If you’ve ever been laid off, you know the drill. You reach out on LinkedIn, schedule conversations over coffee, and generally ask: What can I get from my relationships? In her talk, Evelyn explains why this transactional approach often fails — and what you should do instead. The best part? You don’t have to wait until you get fired to get started.Evelyn is a connector and technologist with over 10 years of experience across diverse industries like Marketplace, MarTech, and EdTech. She is passionate about helping others navigate the workplace, gain professional clarity, and foster inclusive spaces. Evelyn is a regular speaker at national technology conferences, where she shares her authentic voice and ideas to drive innovation.Growing up, Evelyn dreamed of becoming a TEDx speaker to share her personal journey of adapting to socioeconomic changes, pathfinding across industries, and turning setbacks into learning opportunities. Aligned with the TEDx theme of "rethinking innovation", Evelyn has continuously reinvented herself and transformed those around her, as she believes innovation does not happen in isolation. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx