Media mogul Oprah Winfrey and TV host Gayle King have been friends for nearly 50 years after meeting at a Baltimore news station in 1976. The pair never make big life decisions without discussing them with each other, they recently told philanthropist Melinda French Gates in a wide-ranging conversation about aging, divorce, and the importance of friends who push you to greater heights.
“I wouldn’t dream of [making a big decision] without getting Oprah’s take,” King said, noting that the relationship is especially critical, given their celebrity status, which incites flattery from most rather than honest feedback.
Similarly, actresses Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, who have costarred in several films, bounce business ideas off one another. Fey, who is often seen sporting her signature eyeglasses, said in January that Poehler has repeatedly suggested that she create an eyeglasses line as her next business venture.
Cultivating friends in your professional field goes beyond having a listening ear. Sourced well, they can serve as career catalysts by offering their respective networks, knowledge, and sage advice.
“You want to think about gathering people around you who fundamentally have your best interests at heart and who support the idea of your success but who aren’t just cheerleaders,” says Alison Overholt, a media executive and board member at Mercy University’s Women in Leadership program. When it comes to building your board of directors, Overholt suggests picking friends who think differently than you, have a myriad of skills, and are even from another generation. Such relationships prompt more thoughtful decision-making as one charts a career path.
To wit, forming professional connections is a two-way street, and these friendships should be continuously nurtured. Overholt says to check in with your board regularly, share updates on your personal life, and make introductions between those in your network. “Open the door for other people and make opportunities happen,” she says. “Finding little ways to help other people is never a bad thing.”
Making professional connections has admittedly become more challenging post-pandemic. A recent Gallup poll found that approximately 27% of U.S. workforces are exclusively remote, and 53% are hybrid. When in the office, Overholt suggests being intentional about getting face time with colleagues.
In Winfrey’s interview with French Gates, she recounted her move to Chicago in 1984 at the age of 30. At the time, daytime talk-show host Phil Donahue was also based in the Windy City, and Winfrey feared the direct competition would hurt her viewership numbers. Though many in her professional circle discouraged Winfrey’s move from Baltimore, King encouraged her to leap. “Had I not had somebody who believed that me moving to Chicago could be successful, I might have not made the move,” said Winfrey.
Many Fortune 500 CEOs, such as Airbnb’s Brian Chesky, swear by a personal board of directors. “Being a CEO is a distinct job. It’s got distinct responsibilities, and no one ever teaches them,” he told Fortune in 2013. To remedy this, Chesky built a network of advisors early on, asking himself questions like, “Who’s the best professional CEO in the world who is good at the things I’m not good at?”
His 2013 personal board of directors included then-eBay CEO John Donahoe for leadership strategy insights, venture capitalist Michael Ovitz for marketing expertise, former CIA chief George Tenet for advice on trust and safety, and unnamed designers from Apple, Chesky told Fortune at the time.
“We view each other as a source of wisdom for the other’s topic,” he said. “Ultimately, we make each other stronger because we’re not really competing with each other. We’re competing with the status quo.”
