Networking In Education

If networking makes you anxious, here’s one of my favorite confidence shortcuts: Confidence comes from purpose. When I used to go to big conferences, the breaks were the hardest part. Everyone wandering around, trying to figure out who to talk to… and I’d freeze. So I gave myself a simple purpose: Get in line. Any line. I’d stand in the longest Starbucks line, grab a tiny coffee, then get in another line for a snack, then another line for a treat. Every time I stood in line I talked to the person ahead of me or behind me (whichever one seemed less interested in their phones). And it worked. I ended up meeting dozens of people this way. Lines give you a gentle, built-in way to talk to people without the pressure of walking up cold. I’d say something simple, “Learn anything cool at this conference so far?” This worked super well for quickly getting to do a chemistry check with someone. If it worked, we would sit down together or take a walk. If not, we wished each other well. But the real magic trick is this: After you get your coffee or snack, stand near the spot where people step out of the line. That moment when someone turns back toward the room — drink in hand, scanning for who to talk to — that’s your opening. You can make it super easy and warm: • “Love that coffee. Is it good?” • “What brings you here today?” • “Such a fun event, right?” They’re relieved someone spoke first. You’re relieved you had a purpose. And the conversation flows naturally. It becomes a win-win. Networking doesn’t have to feel scary. It just needs purpose. At your next event: • Find a line • Chat with the people around you • Say hello to the person who steps out next It’s one of the easiest ways to have great conversations without forcing a single moment.

T.A. Pai Management Institute in Manipal is driving executive education for Coca-Cola, ITC, and Adani Group, ensuring that data-backed insights shape consumer-driven strategies. Amity University and Symbiosis International University are deeply involved in industry projects with Reliance Retail, Bharti Airtel, HDFC Bank, and Deloitte, reinforcing the importance of faculty-led corporate training as a crucial driver of business excellence. Yes, corporate training modules, methods and execution models are changing. 📌 The traditional model of corporate learning—where we always invite industry leaders to universities—is changing. It’s time we reverse the practice and send our best faculty members to conduct executive education programs at the world’s top organizations. The future of education and corporate learning lies in Faculty-Led Corporate Training—where our educators, researchers, and faculty members step into corporate boardrooms, leadership summits, and executive training programs to empower industry leaders with cutting-edge knowledge, research-backed insights, and transformative skills. Why Faculty-Led Corporate Training? 📌 Professors bring decades of academic research, case studies, and analytical insights that can transform corporate decision-making.📌 Premium Institutions have designed executive education programs that focus on business strategy, leadership, innovation 📌 Unlike generic corporate training, faculty-led programs use case studies, problem-solving workshops, and real-world simulations. 📌Faculty trained executives adopt multi-sector strategies by applying academic principles to corporate environments. Let me share examples of some of the institutions who have already adopted this practice. 📌 Internationally, London Business School is equipping leaders at Barclays, HSBC, BP, Shell, and British Airways with expertise in private equity, digital marketing, and risk management. 📌 The National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University are working closely with Singapore Airlines, DBS Bank, and Temasek Holdings to enhance corporate capabilities in data science, risk management, and global trade. 📌 China Europe International Business School is at the forefront of corporate learning for Alibaba, Huawei, Tencent, and BYD Auto, ensuring that technology-driven business ecosystems continue to thrive. 📌 IIMs and IITs are actively shaping the leadership terrain by training CXOs, MDs, and senior professionals from Tata Group, Infosys, Wipro, L&T, Mahindra, HCL Technologies, TCS, Tata Steel, ONGC, Reliance, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, Flipkart, and Aditya Birla Group. With a strong focus on leadership, business strategy, financial modeling, data analytics, AI, and global trade policies. It’s time to empower faculty to step outside the campus, conduct corporate training at the national and international level. Tag to those academic Institutions you know who have adopted such practices.

Investments in people will not only help you to achieve your organizational goals, but it will create a culture of trust and encouragement. I was inspired by this recent blog from Laura Bernhard, PhD at California Competes about a recent initiative at San Diego Mesa College in preparing faculty for the growing demands of online instruction, and doing so by investing in the professional growth of those faculty. https://lnkd.in/gNb7SE_2 We did something similar at San Mateo County Community College District during the pandemic. Courses moved online, and there was a recognition that homegrown, project-based professional development was the key for our faculty. But what determined if someone was faculty? Tenure or tenure-track? Contingent/adjunct? Lecturer? Middle College? Dual enrollment? If you were to tease out the entirety of the group, the # of faculty reached close to 1000, more than 3x the number if we just stayed with traditional 'tenure/tenure-track' thinking. What did we do? We invested in people. We amended an existing four-week online teaching course. We aligned instructional designers and faculty support coaches to be onboarding courses every other week. We kept the faculty coaches available after the work was done. We made the course cumulative; the lessons of Week 1 were applied in practice in Week 2, and the theory of Week 2 was practiced in Week 3...so by the end of Week 4 the faculty had not only been certified in online education but had built *more than 80% of an online course* - and all of this in 25 hours! Oh yeah, and we funded it too. Learners were compensated. Support faculty were compensated. Designers were compensated. It was expensive. But by the end of the 2020 Summer, more than 85% of *ALL* instructors in the San Mateo County Community College District had successfully completed the course - tenure, adjunct, high school dual enrollment teacher, etc. By the end of the Fall, that number was above 90%. Learning is predicated by presence. The presence of the online committee and district leadership that resulted in the high-price decision to fund people not products resulted in a culture change, a recognition of the online environment and a presence in those spaces for students, for each other, and for the broader community.

This is especially for the academic conference warriors! Can you believe it's that time of year again? Yep, the #AcademyOfManagement conference season is just around the corner, and I can already smell the coffee and picture the sea of name tags worn by brilliant management scholars and practitioners from across the globe. But before you jump on your plane – are you actually ready for this conference? I mean, really ready? I used to think I was prepared just because I remembered to pack my laptop and a stack of business cards. Oh, how naive I was! 😅. So, let me share my ultimate AOM conference prep checklist. Trust me, this goes way beyond remembering to pack your laptop, an extra phone charger, and your presentation slides (though that's important, too!). 1. Read the program strategically ↳ Identify key sessions, PDWs, and symposia in your research area or the ones you're interested in. Plan your schedule, but leave room for serendipitous discoveries! 2. Craft your research elevator pitch ↳ Prepare a 30-second summary of your current research focus. Keep it short, simple, and engaging - your goal is to spark curiosity and invite further discussion! 3. Update your socials and academic profiles ↳ People will look you up. So, ensure your LinkedIn, university page, Google Scholar, and ResearchGate profiles are current. 4. Prepare thoughtful questions ↳ For each session you plan to attend, prepare at least one insightful question. It's a great way to engage and be remembered. 5. Set strategic networking goals ↳ Identify potential collaborators or mentors you want to connect with. Research their work and plan your approach. It helps if you can email them in advance to set up a meeting 6. Pack your digital toolkit ↳ Have relevant papers, your presentations, and a digital business card on your devices. You never know when you may need them! 7. Plan for self-care ↳ Conferences are intellectually intense, not to mention the socials. Schedule breaks, find quiet spots, and don't forget to hydrate! Bonus point: remember not to drink too much in those socials! 8. Be Authentic ↳You'll find yourself in a room filled with superstars and research idols. Some might even walk past you on the street. Always stay calm, say hello if you want to, smile, and most importantly, be yourself! Remember, you're human first and a scholar or practitioner second. Authenticity can lead to more meaningful connections than any rehearsed pitch or trying to force connections. What's your top AOM conference preparation tip? Share below and let's learn from each other! See you in Chicago! ---------- If you find this helpful, ♻️ share it to help someone. #AOM2024 #ManagementResearch #AcademicNetworking #ConferencePrep #AcademicLife #NetworkingTips #ResearchCommunity

Conferences used to drain me. As an introvert, I would stand awkwardly holding a coffee, wondering how everyone else made networking look so easy. Here are 5 hacks that helped me—and might help you too: 1/ Create Your Personal Energy Zones: Don’t try to network the whole time. Set specific "on" times for socializing and give yourself "off" breaks to recharge. The key isn’t to stay active but to be strategic about when you are. 2/ Be a Connector, Not a Networker: Shift your focus from trying to meet people for yourself to helping others connect. It’s less stressful, and you'll be remembered as someone who brings value. 3/ Use "Curiosity Openers": Instead of preparing boring questions, try asking what excites them about their work or what drives them. It turns small talk into meaningful conversations. 4/ Leverage Your Quiet Presence: You don’t have to be loud to make an impact. Own your silence. Sometimes, standing calmly in a room of chatter makes you more approachable and memorable. 5/ Network After the Event is Over: Some of the best connections happen in the follow-up. Use LinkedIn or email to deepen conversations after the initial meeting, where it’s quieter and more personal. Networking doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By embracing our strengths, we can build meaningful connections. == P.S.: What are your go-to networking tips? Share them in the comments! #introvert #personaldevelopment #networking

Attending a conference? To increase the ROI from your time, effort, and money - it's important to 1) prepare ahead of time, 2) craft a game plan, 3) stay engaged during the event, and 4) take proactive steps afterward to maximize professional growth and connections. Below and attached are some key tips and a roadmap of to dos to maximize results from conference attendance. ➡️ Prepare Before Your Go: - Define clear goals for attending the conference, such as networking, learning, or scouting new opportunities. - Review the event schedule and identify sessions, speakers, and networking events relevant to your objectives. - Research attendees and, if possible, reach out for pre-conference meetings or introductions. - Prepare an elevator pitch to describe yourself succinctly and bring business cards, or digital equivalents, for easy information exchange. ➡️ Be Ready to Maximize Your Experience: - To expand your network, attend both formal sessions and informal events, such as coffee breaks, dinners, or social activities. - Attend a variety of session formats to broaden your learning, from workshops to panels and lectures. - To cover more ground, consider distributing your team among parallel sessions and share notes afterward. - Throughout the event, take notes on key takeaways, interesting contacts, and actionable tips. - Use the conference app or social media to connect with other attendees and keep track of sessions and people you meet. ➡️ Network Effectively: - Approach new contacts genuinely and avoid overly sales-focused conversations. - Refer to name tags for personalized introductions and ask follow-up questions to foster meaningful dialogue. - Be a giver: offer assistance to others and share insights from sessions to start conversations. - Be ready to end conversations politely and move on as needed. ➡️ Post-Conference Actions: - As soon as possible after the event, review and organize your notes on sessions and contacts. - Summarize and share insights, key takeaways, and resources with your team or network to extend conference value. - Follow up with new contacts via LinkedIn ASAP, and later via email to continue professional relationships. - Take time to reflect on your original goals for attending and whether attending the conference helped you achieve them, then plan for improvements at future events. - Rest and recharge as needed: balance intense participation with self-care. When approached intentionally and actively, attending a conference is a valuable opportunity for professional development and networking. With solid preparation, engaged participation, and strategic follow-up, anyone can turn a single event into long-term benefits and connections! Please share other tips in the comments. Thx! #businessdevelopment #marketing

"Imagine a university course where learning echoes across a global professional network." That’s what happens when LinkedIn becomes part of the curriculum. Over the past year, I’ve integrated LinkedIn into my courses, and the results have been transformative. Why LinkedIn? LinkedIn is more than a networking platform. It is a dynamic learning environment where students can: ✔️ Engage with real-world business challenges ✔️ Build their personal brand ✔️ Interact with industry leaders ✔️ Gain immediate, real-world feedback Here’s what I am using LinkedIn for: 1. Weekly Reflections & Micro-Learning Posts 2. Collaborative Learning Through LinkedIn Groups 3. Real-World Projects with Industry Feedback 4. LinkedIn Live Sessions with Industry Experts 5. Building Professional Portfolios The Bigger Picture This approach aligns with the university's knowledge-sharing mission and industry engagement. Every post and discussion amplifies the university’s visibility, attracting prospective students and strengthening ties with the business community. What’s Next? Here are some additional ideas on using LinkedIn in courses: 💡Peer Reviews via LinkedIn Articles: Students publish drafts as articles and invite constructive feedback from classmates and professionals. 💡LinkedIn Polls for Research: Students use polls to gather real-world data for course projects. 💡 Case Study Debates: Teams debate business cases in LinkedIn comments, with industry professionals weighing in. Are you using LinkedIn in your courses? It would be great to share examples and ideas for innovative use cases in the comments! #EducationInnovation #LinkedInLearning #Universities #HigherEducation #ProfessionalDevelopment

Cross-disciplinary learning works because principles that solve problems in one field often solve similar problems in another. The challenge is recognizing the pattern underneath the different context. If you need better focus, look at surgeons or pilots. Better collaboration? Orchestras or sports teams. Better systems for managing complexity? Look at how air traffic control coordinates multiple moving parts without central command. Pick one book this quarter from an unrelated field. Read with a question in mind: "What principle here could I test in my work?" Talk to someone whose expertise differs completely from yours. Ask what makes something work in their domain. Listen for the underlying principle, not just the surface practice. When something works well elsewhere, ask what makes it effective and test whether that principle addresses your challenge. The solution might already be proven… just not in your field yet.

This week a student at UCI asked me about networking events. To him, even the ones among students feel awkward. People don’t act natural, he said. They just show up and brag about themselves.   As we talked, it became clear that events weren’t the only issue. In his “Zoom generation,” as he put it, everything is scheduled. There is a time for this and a time for that. In each setting, you are expected to do certain things. The structure makes you feel bound by certain standards of conduct, real or assumed.   I shared with him two thoughts:   First, people are people. Meeting them at a networking event isn’t much different from other social activities. They may act tense and oddly formal, because they are uncomfortable. But if you act natural yourself, it may help them loosen up. Bring the energy you want, and often it will be reciprocated.   Second, go beyond the structured activities. You may meet them at a networking event or on a virtual call. But take it offline. Continue the conversation outside. Meet them for lunch or coffee. Go biking or play basketball together. You will see each other as people – even as friends – not just titles and labels.   Networking is not just about events or scheduled activities. It’s a mindset in how we engage with others. #networking #ElementsofNetworking #highered

I recently go asked "what is one thing that no one tells you about networking when you're an international student?" When I came to the U.S. 6 years ago to study Data Science, I had no idea how important networking would be for my career. Coming from Spain, I thought hard work and a good resume would be enough. Spoiler: it wasn’t. As an international student, job hunting comes with extra challenges: visas, sponsorships, and navigating a system that sometimes feels overwhelming. But here’s the truth: networking changed everything for me. Here’s what worked: 1️⃣ Reaching out to alumni: - I was at Suffolk University in Boston, and I used LinkedIn to connect with alumni in Data Science. At first, it felt awkward—what could I possibly say? But I learned this: people love sharing advice when you ask the right questions. Instead of asking for jobs, I asked about their journeys, challenges, and advice. Those conversations didn’t just lead to referrals; they gave me confidence and clarity. 2️⃣ Leveraging LinkedIn: - LinkedIn became more than just a job board. I posted about projects I was working on, shared my thoughts on the industry, and commented on others’ posts. Over time, recruiters and professionals in my field started noticing me. 3️⃣ Attending industry events: - From local meetups to webinars, I treated every event as a learning opportunity. The key wasn’t handing out resumes—it was making meaningful connections. One conversation at a career fair even led to an internship that shaped my path. Looking back, I realized networking isn’t just about getting a job—it’s about building relationships. As an international student, those connections helped me navigate a career system I didn’t grow up in, and they became my biggest advantage. What’s your go-to strategy for networking? Let’s share tips below—I’d love to hear what’s worked for you!