When it comes to networking, UVA alumna Laura Fleury (Col class of ’91) believes the most powerful connections start with curiosity and authenticity. After more than three decades as a senior unscripted television executive at A+E Networks—where storytelling and human connection were at the heart of her work—Laura has built a second chapter as a coach, facilitator, and speaker who empowers adults to tame the voice in their head to hear the voice in their heart. She works with leaders, groups and individuals to optimize their potential and realize their dreams through deep internal work and values-aligned goal setting. Her leadership workshops create immersive experiences where professionals develop key competencies from brand building, executive presence and resilience to communicating with impact and building meaningful relationships. Ahead of her Reunions Weekend workshop, The Art of Networking: Relationship Building and Career Resilience, Laura shares insights from her career journey and why she believes relationship-building is one of the most important skills for long-term professional growth.
Tell us about your career journey and the experiences that led you to your current work, including your focus on coaching and relationship-building.
I’ve always been curious about people, wanting to understand and help them. For more than three decades, that curiosity drove a successful career as an unscripted creative TV executive, primarily at A+E Networks, creating hit series based on compelling true stories about real people.
From early on, I saw the importance of authentic relationship building and meaningful connections. Whether collaborating with colleagues or working with contributors who trusted us with their stories, active listening, empathy, and respect were essential.
I’m deeply grateful to the mentors who supported me along the way, and I’ve maintained a commitment to mentorship almost from the moment I graduated from UVA.
For most of my TV career I felt energized by my work—until something shifted. I still loved what I did, but I was no longer “in love” with it. I found myself drawn to activities that filled my cup, including earning a yoga teacher certification and helping create a mentorship program for rising female leaders at A+E, where I also co-led leadership development workshops.
Today, my passions are realized in a second chapter as a coach, workshop facilitator, speaker, yoga instructor, and TV consultant. I work with executives, professionals, and leadership teams to identify what they truly want, uncover what may be standing in their way, and build a path toward long-term fulfillment.
Your session focuses on reframing networking as relationship-building. What inspired this perspective?
When people think of networking, they sometimes cringe at what feels transactional and performative. I certainly had that reaction when I first started my career. I had been a shy kid, and the idea of walking into a room of strangers made me queasy.
Luckily, I’m also wildly curious about people. Through my work in television, I found it easy to build relationships, and over time that naturally became a network across my industry. Instead of pursuing networking that felt political or pressured, I focused on building relationships with people I genuinely liked and found interesting.
Another turning point came when an advertising industry headhunter encouraged me to clarify my own story. Rather than introducing myself only by my job title, she challenged me to articulate three things: who I am (my strengths), what I bring (the value I create), and what drives me (my “why”).
That clarity gives us confidence and allows us to connect meaningfully—whether it’s a job interview, an industry event, or a passing moment in an elevator. Then networking becomes more natural and more human.
I deeply believe that the ability to build and nurture relationships is a core competency for any professional for 3 key reasons: 1) Our close friendships fuel our resilience 2) relationships with colleagues provide empathetic support, and 3) human connections bypass technology and algorithms.
Many people feel uncomfortable or unsure about networking. What’s one mindset shift that can immediately make it feel more authentic?
The core mindset shift is to stop thinking of networking as selling yourself and collecting contacts and start thinking of it as practicing curiosity about people and connecting to share and exchange. Don’t try to impress, just try to connect.
When networking feels performative, it quickly becomes uncomfortable. But when we approach interactions with genuine curiosity, everything changes. It allows us to be present and show up as our best selves—and curiosity builds trust.
It’s also helpful to remember that most people in a room of strangers feel the same discomfort. Even very accomplished professionals sometimes wonder where they belong. If you’re the one who says hello first, you’re probably doing them a favor.
At its core, networking is simply the ongoing practice of building relationships—some deep and lasting, others brief but meaningful moments of connection.
What do you hope alumni will take away from your session?
I hope alumni walk away with the sense that networking doesn’t have to feel awkward or transactional—it can feel natural and energizing when we approach it as authentic relationship-building.
In the session, we’ll explore practical tools to make that easier, including ways to start and deepen conversations with open-ended questions and how to gracefully exit a conversation. We’ll also talk about the power of having clarity on your personal narrative—who you are, what you bring, and what motivates you.
One simple step alumni can take right away is to reach out to one person this week simply to reconnect. Send a short note to a former classmate, colleague, or mentor and suggest a quick catch-up. No agenda, no ask—just a moment of authentic connection.
Small gestures like that are how strong professional relationships are built over time.