diff --git a/src/app/(agent)/agent/network/page.tsx b/src/app/(agent)/agent/network/page.tsx
index 9616433..397dbfd 100644
--- a/src/app/(agent)/agent/network/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(agent)/agent/network/page.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 'use client';
 
-import { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
+import { useState, useEffect, useCallback } from 'react';
 import Image from 'next/image';
 import { useRouter } from 'next/navigation';
 import { NetworkSidebar } from './component/NetworkSidebar';
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { InvitationCard } from './component/InvitationCard';
 import { ConnectionCard } from './component/ConnectionCard';
 import { connectionRequestsService, ConnectionRequest, ConnectionRequestCounts } from '@/services/connection-requests.service';
 import { messagesService } from '@/services/messages.service';
+import { uploadService } from '@/services/upload.service';
 
 export default function NetworkPage() {
   const router = useRouter();
@@ -17,6 +18,31 @@ export default function NetworkPage() {
   const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true);
   const [error, setError] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const [processingIds, setProcessingIds] = useState<Set<string>>(new Set());
+  const [avatarUrls, setAvatarUrls] = useState<Record<string, string>>({});
+
+  // Helper to check if a string is an S3 key (not a URL or local path)
+  const isS3Key = (value: string | null | undefined): boolean => {
+    if (!value) return false;
+    return !value.startsWith('http') && !value.startsWith('/') && !value.startsWith('data:');
+  };
+
+  // Resolve S3 avatar keys to presigned URLs
+  const resolveAvatars = useCallback(async (requests: ConnectionRequest[]) => {
+    const newUrls: Record<string, string> = {};
+    for (const req of requests) {
+      const avatar = req.user?.userProfile?.avatar || req.user?.avatar;
+      if (avatar && isS3Key(avatar) && !avatarUrls[req.id]) {
+        try {
+          newUrls[req.id] = await uploadService.getPresignedDownloadUrl(avatar);
+        } catch {
+          // Keep empty, will show placeholder
+        }
+      }
+    }
+    if (Object.keys(newUrls).length > 0) {
+      setAvatarUrls(prev => ({ ...prev, ...newUrls }));
+    }
+  }, [avatarUrls]);
 
   // Fetch connection requests on mount
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -38,6 +64,9 @@ export default function NetworkPage() {
       setPendingRequests(pending);
       setConnections(accepted);
       setCounts(requestCounts);
+
+      // Resolve avatars for all requests
+      resolveAvatars([...pending, ...accepted]);
     } catch (err) {
       console.error('Failed to fetch connection requests:', err);
       setError('Failed to load connection requests');
@@ -198,12 +227,14 @@ export default function NetworkPage() {
                   {pendingRequests.map((request) => {
                     const profile = request.user?.userProfile;
                     const userName = [profile?.firstName, profile?.lastName].filter(Boolean).join(' ') || request.user?.email || 'Unknown User';
+                    const rawAvatar = profile?.avatar || request.user?.avatar;
+                    const resolvedAvatar = avatarUrls[request.id] || (rawAvatar && !isS3Key(rawAvatar) ? rawAvatar : null);
                     return (
                     <InvitationCard
                       key={request.id}
                       id={request.id}
                       name={userName}
-                      avatar={profile?.avatar || request.user?.avatar || '/assets/icons/user-placeholder-icon.svg'}
+                      avatar={resolvedAvatar || '/assets/icons/user-placeholder-icon.svg'}
                       description={request.message || 'No message provided'}
                       createdAt={request.createdAt}
                       isProcessing={processingIds.has(request.id)}
@@ -252,12 +283,14 @@ export default function NetworkPage() {
                   {connections.map((connection) => {
                     const profile = connection.user?.userProfile;
                     const userName = [profile?.firstName, profile?.lastName].filter(Boolean).join(' ') || connection.user?.email || 'Unknown User';
+                    const rawAvatar = profile?.avatar || connection.user?.avatar;
+                    const resolvedAvatar = avatarUrls[connection.id] || (rawAvatar && !isS3Key(rawAvatar) ? rawAvatar : null);
                     return (
                     <ConnectionCard
                       key={connection.id}
                       id={connection.userId}
                       name={userName}
-                      avatar={profile?.avatar || connection.user?.avatar || '/assets/icons/user-placeholder-icon.svg'}
+                      avatar={resolvedAvatar || '/assets/icons/user-placeholder-icon.svg'}
                       email={connection.user?.email || ''}
                       connectedAt={connection.respondedAt || connection.updatedAt}
                       onMessage={handleMessage}
diff --git a/src/app/(user)/user/profiles/page.tsx b/src/app/(user)/user/profiles/page.tsx
index f595293..221a4f8 100644
--- a/src/app/(user)/user/profiles/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(user)/user/profiles/page.tsx
@@ -265,12 +265,14 @@ function ProfileCard({ profile, resolvedAvatarUrl }: ProfileCardProps) {
   const location = getLocation();
   const expertiseTags = getExpertiseTags();
   const description = getDescription();
-  const truncatedDescription = description && description.length > 200
-    ? description.slice(0, 200) + '...'
+  const maxDescLength = 150;
+  const truncatedDescription = description && description.length > maxDescLength
+    ? description.slice(0, maxDescLength) + '...'
     : description || '';
+  const INITIAL_TAG_COUNT = 6;
 
   return (
-    <div className="bg-white rounded-[20px] p-4 sm:p-5 flex flex-col sm:flex-row gap-4 sm:gap-5 shadow-[0px_10px_20px_rgba(217,217,217,0.5)]">
+    <div className="bg-white rounded-[20px] p-4 sm:p-5 flex flex-col sm:flex-row gap-4 sm:gap-5 shadow-[0px_10px_20px_rgba(217,217,217,0.5)] min-h-[280px]">
       {/* Profile Image & View Profile Button */}
       <div className="flex-shrink-0 flex flex-col items-center">
         <ProfileImage
@@ -355,7 +357,7 @@ function ProfileCard({ profile, resolvedAvatarUrl }: ProfileCardProps) {
           <div className="mt-3">
             <p className="font-serif text-[13px] text-[#00293d] leading-[20px]">
               {showFullBio ? description : truncatedDescription}
-              {description.length > 200 && (
+              {description.length > maxDescLength && (
                 <>
                   {' '}
                   <button
@@ -375,7 +377,7 @@ function ProfileCard({ profile, resolvedAvatarUrl }: ProfileCardProps) {
           <div className="mt-3">
             <p className="font-fractul font-bold text-[14px] text-[#00293d] mb-2">Expertise:</p>
             <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-2 items-center">
-              {(showAllTags ? expertiseTags : expertiseTags.slice(0, 8)).map((tag, index) => (
+              {(showAllTags ? expertiseTags : expertiseTags.slice(0, INITIAL_TAG_COUNT)).map((tag, index) => (
                 <span
                   key={index}
                   className="border border-[#00293d] rounded-[15px] px-3 py-1 font-serif text-[14px] text-[#00293d]"
@@ -383,12 +385,12 @@ function ProfileCard({ profile, resolvedAvatarUrl }: ProfileCardProps) {
                   {tag}
                 </span>
               ))}
-              {expertiseTags.length > 8 && (
+              {expertiseTags.length > INITIAL_TAG_COUNT && (
                 <button
                   onClick={() => setShowAllTags(!showAllTags)}
-                  className="font-serif font-bold text-[14px] text-[#00293d] underline ml-1"
+                  className="border border-[#e58625] rounded-[15px] px-3 py-1 font-serif text-[14px] text-[#e58625] hover:bg-[#e58625]/10 transition-colors"
                 >
-                  {showAllTags ? 'Show Less' : `+${expertiseTags.length - 8} more`}
+                  {showAllTags ? 'Show Less' : `+${expertiseTags.length - INITIAL_TAG_COUNT} more`}
                 </button>
               )}
             </div>
diff --git a/src/components/layout/CommonHeader.tsx b/src/components/layout/CommonHeader.tsx
index 068ed8c..00ff71d 100644
--- a/src/components/layout/CommonHeader.tsx
+++ b/src/components/layout/CommonHeader.tsx
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ export function CommonHeader() {
 
   return (
     <header className="bg-[#648188] rounded-[20px] px-4 md:px-8 relative" ref={mobileMenuRef}>
-      <div className="flex justify-between items-center h-[60px] md:h-[70px]">
+      <div className="flex items-center h-[60px] md:h-[70px]">
         {/* Logo */}
         <Link href={dashboardLink} className="flex-shrink-0">
           <Image
@@ -70,8 +70,8 @@ export function CommonHeader() {
           />
         </Link>
 
-        {/* Navigation - Desktop only */}
-        <nav className="hidden md:flex items-center gap-8 ml-auto mr-8">
+        {/* Navigation - Desktop only (centered) */}
+        <nav className="hidden md:flex items-center gap-8 flex-1 justify-center">
           {navLinks.map((link) => (
             <Link
               key={link.href}
diff --git a/src/components/message/MessagingPage.tsx b/src/components/message/MessagingPage.tsx
index 738a59c..69e0ced 100644
--- a/src/components/message/MessagingPage.tsx
+++ b/src/components/message/MessagingPage.tsx
@@ -302,15 +302,15 @@ export function MessagingPage({ initialConversationId }: { initialConversationId
   }, [conversations]);
 
   // Auto-select conversation when navigated with initialConversationId
-  const initialConvHandledRef = useRef(false);
+  const initialConvHandledRef = useRef<string | null>(null);
   useEffect(() => {
     if (
       initialConversationId &&
-      !initialConvHandledRef.current &&
+      initialConvHandledRef.current !== initialConversationId &&
       conversations.length > 0 &&
       !isLoading
     ) {
-      initialConvHandledRef.current = true;
+      initialConvHandledRef.current = initialConversationId;
       selectConversation(initialConversationId);
     }
   }, [initialConversationId, conversations, isLoading, selectConversation]);