As it is with most things in life - you will not be given that for which you do not ask. There's a bit of subtle social normed behavior described by the author

As it is with most things in life - you will not be given that for which you do not ask. There's a bit of subtle social normed behavior described by the author in her anecdote about the male VC introducing two female CEOs to each other - I'd probably do the same thing in the VC's position (offer an unsolicited introduction to another female CEO) because I don't know what is most comfortable for the female introducee due to how relatively rare they are. However, if I'm given a specific ask for introduction in the form of "someone who can help me [accomplish business goal X]" then that tears down some doors for me when it comes to putting my political capital to work. In a way, what the author describes is a kind of Abeliene Paradox (inability to manage agreement)... If the male party assumes that the female party wants introductions to other females and the female party doesn't specify otherwise, then that's what's going to happen. Great read!