Tips for Networking and Providing Feedback

Last week I pulled a first-time founder aside at a networking event and gave him direct feedback. He'd been working the room like a coin-operated game. Insert person, deliver pitch. Repeat. Pitched three people before asking their names. Collected 30 business cards without a single real conversation. The guy was so focused on his pitch, he didn't even remember faces. Classic first-time founder mistake. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸: Stop leading with what you need. Start with what you can give. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴: Nobody cares about your startup until they care about you. I told him about my portfolio founder who raised $20M last quarter. Never pitched at events. Instead, spent six months helping other founders debug their pitch decks. No agenda. Just genuine help. When she needed to raise? Those founders made warm intros to their investors. The VCs already knew her reputation before the first meeting. 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗿𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗜 𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗺: 1. Ask about their biggest challenge first   Not your elevator pitch. Their actual problem. Then listen. Do less talking. 2. Follow up with value, not asks   Send them something useful within 48 hours. An article. An intro. A solution. Zero mention of your needs. 3. Build relationships, not contact lists   Five real connections beat 500 business cards. Every time. I watched him try it. Started asking questions instead of pitching. Actually listened to answers. By the end of the night, he had three meaningful conversations instead of 30 forgotten ones. Your network isn't measured by who you know. It's measured by who answers when you call. Build accordingly. P.S. Jason Novak and I ended the night the right way - outside, away from the pitches, just two old friends and the San Francisco skyline. #Networking #StartupAdvice #Founders #VentureCapital #FirstTimeFounders #startups

1:1 coffee chats are the best way to network ☕ Here's how I turned them into interviews at companies like Microsoft, LinkedIn, and Amazon. My 9-step formula for virtual & in person coffee chats: (I did this with acquaintances, old coworkers, and complete strangers at my target companies to get job referrals)  1/ Watch the Clock Before you start the conversation, thank the other person for their time and confirm how much time they have. Don't be the person who goes over the allotted meeting time by assuming. 2/ Nail Your Intro This is your elevator pitch that should include these 3 things: - Brief background on who you are - Why you wanted to meet with them - Your goals 3/ Ask Great Questions Come prepared with questions. Some ideas: - their background/role - challenges they overcame - specifics about their company, culture, product, etc. 4/ Show You're Worth It When you talk about your experience, tie it back to how it relates to the role/team you're interested in at that person's company. Does the role require managing multiple clients? Great! Weave in how you've done something similar. 5/ Ask for Feedback It's ok to ask for feedback and if the other person thinks you're a fit for certain roles or the company. If they think there's a skills gap, ask for their advice on how to bridge it. 6/ Ask for Intros "Is there anyone else at your org or outside the org that would be helpful to talk to?” The best opportunities can come from this ask. The other person might intro you to 1-3 other people in their network. 7/ Offer to Help Them Don't just ask how you can help. Ask them what their goals are for the year. Then use that information to see how you can help. 8/ Winding Down At the end of the call, thank them for their time. Then ask if it's ok to keep them updated so you have a reason to reach out in the future. Don’t forget to send a thank you note after the call. 9/ The Follow Up If they gave you any advice (resume tips, resources to look into), do it and follow up to let them know you did it. This is the best way to keep the conversation going beyond the first call and establish trust. Important: Use this as a guide, not a script. Not all your 1:1 coffee chats will happen this way but having structure is helpful. Don't expect to land a referral on the first meeting either. It may take several interactions before someone is comfortable enough to do that. Give this strategy a try and level up your networking game! --- Reshare ♻ to help someone’s job hunt. And follow me for more posts like this.

💡What would someone say about you if a potential employer back-channeled to an old colleague of yours? Your network is more than a collection of contacts...it's a gateway to your next opportunity. 👉 Do you know how others perceive you at work? 👉 Would anyone advocate for you if asked? 👉 How would people describe their experience working with you? In the past two months alone, I've been contacted six times for backchannel feedback on people in my network. Some were close connections I still speak with regularly. Others were from roles three jobs ago. Yet, my experience with them still shaped my response. Your brand isn’t just built by what you say. It's reinforced by what others say about you. So, here’s the real question: If someone had to explain who you are and what it’s like to work with you, what would you want them to say? Here are three immediate tactics to validate or change perception: 🚀 Rapid Reputation Reset: Ask a trusted colleague or mentor (inclusive of context for the ask): "What is your experience working with me?" The goal isn't just to gather compliments - it's to uncover blind spots. Feedback is a gift; use it. 🔥 Network with Purpose: Stop collecting connections and start cultivating advocates. Follow up meaningfully, add value, and be the person others want to recommend. Networking is more than a numbers game! 🎯 Brand-Action Alignment: Want to be seen as reliable? Be reliable. As collaborative? Collaborate. Identify the traits you want to be known for and show them consistently. Be the brand you want to project. 🔺 If the perception doesn’t match your intention, how will you bridge that gap? 🔺 What’s one small shift you can make this week to strengthen how others perceive you? #Networking #CareerGrowth #Reputation #Coaching

Some of my biggest career breakthroughs have come through networking. But many have the wrong idea of what networking actually is. It isn't just about swapping business cards or connecting on LinkedIn; it's about building real, meaningful connections through the magic of reciprocity. Here are a few personal tips on how to make the most of the power of giving in networking: 1️/ Provide Value to Others It's not about grand gestures, but consistent, small actions that show you're invested. Share that interesting article, drop some knowledge bombs, and watch your relationships grow organically. 2️/ Offer Assistance and Support A little help goes a long way. Share your skills, offer feedback, or just be a sounding board. It's not just about solving immediate problems but building trust and camaraderie. 3️/ Make Meaningful Introductions Connect people in your network who can benefit from knowing each other. Be the bridge that helps others, and trust me, it'll come back to you in ways you can't even imagine. 4️/ Nurture Relationships Through Consistent Engagement It's a marathon, not a sprint. Regular contact, value-sharing, and genuine interest keep the flame alive. A quick message or update can make all the difference. Remember, the power of giving in networking isn't just a professional strategy; it's a way of life. Let's focus on building networks that are not just about us but about creating a ripple effect of collaboration and support. Have you ever had a big opportunity come your way through networking? #networking #business