Emily Harburg: The Power of Presence and Building Deep Connections

The Power of Connections

In this episode, Rich and Emily Harburg discuss:

• The importance of presence and mutual vulnerability in relationships
• Lessons learned from mentors and intergenerational friendships
• Using intentionality to nurture meaningful connections over time
• How technology can help foster workplace relationships and community
• Balancing global and local connections as life evolves

Key Takeaways:

• Presence and persistence are powerful in relationships. Being there for someone through different seasons of life fosters deep, lasting bonds.
• Building meaningful connections requires intentionality, especially when time and distance create challenges. Small gestures, like sending a thoughtful text or photo, can keep relationships alive.
• Technology has the potential to strengthen relationships by fostering serendipity and helping people connect with others who can support and guide them.
• Authentic connections often come from shared experiences. Hosting gatherings, going on trips, or engaging in collective activities can deepen ties with both old and new friends.
• True fulfillment often comes from investing in people rather than achievements. Relationships are what matter most when looking back on life.

"Nothing can or ever will replace connection." — Emily Harburg

 

About Emily Harburg:

Dr. Emily Harburg is the CEO and founder of PairUp, a platform that utilizes generative AI to accelerate workplace knowledge sharing and connection. Emily’s background spans industry, startups, and academia.

She has worked in the industry at Disney Imagineering, Facebook (Meta), and EF Education First. She also co-founded Brave Initiatives, an organization dedicated to helping women learn how to code and now supports training the incarcerated.

Emily graduated with a B.A. in Social Anthropology and Psychology from Harvard College and with a Ph.D. in Technology and Social Behavior from Northwestern University. Emily's research has been shared in global conferences, academic journals, case studies, and news publications -- including the Harvard Business Review, TEDx, Computer-Human Interaction (CHI), CNN, and more.

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Connect with Emily Harburg:

Website: https://www.pairupapp.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilyharburg

Twitter: https://twitter.com/eharburg

Connect with Rich Woo:

Website: www.catalyst.nm.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/richwoo/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rich_woo/?hl=en

Book: The Relationship Recession - https://a.co/d/dXlXd71

Email: [email protected]