Networking Opportunities At Events

A party is not networking. It’s not an opinion. It’s facts. I was going through the FANTASTIC Freeman research to prepare for our 2025 Event Industry Outlook and Trends (next week!). I bumped into a powerful stat. 55% of planners think that parties are the networking attendees want. But only 34% of attendees want parties. This is a disconnect many experienced in the event industry post-pandemic. Many planners interpreted this strong desire to be back in-person as an unstoppable need to party. That may have been the case for ’21 and ’22. Since ’23, things have changed. Purpose and collaboration are what attendees need. Many also confuse the need to get together in small, intimate events with meaningless drinks and dinners. Throwing people in a room and expecting the magic to happen is a waste of money and energy. What’s the plan then? • Structured networking. Especially around topics of interest. • Intimate gatherings with true peers with a theme or items of discussion. • Content that connects. Workshops, collaborative seminars, facilitated sessions. There is no room for budget waste in this environment. How do you connect attendees? P.S. Every Wednesday, 11K eventprofs open my newsletter within one hour of me sending it. If you want to know why, join us. The link is at the top of my profile.

7 Icebreakers That Actually Work At Networking Events: 1. “What’s Something Exciting You’re Working On?” This is so much better than "So, what do you do?" This shows genuine curiosity and invites people to talk about what matters to them. You’ll often uncover hidden projects, side hustles, or cool trends in their industry. 2. “What Inspired You To Attend This Event?” This question gets past the surface quickly and helps you understand their goals. And that gives you a window to offer meaningful value. This shows genuine curiosity and invites people to talk about what matters to them. You’ll often uncover hidden projects, side hustles, or cool trends in their industry. 3. “How Did You Get Into Your Field?” People love telling their origin story. It gives them a chance to reflect and helps you learn something valuable. Bonus: It opens the door to career path tips or industry insights. Use it to start meaningful convos instead of awkward intros. 4. “What’s A Challenge You’re Facing Right Now?” This one is powerful if asked appropriately. Frame it lightly, “anything you’re trying to figure out these days?” If you can help them solve it or connect them to someone who can? They’ll owe you one big time. 5. “What’s Something People Misunderstand About Your Role?” This sparks a surprisingly fun convo, especially with folks in niche or technical roles. It lets them vent (in a good way) and gives you interesting insights. Plus, it shows you care enough to go deeper than surface-level stuff. 6. “Who Should I Meet Before I Leave?” This is a networking power move. It creates a flywheel where every conversation turns into two. And it helps narrow the focus of your networking to the people who matter most. Bonus: Ask them if they’d be willing to make an introduction! 7. Comment On The Moment If all else fails, comment on what’s around you or a potential shared experience from the event. “Did you try the [insert snack or drink]? Surprisingly good for one of these events.” “Not sure how I feel about these name tags, kind of feel like I'm at prom.” Humor = connection. —— ➕ Follow Austin Belcak for more 🔵 Ready to land your dream job? Click here to learn more about how we help people land amazing jobs in ~3.5 months with a $44k raise: https://lnkd.in/gdysHr-r

Someone said "You should teach a transition class at events like these" while at the Air & Space Forces Association annual event in DC yesterday I explained that I have done that before...but attendance at these major events typically fell into 2x buckets: 1 - many of the senior leaders attending weren't even thinking about their transition, so they focused on talking with friends, attending events & industry engagement 2 - the ones in their transition window were hell-bent focused on "finding a job" by going to pitch themselves to every major defense contractor in attendance #quinnsights Going to these booths and saying "I'm the ...." doesn't tell them anything about what you want or can do Companies don't come to these major events to hire (they come to sell and form partnerships) And that events like these (AFA & AUSA) don't typically "get you a job" They give you an entry point (someone to speak to & maybe build a relationship) #militarytransition But the key to every event is FOLLOW UP What should you do? 1 - connect with them on LinkedIn every time Show them your QR code right there and wait for their connection request to come through (sneaky way to ensure they do) 2 - Go into My Network each night and look at your newest connections They are organized chronologically, so they will all be people from the event 3 - Send them a quick note on LinkedIn saying how great it was to meet them at (insert event name) and that you would love to stay in touch for advice This locks in that you met face-to-face in their Inbox...always leaving a reminder there in case either side reaches out (not a cold pitch) 4 - Make a networking spreadsheet that tracks the people you met AND who responded For the ones that responded, asked some simple questions or for a short advice phone call, if appropriate For the ones that didn't - send an additional follow up message one week later to thank them again and add a short easy question (they'll be back from the event & likely have more time) #militarytransition Once you get to the calls, ask questions to learn and listen more than talk to find your success Questions? Is there anything you would add? And will I see you at the AUSA Fireside Chat/Transition Panel on Tuesday Oct 15 from 1300-1500 in Rm 147A/B in the Washington Convention Center?

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

Pro tip if you want to get ahead in life: build your relationships through shared, purpose-driven activities. I’ve found that some of the most powerful relationships in my career, ones that have led to real revenue and meaningful opportunities, didn’t come from a “networking mixer.” They came from volunteering, or from being shoulder-to-shoulder with others at a philanthropic event. The FIRST article I ever read when I invented my own pasta sauce ten years ago was in the Harvard Business Review (linkedin in bio) that showed that shared activities, whether it’s volunteering, serving on a nonprofit board, or even something as simple as playing a weekly sport, create deeper and more diverse connections than traditional networking ever could. It's called the Shared Activities Principle. They unite people from different backgrounds around a common purpose, rather than clustering like-minded peers in the same echo chamber. At our dinners, we would get people to work together to create the meal, essentially inventing a container for shared activities for strangers to meet, to serve others. HBR wrote that if more than 65% of your network is made up of people you introduced yourself to, your network is probably too homogenous to bring you new ideas or opportunities. Shared activities break that pattern. When you volunteer, you’re meeting other people who also have a giving mentality. They’re givers by nature. Which means when life or business gets tough, those are the people most likely to show up for you. That’s not something you often find in a transactional cocktail-hour exchange of business cards. So here’s my invitation: Instead of another “networking event,” try joining a fundraiser, a Habitat for Humanity build, or a nonprofit board meeting. Invest your time in something that matters. You’ll not only serve a cause you care about, you’ll build a network rooted in generosity, trust, and shared purpose. For the leaders reading this, try sponsoring a volunteer day for your team. An entire day where your team still gets paid, but gets paid to do good. Bonus points if you can get folks from different teams that normally don't talk, to volunteer together. That's when cross-functional creativity, innovation, and mentorship occurs. P.S. If anybody has any ideas for volunteering in NYC, my DM's are always open. Me, Andy Ellwood, and John Vatalaro love volunteering on Saturday's at a Food Pantry in nyc, but would love so many more opportunities, please!

Networking needs to be more accessible. Being in a large room of people all talking at once and (hopefully) wearing nametags doesn't work well for me as a deafblind person. How am I supposed to find meaningful and relevant connections? Participating in large conferences requires a lot of energy for me, and I usually don't make as many connections as I could have or as a nondisabled person can make. One challenge is that it’s hard for me to recognize faces even if I know someone online, so I can miss people in the space that I actually would like to meet. With my narrow field of vision and hearing disability, 1:1 conversations are what work best for me, but that isn't always effective at events where people gather in groups. One thing I started doing recently is taking a photo of the nametag of every person I speak to. This takes the pressure off of me having to remember their name or take notes. Another best practice I like is organized networking with matchmaking. At the WITS Travel Creator Summit by Wanderful, creators make profiles and can request meetings with brands. Brands set up 10-minute appointments with us and we have a dedicated time to do these appointments. While this could be further improved, it helps me have many valuable conversations in a short time frame. For future conferences, I’m thinking about how I can adapt to large networking events and what feedback I have for event organizers so I can help these experiences be more accessible for others. How could networking be better for you? #Networking #Accessibility #Conferences #EventPlanning

Introvert-friendly networking tip: Start your event connections before the event begins. If walking into a room full of strangers makes your stomach flip, here’s a quiet strategy that can make in-person events feel less intimidating, and more intentional: 💡 Connect on LinkedIn before the event. Look up the event page, RSVP list, or hashtag. Identify a few people, maybe a speaker, a fellow guest, or someone you admire. Then send a short, friendly note like: 👉 “Hi [Name], I saw you’re also attending [Event Name] this week. I’d love to connect here and hopefully say hello in person!” I’ve used this approach myself, attending events alone and still managing to create real conversations, on my terms. Why it works: - You walk in with familiar faces instead of total strangers. - You have a built-in conversation starter (no forced small talk). - You control the pace of connection—before, during, and after the event. 💜 And here’s a bonus: If you don’t get to meet them in person, you still have the connection to follow up later with a kind note or reflection on the event. You don’t have to “work the room” to network well. You just have to be intentional. And that’s where introverts shine. Have we met? 👋 Hi, I’m Ana, a career coach and strategist for introverts. If you are a professional who wants to improve your LinkedIn presence and become visible to recruiters without spending hours job searching, then follow along! #NetworkingTips #introverts

I cracked the code on tech's $1B blind spot Uncomfortable truth: 87% of tech professionals only collaborate with people who look like them. The result? Homogeneous thinking. Stagnant innovation. Missed opportunities. The lesson: Your biggest breakthroughs don't come from networking with people who think like you—they come from connecting with people who think differently. The Corporate Data That Changed Everything McKinsey proved it: Companies with diverse leadership outperform homogeneous ones by 36% in profitability. Boston Consulting Group found that companies with diverse management teams report 19% higher revenue from innovation. Yet corporate diversity initiatives focus on executives while ignoring the pipeline—Gen Z. The GenZtea thesis: Apply corporate diversity principles to Gen Z collaboration—cultural diversity AND diversity of thought. Most tech events mirror their host's demographics. GenZtea events look like a mini United Nations across both culture and industry verticals. From AAPI heritage celebrations to deep tech innovation summits to consumer product launches—I've cracked the code on cross-industry, cross-cultural density. My Unfair Advantage As a civil engineering pre-med student turned African American tech community builder, I've lived diversity of thought firsthand—bridging STEM disciplines before bridging cultures. From The Group Chat Queen's global reach to GenZtea's IRL gatherings spanning healthcare to consumer tech, I've cracked cross-cultural AND cross-industry engagement through engineered processes. Why This Scales For Gen Z founders: When sponsors see themselves represented at events, partnerships become inevitable—the same principle that drives Fortune 500 boardroom decisions. For attendees: Cross-cultural AND cross-industry collaboration rewrites problem-solving, driving the same innovation that powers corporate success. For the industry: We're building the diverse leadership pipeline that tomorrow's companies desperately need. "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." - Galatians 3:28 This isn't just mission—it's systematic competitive advantage. The takeaway: Stop optimizing for comfort zones. Start optimizing for productive friction. Whether you're building a startup, hosting an event, or assembling a team, ask yourself: "Who's missing from this room?" The answer might be your next competitive advantage.

✨ What’s the best way to have a meaningful conversation with a bunch of strangers? The first two Spark No. 9 salons invited people from vastly different arenas to come together for an evening of conversation. We weren’t sure it would work. Would people really show up just to talk? The answer: a strong yes. Here’s what we learned in our first two experiments that we will take forward to future salons: → Cast the net wide. Our first salon, An Audience of One, was ostensibly about how technology has pushed us toward narrower and narrower targeting. But while our room had a fair number of digital marketers and audience specialists, it also included people in theatrical production, founders, filmmakers, angel investors, technologists, and storytellers. The conversations in each group were wide-ranging, and I think people were surprised at what they had in common across industries and disciplines. → Curate. Each conversation group was carefully constructed from the list of confirmed attendees. Each group had something in common—maybe everyone worked for a large organization—but we also thought like matchmakers. Who might be able to help each other? Who did we think would have a crazy-good chat? → Create structure. Each conversation group had a different question to discuss and a coordinator who provided gentle facilitation. Giving people a topic totally circumvented the awkward small talk that happens at networking events. In fact, in my group, people didn’t even introduce themselves! They just started talking about the topic and over time revealed relevant info about themselves. Of course, we had a hiccup or two. For example, somehow our no-shows all came from one or two conversation groups, which made for a scramble as we tried to resize. We’ll be better at that next time. In any case, our guests were so gracious that they just rolled with it. It’s funny—most of us spend every day as practitioners. We’re targeting audiences or innovating (the topic of our second salon), but we rarely zoom out and think about the culture that we operate in or the challenges that we share. It turns out that a salon is a great way to create a space for broader conversations and to build real connections among people from diverse fields.

Most people completely waste their networking efforts the moment they leave an event. I watch professionals collect business cards like trophies, then let those connections die in their LinkedIn requests folder. That's not networking - that's contact hoarding. The real networking magic happens in the 24-48 hours after the event ends. Here's how to actually convert those conversations into valuable relationships: 1. Personalized outreach within 24 hours - Reference specific conversation details, not generic "nice meeting you" messages. Stand out among the dozen other people they met. 2. Strategic LinkedIn connections - Include context about where you met and what you discussed. Transform anonymous invitations into meaningful relationship foundations. 3. Value-added follow-through - Share relevant articles, resources, or introductions that address what they mentioned. Show you were actually listening and can provide value. 4. Propose concrete next steps - Coffee meetings, collaboration opportunities, strategic introductions. Strike while the event momentum is hot. 5. Document everything - Record their professional goals, current challenges, and collaboration opportunities. This enables strategic relationship development over time. Here's what most people get wrong: they treat networking like contact collection instead of relationship building. The goal isn't a bigger contact list - it's developing professionals who proactively support each other's success. Stop collecting business cards and start building actual relationships. Your future self will thank you. What post-networking strategies have you found most effective for converting event meetings into valuable professional relationships? Sign up to my newsletter for more corporate insights and truths here: https://vist.ly/3yrck #deepalivyas #eliterecruiter #recruiter #recruitment #jobsearch #corporate #networking #relationshipbuilding #professionalnetworking #careerstrategist