Networking Event Participation

How could I build a career if I couldn't even handle a "simple" networking event? Twenty years later, I'm CHRO. And I still hate networking events. But I cracked the code. Traditional networking assumes collecting 50 business cards equals success. For introverts? One deep conversation beats 50 shallow hellos. Quality over quantity isn't just our preference. It's our superpower. So I built my own system. ——————————————— → The 100-Point Energy Budget Every event, you start with 100 energy points: • Random small talk: -15 • Meaningful conversation: -5 • Pretending to laugh at bad jokes: -20 • Finding a fellow introvert: +10 • Strategic "email break": +5 Hit 20 points? Leave. That's not quitting. It's resource management. ——————————————— → The 3-Deep Rule While extroverts collect 50 cards, I build 3 real connections. They get names. I get allies. They get LinkedIn adds. I get coffee meetings. They get forgotten. I get remembered. One meaningful conversation > 50 forgettable handshakes. Tell people you're "gathering insights for research." Now it's an interview, not small talk. Arrive 15 minutes early. Quieter room, better conversations. ——————————————— → The Opener That Works "I'm testing a theory that admitting you're an introvert at networking events creates better connections. You're participant seven." People lean in. They want in on your experiment. Ask what matters: "What problem are you tackling right now?" "If you weren't here, what would you rather be doing?" ——————————————— → The Lighthouse Strategy Don't circulate. Plant yourself somewhere visible. Let people come to you. Or volunteer at check-in for 30 minutes. Meet everyone, defined role, then disappear. Set 45-minute alarms. Energy check. Below 5? Bathroom break. ——————————————— → Permission Granted You can officially: • Leave after 52 minutes • Eat lunch alone at conferences • Say "I need to recharge" • Build your network through LinkedIn • Skip events that don't serve you My biggest deals came from 1-on-1 coffees, not cocktail parties. My best hires came from deep conversations, not speed networking. ——————————————— → The Truth Successful introverted executives didn't learn to act like extroverts. They learned to network like strategists. My record? 12-minute holiday party appearance. Two conversations. Both mattered. Still got promoted. Once had my assistant call with an "urgent client matter" 45 minutes into a dinner. The client was my cat. Zero regrets. Your quiet nature isn't a bug — it's an executive feature. Your energy management isn't high maintenance — it's self-leadership. The revolution isn't about becoming louder. It's about quiet leaders writing the rules. From a comfortable distance. Through screens or deep connection. Like the evolved professionals we are. ♻️ Share to save an introvert from networking hell 📩 Get my Networking Energy Toolkit → https://lnkd.in/dfhfHWe5

In a world where every executive has a firm handshake and a stack of business cards, how do you become the person everyone remembers after a conference? After attending dozens in the past decade, I've developed a strategy that transforms conferences from transactional meetups into relationship goldmines. ♟️Pre-Conference LinkedIn Strategy The real networking begins weeks before the event. Review the speaker and attendee lists, then connect with key individuals on LinkedIn with a personalized message: "I noticed we’re both attending the Stand & Deliver event. I'd love to connect. See you soon." This pre-conference connection creates a warm introduction and significantly increases your chances of meaningful engagement. 👗👔The Memorable Wardrobe Element In my early career, I blended in at conferences. Now? I'm known for wearing a little more color (often D&S Executive Career Management teal) or patterns that are professional yet distinctive. When someone says, "Oh, you're the one with the great dress," you've already won half the networking battle. 🤝Contribute Before You Collect** Instead of collecting business cards, focus on providing immediate value in conversations. Can you connect someone to a resource? Share relevant research? Offer a solution to a challenge they mentioned? The executives who stand out aren't those who take the most cards—they're the ones who solve problems on the spot. What networking approach has worked for you at recent conferences? Share in the comments below! #ExecutiveLeadership #NetworkingStrategy #ConferenceSuccess #ProfessionalDevelopment

Over the next 3 months, I’m hosting 4 major events in France, UK, USA and KSA. Beforehand, I want to share my top tips on how to get the best out of networking. 1. Set Clear Targets Action: Make a hit list of the top 10 companies or people you need to meet. Research what they care about—know their wins, pain points, & what they’re hunting for before you walk through the door. Outcome: These conversations won’t just happen by chance. By doing your homework, you’ll turn a five-minute chat into a deal-building moment. Schedule meetings in advance, & after the event, send a tailored follow-up email that shows you were listening. 2. Take the Stage (Literally) Action: Get on the agenda. Whether it’s a keynote, panel, or fireside chat, nothing says “I’m the one to watch” like holding the mic. Use this time to address the industry’s biggest challenges & position yourself—& your company—as the answer. Outcome: Speaking builds instant credibility. It’s not just exposure; it’s authority. Post-event, share the highlights on LinkedIn & invite attendees to continue the conversation, turning an audience into a lead pipeline. 3. Own the Floor Action: Don’t just lurk—work the room. Engage with key exhibitors, ask questions, & position yourself as a resource, not just another pitch. Be direct but curious: “What’s your biggest challenge this year?” and “How can I help?” are powerful openers. Outcome: You’ll stand out as someone who listens. Take notes during conversations, & follow up within 48 hours with a personalised message. Not a generic “great meeting you”—send actionable insights or specific ideas that move the ball forward. 4. Host the Inner Circle Action: People bond better in a more relaxed setting than over Wi-Fi. Organise an exclusive dinner, roundtable, or cocktail event for a curated group of heavy hitters. Keep it intimate—this is about building relationships, not just showing off. Go easy on the heavy sell. Outcome: People remember who brought them value & connections, not who handed out free pens. Post-event, share any key takeaways & book one-on-one follow-ups to solidify what you started over drinks. 5. Hack the Tech Action: Use every tool at your disposal—event apps, LinkedIn, QR codes. Pre-event, reach out to attendees & book meetings. At the event, swap contacts digitally to keep things seamless, & use a CRM to track every interaction. Outcome: You’ll leave the event with an organised roadmap of leads, not just a stack of business cards destined for a desk drawer. Follow up strategically with segmented, value-driven emails & keep the momentum alive. The Bottom Line: Trade fairs & exhibitions aren’t just networking. Preparation, presence, & follow-up separate those who close deals from those who just collect swag bags. Be human. Don’t think of this as just a branding exercise but an opportunity for long term partnerships. Be genuine - your new contacts will become close contacts, if not friends. Make it count! #revenuegrowth

When I talk about networking, I’m not talking about awkward small talk or exchanging as many business cards as possible. Networking, when done right, is about creating meaningful connections that can last beyond the event. Here’s how to approach networking at events with intention: 1️⃣ Show Up Prepared: Know who’s attending, research speakers, and have a clear idea of who you want to meet. Preparation shows respect and sets the tone for a valuable interaction. 2️⃣ Listen More Than You Talk: Networking isn’t about selling yourself—it’s about showing genuine interest in the other person. Ask thoughtful questions and listen with intent. People remember how you make them feel. 3️⃣ Add Value Immediately: Whether it’s offering an introduction, sharing a helpful resource, or simply being present in the conversation, think about how you can bring value to the relationship from the start. 4️⃣ Follow Up Like a Pro: The real magic of networking happens after the event. Send a personal follow-up email or LinkedIn message that reflects on your conversation and keeps the door open for future collaboration. Remember, it’s not about the quantity of connections—it’s about the quality of relationships. Every interaction is an opportunity to build trust, learn something new, and grow your network authentically.

I’ve been having lots of conversations about LinkedIn for events from organisers wanting to drive visibility and engagement, to exhibitors heading to upcoming tradeshows, and everyone in between. Whether you’re hosting, exhibiting, or attending LinkedIn can help you get more out of every event: ✨ More visibility 🤝 More connections 📈 More business outcomes Yet LinkedIn is often underused in the event space. A one-and-done post. A quick thank you. A flurry of activity... then silence. But here’s the thing: the event isn’t the beginning and it shouldn’t be the end. To get the most value, LinkedIn should be part of your strategy before, during and after the event. Here’s how to make the most of it: 🌠 1. Be LinkedIn Event Ready Your profile and company page shape your first impression often before anyone meets you. They should tell a clear, credible story that aligns with your event involvement. Organiser Tip: Create a LinkedIn Brand Kit for your speakers, exhibitors, and team – banners, hashtags, talking points, and example posts. Exhibitor Tip: Use an event-themed banner to show your stand details or branding. 🌠 2. Build Relationships Before the Event The most valuable connections rarely start cold on event day. The lead-up to the event is prime time to increase visibility, build familiarity, and position yourself as someone worth connecting with or visiting at the stand. Organiser Tip: Spotlight speakers, exhibitors, and sessions early and use tags to amplify. Exhibitor Tip: Shortlist people you want to meet - clients, prospects, collaborators, media and start connecting early. 🌠 3. Maximise the Event Experience Use LinkedIn to take people behind the scenes, amplify moments as they happen, and make your presence visible to those who couldn’t attend. Organiser Tip: Have someone live post from the floor, tagging participants and sharing session soundbites. Exhibitor Tip: Make it easy for people to connect with you it creates immediate pathways to keep the conversation going. 🌠 4. Keep the Momentum Going This is the stage where most people go quiet, but this is when the real relationship-building begins. Use LinkedIn to keep the conversation going. Share your takeaways. Follow up with new connections. Repurpose content into future posts. Organiser Tip: Share a highlight post and set the stage for what’s next even a “Save the Date” works. Exhibitor Tip: Send a personalised follow-up message referencing your chat. 🌟 Key Takeaways LinkedIn is one of the most powerful tools you have to extend your event beyond the room. It allows you to build relationships before the first handshake, stay visible throughout the event and strengthen credibility and connection long after the banners are packed away. And if you'd like support to develop your own LinkedIn event strategy that's more than one and done, I’d love to help. Because showing up is just the beginning. #linkedin #events #eventmarketing

𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 (3-min read)   “𝑁𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑠 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑦. 𝐼𝑡’𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑜 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚 𝑎 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑛𝑒𝑤 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑜𝑛, 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛 𝑎 𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑡𝑒𝑛.” — Jarod Kintz Most introverts dread networking events, and many skip them entirely. Smart introverts still show up. Shifting from dread to advantage takes a better system for preparing, engaging, and following up. Rest still matters. This post explores how to approach events strategically to maximize opportunity and reduce disappointment. The advice applies to everyone. 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Start by curating your networking calendar. Choose events that align with your goals, industry, target audience, or values. Prioritize small roundtables and workshops where meaningful conversation outweighs crowd size. Research attendees and speakers so you know who you want to meet. 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 Authenticity remains your greatest strength. Rehearse your story so you can clearly describe what you do and why it matters. Confidence grows through preparation and practice. Prepare a few open-ended questions to spark richer conversations, such as: · What excites you right now? · What's the best thing that happened in the last few weeks? · What is something incredible about you that even your friends don't know? 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 Schedule quiet time before and after events to prepare and recover. Because events are draining, I set a clear purpose and plan for my time. Set a few specific objectives for each event, such as meeting five relevant people. Sometimes, I arrive early to ease into the environment when fewer people are around, which makes one-on-one conversations more likely. 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 At events, I stay aware of my physical state. If I start to feel anxious, I focus on breathing steadily, sometimes using a calming technique like exhaling for four seconds and inhaling for one. To keep my energy steady, I pace myself by taking breaks. By checking in with myself regularly, I can often stay longer and get more value. Finally, jot down notes on what went well and what could be better. When you reframe events as learning opportunities, you may find more purpose. 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄-𝗨𝗽 Building on the connections you've made requires thoughtful follow-up. Within two business days, reach out to those who genuinely interest you. Be specific about what you appreciated and express your desire to connect again. Propose a clear next step. Consider offering a thoughtful "gift" such as a relevant article, a potential connection, or an upcoming event they would enjoy. Every conversation can become an opportunity to learn, share, and create value. With practice, you can curate those conversations more effectively. .

I used to drop $1,000 on big conferences, thinking that’s where all the action was happening. Now? Game-changing events > calendar fillers. Turns out, the best convos were always happening at small side events. Recently at TechWeek, I managed to get into a tiny, highly curated event for a Series B+ audience and it was so worth the hustle. This wasn’t a “buy ticket, show up” kind of event. It was more like: find the organizers → reach out directly → dig up mutual intros → prep a killer intro blurb → earn your spot Because even the best pitch means nothing if you’re in the wrong room. Here’s how I decide where to go now, and don’t waste my time (or budget) there: → Research the audience first Check last year’s attendees. Look at the speaker companies. If your ICP isn’t there, don’t go. → Prioritize curated over open-door Events with RSVP forms and shortlists are gold. They take more effort to get into, but the quality of conversation is 10x higher. → Hunt for the small stuff and side events I’ll skip the 2,000-person conference for a 20-person breakfast any day. No booths, no noise — just real people and real context. → Use event curation newsletters I love Supermomos newsletters for finding quality events. Way better than scrolling Eventbrite or Luma for hours. → Don’t stack your day One meaningful event > three mediocre ones. You’ll actually have energy to follow up. Result: I stopped collecting just LinkedIn connections and started landing real leads. And I couldn’t have pulled it off without my assistant — from outreach, to prep, to managing all the behind-the-scenes ops. Great networking starts with choosing the right rooms. And remember: not all events are created equal. Some open doors. Some just fill your calendar. What’s your approach to event strategy?

The worst business advice I ever followed was "network more." Early on I did exactly that.  Went to every event and collected every card. Most of it led nowhere. The relationships that actually turned into deals all came from a small number of rooms with the right people in them. After attending and organizing 100s of events, this has been my biggest takeaway: Quality rooms and consistent presence beat volume every single time. If you're just starting out, here's how to get into the right rooms: → Find communities where people are building → Observe before you speak → Watch how the best connectors interact → Share what you're building and learning → Start with a few meaningful conversations → Focus on depth over volume Getting into the room is step one.  Now, what you do once you're there is what actually matters. These are the 5 ways to build strong relationships once you're there: 1️⃣ Offer value first ↳ Share insights, connections, or resources. 2️⃣ Ask thoughtful questions ↳ Curiosity builds better conversations than any pitch. 3️⃣ Be authentic ↳ People connect with honesty, not scripts. 4️⃣ Make introductions ↳ Connecting two great people strengthens your network. 5️⃣ Show up consistently ↳ Trust grows through repeated interaction. Now that you've built the relationship, the maintenance of it is just as important. Here's how to maintain your network: 1️⃣ Follow up with intention ↳ Reach out when you have something meaningful to share. 2️⃣ Stay visible ↳ Attend events and participate regularly. 3️⃣ Keep conversations natural ↳ Forced networking is obvious, and people feel it. 4️⃣ Support others ↳ Celebrate their progress, and offer help during tough stretches. The founders I've watched build the best partnerships all did the same thing: They chose the right rooms and kept showing up. If you want to be in a room with serious founders and investors focused on real relationships and long-term growth: I host monthly events designed for exactly this. Details and sign-ups at https://bit.ly/EXPROEVENT What's the best networking advice you've ever received? Drop it in the comments. ♻️ Repost to help someone in your network build better relationships. 🔔 Follow Amrinder Kamboj for more on business, networking, and long-term growth.

I just sat down with Chelsea B. Roberts and one slice of our conversation deserves its own post. Small businesses are sabotaging themselves at GovCon networking events because of how they're showing up. Every time I check my email there are three new matchmaking events. NASA. USDA. FDA. Some on sam[dot]gov, plenty on Eventbrite. And I watch small businesses try to attend all of them — then wonder why none of it converts into contracts. Here's what burnout-by-networking actually looks like: • You're already thinking about the next event before this one ends • You never follow up because you're "too busy" • Conversations blur together and the agency contact forgets you ever met Three mistakes Chelsea and I kept circling back to: 1. Event obsession. You cannot be productive at every matchmaking event on the calendar. Pick fewer. Show up prepared. Do the homework on the specific person you're meeting — their focus area, their problems — not just the agency name. 2. Follow-up failure. Chelsea told me about someone who called her a year after they met at an event, asking if she remembered them. She didn't. Scan the business card the same day. Send two or three sentences referencing what you talked about. Stay in their inbox while the conversation is still warm. 3. The booth trap. Booths feel like presence. They're actually a cage. You sit behind a table waiting for someone to wander over — Chelsea called it a "rural lemonade stand." One of my mentors used to call the fix a "walking exhibit." If you have to get a booth, send teammates to work the floor. Conversations happen where people are, not where you're stationed. One well-prepared conversation followed up the same day will out-perform ten rushed handshakes you never circle back on.

Are you just attending events or actually connecting? The last few weeks I have been at conferences and events, trying to do one thing well: connect with people, not just collect badges. That is the real trade off: Busy vs present. Visible vs relationship builder. A few things become obvious: 1) Depth beats volume You do not need to meet everyone. You need to have a few real conversations that can continue after event. Ask: “What are you actually trying to solve this quarter?” Then listen. People remember who cared about their context, not their title. 2) Serendipity needs structure Yes, chance encounters matter. But you increase your luck by being intentional. Choose 2-3 sessions where your ideal peers will be. Arrive early. Stay a bit after. One good hallway conversation, tied to a shared session, is worth far more than 20 rushed introductions. 3)Follow up is the real event The conference is just the opening scene, not the whole story. Capture one specific detail from each conversation: a challenge, a book mentioned, a share interest. Use that as anchor when you reach out later. That is how you turn a fleeting chat into an ongoing relationship. Connection at events is not networking as performance. It’s is curiosity, focus, and continuity. P.S.: Next time you walk into an event, what one behavior will you change to move from “met many” to “really connect with a few”? #BusinessNetworking, #EventStrategy, #B2BMarketing, #RelationshipBuilding, #ProfessionalGrowth, #RefreshWithRyza André Miasake, Lenny Joseph, Mike Wilding, Krishan (Kris) Mehta, P.E.