Building A Networking Strategy

15 tips for a more productive conference experience. Nothing replaces lessons learned the hard way — on tired feet, with a half-dead phone, in a crowded ballroom. Here are the habits that make any multi-day conference more productive and more fun. 1. ABC: Always Be Charging Your phone is your lifeline — for schedules, scans, and photos. Bring a wall plug, cord, and battery pack. If you forget, switch to low power mode early, close background apps, and turn off Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. 2. Have a 7-Word Pitch You need a short, sticky way to describe what you do. “RideScout is the Kayak of ground transportation.” If you go past 30 seconds, you’ve lost them. 3. Keep Moving (and Wear Comfortable Shoes) Movement breaks the predictable rhythm of everyone following the same traffic pattern. Comfortable shoes are non-negotiable. - Pro tip: walk against the flow — it triples your chances of bumping into new people. 4. Be a Connector Always ask: “What are you looking for here?” You might know the exact person they need to meet — and that makes you memorable. 5. ABB: Always Be Branding Don’t be afraid to stand out. A distinctive hat, jacket, or pocket square makes you recognizable from across the room. 6. Pick Smart Spots If you stop to check your phone, do it near escalators or intersections — places where people naturally pass by. If you can’t move to them, let them move to you. 7. Capture Notes Immediately After each conversation, jot a few quick words or snap a photo of their badge or booth. You’ll thank yourself later during follow-ups. 8. Plan with a 4-Quadrant Sheet Fold one sheet of paper into four pockets: - Priority Targets - Nice-to-Meets - Pre-Set Meetings - Serendipity Finds 9. Navigate Happy Hours Like a Pro Skip the buffet line if you can — no one wants spinach in their teeth. Eat fast, circulate faster. Use the two-door technique: in one side, out the other, on to the next. And always thank the host. 10. Take Photos as Memory Aids Snap ideas, displays, or name badges. Photos beat memory every time. 11. Use AI to Prep Smart Before you arrive, drop the agenda or speaker list into ChatGPT or your CRM and cross-check it with your contacts. 10- Gamify Your Steps If you’re not hitting 10,000 steps, you’re not covering enough ground. 13. Leverage LinkedIn Use it mid-event to refresh names or faces. 14. Follow Up Fast Within 48 hours, send quick personal notes referencing your chat. The small detail you remember will separate you from everyone else in their inbox. 15. Don’t Skip the Local Culture You didn’t fly all that way to sit in a convention hall. Take an hour to explore — grab local beer, walk a historic district, catch live music. The best connections often start with shared stories about the place you’re in. Final Thought Conferences can feel chaotic — big rooms, endless booths, too many panels. But with a few smart habits and a mindset of curiosity and connection, you can turn any event into a week of real progress.

Are you a student or emerging talent headed to IAAPA this week? If so, I want to share some very important information about how to make the most of your experience and leave a great impression. IAAPA is an incredible event, but it is also a professional tradeshow where billions of dollars of business are discussed and transacted. Companies invest tens of thousands of dollars to design, ship, and staff their booths, so it is important to approach the show floor with professionalism and awareness. Here are some best practices to help you navigate IAAPA like a pro. 🎓 1. Attend as many education sessions as possible These sessions are goldmines for learning and connection. Network with other attendees and speakers in the room. Introduce yourself, ask questions, and thank every presenter you meet. These are some of the most genuine networking opportunities of the entire week as you have an instant topic to chat with other people about (the session covered). 🧭 2. Observe on the trade show floor, don’t interrupt business The show floor is where serious deals are made. Staff members are often standing for long hours, managing back to back meetings, and focusing on clients. While it may be tempting to approach booth representatives, remember that almost all of them are there to conduct business, not recruiting. And standing and chatting with a booth attendant will make them look unapproachable to those who are there to conduct business. Use this time to walk, observe, take notes about who is out there and what they do. Add them to a list of companies you might be interested in networking with after IAAPA through appropriate channels via LinkedIn and keeping tabs on their job boards. At the Big Break Foundation we connect emerging with companies, and would love to hear which companies you are interested in hearing more from and we can set up virtual open houses with the right people! ☕ 3. Network in the halls and common spaces Some of the best connections happen outside the show floor. If you see someone standing alone, having coffee, or waiting between sessions, say hello. These casual moments are wonderful opportunities to introduce yourself and make a lasting impression. 🤝 4. Connect with your peers Other students and emerging professionals are also here to learn and grow. Swap contact information, share experiences, and support one another. The people you meet now may become your collaborators or colleagues in the future. ✨ 5. Approach every moment with curiosity and gratitude Be polite, be genuine, and be thankful. Every introduction, every conversation, and every session is a chance to learn something new and to show the best of who you are. IAAPA can be an overwhelming experience, but it can also be life changing if you approach it thoughtfully. Be observant, be respectful, and most importantly, be yourself. #IAAPA #EmergingTalent #ThemedEntertainment #BigBreakFoundation #CareerAdvice #Networking #ProfessionalGrowth #students

Most B2B marketers miss 90% of their conference potential ROI - without realizing it. 𝘛𝘰𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 treat conferences like a lead factory. Some also value brand awareness. Few realize they're sitting on a goldmine of content - and they leave it untouched. I was at a large industry conference last week. Everyone was chasing meetings, badge scans, and pipeline. I walked around the floor and rarely saw anyone recording. Hundreds of ICPs, creators, and customers in one place - and almost no cameras rolling. Creating fresh, relevant content all year is a grind. At a major conference? It practically writes itself. 𝐕𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬: We hired a videographer and kept him with us during peak hours. Every conversation, panel, and micro-interaction was an opportunity to capture usable clips - from 30-second insights to 3-minute stories (like the one I did with Mike Richards below) we can repurpose for months. 𝐂𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬: Your best advocates are right there. A quick on-site video beats a Zoom testimonial any day. We invited two of our best customer CFOs to the booth to tell the world why they love Nilus. 𝐂𝐨-𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: You’re surrounded by companies who share your audience but don’t compete. Start building relationships that lead to joint guides, webinars, or benchmarks - and mutual distribution. It’s a great opportunity to tap into a completely new pool of prospects. 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬: Many of the creators and niche influencers shaping your category are walking the floor. Meet them. Collaborate on future content or use them as distribution channels for your highest-value assets. 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐬 & 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: If you’re hosting or speaking, film everything. A single panel can yield a dozen high-signal clips for your founder, your brand, and your social channels. 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐦 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬: Capturing the buzz around your booth - the energy, the crowds, the conversations - doesn’t just document the event. It 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘴 momentum. It signals category leadership. Most marketers leave with a list of leads. The best leave with content that compounds. 𝐒𝐨 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐢𝐭 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝 - 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞.

📝Heading to Denver next week for the #APSGlobalPhysicsSummit? Here’s a short survival guide for navigating a meeting this big. Large conferences are exciting, but they can also be overwhelming, especially for students or early career researchers. With thousands of physicists and hundreds of sessions, optimizing your experience takes a fair bit of strategy. Below are some habits I’ve developed to make the conference experience more manageable (and a lot more fun!) 🔬 First, the Science: 🔹The APS Summit can feel like drinking from a firehose. The program is vast and dense, and seeing everything is just not possible. Before the meeting, identify a few “anchor talks” each day that you definitely don’t want to miss. 🔹Leave room for discovery. Some of the best talks you attend will be ones you didn’t originally plan. 🔹It’s okay to miss things. If you miss a talk that interests you, send the speaker an email, or introduce yourself later in the week, most physicists are happy to discuss their work. 🔹Poster sessions are underrated. They’re often where the most detailed and interactive conversations occur. 🔹Ask questions. Quick questions after a talk can result in a great hallway conversations. Dismiss the fear of appearing "naive" or "unknowledgeable," these are absurd constructs which sometimes (unfortunately) manifest in science. 🤝 Networking & Career: 🔹 Take advantage of the high density of people. The biggest benefit of large meetings is having so many researchers in one place. Conversations that might take weeks via email can proceed in minutes. 🔹Introduce yourself to people whose work you admire. This of course can feel intimidating, but most physicists appreciate interest in their work. 🔹Prepare a short explanation ("elevator pitch") of what you work on. You’ll be asked this question A LOT during the week. 🔹Visit the exposition hall. Companies, national labs, and universities are there precisely to meet motivated jobseekers like you! 🌆 Recreation and Fun (seriously, it matters!): 🔹Leave the convention center! One of the best parts of traveling for conferences is exploring the destination. Find a good restaurant, bar, or place to kick back and take in the atmosphere of new experiences. 🔹Schedule informal catch-ups. Coffee, lunch, or dinner with colleagues, collaborators, or friends often leads to the most memorable experiences. 🔹Check out the many receptions and social events hosted by APS and attending exhibitors. You'd be surprised how many collaborations and friendships are born in these relaxed settings. These are just a few tips that have helped me get the most from conferences, but ultimately I am only one person, so your mileage may vary. Take some time to discover what resonates best with you, and how you can best balance fulfillment with productivity. For conference veterans, what tips would you add? I’d love to hear what others have found successful. American Physical Society #APSSummit26 #Physics

T𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲-𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿: 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝘃𝘀. 𝗥𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗺 After attending 50+ industry conferences over the 2 years, I've learned there's a world of difference between strategic attendance and just showing up. 𝗡𝗼𝗻-𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲:  • Registering last-minute because "it looks interesting"  • Attending sessions randomly based on availability  • Networking only during designated coffee breaks  • Collecting business cards without follow-up strategy  • Treating it as a nice break from the office 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲:  • 𝗣𝗿𝗲-𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵: Studying speaker profiles, attendee lists, and session agendas 2+ weeks ahead  • 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀: Defining 3 specific goals (new partnerships, industry insights, talent pipeline)  • 𝗧𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴: Scheduling 1:1 meetings with key contacts before arriving  • 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Selecting sessions that align with current business challenges  • 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄-𝘂𝗽 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸: Having a system to connect within 48 hours post-conference The difference? Strategic attendees consistently report 3x more meaningful connections and 5x higher ROI on their conference investment. Your conference budget is too valuable to waste on random attendance. Every conference should move your business forward in measurable ways. What's your go-to strategy for maximizing conference value? Share your best practices below. #ConferenceStrategy #Networking #ProfessionalDevelopment #ROI #BusinessGrowth

I’m excited to share some networking strategies I learned at ProductCon and ProductWorld that really transformed my experience. These are practical, hands-on tips that worked wonders for me, and I hope they can do the same for you. Before the Conference: • Get the Word Out Early: I kicked things off by posting on LinkedIn about my upcoming attendance, inviting folks to set up 1:1 meetings. This not only attracted great connections but also sparked conversations with my Discover colleagues. • Make Purposeful Connections: I reached out to key industry leaders ahead of time. For example, I connected with the Product School CEO, Carlos Gonzalez de Villaumbrosia by highlighting our shared Spanish heritage and passion for product innovation—this led to a memorable meeting during a book signing event. • Do Your Homework: I researched which companies would have booths and sponsors, so I could plan targeted conversations with potential future employers. During the Conference: • Engage Genuinely: I made sure to share my LinkedIn profile and dive into conversations that truly added value. Whether chatting with Discover colleagues or industry pros, I focused on making every interaction count. • Plan Ahead for Key Meetings: I set up a meetup with Sarah Perkins, Head of Product, which turned into a fantastic opportunity to exchange ideas and insights. • Learn From Every Encounter: A chat with Jay P., a Discover colleague, deepened my understanding of the money movement side of our business—a reminder that every conversation can offer fresh perspectives. After the Conference: • Follow Up Thoughtfully: The work doesn’t stop when the conference ends. I sent personalized thank-you messages and arranged 1:1 coffee chats to keep the momentum going. • Build Lasting Relationships: These follow-ups not only cemented new connections but also opened doors for mentorship, collaboration, and future opportunities. Try out these tips at your next event. By planning ahead, engaging meaningfully, and following up consistently, you can turn every conference into a launchpad for your professional growth. What’s your next move to elevate your networking game? #Networking #ProfessionalGrowth #ProductCon #ProductWorld #CareerDevelopment #InsiderTips

If you're going to spend time and money attending an event, make it count for your team. Events and conferences cost your team significant time and money. If you're investing in attending, it’s critical that you maximize the value not just for you but for your company and team. That means integrating the event into the strategic conversation, having goals, following up, and using the event as a catalyst for future leadership discussions. Here’s a practical framework I have used to ensure that every event I attend drives real value for the company. Set Clear Goals Before you go, answer this question: "What will make attending this event worth the investment of time and money?" Choose 2–3 focused goals, such as: - Pitching a new project or fundraising round - Gaining key insights and contextual intelligence about industry trends - Building relationships with important partners Include your leadership team in this discussion and throughout your planning. Prioritize Strategically Events are chaotic and filled with endless meetings, talks, and social gatherings. Prioritize your time to maximize your productivity. - Make a ranked list of key meetings and events - Schedule high-value meetings first; then fill remaining time with lower priority ones - Leave some flexible time slots for spontaneous opportunities or last-minute changes It is obviously important to catch up with industry friends and colleagues but weigh that against your overall goals. For a meeting to be effective ensure you have a clear ask, even if that is just to catch up and hear how someone is doing. Plan Early Scheduling takes work and throwing together whatever meetings you can get last minute is a sure way to underutilize your time. Reach out to potential partners up to a month in advance. The worst that can happen is they will circle back when the event is closer to confirm a time. For those of you heading to GDC next month, you should have started last week! Capture and Organize Your Meetings Events are overwhelming. Don’t trust your memory. Take quick notes during meetings (follow-ups, key points, next steps). If you have multiple people on your team in a meeting, assign someone to take notes. The next morning, dedicate time (30-45 mins) to write a detailed summary of each meeting. Doing it the next day ensures it’s still fresh in your mind and you can capture anything from happy hours, dinners, or parties where you certainly did not take any notes. Always Follow Up Within a few days after the event send personalized follow-up messages. Even if no explicit action items came from your meeting, sending a nice note keeps the conversation going and ensures you capture their contact info. Share and Take Action Schedule a debrief meeting with your team after returning and review your notes and insights from the event. The whole reason you attended is to bring back leads, connections, and information that can help your leadership team make better decisions. 

The first big industry conference I ever went to, I blew it. Here’s what I know now, and how to ace RE+ next week: I booked meetings back-to-back, sprinted from room to room, collected a stack of business cards, and came home feeling like I’d done the work. A week later, nothing happened. No calls. No deals. No new relationships. Just a sore throat and a pile of wasted connections. I learned the hard way that conferences aren’t about volume. They’re about depth. The brokers and execs who win at RE+ don’t try to meet everyone. They meet the right people and make those conversations stick. They slow down when everyone else is speeding up. They follow up while everyone else is still unpacking their swag bag. The people who will get the most out of next week already know who they need to see. They’ve left open space in their calendar to bump into someone important. They’ve thought about how they’ll follow up the minute the flight lands back home. If you treat RE+ like a speed-dating contest, you’ll lose. If you treat it like the launchpad for two or three relationships that could change your year, you’ll win. Conferences aren’t the finish line. They’re the start gun. Here are 5 bonus tips: 1. Have 10 meetings booked before you go or don’t go. Pick your 3 targets before you land: the people you don’t know but would like to. Don’t wing it. Know the exact people you must meet and structure your time around them. 2. Leave white space in your schedule: You can leave with so many bonus small wins from conversations that happen in hallways, coffee lines, and after panels not in 15-minute speed meetings. 3. Follow up within 24 hours: While everyone else is unpacking swag, you’re locking in a call. Speed and care speak volumes about how you operate. With that said, understand that it can take 6 months for that lead or relationship to flourish, be patient with conversion. 4. Quality > quantity: One deep conversation that leads to a deal is worth more than 30 “good to meet you” handshakes. 5. Anchor yourself: Pick a consistent meeting spot (a lobby bar, a quiet corner, a specific café). Tell people “meet me there” it saves you running all over the Venetian.

Most professionals show up to industry conferences. The best ones show up with a plan, and work it with precision. At Prado Consulting Group we work with architecture, engineering, and construction firms to strengthen how they position, pursue, and win work - across everything from conference strategy and early client engagement to pursuit planning and interview strategy. The goal is simple: win more of the right work, with the right clients, to drive profitable growth. Earlier this week, I was facilitating a BD workshop with a construction firm’s executive leadership team. One of the core topics was the power of the network and building deep, trusted relationships. The timing felt right to share what actually works. Over 15 years ago, a close friend, now an Athletic Director at a Power 4 school, mailed me a printed copy of his notes from a book he had just read. Highlights, check marks, asterisks all over it. The book was Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi. Chapter 14 - Be a Conference Commando - changed how I prepared for every conference, and over time, how we approached them as teams: focused on turning conversations into meaningful follow-up meetings and the opportunity to position ourselves as trusted advisors, ahead of our competition. With the Sports Business Journal CAA World Congress of Sports conference underway, here is what the best professionals do consistently: ✓ Prepare like it is a client meeting. Know who will be in the room, and why it matters. ✓ Identify 8–10 people you want to target for a key conversation. Know one relevant thing about each, recent initiative they lead, leadership shift, or strategic priority. ✓ Lead with curiosity (channel your best Dale Carnegie skills - How to Win Friends and Influence People), not credentials. “What’s been keeping you up at night lately?” will take you further than any firm overview. ✓ Ask more than you talk. The firm that understands the client’s challenge before the RFP is issued is often already shaping the opportunity. ✓ Be a connector first (one of my favorites) - Introduce two people who should know each other. The most memorable person in the room is rarely the one talking most about their firm. ✓ Follow up, or fail. Personal note within 24 hours. Something of value within a week. A real follow-up conversation within 30 days. Go in with a plan. Lead with curiosity. Connect others. Follow through. The firms that win consistently are not doing more. They are doing these things earlier, better, and with intention. Attending is not the same as building a strong network and foundation. 📩 Follow for more on BD strategy, client relationships, and winning work in the AEC industry. #BusinessDevelopment #AECIndustry #ConferenceStrategy #Networking #PradoConsultingGroup

Conference strategy might be top-of-mind given '26 budget convos: "How can we be in the right rooms, meet great people, aim for ROI, and not sell out?" Like all good BD efforts, it starts with homework... & 🌮🌮🌮 But first, a gut check. Is that conference lineup just checking boxes? Sponsoring a booth because “that’s what you do?” How much can a flyer and a sponsorship logo help build trust and relationship? Recently hopped on a call with a client and shared these ways to get real BD value out of any conference: 𝟭. “𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱.” Which conferences, gatherings, or events genuinely align with what you’re building? The Las Vegas Industry Blockbuster event might be “fun,” but could you be a panelist there next year? Run into a colleague or prospective client at the hotel bar? Pick 2-3 conferences max and commit to doing them well. 𝟮. 𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲. Research who's going. Use the conference app or LinkedIn to identify folks who align with your ICP. Reach out a few weeks beforehand with something short and respectful: "Saw you're heading to [conference]. Would love to connect while we're both there." Consider reaching out to BD/Ops folks at the sponsor orgs too. Proactive outreach helps you show up with momentum and a few warm connections from Day 1. 𝟯. 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻-𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗹. 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗸𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁. Find the best taco spot you can and get a reservation for 10 seats. Invite a mix of potential clients, partners, and people you'd genuinely enjoy talking to. "We're hosting a small dinner to swap stories. No agenda, just good vibes. Margaritas, queso, and asada tacos on us." You could drop $10k on a booth for 800 people to walk by and maybe remember you. Or $2k on a meal where you build genuine relationships over delicious food. 𝟰. 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗟𝗜. Contribute to the gathering by posting before, during, and/or after the event. Pre-Event: what you’re hoping to learn, questions you’re exploring During: A quick reflection on a breakout or keynote Post-Event: "3 Key Takeaways from IMPACT 2026" It’s a simple, direct form of authority marketing that shows-and-tells you care about your niche. 𝟱. 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘀𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄-𝘂𝗽𝘀. So much conference ROI dies in the follow up. The week after, block a half day on your calendar. Identify 3-6 folks you genuinely want to stay in touch with. Send short, personal notes that build familiarity and trust. Great conference ROI comes from showing up thoughtfully, not "just showing up" and hoping for the best.