Networking doesn’t have to feel like fighting a dinosaur with a broken plastic fork (analogy attributed to unknown Reddit user).
In an engaging Tiny Tox Talk titled “Toxicology Tango: Dance Your Way to Networking Success,” Ishita Virmani from the Medizinische Universität Innsbruck in Austria discussed strategies and how to avoid common pitfalls while networking.
As a toxicologist, networking enthusiast, and ballroom dancer in my spare time, I was drawn to this Tiny Tox Talk. A statement my dance coaches have often made during lessons came to mind as I reflected on this talk—“It takes two to tango.” Indeed, it takes shared effort from everyone involved to come together and effectively communicate and cooperate in pursuing a common goal. When done successfully, a synergistic result is achieved. You accomplish more together than you would alone. Networking is essential to making significant strides together in the field of toxicology, as well as public health and environmental protection.
Ishita, a dancer (in traditional Indian dancing) in her free time, discussed the “dancing” steps of networking:
Find a connection
Talk to them
Exchange contact information
Stay in touch
Maintain the connection
Expand your search
We were asked to practice finding a “dance partner” and to introduce ourselves to each other in one sentence by applying these steps. Ishita also covered some common pitfalls encountered while networking and how to avoid them.
Common Pitfalls
Combat by
Sticking to one group
Politely move on and meet new people
No follow-up
Follow up within 48 hours and stay connected
One-sided conversations
Balance the conversation and use open- ended questions
Business card dump
Engage first and exchange later
Forgetting names
Repeat names and ask for a reminder
Awkward start
Use simple openers and engage first
If you’re nervous about connecting with others, Ishita provided some points to consider that were helpful to her in overcoming her nervous thoughts while networking. For example, she shared how she is sometimes afraid to talk to strangers. She would encourage herself to at least try before giving up and to think positively before a networking event.
At the end of the presentation, someone from the audience offered another helpful networking strategy for following up. In larger events where attendees are making multiple connections, it can be difficult to remember everyone you meet. To establish and maintain these connections, she shared that she would take a selfie with the person she met and text or email it to them. That way, there would be an opportunity to remind that connection of the shared conversation and your face.
By the end of the talk, we were all feeling better-equipped to network after hearing about and discussing strategies to avoid and deal with obstacles that may arise while building and maintaining connections.
American author Keith Ferazzi once said, “The currency of real networking is not greed but generosity.” When we’re open to sharing ideas and collaborating toward the common goal of supporting the field of toxicology and enhancing public health and environmental protection, we can do a lot together to make our world a better place.
This blog reports on the Tiny Tox Talk titled “Toxicology Tango: Dance Your Way to Networking Success” that was held during the 2025 SOT Annual Meeting and ToxExpo.
This blog was prepared by an SOT Reporter and represents the views of the author. SOT Reporters are SOT members who volunteer to write about sessions and events in which they participate during the SOT Annual Meeting and ToxExpo. SOT does not propose or endorse any position by posting this article. If you are interested in participating in the SOT Reporter program in the future, please email SOT Headquarters.
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