The People Who Stay

Uni friends gathering - 1997?, and again in 2026.

This week, two LinkedIn posts made me stop and reflect. Not because they mentioned me, but because they reminded me why I have dedicated the last twenty years of my career to helping people build better relationships.

The first was from Sebreena, who is embarking on an exciting new chapter in her business journey. In her post, she acknowledged some of the people who have supported, encouraged and championed her along the way. I felt incredibly honoured to be one of those people.

What's fascinating is that many of the relationships she referenced weren't new. They had been built over years through conversations, shared experiences and staying connected as life and business evolved. It was a good reminder that some of the most valuable relationships in our lives are not necessarily the newest or the most visible. They are the ones that stand the test of time.

The second post came from Louise, whom I met recently at a workshop I facilitated at UNSW. Louise generously shared some of her key takeaways with her own network, extending the conversation far beyond the room itself. What I loved most was that it reminded me how little we often know about someone's story when we first meet them. We don't know what experiences have shaped them, what challenges they have overcome or what impact a single conversation might have.

I'm so glad our paths crossed and even more pleased that she found value in what we explored together.

Around the same time, I enjoyed a long overdue catch up with three university friends. We graduated in 1997 and while we've remained connected over the years, we've often lived in different cities and still do today. Finding ourselves all in the same place at the same time is rare, so when the stars aligned, we made it happen.

I've shared here an old photo of us taken sometime between 1994 and 1997 alongside a photo we took together at dinner recently. Nearly thirty years separate the two images, yet within minutes of sitting down together it felt as though no time had passed at all.

Some relationships become part of the fabric of who we are. In fact, I've also had the privilege of working with two of these friends professionally, supporting Relatus clients together. There is something incredibly special about collaborating with people who know your history, understand your values and bring a depth of connection that has been built over decades.

Looking across Sebreena's post, Louise's post and that reunion with old friends, a common thread emerged.

Relationships have a ripple effect.

Last year, as many of you know, I celebrated twenty years in business, and one of the highlights was seeing the people who have been part of that journey all in one room. Looking around that evening, I saw some of our earliest clients, supporters and advocates still there. Many had changed organisations, industries and roles over the years, yet the relationships had remained.

The value of a relationship is rarely created in a single interaction. It develops through consistency, genuine interest and a willingness to stay connected over time. Too often, we focus on who we need to meet next while overlooking the incredible people who are already part of our relationship ecosystem.

These stories also highlight what I often call the human advantage.

I love technology and the opportunities it creates. It helps us communicate, collaborate and stay connected in ways that previous generations could never have imagined. But the real magic still happens between people. It happens when we take an interest in someone else's journey, when we encourage them, introduce them, support them or simply make the effort to stay connected.

For me, the human advantage has never been about focusing on what technology can't do. It's about leaning into what we can do. We can be curious, generous and supportive. We can create belonging, open doors and help others succeed. Most importantly, we can build relationships that create value not just for ourselves, but for the people around us.

Over the past two decades, we've proven that relationship building is not a talent reserved for a lucky few. It is a skill that can be learnt, practised and refined.

For years, we've helped organisations develop these capabilities through team programs, workshops, coaching and blended learning experiences. Whether it's helping future leaders build confidence, supporting technical experts to strengthen stakeholder relationships, or enabling teams to collaborate more effectively, we've consistently seen the impact that stronger relational capability has on both performance and culture. If you'd like to explore how we can help your team develop these capabilities, we'd love to hear from you. And if you're looking to invest in your own growth, keep an eye out for what's coming next.

Over the past few months, we've been quietly working on something exciting. Soon, we'll be launching a range of online programs designed to make these same relational, social and emotional skills accessible to individuals.

So, consider yourself among the first to know.

After all, relationships grow when we nurture them. With a little intentionality and the Pollination Effect, they can create opportunities, support and impact for years to come.

Happy Pollinating,

Julia

Julia Palmer a respected Relational Strategist and Chief Executive of Relatus, helping you develop your relational capabilities to give you the human advantage.