Building an external brain trust network

How I’m actually building my off-market AI talent network for R&D in Lifescience I'm not building a candidate pool. I'm building a network that moves before LinkedIn even notices. Here's how: 1- I’m tracking research labs, stealth startups, obscure preprints, way before these names ever hit headlines. I’m not waiting for resumes. I’m following the curiosity trails. 2 - Every first conversation is about them, not me. No pitch, no desperation. Just questions about what they’re solving, where they're stuck, and what frontier they want to reach next. 3 - I’m building through referrals that never show up online. A PhD mentor here. A former co-founder there. Real trust is not built in public. And most importantly: I’m not in a hurry. When you're working with off-market talent, speed kills trust. Real network building feels less like outreach, more like slow-motion cartography. It’s about spotting the hidden tectonic plates before they shift. This is what most people don't get about "building a talent network": It's not a project. It's an attitude.

Trust is not a feeling.. it is more of a system. In the art of gathering information through human sources and interpersonal communications (HUMINT), you need to BUILD TRUST with your assets and sources. That's obvious. And when you're handling a large network of assets and sources, it can become complex. Same things apply in business and networking. When I transitioned into business myself, I applied the principles and methods I've learned from my past experiences: - I mapped my network - I built relationships but I also classified them. ➡️ Who can you trust? You can't leave it to chance. So you assess, test, and qualify. And if you’re serious about surrounding yourself with high-value people, you should too. ➡️ The 5-step trust framework from HUMINT 1. Reliability: do they deliver? A: Always reliable B: Mostly reliable C: Sometimes reliable D: Known for inaccuracies 2. Access: do they really know what they claim? - Direct access: first-hand experience. - Indirect access: Knows someone who was there. - Speculative: guesswork, rumors, or assumptions. 3. Motivation (MICE): why are they helping you? - Money: are they transactional? - Ideology: do they believe in the same mission? - Coercion: are they pressured to comply? - Ego: are they helping for validation or status? If you don’t understand why someone is offering you something, you’re already compromised. 5. Handling relationships A valuable connection needs to be MAINTAINED. People need to be nurtured, managed, and continuously assessed. Because whether you’re closing deals, hiring talent, or forming partnerships, you need to know who’s solid, who’s weak, and who’s a liability. If you already implemented background checks or profilings, don't forget that they should be LIVING documents. Constantly evolving with the relationship. Can you detect liars easily? https://lnkd.in/d3sHptji 🪬 PS: If you’re new here, I’m Oriane, founder of OC Strategic Advisory (OCSA). I help leaders navigate the Grey Zone and complex environments using intelligence. X: @ocstrategic

Building a community around your customers isn't just smart—it's revolutionary. Here’s why: I integrate my clients into a community, fully aware that my knowledge has its limits. It's about weaving a web of connections, not standing alone. Collaboration exponentially increases the value, far beyond what any individual can offer. Envision a scenario where online fitness coaches, productivity experts, property buyers agents, gym owners and marketing gurus freely exchange their insights, creating a vibrant tapestry of shared knowledge. Even our risk and compliance director plays a pivotal role, ensuring our innovative concoctions have just the right flavour of excitement and safety. This communal space functions like an elite mastermind group, where every participant brings something to the table, enriching the collective wisdom. Moreover, when people are part of such a closely-knit community, they're less inclined to seek solutions elsewhere. The sense of belonging and mutual growth fosters loyalty and deepens engagement. Each interaction within this community acts like a neuron in an expanding brain trust. The more connections we forge, the more robust and intelligent our network becomes. How can your network evolve into a collective brain that not only empowers but retains its individual members by providing value and connection? Networking, in its essence, should transcend beyond compiling a contact list— it's about nurturing a community where every member feels too valued to look elsewhere.