In a conference room reimagined with draped tables adorned with autumn colors, a captivated audience listened to a fireside chat between alumna Janice Le, general manager at Microsoft Security, and Lucas College of Business Dean, Rangapriya “Priya” Kannan. The November 19th event, LILAC’s (LCoB Interorganizational Leadership Advancement Committee) most recent installation of its Ignite & Inspire series, centered on a clever and relatable theme: “From Awkward to Awesome.”
The conversation dove into the often-intimidating and, well, awkward, topic of networking. Le, who oversees business strategy, operations, and portfolio marketing for Microsoft’s cybersecurity business, lent her fascinating takes on how to adapt and thrive in the realm of career networking, including her easy to remember stance of “Why blend in when you can stand out?”
Kannan’s first question was a simple yet significant one – Why is networking important? Describing it as daunting, or perhaps even a chore, Le says she sees networking more as relationship building. She admits that early on she did not look forward to it, until she decided to change her perspective.
“Meeting people and learning their stories – it energizes you. It went from being draining to being energizing,” Le explained.
Tiffany Tran, ‘26 Management and Program Logistics Coordinator for LILAC as part of the Events Team, sees networking as a niche experience with many unspoken rules, with an added layer of difficulty for those navigating it as a new career professional or a first generation student. Tran observed that with a guest speaker like Le, who was a first generation student herself, attendees were able to resonate with her experiences and gather a lot of insights from the event.
“At an event like this, you’re kind of going behind the scenes a little bit, which actually allows you to ask the questions you’re too scared to ask at a formal networking event,” Tran said. “Such as, how can I politely leave a conversation or how can I actually connect with someone, rather than a surface level transaction.”
With respect to authenticity, Le’s stance was no-nonsense.
“Let conversation naturally happen, be yourself and speak from the heart,” Le asserted. “Like if you’re interested in something, ask about it! If you’re not interested in something, don’t pretend like you’re interested.”
Another question posed by Kannan was How do you learn to network as your authentic self? Le affirmed that the question was quite relevant for those who may feel underrepresented in a room, adding that it’s natural to want to blend in, noting that she herself had to lean into standing out.
“Use your diverse and different background to your advantage because everyone has a story. People want to hear your story,” she encouraged, while also acknowledging it took her a while to get to that point.
Le once felt guarded about her personal story – coming to the U.S. as a Vietnamese refugee and having seen a lot of things she says most people should not have to see. She believed her background was no one’s business but her own. Yet it was advice from a respected mentor that ultimately shifted her attitude. He inspired her by confirming that her story was her power, and she should not withhold her story.
She pointed out how sharing personal stories while networking can be heartwarming, intriguing and inspiring to those who hear them. Le says that doing so “has proven that you can emerge from any type of situation and still accomplish what you need to accomplish.”
Riya Poonawala, Management ‘27 and Executive Chair of Events for LILAC, believes that Le’s advice on authentic storytelling definitely influenced the networking conversations that took place after the fireside chat.
“Toward the end of the event, I spoke with a couple of new transfer students – it was their first time attending something like this – and they told me how much they resonated with the stories shared around them,” Poonawala recounted. “Students weren’t trying to sound perfect; they were opening up about their real journeys.”
Ahead of the event while discussing potential themes with Kannan, Annika Dhebar, ‘26 Business Analytics, and her LILAC peers considered how students are often confused about how to best present their strengths, experiences, and personal stories.
“We wanted to create a space where students could learn how to communicate their value authentically, whether in interviews, resumes, or networking conversations, and understand that self-presentation isn’t about perfection, but about telling their story in a way that reflects who they truly are,” Dhebar said.
Considering LILAC students are described as proactive, engaged and authentic by Alexandra Phan, Management ‘26 and LILAC Co-Founder/Director, they will each have unique stories to share while in their networking journeys. Phan emphasized that LILAC is open to all students, and members seek to reflect that in each event.
“While each student initially came for a different reason – extra credit, networking opportunities, or a friend-of-a-friend – the reason why so many students stay in LILAC is the inspiring, close-knit culture,” Phan said. “It’s not every day you meet with CEOs, founders, or the dean, but the impact it has follows.”
The latest edition of the Ignite & Inspire Series was co-hosted by LILAC, on behalf of the Lucas College of Business, the SJSU Career Center, and featured an interactive Adobe Express demo.
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