In this clip from Who Got Me Here, Kraig Swensrud shares a lesson every tech professional eventually learns: the industry is much smaller than you think.

Kraig explains why the people sitting around you today—coworkers, peers, even those you barely notice—are likely to reappear throughout your career. They’ll become leaders, decision-makers, and influencers across the industry, often just one or two degrees away from you for decades.

He also warns against letting relationships go cold. When someone reaches out years later asking for a connection, you never want to feel awkward because you didn’t stay in touch.

Kraig’s biggest takeaway: your success isn’t built alone. It’s built with the people you grow up with professionally—the ones you help, the ones who help you, and the ones you rise with over time.

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