Best Practices for Networking with Senior Professionals

I get a lot of messages from folks looking for support and guidance, whether it’s about growing a speaking career, advancing in a role, or starting a business. I've reached to folks too and been turned down or ignored plenty of times. In hindsight it's probably because I didn't follow these guidelines: 1️⃣ Be specific. Instead of “Can I pick your brain?” try something like, “I’m working on breaking into this industry and could use some advice on this specific challenge…” or “I’d love tips on structuring my keynote.” The clearer you are, the easier it is to help. 2️⃣ Be flexible. Someone recently told me, "I’ll meet you anywhere, anytime within 10 minutes of your house…”—and that kind of openness caught my attention. Remember, when you’re asking for someone’s time without cost, being flexible (and eager) goes a long way. 3️⃣ Be kind. It sounds simple, but a warm, genuine acknowledgment of someone’s time and expertise can mean a lot. Something like: "Hi [Name], I’ve been following you on LinkedIn, and your recent post about [topic] really resonated with me. I admire how you handle tough conversations. I’m facing a challenge at work and would love your thoughts. I promise to keep it under 10 minutes. I know this is a favor, so I’ll be as flexible as I can." 🌟 See how these three steps work? It’s about being specific, flexible, and appreciative. It makes it easier for the other person to say yes. 💡 Bonus tip: You don’t have to worry about offering something in return. Just be upfront about asking for a favor and express genuine gratitude. If this approach speaks to you, I hope it helps make your future networking asks a little easier!

I do a lot of networking with folks looking for advice and trying to figure out their careers. Here are the top things I wish folks would do when engaging with me: 1. Do your homework in advance. If your ask could've been done without talking to me, it should've been done beforehand. A LOT of people ask me for help with finding a job at NVIDIA yet they have not identified any specific role at NVIDIA relevant to them. You can browse NVIDIA's open roles before talking to me. If you haven't at least taken this step, I don't see value in giving you my time. 2. Make it easy for me. If I give you my time to meet, send me a calendar invite ASAP (surprisingly a lot of people don't do this). Be flexible with your schedule when scheduling with me. If there are wide swaths of time during which you can't meet with me, meeting with me is probably not that important to you. If it's not important to you, then why should it be important to me? 3. Do the work. Be specific. Go deep. If you have an ask, make sure you've put some thought and work into it. There is a decent amount of content about me and my company online. Understanding this and looking into it beforehand helps you and I get the most leverage out of our interactions. 4. What's in it for me? Good interactions are 2 way exchanges. People who very one-sidedly ask me for anything clearly do not understand this. A lot of the great mentors I had understood that I had a perspective into a world they weren't plugged into. They would ask and I would volunteer whatever insights were relevant to them. This made it worth their time. 5. Build relationships, not LinkedIn connections. Adding somebody on LinkedIn is easy. Therefore, it isn't differentiated and is thus low value. Sending somebody a LinkedIn connection request with a message is still easy, but it's actually much harder than without a message. And because of that, it's actually differentiated. But building a legitimate and genuine relationship with someone is truly different and challenging. And because of that, it's more likely to get a desirable outcome. The bulk of great relationship building does not happen on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a tool, not a destination. Understand this and know how to use it. 6. Know when to reach out. The absolute worst time to engage with me is after I have a LinkedIn post that gets a lot of traction. That's when everyone is reaching out to me. And given the volume, I am least likely to engage with someone whom I don't already know. The patient person realizes this. And remembers to engage me once things have settled down. This takes more effort, which is why it's so rare. These are just a few of my observations and advice for folks trying to network in general and on LinkedIn. It's doable, but it takes effort to do something different and unique. The more thoughtful you are and the more effort you put in, the more likely you are to become an Ace networker!

Aimless networking won’t get you an interview: If you’re reaching out to people with: ❌ “Hey, are you hiring?” ❌ “Can you refer me for a role?” ❌ “I need a job—can we chat?” Then, you’re doing it wrong. Networking isn’t about ASKING for a job. It’s about BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS that create opportunities. Here’s how to have networking conversations that actually lead to job interviews: 1️⃣ Start with Genuine Interest and Intention of Building the Relationship After some research on the connections, reach out with curiosity, not desperation. Example: “I admire your career path in [industry]. What are some challenges you’re seeing within this space?” 2️⃣ Focus on Their Experience People enjoy sharing their journey. Ask thoughtful questions: ✔ What expertise have you developed in this role? ✔ What are the 2 biggest challenges you’re working on now? ✔ What skills have been most valuable for finding workable solutions? 3️⃣ Share Your Value—Naturally Instead of asking for a job, share what you’ve been working on (or had success in) that is relatable. Example: “I’ve been leading [specific projects] and applying my expertise in [industry]. Sometimes that experience can be a solution to X (one of the challenges they mentioned). 4️⃣ End with a Soft Ask and offer to be a resource for them. Don’t force a referral—invite guidance. Example: “Based on what I’ve shared, who else in your network would be appropriate to be introduced to?” 5️⃣ Follow Up & Stay Visible Keep the relationship alive—send a thank-you note along with a resource for them. Engage with their content, and if you met with a person they referred,  update them on your progress. The best networking is an exchange. It’s strategic and relational. Networking can be challenging if you view it one way.  Make it mutual. Let me know in the comments if you agree that both parties need to benefit from networking conversations and how you prepare to make that happen.

Networking isn’t about asking for favors. It’s about adding value. Here's how to do it 👇 I know; you've heard this line 100 times. "Add value" when you network. But what does that tactically look like when you're a senior-level employee or established leader? The idea of reaching out can feel awkward, forced, or desperate, especially if small talk isn't natural. Here’s the truth: You don’t need to be a social butterfly to build a powerful network. You just need to be intentional. Here are a few ways to reconnect without feeling like you’re asking for a handout: 1. Send a ‘Congrats’ Note Someone just took a new role, spoke at a conference, or made the news? Acknowledge it. 👉 “Congrats on the new role! I’m sure you’ll have a huge impact. Let’s catch up soon.” 2. Ask for Insights, Not a Job People are more likely to respond to thoughtful, specific questions than to vague requests for help. 👉 “I’ve been watching trends in [X industry] and thought of you. Would love to get your perspective if you have a few minutes.” 3. Follow Up on a Shared Experience Did you bond over a project, conference, or mutual connection? Lean on that history. 👉 “I was just thinking about [shared experience]. How have things been on your end?” 4. Offer to Make an Intro Flip the script—be the connector, not just the contact. 👉 “I came across someone who might be a great partner for [project or initiative]. Would you like an intro?” _ _ _ Your initial goal is to START a conversation, Not to ask for something. The more you focus on benefiting them, the more natural the "networking" conversations become. When you DO ask for help, you’re not a line in their inbox—you’re a known, trusted connection. Have you tried any of these approaches? What's been working for you?

The secret to landing a $200K-500K role? Network like you don’t need one. After coaching 100s of professionals into jobs they love, one thing stands out: The best networkers don’t wait until they  need something. They build relationships year-round. Here’s what they do differently: 1. Target Their Weak Ties ↳ Opportunities often come from people you don’t know very well. 2. Ask for Advice, Not Jobs ↳ Curiosity builds trust faster than a request for help. 3. Lead with Your Value ↳ Start with what you can offer, not what you need. 4. Give Before You Get ↳ Small, thoughtful gestures pay big dividends later. 5. Build When You Don’t Need To ↳ Nurture connections when things are going well. 6. Master the Coffee Chat ↳ Focus on their story. Listen more than you talk. 7. Use the Double Opt-In ↳ Make it effortless for others to introduce you. 8. Stay Top of Mind ↳ Celebrate their wins. Share useful opportunities. 9. Create Your Board of Directors ↳ A small circle of trusted voices guiding your career. 10. Track Everything ↳ Remembering details makes every follow-up easier. Most people only network when they’re desperate. And it shows. Build when you’re content. Stay visible when you’re happy. Give without keeping score. Because the best time to network is right now. Reshare ♻️to help someone in your network. And give me a follow for more posts like this.