Tips to Maximize Networking at Conferences

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

Two conferences in three weeks. 87 conversations. 42 email exchanges. 14 follow-ups scheduled. And I crashed so hard, I slept through my alarm for the first time in 5 years. Here's what nobody tells you about conference networking: The interactions that grow our careers can bankrupt our energy reserves. ➡️ We connect with industry leaders who open doors. ➡️ We discover solutions to problems we've struggled with for months. ➡️ We build relationships that'll define the next phase of our business. 🟩 Then we return home and can barely form coherent sentences. This isn't weakness. It's energy economics. Every high-quality conversation depletes your reserves: ✳️ Active listening (not just waiting to talk) ✳️ Reading emotional cues and adjusting in real-time ✳️ Maintaining genuine presence through conversation #40 ✳️ Translating complex ideas across different industry contexts Multiply that by 80+ interactions. Add airport chaos, sleep disruption, and constant context-switching. The equation is unforgiving: Maximum networking value = Maximum energy cost. The most effective networkers I've studied don't deny this reality. They design around it. Before the conference: → They block 2 recovery days in their calendar (non-negotiable) → They set daily interaction quotas: 5-7 meaningful conversations, then done During the conference: → They prioritize 5 strategic conversations over 25 handshakes → They schedule "recharge blocks" between sessions The moment this clicked for me: Earlier this month, I had back-to-back presenters scheduled with breakfast meetings, lunch discussions, afternoon conversations, evening dinner. I passed on the dinner the first night - crazy right? Result: I slept for 9 hours and showed up fully present the next morning for my meetings. The next day I was ready for meetings well into the evening. The breakthrough: Networking isn't about maximizing face time. It's about maximizing impact per unit of energy spent. Those conference relationships only create value if we have enough reserves left to: ✅ Send thoughtful follow-ups ✅ Execute on what you learned ✅ Actually nurture the connections Our energy isn't unlimited. Our networking strategy needs to reflect that math. What's your approach? ⏭️ Do you schedule recovery time? ⏭️ Set interaction limits? ⏭️ Have a different system? Share what works (or what failed spectacularly) 👇 #Leadership #Networking #PersonalDevelopment Photo credit: Atlantic Ambience from Pexels

A SWE landed an interview at Capital One from a networking event. Not because he was the most outgoing person in the room. And not because he had a stacked resume. But because he came prepared. He knew what to say. Who to talk to. What questions to ask. He connected with several new people at the event. And one of them referred him to an open position 2 weeks later. Here's a simple guide so you can do the same: 1. 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗽 𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗯𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂. → It's easier to talk when you actually care about the topic. Prioritize recurring meetings in your area. But one-off meetings are fine, too. 2. 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁. → Check for Discord groups, Slack channels, or public guest lists. Shoot them a short message on LinkedIn like: "Saw you're attending [Event Name] next week. Would love to connect!" And chat with them a bit before the event. Seeing a familiar face makes it easier to break the ice. 3. 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 "𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼?" → Most people respond with a job title and a company. BORING. Have an elevator pitch ready that sparks curiosity. "𝘐 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘦-𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘴 𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨." Now they have a reason to ask: "How are you doing that?" "What tech stack are you using?" 4. 𝗕𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺. → Good conversations come from interest in others. • What were you hoping to get out of the event? • Was there anyone specific you were hoping to meet? • What's the most interesting project you've worked on lately? 5. 𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. → A great conversation means nothing if you never see them again. Connect on LinkedIn or get their phone or email. Whatever they're comfortable sharing. Make it easy to stay in touch. 6. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 → The event is just an introduction. Send a follow up ASAP. Plan a coffee chat or set up a virtual meeting. If there's overlap, collaborate on something interesting. That's how real relationships are built. 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆: Networking doesn't always reward extroverted people. It rewards people who show up with a plan. Try this at your next event. Let me know how it goes. P.S. Have you ever built a connection from a networking event?

Many people attend conferences hoping to increase sales or make valuable connections, but leave feeling like they didn’t get much out of them. After attending many conferences over the years, I’ve learned what works (and what doesn’t). So, I put together this simple, practical guide to help you get real value from every event 😊 ✅ Set clear goals – Are you looking for strategic partners, investors, or key decision-makers? Define what success looks like before you go. ✅ Prepare ahead – Book meetings in advance, research key attendees, and pack wisely (yes, comfy shoes matter!). ✅ Prepare your pitch – Conferences are noisy—keep it concise and memorable so people actually hear you. ✅ Business cards – Be ready to share your contact info in multiple ways. ✅ Networking – It’s not just about booths and scheduled events. Your most valuable conversation might happen while waiting in line for coffee! ✅ Engage digitally – Share insights, tag speakers, and interact on social media while you're there. ✅ Attend sessions – Come early, stay late, and engage. ✅ Follow up fast – The best time to follow up? Same day. It keeps you top of mind. Overall: Focus on people, not products. Choose meeting people over everything else. And—have fun! ➡️ Swipe through the guide below and make your conference experience work for you!

Conference season is officially here… and my suitcase has basically become a second closet 😵💫 After attending more private equity conferences than I can count (and powering through some very long days), I’ve picked up a handful of tips and tricks I wish I'd known earlier. In case anyone else needed a few pointers, I thought it would be a great opportunity to share: -Complete your conference profile ahead of time. Especially your cell number. Being easy to reach is critical, and if someone can’t find you, the meeting often doesn’t happen. -Stay at the conference hotel if you can. Even if it is a bit more expensive, I usually find that it is worth it. Periodically popping back to your room to work, rest, change, or recharge makes the days much easier. -Comfort > fashion (at least a little). Block heels are my compromise. Your feet will thank you. -Leave quick voice memos after meetings. After 10+ conversations, details blur. Voice notes straight to the CRM are a lifesaver. -Stay in your normal time zone as much as possible. It is not always realistic, but I have found it makes getting back into work mode far less painful. I also love getting up early and fitting in a workout before the day starts. -When in doubt, say “nice to see you.” If you are unsure whether you have met someone before, “nice to see you” always works. “Nice to meet you” can get awkward fast. It happens to all of us. -Go to the after-hours events. That’s where connections turn into real relationships (which eventually lead to referrals!) -Block time for follow-up when you’re home. Organize your notes, reach out to everyone you met, and add them to your CRM. The sooner the better, while everything is still fresh. Early in my career, I sometimes questioned whether conferences were worth it. What I’ve learned is that the ROI compounds over time. The more you go, the more familiar faces you see. Familiar faces turn into friends. And those relationships naturally turn into business referrals. It has worked very well for me. Let me know if I missed anything. I’m always looking to level up my conference game and would love to hear the tips you swear by! #ConferenceTips #Networking #PrivateEquity #MiddleMarket #Recruiting #SoulEquity #WeBuildDealTeams

REAL TALK: How to leave NSBE26 with more than just free merch and a tote bag. Conferences like NSBE can genuinely change your life/college experience. But that ONLY happens if you prepare. Here are some tips I’m using and you should too⬇️ ⭐️Research the companies BEFORE you go Do not walk up to a recruiter and say “So what does your company do?” Pick about 10 companies you are genuinely interested in. Look at their internships. Understand what they do. Know why you are interested. ⭐️ Apply to roles before the conference DO NOT wait until the career fair to apply. Many recruiters will just tell you to scan a QR code or apply online anyway. Save yourself the time and apply to roles before the conference. Also try to pre register for company events or interviews if they offer it. Spots fill up fast. ⭐️Fix your resume NOW not the night before Your resume needs to be clear and easy to scan in about ten seconds. Focus on impact. What you built. What you researched. What you improved. Print multiple copies because you will run out. 🫵🏿PRINT THEM OUT NOW AND PUT THEM IN YOUR FOLDER ⭐️Practice introducing yourself Networking is just talking. But talking with purpose. Practice a short introduction about who you are and what you are interested in. [Name, Major, School, What you are passionate about building or researching] Confidence matters more than perfection. ⭐️Do NOT only go to the career fair Some of the best opportunities happen outside of it. Go to workshops Go to company hospitality suites Talk to students from other schools Some of the most valuable connections you will make are with other students who might later refer you. ⭐️Follow up after the conference If you had a good conversation with someone connect with them on LinkedIn. Send a quick message saying it was great meeting them at NSBE. …. When you walk into NSBE you are surrounded by thousands of brilliant Black engineers, innovators, researchers, and future founders…This is what community looks like. Ask questions, learn from people, and be curious You never know which conversation might change your future. See you all in Baltimore.🤗 #NSBE2026 #NSBE #NSBE26 #STEMCommunity #AdvancingSTEM

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.

Here's exactly what I'd do 30 days before a conference. Anastasiia tagged me in a post about conferences and it got me thinking about the actual strategy behind making them work. Most teams show up to a conference and hope to bump into the right people. You're basically crossing your fingers and hoping someone important walks by your booth. If you're sending a BDR to a conference or even just having them do outbound targeting people who are attending, here's how to actually maximize it. 30 days before the conference: Start building your target list. Use a Google sheet or whatever tracking system works for you. Track company name, prospect name, title, and whether you've reached out yet. Find out who's attending: 🔵 Scrape the speaker list from the conference website 🔵 Ask the organizers for an attendee list 🔵 Download the conference app and register your account to see who else is registered 🔵 Search LinkedIn for posts using the conference hashtag 🔵 Find Telegram, WhatsApp, and LinkedIn groups dedicated to the conference Now vet through that list. Identify who you want to meet. Start reaching out with the goal of pre-scheduling meetings. Don't wait until you're at the conference to try to set these up. Book them now. During the conference: Your team should have a full calendar before they even step foot at the event. Mix of new prospects, prospects you're already talking to, and existing customers. Find side events worth attending. Register for those too. Network as much as possible at every event. Why this matters: Out of every outbound channel you have, conferences are the easiest way to actually connect with people. Face to face. Real conversations. Not another ignored email or LinkedIn DM. But only if you do the work ahead of time. Don't show up hoping to get lucky. Show up with a plan and a full meeting schedule. Stay one step ahead of everyone else trying to get the same meetings.

Conferences like #KubeCon can be overwhelming. Hundreds of talks. Thousands of people. Infinite FOMO. If you try to do everything, you'll get very little out of it. Here's what's worked best for me: 1️⃣ Go in with intent • Don't treat the schedule like a buffet. • Pick 2–3 themes you care about (e.g., OpenTelemetry, platform engineering, AI SRE) and let everything else go. • Depth beats coverage. 2️⃣ Prioritize conversations over sessions Some of the best insights don't happen on stage. • Hallway conversations • Birds-of-a-feather sessions • After-talk questions • Impromptu whiteboard debates One great conversation can be more valuable than five talks. 3️⃣ Talk to people outside your role or company You already know how your org does things. Seek out: • Operators from different industries • People earlier in their careers • Maintainers and contributors • Folks who disagree with you That's where perspective comes from. 4️⃣ Capture ideas, not notes You won't remember everything. Write down: • Things that challenged your thinking • Problems you didn’t know you had • Ideas worth exploring when you’re back Slides fade. Insights stick. 5️⃣ Follow up while it’s fresh The real value often comes after the conference. • Connect on LinkedIn • Send a short "great to meet you" message • Share one takeaway with your team • Turn one idea into action Otherwise, it's just an expensive memory. 6️⃣ Leave space for serendipity Some of the best moments are unplanned. • Say yes to a coffee. • Join a last-minute dinner. • Wander the expo floor with curiosity. Not everything valuable is on the agenda. KubeCon isn't about consuming content. It's about expanding your thinking and your network. 💬 What's your best advice for making the most of a technical conference? #Conferences #OpenSource #EngineeringLeadership #CareerGrowth

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