The NETWORK runs a series of events across Luxembourg. Its president spoke with Melissa Dalton on RTL Today Radio‘s The Home Stretch.
The NETWORK was set up as a non-profit in 1991, when four professional women found that none of the social groups in Luxembourg at the time catered to their career development or networking needs.
Their president, Mariana Florea, has been in Luxembourg on and off since 2000, with a spell in Brussels followed by a return to the Grand Duchy.
She told Melissa Dalton that the organisation has an ambitious schedule planned for 2023, with a major event every month.
The programme kicks off with a well-being event at the end of January, focused on mindfulness and meditation.
Mariana said that the events aim to help women learn more about themselves, and to “break negative beliefs”. They are “interesting and exciting for personal and career development”, she added.
Mariana combines a full-time job in finance with her role as president of The NETWORK. She is also a certified professional coach and, in her words, “proud mother of an amazing 22-year-old daughter!”.
She welcomes any and every woman to join The NETWORK, which costs 60 euros a year to subscribe to. It’s open to women of all nationalities within Luxembourg and bordering communities.
It’s not necessary to have broken into the Luxembourg job sector yet, either. As she explains:
“At every single event we try to match people looking for jobs with people that have jobs... sometimes there are more people looking to hire than people looking for a job.”
For those fearful of networking, Mariana is keen to emphasise that The NETWORK maintains a supportive atmosphere. “We almost give you instructions,” she says, “we ask you to talk to at least one or two people you don’t know”, and provide you with information on a subject to talk about.
Listen to the interview in full on RTL Play or via the player below:
JANUARY: Mindfulness and Meditation
FEBRUARY: Personal Development - Discover Your Power MARCH: AGM & The Expat Experience
APRIL: Building a Business: Women & Entrepreneurship
MAY: Climate Change & Women
JUNE: The Great Reunion- Rediscovering Your Career After a Break
JULY: Summer Drinks
SEPTEMBER: Charity Event
OCTOBER: Changing the Face of Leadership: Ethnic & Gender Diversity in the Workplace
NOVEMBER: Party of One...Move Forward After Being Decoupled
DECEMBER: Christmas annual event
