As a natural introvert, I’ve always been most comfortable tackling problems on my own. In school, this worked perfectly — success was simply about studying hard, acing exams, and finding the "right" answers. But when I stepped into the real world, I quickly realized things weren’t so clear-cut. The lone wolf approach that had served me so well in the classroom left me at a disadvantage when it came to securing internships and entry-level jobs.

My well-connected peers had a different story. Through networking with alumni and professionals at their target companies, they unlocked opportunities I hadn’t even heard of. Meanwhile, I was stuck, trying to break through alone.

This harsh reality forced me to confront my weaknesses and dive headfirst into learning how to network. Despite attending prestigious institutions like Columbia and the University of Washington, the process was grueling. I sent out hundreds of LinkedIn messages and emails, desperately hoping for a response. Most went unanswered, and the few that led to coffee chats often took hours or days to materialize. And I knew that, for those without my advantages, the process would be even more daunting.

Eventually, after countless coffee chats and relentless persistence, I landed positions at top companies. But from there, a new challenge emerged: I found myself on the other side. As a professional, I became the one receiving those messages — the hopeful requests for coffee chats, for insights, for just thirty minutes of my time.

I wanted to help. I had been in their shoes and knew how invaluable a conversation with an insider could be. But time, as always, was the problem. Even with the best intentions, I left many messages unread, especially from those without a strong connection to me. I realized that while I wanted to give back, I couldn’t afford to give my time away for free.

Lawrence
Founder, CoffeeLink