In episode 97, I’m joined by Errika S. Brooks, founder of Gen Z Times (GZT), a platform created to amplify and empower Gen Z by helping them navigate career challenges, build meaningful connections, and define success in their own way.

With over seven years of experience across higher education, nonprofit leadership, and youth-focused partnerships, Errika blends strategy, creativity, and student development to design spaces that reflect the needs and values of Gen Z, especially BIPOC and LGBTQ+ audiences. As a youth advocate, community strategist, and Gen Z’s biggest cheerleader, she brings an authentic and heart-centered perspective to every conversation about connection and belonging.

Together, we explore how Gen Z is redefining networking, moving beyond the question “What do you do?” toward authentic, community-driven connection. Networking has long been seen as awkward or transactional, but Gen Z is shifting that narrative by focusing on shared interests, values, and belonging. Errika shares how her After 5 Experiment networking events help people connect without the pressure of titles or business cards and what professionals of all generations can learn from this human-centered approach to building relationships.

In this episode, I cover:

• How Gen Z is moving beyond the question “What do you do?”

• Why authentic networking starts with shared humanity, not hierarchy

• What it looks like to create safety and inclusion in professional spaces

• How to network across, not just up, and why peer connections matter

• The mindset shift needed to make networking feel natural instead of forced

Key Takeaways:

• Networking doesn’t have to be transactional—it can start with friendship

• You don’t need to “network up” to grow; building across your peers matters just as much

• Authenticity and inclusion make spaces safer and more effective for everyone

• Community and consistency are key to meaningful connections

Chapters:

00:12 Guest Introduction and Networking Shift

02:32 Errika Brooks’s Career Journey

05:39 Critique of Prescriptive Networking

09:14 Gen Z Networking Principles

12:53 DC Networking Experiment Format

17:52 Prompt Effects and Accessibility

22:37 Networking as Peer Community

26:53 Alignment, Career Pivots, and Next Steps

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