Making the Most of Engineering Meetups

Great leaders craft in-person meetups to fuel real connections, not fill real estate. They create a smart buzz, not mandatory stupidity! If you're not thinking connectivity first in your strategies, you're playing to lose. I’m breaking down connectivity into three must-haves. Get these right, and you're not just surviving the shift; you're owning it. 🔗 Known Strong Ties: Your team's glue isn't just about being best buds; it's about building a fortress of trust and collaboration. You engineer in-person meet-ups to involve workshops where ideas explode spontaneously, and hangouts that turn colleagues into comrades. Similarly the meetups should be designed for mentoring and apprenticeship. Whether it's a skip-level meet-and-greet or a coffee chat with someone whose career path reads like the mentee's personal wishlist, or chance to observe a senior pro in action, these moments are gold mines for insight, advice, and real-talk feedback (a key ingredient for trust and better collaboration). 💡 Unknown Weak Ties: These are the ties that not only bring new ideas to the table but might just spark a friendship or collaboration that transcends the professional. In-person visits or third-place team offsites shouldn't just be about mingling with the usual suspects. Foster an environment where bumping into someone outside your immediate work bubble isn't just luck—it's by design. Push for meet ups to be coordinated to allow different teams crashing into each other to cook up something new. 📈 Measure what Matters: Leverage People analytics (or whatever they’re called in your org) as your secret asset to integrate organizational network analysis (ONA) with sentiment data (surveys), to see impact of collaboration and connectivity patterns - are strong ties increasing, are new ties forming, how is the sentiment connected to how connectivity is evolving through in-person meetups. All of this has to be anonymized with strict privacy protocols else you lose trust. This is not just data; it's your treasure map to productivity, engagement, retention, and innovation. This isn't about filling calendars with forgettable meetups. It's about intentionally designing interactions that matter, that foster strong bonds, ignite diverse collaborations, and cultivate mentoring relationships that drive both personal and professional growth. What about you? When and how have in-person meetups been designed well for connectivity? (Thoughts shared here are my own perspective only and my advisory Belong & Lead). #leadership  #humanresources #future #futureofwork #management  #culture #peopleanalytics #diversityequityinclusionandbelonging #remote #hybrid #ONA

#Networking at #Conferences: My Lessons Learned 👇 After sharing some thoughts on hackathons recently, many of you asked about networking tips. As someone who's attended numerous conferences with my team, that's what I have to share: 1. #Prepare well in advance. Define your goals and your key messages for different audiences. This preparation sets the foundation for effective networking. 2. Be #flexible. While it's important to plan, be open to unexpected opportunities. There are often numerous side events, and your initial choices might change. E.g., an interesting person might say, "Hey, let's head to Tony's party!" And wow, you suddenly find yourself whisked away to an event you never planned for – these spontaneous moments can lead to the most valuable connections! 3. Set specific #goals before the conference. It helps focus your efforts (e.g. aim to connect with five potential partners or learn about three new industry trends). 4. Create a '#connection_card' game. Before the conference, make a list of 5-10 types of people you want to meet (Someone who's launched a successful app, A person who's worked in 3 different countries, etc.). Try to complete your card during the event. It's a fun way to diversify your networking and can lead to unexpected connections. 5. Keep your #intro brief and interesting. Aim for a few sentences that spark curiosity. Think of it as a conversation starter, not a sales pitch. 6. Don't just chase high-profile #contacts. Early-stage employees often have more time and practical insights to offer. 7. Have a short #video_demo of your product (ready to share quickly when needed). A 60-second demo can be more impactful than a lengthy explanation and easier to share on the spot. 8. Use the '#Sherlock_Holmes' approach. Before approaching someone, take a moment to observe. Do they have a unique accessory? Are they reading something interesting? Use these details as conversation starters. For example, "I couldn't help but notice your Raspberry Pi pin. Are you working on any cool IoT projects?" 9. Make your #contact info easily shareable: - A QR code as your phone background works well. It's a quick and modern way to exchange details without fumbling for business cards. 10. Take #photos with new connections to help remember conversations. It's a great way to jog your memory when following up and can help solidify the connection. 11. #Follow_up a few days after the conference, not immediately when everyone else is. Your message is more likely to stand out and be remembered if you wait a bit. These approaches have helped me build genuine connections rather than just collecting business cards. What strategies work well for you? I'm always looking to learn more. 🖇 PS: See you soon, Singapore! #Networking #conferences

Some people walk into a networking event and own the room. Handshakes, big laughs, effortless conversation. That’s never been me. As an introvert, I don’t get energy from crowds—I lose it. But that doesn’t mean I avoid networking. It just means I do it differently. Here’s how I’ve made networking work for me, both in critical care pharmacy and real estate investing: 1. Don’t meet everyone—meet the right people I go in with a plan. Five people max. The goal? Quality over quantity. A real conversation beats 20 forgettable introductions. 2. Skip the elevator pitch—ask good questions People love talking about themselves. Instead of trying to impress, I stay curious. "What’s been the most exciting part of your work lately?" This keeps the conversation natural and makes you memorable. 3. Make the follow-up easy A quick message after the event—personal, simple, to the point. "Great meeting you today. Let’s stay in touch." No pressure, just connection. 4. Know when to leave I don’t force myself to “stick it out” until exhaustion kicks in. Once I’ve had meaningful conversations, I’m done. That’s success. Networking isn’t about being the loudest in the room. It’s about being intentional. And introverts? We’re built for that. If you’ve ever felt drained by networking, try this approach. It changed everything for me.

8 tips to get the most out of GROW NY and The Lead Innovation Summit next week. 👇 Through a lot of trial and error, we’ve developed a strong playbook    💰 Book meetings,    💰 Create pipeline    💰 Generate revenue As a new product category, no one is looking for Brij. So we go to events to meet people and teach them about what we do. It’s all about preparation. The more you prepare, the more successful you will be. Use these 8 hacks to make your time at events more productive. 1️⃣ Find out who is attending Map out the companies and people that are high-target and prioritize those first. 2️⃣ Send pre-conference messaging to set up meetings We’ll take that contact info and load them into cadences in outreach tools. We share some info and ask for a short meeting. Make sure to send a calendar invite. It’s another reminder of Brij. Exchange phone numbers because some events are crazy busy and last-minute changes happen or it's just hard to find people at a big tradeshow. 3️⃣ Be efficient with your meeting time At the event, you have a short time to pitch, qualify, and figure out the next steps The goal is to get a demo meeting and ideally schedule it in that meeting. I come away from every conversation with something to remember from our conversation. I also take a selfie with them. I keep a running note in my Apple notes app and the add photos directly into the note so I can remember who I met. 4️⃣ Don’t get stuck. It’s easy to lose precious time caught up in long conversations with the wrong people. I ask early qualifying questions to determine if it makes sense to talk more about Brij. If not a fit, I politely thank them for their time and quickly end the conversation - saving valuable time for both of us. 5️⃣ Bring your extroverted self. It can be extremely uncomfortable to strike up conversations with complete strangers, but networking is part of the entire purpose of conferences. I find it helpful to kick off a conversation by asking the person I’m approaching about their role. I wit with random people during lunch and breaks - it’s an easy way to initiate conversation. 6️⃣ Choose your outfit wisely Wear something memorable but comfortable. We have blue jumpsuits with the Brij logo on front and back. If it's a more formal event, I have a few go-to outfits that are easy to remember. 7️⃣ Hustle to find invites to post-conference events During the show, I’ll ask people about their plans for later and if I can tag along. These more relaxed settings are often a better way to build deeper relationships. 8️⃣  Immediately follow up. Linkedin request and send a short note that day. Email for the following week after the conference. I use my detailed notes to send a relevant and personalized follow-up, mentioning specific things we discussed in our conversation and including selfie pictures ASAP. —- How do you use your time at conferences and trade shows most productively? #events #networking