Networking for Professionals

How differently can you interact with the executives at the year-end party? I remember our annual fundraising events, usually held at a hotel with lots of parking and good food. The thought of approaching high-level leaders and guests invited was often intimidating at the beginning. However, the relaxed environment was too inviting to let go of the once-a-year opportunity. Thankfully, I was involved in the preparation of the guest list. This helped me prepare intentionally for conversations with key executives or guests. One of the interesting networking books that has been beneficial to me is Keith Ferrazzi's 'Never Eat Alone'. PS: If you want to be intentional about your networking at events as a leader, this book is a must-read and belongs to your home library for regular reference. Ferrazzi emphasizes the importance of building genuine relationships. Here are some tips from his book. 1. Be prepared with conversation starters. Before the event, think of some engaging questions or topics to discuss. Research the executives you may meet, focusing on their recent achievements or initiatives within the company. For example, if you know they led a successful project, you could ask, “What inspired your approach to that project?” This shows you’re invested in their work and opens the door for a deeper conversation. 2. Use the give-first approach. Ferrazzi advocates for a mindset of giving before expecting anything in return. Look for ways to provide value to the executives you meet. This could be as simple as sharing an interesting article related to their work or offering insights on industry trends. When you focus on how you can help others, you create an atmosphere of reciprocity and goodwill. 3. Practice Active Listening. Listening is a vital component of effective networking. Show genuine interest in what the executive has to say by asking follow-up questions and engaging with their responses. This not only fosters a deeper connection but also demonstrates your respect for their time and perspective. 4. Be Mindful of Body Language. Nonverbal communication plays a significant role in how we are perceived. Maintain eye contact, smile, and use open body language to convey your interest and enthusiasm. Your demeanor can help create a welcoming environment that encourages more profound interactions. 5. Follow Up with Purpose. After the event, don’t forget to follow up with the executives you connected with. Send a personalized message expressing your appreciation for the conversation. Mention something specific you discussed. This will help reinforce the connection while also showing that you valued the engagement. According to Ferrazzi, 'The currency of real networking is not greed but generosity'. Remember: Prepare. Prepare. Prepare. What else would you add? Share in the comments below. #leaders #leadership #management #careers #womeninleadership #womenwholead

Every opportunity that changed my life came from a relationship (not a resume). 6 tips to build a network that actually works for you: 1/ Check In Without Needing Anything ↳ Send "how are you?" texts more often than "can you help me?" emails. ↳ People forget what you said, but they remember that you stayed in touch. 2/ Give Before You Get ↳ The best networkers give help more often than they ask for it. ↳ Share opportunities, make introductions, send useful articles. 3/ Start Building Today ↳ The worst time to build relationships is when you desperately need them. ↳ Your next job won't come from a blind job app. It'll come from someone you know. 4/ Make It Personal ↳ Remember birthdays, kids' names, their big wins. ↳ One genuine conversation beats 100 business cards. 5/ Stay Consistent ↳ Set reminders to reach out quarterly. ↳ Small efforts compound into strong connections. 6/ Be The Connector ↳ Introduce people who should know each other. ↳ Become known as someone who helps others win. The net worth of your network compounds faster than your 401(k). Every promotion, every opportunity, every breakthrough... They all started with a relationship. Your dream job is one conversation away. But that conversation only happens if you've been nurturing relationships all along. Start today. Text someone you haven't talked to in months. Not because you need something. Just because relationships are your most valuable career asset. What's your favorite way to network? Reshare ♻️ to help someone in your network. And give me a follow for more posts like this.

Mentorship has been a cornerstone of my career, but my approach to building a network of mentors has evolved over time. Early on, I thought the best mentors were those who mirrored my role—essentially a more successful, more experienced version of myself. But I’ve since realized that this myopic approach often misses the mark. Some of the most valuable mentors I’ve had weren’t in venture capital at all. They came from adjacent industries like asset management, tackling challenges that are analogous to mine but offering perspectives I couldn’t see from within my own field. Here’s why this works: 1. Outside perspectives reveal blind spots: Mentors outside your industry can identify dynamics in your business that might be invisible to you because you're too close to them. These insights are invaluable for seeing the bigger picture. 2. Diverse thinking adds depth: A broader, more diverse network of mentors exposes you to new ways of solving problems, offering frameworks and strategies you might not encounter within your immediate circle. Building a mentor base is critical, but diversity is key. Don’t just look for people who are “you in 20 years” with more success. Instead, seek mentors with fresh perspectives and different lenses. That’s where the real value lies.

After 100+ VC meetings, I noticed something interesting: Every pitch followed one of three formats. Here are the only 3 pitches you need to master to raise venture capital. 1️⃣ The Elevator Pitch (60 seconds) Perfect for casual moments - coffee lines, conferences, or quick virtual intros. Structure: • Hook • Key metrics • The ask Here's my elevator pitch from our pre-seed: "At Chezie we're empowering 57k+ companies to unlock business value from their most underutilized asset: employee resource groups. Since launch, we've grown to $100k ARR, and we're raising $1M to scale our team and 5x our revenue." 2️⃣ The Quick Pitch (3 minutes) Your go-to for pitch competitions and group fundraising events. Structure: • Hook • Problem • Solution • Vision • Traction • The ask 3️⃣ The Deep Dive (15 minutes) This is your 1:1 investor meeting format. Be ready for questions throughout - seasoned investors will interrupt with questions rather than waiting until the end. Structure: • Hook • Problem/Solution • Vision • Market size • Business model • Go-to-market • Competition • Team • Traction • The ask Pro tips: 1. Create separate decks for your 3-min and 15-min pitches. 2. Always lead with traction - it's the fastest way to get an investor's attention. If you're fundraising you should be able to deliver all three pitches in your sleep. Can you? Curious - what other pitch formats have worked for you? Drop them below 👇🏾

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲. 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗜𝘁 𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗜𝘁𝗅𝗅𝗅 A few years ago, I met a founder at an event. His startup was burning cash, his team was falling apart, and he needed urgent help—funding, talent, partnerships, anything. He pulled out his phone, scrolled through LinkedIn, and sighed: "I have 5,000 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀… but 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 I can actually call." That moment hit me like a truck. What’s the point of a network if it’s just names on a list? I never wanted to be that person. But I’ve seen it happen too many times: ↳ A founder launches a startup—then realizes they have no real relationships. ↳ A recruiter needs top talent—then scrambles to build connections. ↳ A professional loses their job—then suddenly remembers their LinkedIn exists. 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲. The truth? ↳ Your network isn’t built when you need something. ↳ It’s built when you have nothing to ask for. And here’s what I’ve learned after growing multiple businesses and building startup communities from scratch: ✅ Opportunities don’t come from "connections." They come from trust. ✅ The best hires don’t come from job boards. They come from relationships. ✅ The biggest deals don’t start in boardrooms. They start with a single conversation. So, don’t be this person: "𝗛𝗲𝘆, 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗻𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸… 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗺𝗲?" Instead, be this person: "𝗛𝗲𝘆𝗅 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻—𝗵𝗼𝘄’𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝗱?" And here’s the scary part: Most people won’t do this. They’ll wait until they need something. Then they’ll wonder why nobody is picking up the phone. Don’t be that person. Make it a habit to reach out when you don’t need a damn thing because when the time comes? You won’t even have to ask for help. 💬 What’s the best opportunity you’ve gained from a relationship you built early? Tag someone who actually understands the power of real networking.

This week I coached a woman who is leading her team brilliantly and has been sponsored for a leadership development program, yet struggles with achingly low self-confidence. We spent some time during our session identifying people in her network who could support her professional growth and practicing approaches to enlist their help. If you wish you had a mentor but can't identify any obvious candidates, the following advice from Dorie Clark and Alexis Redding is for you: think "micro-mentorship." While traditional mentorship can be hard to secure, valuable guidance is often closer than you think. Here are four strategies to help.   1️⃣ Identify “hidden mentors.” You likely have more potential mentors than you realize—for example, former professors, colleagues, or acquaintances with relevant experience you can learn from. A single conversation with them can offer valuable insights and unlock a new relationship.   2️⃣ Crowdsource advice. Leverage your extended network through LinkedIn, social media, or alumni groups to ask specific, targeted questions. Even strangers may be open to sharing their perspectives in a brief interaction.   3️⃣ Balance external guidance with self-reflection. Not all advice you receive will align with your personal circumstances. Remember to filter people’s suggestions through your own lens—and trust your gut when making career decisions.   4️⃣ Seize digital opportunities. Follow thought leaders, attend online Q&As, and explore AI tools to simulate how an expert might approach a problem. Even indirect exposure to experienced professionals can spark useful questions or insights. #careeradvice #careerstrategies #mentoring

I recently go asked "what is one thing that no one tells you about networking when you're an international student?" When I came to the U.S. 6 years ago to study Data Science, I had no idea how important networking would be for my career. Coming from Spain, I thought hard work and a good resume would be enough. Spoiler: it wasn’t. As an international student, job hunting comes with extra challenges: visas, sponsorships, and navigating a system that sometimes feels overwhelming. But here’s the truth: networking changed everything for me. Here’s what worked: 1️⃣ Reaching out to alumni: - I was at Suffolk University in Boston, and I used LinkedIn to connect with alumni in Data Science. At first, it felt awkward—what could I possibly say? But I learned this: people love sharing advice when you ask the right questions. Instead of asking for jobs, I asked about their journeys, challenges, and advice. Those conversations didn’t just lead to referrals; they gave me confidence and clarity. 2️⃣ Leveraging LinkedIn: - LinkedIn became more than just a job board. I posted about projects I was working on, shared my thoughts on the industry, and commented on others’ posts. Over time, recruiters and professionals in my field started noticing me. 3️⃣ Attending industry events: - From local meetups to webinars, I treated every event as a learning opportunity. The key wasn’t handing out resumes—it was making meaningful connections. One conversation at a career fair even led to an internship that shaped my path. Looking back, I realized networking isn’t just about getting a job—it’s about building relationships. As an international student, those connections helped me navigate a career system I didn’t grow up in, and they became my biggest advantage. What’s your go-to strategy for networking? Let’s share tips below—I’d love to hear what’s worked for you!

The best time to network is way before you need a job (I ignored this advice & I seriously paid for it) In my 20s, I joined a startup with a mentally & emotionally abusive founder. I ended up isolated far from everyone I cared about in a city I hated with not one connection outside of the company. I wanted to leave, but I didn't have a network, so I took the first job I could find, even though it was a 5x pay cut. It took years to recover. I see too many people making the same mistake I did: They wait until it's too late to build a network. The best time to build a network was yesterday. The second best time is today. Here's 12 ways I've built my network & you can, too: (Grab this PDF & my free network tracker here: https://lnkd.in/ejH2w3XM) 1/ Join alumni committees and volunteer for projects ↳ Active volunteers get insider access to job openings before they're posted publicly 2/ Connect your connections to each other regularly ↳ Become the go-to person who makes valuable introductions that change careers 3/ Turn everyday encounters into networking opportunities ↳ Your hairstylist, trainer, and barista all know people looking for talent 4/ Skip huge conferences for smaller industry meetups ↳ Smaller events mean actual conversations instead of business card exchanges 5/ Build your personal board of directors intentionally ↳ Offer to help with their projects first and they'll open doors for you later 6/ Join hobby groups outside your industry completely ↳ Book clubs, board game enthusiasts, even brunch! 7/ Start a monthly coffee chat with 4-5 peers ↳ Small mastermind groups share insider opportunities and honest career advice 8/ Volunteer where leaders in your field already serve ↳ Helps connect to people with similarly aligned values 9/ Host casual meetups at accessible coffee shops ↳ Being the organizer positions you as a connector people want to know 10/ Attend free public talks at libraries and universities ↳ These attract intellectually curious professionals who value continuous learning 11/ Join active Slack communities in your field ↳ Answer other people's questions before you ask to build credibility 12/ Get involved in professional association committees ↳ Committee work creates working relationships that turn into job referrals Focus on building genuine relationships. One meaningful connection a week is 52 a year. I make it a point to build one new connection a day. Which of these tips will you implement next week? Grab this PDF & my free network tracker here: https://lnkd.in/ejH2w3XM ♻️ Repost to help your network connect 🔔 Follow Ashley Couto for daily career growth

I have told my elevator pitch at least 4,000 times. This is how I created the most engaging version… First, it’s only 3 sentences long. Many elevator pitches are an endless monologue where people lose interest quickly. Here’s how I structure it: Sentence 1: The hook. The hook is what cuts through the noise. It’s the answer to the classic icebreaker: “What do you do?” So, during my time with Amorana, I said: “I sell s*x toys.” It’s a short, memorable line and it surprises people. Surprises cut through the noise. Sentence 2: The Story Now that I had their attention, I wanted to keep it. How? By creating a “Yes” in their mind first. For example: “S*x toys were a niche market. For me, buying them felt awkward and indiscreet.” This is more likely to create a “Yes” in their head. They can relate to this problem. It’s better than making assumptions, like: “Everyone likes s*x toys!” Why do I want the person to agree with me? Because if the first word in their head is, “No”, they are no longer listening but discussing internally with themselves why I am wrong - I’ve lost them. Sentence 3: Context With my pitch, I want to spark interest and create a dialogue. So, I give some context and create an opportunity for the other person to ask questions. This is what I said for Amorana: “We wanted to move s*x toys from a niche market to a mass market. So we created an online store for it. But it wasn't our idea. We saw this trend appearing with the movie 50 Shades of Grey.” Again, I wanted to generate a “Yes” in the other person’s mind. So, I included the movie as a common reference. This established a connection to a subject they probably already heard of and built common ground. Because: To me, a good elevator pitch is not a monologue. Instead, it serves to spark a conversation. ☝🏼Here are a few things I avoid: - Trying to convince the other person of anything. - Generating a “No“ in their head by being too bold or making false claims. - Bragging And often people start with their “why”. But in my opinion, that is too personal. Whenever I try to explain my „why“ too early, it tends to sound lofty and vague. Once the other person starts asking questions, THEN I start giving them all this additional information and why I am working on it. And that’s it. If you enjoyed this break-down, you’ll love my newsletter. Subscribe to get more life and business hacks: https://lnkd.in/dy5wbxT #startup #founder #entrepreneurship #elevatorpitch #pitching