Networks of Fluency

Navigating Success Through Community

This essay is part of an evolving series examining 'Straddlers'–an exploration of individuals navigating the textured realities of social mobility. Please read the other essays for broader context.

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Let me take you back to a moment during my first year as a MBA student at Florida A&M University's School of Business and Industry. By some stroke of fortune, I landed in a class called Professional Development. This wasn't just any course—it was a cornerstone of the school's curriculum, crafted by Dean Sybil Mobley to teach future business professionals something essential that wouldn't appear in any textbook: the unwritten rules of business success. Take professional dress, for instance. We learned that every detail—from the precise length of our skirts to the subtle patterns of our ties—was a critical part of the corporate language, because in business, your appearance speaks before you do. It was there that I discovered that the transmission of what sociologists call "cultural capital" shapes professional success as much as any degree.

Dean Mobley understood that success often hinges on a set of unspoken rules no one explicitly teaches. I was fortunate; the program was designed to prepare students like me for this reality. Most people, however, aren’t as lucky.

For those who become the first in their family to explore uncharted paths of upward mobility, there’s often a moment of realization. They’re navigating new territory without a map, discovering that there are customs and expectations they weren’t taught, insights they somehow missed. To bridge these gaps, they seek help wherever they can find it— a quick DM to someone who seems to have figured it out, a WhatsApp group for first-generation professionals sharing tips, a quiet conversation after a meeting with someone who's walked this path. 

This dawning awareness of “the hidden curriculum” drives them to connect with peers. These organic networks reveal a pattern about Straddlers: instinctively, they create systems of mutual support that play a vital role in helping them thrive. Without needing language for what they’re doing, they share essential knowledge about crossing unfamiliar terrain. They explain unwritten rules to each other, caution about common pitfalls, share hidden opportunities, and offer the comfort of shared experience. These informal support systems form within companies, across industries, and within communities because they need to.

Throughout my career, I’ve been a part of many such communities, each unique in size and structure but all serving the same essential purpose that Dean Mobley recognized: passing on the knowledge that isn’t found in any manual is essential for success. This deliberate creation of support networks has become a quiet ritual among Straddlers, each group a bridge between worlds.

Acquired Knowledge vs. Inherited Knowledge

The challenge Straddlers face is the gap between inherited and acquired knowledge. Those who inherit knowledge absorb social and professional rules through years of family dinners, informal mentorship, and direct observation. But Straddlers must piece these lessons together on their own, often in real time. It’s like learning a language as an adult rather than growing up speaking it—you can become fluent, but it takes deliberate practice and consistent effort.

This effort to acquire knowledge that others inherit naturally creates a “hidden tax.” For a Straddler, something as simple as navigating a business dinner might require research and planning that others never needed. Each new scenario can reveal knowledge gaps, from unstated workplace expectations like discovering that 'business casual' means wildly different things depending on your industry, to cultural references like not knowing that golf isn't just a sport but a crucial networking tool.

This is where Straddler communities become crucial—they accelerate the process of knowledge acquisition by making explicit what is usually implicit. These communities provide safe spaces to ask questions that might feel obvious to others who “naturally” understand.

The Power of Shared Vision

When Straddlers connect with others who share similar experiences, they turn the slow process of acquiring knowledge into a more efficient and empowering journey. I've watched this pattern repeat itself across companies and industries. A senior manager quietly pulls aside a new hire who reminds her of herself. A group of first-generation professionals create a chat group to share tips about navigating office politics. A successful entrepreneur makes time to explain the unwritten rules she had to learn the hard way. 

These networks do critical work that formal programs often overlook. Career counselors might explain how to write a resume, but Straddler communities reveal the deeper, often hidden insights: which companies truly support advancement, how to interpret a job description, when to take risks versus play it safe, which manager is actually supportive. These networks help Straddlers understand not just what to do, but why it matters—the kind of profound understanding that often comes from years of “insider” knowledge.

Strengthening the Straddler Network

Despite their impact, these vital communities often remain disconnected. Knowledge that took years to gather often stays within private circles, and hard-won insights fade as group chats go quiet. Each new group of Straddlers ends up rediscovering knowledge that already exists in pockets elsewhere, continuously reinventing the wheel.

Strengthening these networks is crucial. When Straddler communities build on each other’s knowledge, they create a foundation for lasting change. A tip shared in one chat becomes a resource for others. A hard-won strategy becomes a guide for new members. As each person shares what they’ve learned, they make knowledge acquisition faster, more reliable, and accessible.

The goal isn’t to replace organic communities—it’s to help them thrive and connect. When Straddlers can find each other more easily, when they can share wisdom more broadly, and when they can build on past insights, the landscape shifts. New Straddlers don’t just get information; they access the accumulated wisdom of the tribe.

Building a Legacy of Knowledge

The path of the Straddler will always involve crossing unfamiliar terrain. The sharing of professional knowledge through strong communities can accelerate social mobility far faster than solitary effort. Instead of starting from scratch, new Straddlers can begin their journey with clearer maps, established pathways, and a wealth of knowledge carefully preserved by others.

Through these connected communities, Straddlers don’t just survive—they thrive. They turn individual experiences into a shared inheritance, building a legacy of knowledge-sharing that clears the path for future generations. This is the enduring power of Straddler communities: they help people cross barriers, build new traditions of collective wisdom, and leave a lasting impact that makes the journey easier for everyone who follows.

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Thank you to everyone who helped shape this essay: Vidhika Bansal, Mikayla Barnett, Martyn Bromley, Anil Dash, Malarkodi Selvam