Building a Diverse Network in the Creative Space

“I don’t know anyone in the industry.” Neither did I. Neither did most of us. But we got in. Not by knowing people. But by getting known. Let’s break the illusion that networking = coffee chats. Because if you're a May 2025 grad (especially an international student)... Time’s ticking, anxiety’s rising, and sending 100 resumes isn't enough. You need visibility. You need credibility. You need a connection. Here are creative networking strategies most people don’t discuss—plus how to do them. 1. Create a “Missing Manual” for Your Dream Role Instead of sending a cold message, create something they’ve never seen. How to do it: Research a company/role you're interested in (e.g., Marketing Analyst at Spotify) Find what skills, tools, or challenges are core to the role Build a 1-pager called: “What I Wish I Knew Before Joining [Team Name]” Write tips, links, tools, or ideas for someone in that role Send it as: “Hi [Name], I created this as a learning tool while researching roles like yours. Thought you might enjoy it—or even improve it. Would love to hear what you think.” Why it works: You’re not asking for a job. You’re showing value. And curiosity. 2. Make a “Portfolio Video” Breakdown of a Brand or Campaign Especially helpful for roles in product, strategy, UX, or marketing. How to do it: Pick a brand you love (or want to work for) Study one campaign, product, or feature they launched Record a 2-minute video: What worked What could be better What you do differently Post it on LinkedIn or send it directly to an employee there This shows critical thinking and industry fluency, without asking anyone to hop on a call. Some grads landed interviews this way before applying. 3. Interview 3 People... Then, Publish a Mini Guide People LOVE being featured. Even more than being asked for advice. How to do it: Pick a topic you want to learn about (e.g., “Getting into Product without a CS Degree”) DM 3 professionals and say: “Hey [Name], I’m creating a short guide for students breaking into [field]. Would love to ask 3 questions via email—takes 5 minutes. Would you be open?” Compile responses into a clean Notion or Canva doc Share it on LinkedIn and tag everyone Bonus: it builds your brand and your network. 4. Drop a Handwritten Note (IRL or Digitally) In a world of AI, everything, handwriting stands out. How to do it: Go to a local event, info session, or talk Afterward, write a thank-you note with 1 thing you learned If it’s virtual, write the same note and scan it as a PDF Email it to the speaker Subject line: “One Thing You Said That Stuck With Me” Nobody forgets the person who sends paper or care. Final Thought: You don’t need to be the most experienced. Just the most intentional. Get known for being someone who shows up. Because in the end… Jobs come from people. People connect to stories. And your story? Deserves to be told. #May2025Grads #InternationalStudents #NetworkingTips #CreativeCareerMoves #JobSearchHelp

For introverts (or shy extroverts like myself) in product management, building a broad and diverse network might seem challenging. But in a recent conversation with Su Belagodu, she insipired me with some ways to make it more approachable and rewarding. ✨ A strong network leads to more opportunities to learn, collaborate, and grow. It opens doors to career opportunities, new perspectives, and creative problem-solving while ensuring we stay connected in a field that can sometimes feel isolating—especially in smaller teams or companies. 🤝 Leverage Second and Third-Level Connections Focusing on second and third-level connections can make networking feel less daunting. Instead of cold outreach, ask for introductions from mutual connections. These “warm introductions” create familiarity and help break the ice. 👂 Be a Listener First Introverts excel at active listening, which is key to building meaningful connections. At networking events or online, focus on understanding others’ challenges before offering your perspective. It’s a great way to create an authentic connection. ☕ Utilize One-on-One Connections Instead of large events, focus on deeper one-on-one relationships. Casual coffee meetings or short Zoom calls allow for more intimate, focused conversations. ✍️ Use Content to Connect Sharing insights via articles or posts (like this one!) can establish your voice and spark conversations. It’s an organic way to build connections with like-minded individuals. Respond to commenters and connect with them. 💻 Join Online Communities and Slack Groups Introverts can thrive in niche online communities. Start with smaller, product management-specific groups where you can engage slowly and at your own pace. 📊 Focus on Quality, Not Quantity Instead of trying to meet everyone, focus on building a smaller, engaged network. Deeper relationships often yield better results. 🎨 Get Creative with Networking Explore networking activities that spur creative thinking and collaboration. Roundtable discussions, think tanks, or webinars are excellent ways to connect over shared interests, especially around impactful, inclusive product-building. 💡 Networking doesn’t have to feel forced. With the right strategies, it can be a rewarding and growth-inducing practice, even for introverts. I've been trying these, and not only is it working, but it's fun and rewarding. How do you build meaningful and diverse connections? I’d love to hear your thoughts! #ProductManagement #NetworkingForIntroverts #ListeningSkills #Community #BuildingMeaningfulConnections #Growth

Don’t fall into the narrow networking pit. Talk of diversity of views or ‘Fresh Eyes’, Is consistently everywhere. From the front lines to the C Suite. Except in most networking efforts. While there’s often lot of talk about networking being increasingly more important in an age of massive change and disruption, Most people still- Stay in their same lanes, With their same role charter, With their same industry, With their same ‘tribe’, With their local area, And we know why- that ‘relatability’ factor- People ‘like us’…. Here’s the problem with that. Once you’re 10-15 years into a career path, You already have had excessive access and exposure to those individuals and groups in your lane. You are in a form of an echo chamber of self Reinforcing ideas and beliefs… So the upside for well rounded outside the box type exponential growth is nominal. This may be fine if your desire is for more of the same…or to play it safe. But if your desire is - *To be memorable and unique, *To become wise beyond your years, *To become reinvigorated with fresh perspectives, *To be able to connect with, understand, and influence people of ‘all’ walks, *To be the one who brings truly fresh views and ideas into your bubbles and silo, *To have access to people and places you would normally never have direct access to, Then you should likely network completely the opposite of the ways everyone has traditionally done so. I can chalk every positive career and life navigation decision or jump in my career, To connecting with and learning from people completely outside of my tunnel vision silo. People some would argue I had no business wasting time with. Different ages, Different roles, Different views, Different industries, I am constantly shocked by the power of transferable knowledge that is available to any of us who are willing to look for it. The world needs more creative crossover. More people with more diverse views and perspectives. The specific and narrow skills are quickly being replaced. I firmly believe one of the things that will keep us ahead of the curve in this new world, Is how diverse our skill set, network, and knowledge/perspective base is. That does not happen without real intentionality, Real ‘outside the box’ authentic connections and experiences, And a really curious and wide open mind.

Pro tip if you want to get ahead in life: build your relationships through shared, purpose-driven activities. I’ve found that some of the most powerful relationships in my career, ones that have led to real revenue and meaningful opportunities, didn’t come from a “networking mixer.” They came from volunteering, or from being shoulder-to-shoulder with others at a philanthropic event. The FIRST article I ever read when I invented my own pasta sauce ten years ago was in the Harvard Business Review (linkedin in bio) that showed that shared activities, whether it’s volunteering, serving on a nonprofit board, or even something as simple as playing a weekly sport, create deeper and more diverse connections than traditional networking ever could. It's called the Shared Activities Principle. They unite people from different backgrounds around a common purpose, rather than clustering like-minded peers in the same echo chamber. At our dinners, we would get people to work together to create the meal, essentially inventing a container for shared activities for strangers to meet, to serve others. HBR wrote that if more than 65% of your network is made up of people you introduced yourself to, your network is probably too homogenous to bring you new ideas or opportunities. Shared activities break that pattern. When you volunteer, you’re meeting other people who also have a giving mentality. They’re givers by nature. Which means when life or business gets tough, those are the people most likely to show up for you. That’s not something you often find in a transactional cocktail-hour exchange of business cards. So here’s my invitation: Instead of another “networking event,” try joining a fundraiser, a Habitat for Humanity build, or a nonprofit board meeting. Invest your time in something that matters. You’ll not only serve a cause you care about, you’ll build a network rooted in generosity, trust, and shared purpose. For the leaders reading this, try sponsoring a volunteer day for your team. An entire day where your team still gets paid, but gets paid to do good. Bonus points if you can get folks from different teams that normally don't talk, to volunteer together. That's when cross-functional creativity, innovation, and mentorship occurs. P.S. If anybody has any ideas for volunteering in NYC, my DM's are always open. Me, Andy Ellwood, and John Vatalaro love volunteering on Saturday's at a Food Pantry in nyc, but would love so many more opportunities, please!