Networking is central to the growth and visibility of software engineering research and researchers. However, opportunities and capacities to build such networks are not easily identified and often are unevenly distributed. While networking is often viewed as an individual skill, a researchers workplace, culture and environment significantly influence their motivation and, consequently, the networks they form. This paper explores how factors such as country of residence, immigration status, language, gender, and surrounding context affect researchers' ability to establish professional connections and succeed within the global research ecosystem. Drawing on existing literature and personal experience, this reflective report examines the often-invisible barriers to networking and advocates for a community-driven "expert voice" initiative to acknowledge and address these inequities.

翻译：学术网络对于软件工程研究及研究者的成长与可见性至关重要。然而，建立此类网络的机会与能力往往难以识别，且分布不均。尽管网络构建常被视为个人技能，但研究者的工作场所、文化与环境会显著影响其动机，进而影响其形成的网络。本文探讨了居住国、移民身份、语言、性别及周边环境等因素如何影响研究者在全球研究生态系统中建立专业联系并取得成功的能力。基于现有文献与个人经验，本反思报告审视了网络构建中常被忽视的障碍，并倡导一项社区驱动的“专家之声”倡议，以承认并解决这些不平等现象。