I was in the process of updating my Linkedin profile and wanted to present myself as what I am and have been doing for quite some time: a connector.
In other words? A creator of connections between people, especially women, a sort of professional "matchmaker" between women who are looking... and those who would like to be found 🙂
It's all about "getting the power flowing". Because every relationship begins with a connection.
But here's the thing: some dictionaries mention a feminine form of the noun "connector" but... go look up the use of the word "connectrice", even Google was at a loss when I asked. The Académie française is even more radical:
But...
Luckily for English speakers, "connector" has no gender, it's just " a person or thing that connects" .
Well, Google is nice enough to teach me that the term "connectrice" is used, especially in technical fields, but almost exclusively as an adjective. It refers to a connecting part, a connecting part, even a connecting idea, but... there's no mention of a connecting woman.
Because, in French, women don't (get) connected?
But of course they do, and fortunately, these connections lead to networks that are multiplying by the day. Without seeking to exclude men, but often to combat a feeling of isolation, women are increasingly seeking to meet, exchange and do things together .
Virtually non-existent twenty years ago, networks play a key role in helping women progress in their careers. And to accelerate companies' awareness of the need to make the most of this potential.
I'm pleased to see that terms like entrepreneur, politician, writer, manager and teacher are becoming part of everyday vocabulary.
So yes, I am and want to define myself as a connector, whether the Académie française likes it or not.
And the more we talk about female entrepreneurs, female connectors, female developers, female decision-makers and their actions, the closer we'll get to balance in these professions as well as in everyday life.
If you're an active woman looking for a different, warm but professional and concerned networking context, contact me. I'd be delighted to connect you 🙂