in yourself, your network, and your personal and professional growth. It’s where you learn, think, and create.

She was absolutely right. By engaging in treasury networking, professionals are proactively investing time in activities that build their capabilities, expand their knowledge, and create a strong foundation for future success, rather than merely reacting to immediate demands. This deliberate, long-term focus is the hallmark of Quadrant II activities.

Here are three examples of how today's young treasury professionals should use networking seriously to proactively manage their career success:

1. Cultivating Mentorship and Skill Development.  Actively seek out and connect with senior treasury professionals and engage in meaningful conversations about your career path, challenges, and insights into specialized treasury functions (e.g., foreign exchange risk, debt management, capital markets). This allows you to gain invaluable knowledge and wisdom that isn't typically taught in day-to-day job duties.
2. Staying Ahead of Industry Trends and Technological Shifts.  Participate in industry conferences, webinars, and online forums. Connect with professionals who are early adopters of new technologies (e.g., AI in treasury, blockchain for payments, advanced analytics) or are leading discussions on emerging regulatory changes. Engage in discussions about how these developments will impact the treasury function. By proactively understanding evolving trends and technological innovations, you can ensure your skillset remains relevant and in-demand. You can identify opportunities to lead new initiatives within your organization, suggest process improvements, or specialize in areas that will become crucial in the future. This foresight prevents you from becoming obsolete and positions you as a forward-thinker.
3. Identifying Future Career Opportunities and Internal Mobility. Beyond external connections, network actively within your own organization across different departments and with professionals in other companies you admire. This includes informational interviews, participating in cross-functional projects, and maintaining a well-curated professional online presence. Building relationships across departments can reveal internal growth opportunities (e.g., a move from corporate treasury to a business unit finance role) that might not be formally advertised. Externally, a strong network can lead to referrals for desired positions, insights into company cultures, and understanding of market demand for specific treasury skills, well before you are actively job-seeking. This proactive "soft interviewing" through relationships significantly increases your chances of landing desired roles compared to merely applying cold to job postings.