The next big thing is small 🧬

Hello Friends,

I paused my 10 trends series right at the halfway mark because summer is just too good not to savor with extra travel and fun.

If you noticed, bless your networking-loving hearts. If you didn’t, I’ll just assume you were out there networking to the fullest.😉 

Since I last hit your inbox, I’ve been…

• taking my private executive luncheon series to NYC

• talking about leveraging your network on Alex Batdorf’s podcast

• prepping for my lightning talk at the global launch of Leaders of the Future, a two-hour virtual seminar exploring leadership at the intersection of technology and human potential (click here to attend!)

Let’s recap where we’re at in this series. So far, we’ve explored the first three trends which I call Foundational Shifts:

🔗 Trend 1: AI-Enhanced Networking
🔗 Trend 2: Agents, Avatars, and Automation
🔗 Trend 3: Professional Networks as a Measurable Asset

Next, we started unpacking the Behavioral and Cultural Shifts:

🔗 Trend 4: Remote by Default, In-Person by Design
🔗 Trend 5: Privacy is a Power Move

Today, I’m sharing the last of Behavioral and Cultural Shifts…

Meaning, do people participate, support each other, and actually get real value from being part of your community?

For example, spin-off groups from sources like Chief will thrive even if Chief itself disappears (ask any Chief member if they're in an unofficial side WhatsApp group outside the official platform).

Much like how alumni networks stay strong not just because of the school itself but because the group has formed a bond through shared experiences and identity.

Those who know how to build niche communities around shared values will become the new power players. 💪

🔮 My sixth prediction for the Future of Networking is the rise of micro-communities.

Big, corporate-sponsored events were the first to go out of style. They were too cold, too pushy, too broad, and provided too little ROI for your time.

Next to go were high-volume themed events disguised as "connecting _____ [insert demographic] who _____ [insert theme]"—when really it was just another mass event with a theme in the invite but no soul at the event. There was no real engagement amongst attendees.

As I always say: Simply putting people in a room together—even with a stated purpose—doesn't guarantee they'll connect meaningfully, network effectively, or enjoy themselves.

Enter: micro-communities. Groups that are highly curated, super-niche, and led by authentic leaders with genuine intentions (not pay-for-play billboards disguised as people). These micro-communities bring people together in a way that feels personally designed for each participant.

⛽ What’s fueling this shift?

👉 Events aren’t enough. People want ongoing community.

The best events now serve as an onboarding into a micro-community. If you’re not offering a “what’s next” experience—like a private group thread or access into a niche network—you’re missing the momentum.

👉 Identity drives belonging, and belonging drives behavior.

People want to be seen and understood, not pitched to. The most successful communities are rooted in identity: whether they're biohackers, fathers who ____, mothers who ____, executives who ____, neighborhood activists, people learning ____, or walking meditation groups. The list goes on. True loyalty emerges when someone can proudly and specifically say "that's ME!"

👉 Your time is scarce, so you’re getting selective.

Micro-communities cut through the noise. Instead of chasing the right person across a hundred platforms, you walk into a trusted room where everyone already shares a value system or goal.

👉 In short, micro-communities will replace traditional networking.

Power is shifting away from broad-based networks toward focused ecosystems that actually do things together. Influence will live in active group chats, shared rituals, and member-led collaborations.

And I’m not the only one saying it: Vogue just published an article saying the younger generation is flocking towards micro-communities, making event leaders the new influencers.

Wondering how to get in on this shift? Here are five actions you can take:

1️⃣ Become a Micro-Community Host (or Join One)
Don’t wait to be invited: curate your own group around a topic you care about and bring like-minded people together. Start with three people. Micro is the point!

2️⃣ Redesign Your Events with Community in Mind
Stop designing for the moment; design for the relationship arc instead. Ask: how can I spark connection now and create a reason for people to stay connected after?

3️⃣ Consider the Network Effect vs. the Micro-Effect
Traditional platforms (LinkedIn, Instagram) were built on network effects, where more users = more value. Micro-communities flip that. Fewer users = more value because intimacy and alignment drive trust. When creating or joining a group, optimize for alignment, not scale. Ten deeply engaged people beat 1,000 lurkers.

4️⃣ Shift from Broadcasting to Bonding
Social media is about broadcasting outward, while micro-communities are about bonding inward. Shift your mindset from “What can I share publicly?” to “Who do I want to deepen relationships with privately?”

5️⃣ Psychological Safety as Infrastructure
Big groups rarely feel safe enough for candor; small groups naturally create it. Design spaces where people know they can speak freely—invite-only, clear norms, even confidentiality agreements if needed.

We’ve all been to big events where we felt lost in the crowd. Or overly-engineered events where we’ve felt talked at rather than welcomed in.

A friend, Clara De Marco, sent me this article on the ROI of Radical Generosity after we first met and she learned about my way of bringing people together.

What I love about that article is how it beautifully explains my core beliefs about networking's present and future: while I embrace and freely share AI tools, nothing surpasses genuine care for the relationships we build and nurture.

Thanks for reading,
Nicole

“But wait, there’s more!” 👇

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