Life at Denison offers lessons both inside and outside of the classroom. Alum Rusty Carpenter ‘81 traces the start of his networking skills to mentors at Denison who showed him the power of networking and how to become a leader whom people trust.
Even before joining Alpha Tau Omega on Denison’s campus, Carpenter sought out key staff members he trusted — people who looked out for him and his peers. His interest in modeling the positive qualities they demonstrated came into focus: he combined the power of networking and the knowledge he gained in a logic class to discover what he calls “the formula for effective networking.”
Carpenter identified the power of reputational expertise, collaboration, and experience as essential traits to cultivate as he launched his career.
Today, Carpenter is a respected expert in the financial technology sector, serving on multiple industry boards. He credits much of his networking success to the “power grid” he built over time — a trusted network he relies on to solve challenges and support others in the field.
A true Denisonian, Carpenter continues to give back by supporting students as an executive coach, reviewing students’ resumes and offering guidance with networking and job searches.
He also stays connected to The Hill through Candid Career Conversations. On Feb. 9, Carpenter will present tips on how to strengthen your personal “power grid” and spark meaningful conversations across an industry. He will walk attendees through three critical steps to developing their own power grid.
Carpenter believes that when the right people connect, growth becomes exponential — often leading to greater success than either person could achieve alone. As his networking has evolved, he has learned when to embrace new technologies and when to return to the basics of in-person connection. Most importantly, he learned how to optimize the use of both, leading to a greater effect than could be achieved using each individually.
