Business Networking Opportunities for Women

Priscilla Awkard, an account manager at RBC Centura, has watched throughout her career as male colleagues have headed to the links to do business.

"The banking world is full of power meetings on the golf course," she said.   

Until recently, Awkard, who's played golf only twice, hasn't had the confidence to join them. But she plans to take lessons and start inviting clients on golf dates soon.

"Now that I'm mature in my profession, I feel it's a necessity for me to play golf -- or at least attempt to," she said.   

While some may see golf outings as opportunities for sales pitches, playing golf above all is a way to build relationships in a relaxed setting, local businesspeople said.

"It's not golf," Durham real estate attorney Jon Biggs said. "It's the fellowship, the camaraderie."   

He played golf recently with a client and that client's banker. The men talked about themselves rather than about business, he said.

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