At the start of 2026, ORT Jet introduced a simple but powerful theme: intentional connection. It wasn’t about collecting contacts or filling rooms. It was about building real relationships. The year opened with insights from Helen Nicholson, who spoke about authenticity, generosity and meaningful engagement, reminding entrepreneurs that strong networks are built long before they are needed.
But inspiration is one thing. Action is another.
On the morning of 18 February, that theme stepped out of theory and into the room at Sasfin, where ORT Jet hosted Love To Connect – a business speed networking event designed with intention from the start.
There was no awkward hovering by the coffee station. No forced small talk. Instead, there was movement. Energy. Structure. ORT Jet businesses took their seats, each bringing a story, a challenge, a goal for 2026. Baby, I Love You Marketing sat across from HR Start. Advancement connected with Energy Works. ECommunication shared space with Fleeceytex Knitting. Sundrymed Supplies, Malkia, Nicky Wolder Consultancy, Blacktop Restoration, The “P” Factor Food Company, Ease Mobile Spa, Mutate and TK Travel – different industries, different journeys, but one shared understanding: growth does not happen in isolation.
The bell would ring, and conversations would begin. Two business owners leaning in, not to impress, but to understand. What do you do? Who do you serve? What’s your biggest challenge right now? In those few focused minutes, something shifted. It wasn’t about pitching. It was about possibility.
ORT Jet’s mission is to facilitate business growth, and in that room, you could see what that really means. It means creating an environment where every person has a voice. It means giving entrepreneurs dedicated time to articulate their value clearly and confidently. It means ensuring that no one leaves thinking, “I wish I had spoken to more people,” because the structure made sure they did.
And the impact goes far beyond a single morning. Career-focused networking like this strengthens business connections in a way that sticks. It raises professional profiles because people now know who you are and what you stand for. It opens doors to opportunities that may not be immediate but are planted as seeds. It allows for the exchange of best-practice knowledge – those small insights that can save months of trial and error. And perhaps most importantly, it builds confidence. The quiet kind. The kind that comes from clarity.
As conversations rotated, common ground emerged. A supplier met a potential client. A consultant found a collaboration partner. Someone realised they weren’t alone in their challenges. Laughter broke out at one table. Intense note-taking happened at another. By the end of the session, the room felt different – warmer, lighter, connected.
In an online world where many professionals have seen their networks shrink over the past few years, ORT Jet is deliberately rebuilding them – one structured conversation at a time. Love To Connect isn’t about how many people you meet. It’s about how well you connect.
If 2026 is the year of intentional connection, then this was more than a networking event. It was a statement. ORT Jet is not simply encouraging businesses to grow. It is creating the spaces where growth begins – face-to-face, conversation by conversation, connection by connection.
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Author: Tracey Catania ORT Jet Project Manager. from Angelfish Pr and Events on behalf of ORT.
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