How to Connect with Tech Community Leaders

Want to network like senior leaders? Networking often gets a bad rep for feeling disingenuous and selfish. That’s because most of the time we network, it’s because *we* want something: a job, a referral, a client, etc. We go to mixers, set up coffee chats and spend our time trying to impress other people so that we can ask them for one of the aforementioned things we want. We are in a position of asking for something, of taking. To be clear, there’s nothing inherently wrong with this. We all have places in our careers where we feel like we take more than we give. Senior leaders do it differently though and so can you even if you are at the beginning of your career. #trustandsafety professionals, try this 1. Join the thriving slack communities for T&S. I’m a big fan of the Integrity Institute, All Tech Is Human, and Trust & Safety Professional Association channels 2. Go through their ask or questions channel, wherever people ask for advice 3. Scroll back 6 or so months and note every question that you have insight or expertise on 4. Then reach out to the people asking those questions and offer your insight and to talk with them on a call You immediately shift the dynamic from taking to giving. You shift from asking for things and telling someone how valuable you are to *showing* them how valuable you are by helping them solve a real problem. Still ask for referrals or connections when they are relevant, but focus on building those relationships by helping people first and you’ll get *much* stronger endorsements and referrals. What’s your favorite way to network? PS. If you like tips like this and want more, set up time with me using the link in my bio to chat about how I can help you get that #job in trust and safety and tech.

When I worked at a startup, I loved the people and culture was great but noticed leadership was homogenous … and there weren’t many women. I saw this as an opportunity to found an Employee Resource Group for women in revenue with the goal of building community to help women on the revenue team get promoted and build relationships with women to look up to. Here is how I found community from within my company while building relationships with mentors at other companies: 1. Focus on one community The real goal of building a network is joining a community. Communities can be based on industry/vertical or geography. You can track key opinion leaders in your areas of interest, engage with their content and start writing your own. When you're part of a community, ideas and information flows easily. You're one of the gang, so people feel comfortable sharing insights and experiences because it increases the value of the community. 2. After identifying a community, reach out In the beginning, your goal is to connect with one person in a community, and learn what they do. You'll want to do some basic research on the industry - market trends, which companies are leaders, what are new industry developments that are top of mind. This gives you topics to write about. But don't feel like you have to have all the answers - you're here to learn. But you're here to learn what a specific person does, so express curiosity about the person you're talking to. 3. Create triangles Ask new contacts in the community who else you should meet. Then meet them. You'll build triangle of relationships over time. You know Ryan, you know Kris, Ryan knows Kris. Ryan knows you know Kris, and Kris knows you know Ryan. These triangles form the basis of you joining the community and being part of the flow of exchange of ideas. 4. Help your community If there's a formal community, you can contribute through existing channels. A networking group might need people to present on topics you are knowledgeable on - you get a chance to show what you're learning and help others. For informal communities, you can make introductions to people who don't know each other. You can also help people by interviewing leaders and sharing job opportunities. 5. Be consistent Stay in touch with people. Pick a cadence that works for you and stick with it. You've done the hard work up front, now all you have to do is tend to your investment. If you want to stay in touch with people at scale, you can post on social media, run a newsletter, host a podcast. Even if there aren’t people like you in leadership at your company - you can build relationships with mentors in your community.

I used to be awful at networking. Then I discovered creative ways to add value that allowed me to connect with influencers, CEOs, and entrepreneurs. Here are 10 of my favorites: 1. Share a piece of their advice with your team, friends, or class (then tell them what you did). 2. Ask them for advice, then take action on it and follow up with your results. 3. Share recommendations for a common personal interest. 4. Consistently engage with their content on social media. 5. Offer to have them come speak to your team or class. 6. Write a valuable comment or post and tag them in it. 7. Ask to interview them for a blog post or podcast. 8. Write a recommendation for them on LinkedIn. 9. Make a mutually beneficial introduction. 10. Compliment them on a career change. The best part? Anyone can use these. No experience required.

Introverts, do you cringe at the thought of "networking"? You're not alone. I've had my moments too. But here's the secret: networking doesn't have to be a forced conversation at a loud conference.  Think of it as building connections, not conquering crowds. It's about finding people who share your interests, exchanging ideas, and creating a network of support.  Here are some examples from networking opportunities: ➡ SHARED INTERESTS Jessica Hoffman, CISSP - As tech professors, we enjoy seeing people learn and grow. Jessica is convinced we met before! Mary K. - Our interests in Tech and STEM led us to meet at a Tech summit then again at a Tech networking event. Brittany Jacobs - loved hearing Brittany's story as a Co-Founder of Jersey Shore Women in Tech. We also learned we both enjoy making realistic art over abstract art. ➡ EXCHANGING IDEAS Bobbie Carlton - I learned how to be a better speaker from Bobbie's talk at the Women in Tech Summit and learned about her journey in a one-on-one conversation. Tyler Powell - Tyler asked great questions about product management, and I shared tips on how to get started in the field. Kelsey Spencer - I shared ideas for networking events before Kelsey's internship begins. Jackée Clement, MD - We discussed the cognitive flexibility inherent in pivoting career paths. Nadia Clifford- We shared ideas to visually represent our multidimensional career paths as technology leaders. ➡ CREATING A NETWORK OF SUPPORT Char Mattox and Nefertete Williams, MPH - Attended #WITS24 together to support each other. Muffy Ashley Torres - We learned Sylvia Watts McKinney positively impacted both of our careers. Tatiana Carett, PT, MPH, MBA - We had a serendipitous meeting as fellow Consulting leaders with shared experiences and network connections. Tokunbo Quaye - We're fellow Tech leaders with lots of commonalities and are ecstatic to continue our conversation. Amber Robinson - Our initial conversation covered consulting and wildlife. After, Amber kindly shared positive feedback she heard in a virtual room I wasn't in. ➡ WHAT HAPPENS NEXT Networking is not a one-shot deal. It's about making new friends and building relationships. The above examples provide a basis to keep the conversation going by offering value and learning from each other. The rest will follow organically. What are your networking tips for introverts? #Networking #Introverts #CareerGrowth

𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘇𝗲 𝘂𝗽 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀? 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱. I’ve worked with dozens of tech Leaders who shine in technical conversations, but stall in simple conversations. Especially at senior-level events where networking feels more like a performance than a connection.   Imagine this scenario. You’re standing next to a Board Member. You both reach for the same appetizer. You smile and say nothing. Or you default to shop talk, missing the chance to build a human connection.   Small talk isn’t shallow. It’s a bridge. And like any other skill, it can be learned.   We developed the 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 to help Tech Leaders engage with confidence, without pretending to be someone they’re not. Here’s how it works: 𝗖 – 𝗖𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Notice something. Say something. Use the moment as a door: “Hey, I noticed your badge. Are you with the Austin team?” 𝗢 – 𝗢𝗯𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝘀𝗸 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 Low-stakes questions open high-value doors: “What brought you here today?” 𝗡 – 𝗡𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗧𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰 Go beyond job titles. Try: “What do you do for fun these days?” 𝗡 – 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 If they light up, go there. If not, pivot gracefully. 𝗘 – 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 Make it human. Consider, “That reminds me of when I…” 𝗖 – 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲 End warm—or go deeper. “Hope we chat again later.” “Sounds fascinating—tell me more!” 𝗧 – 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 Leave them with clarity or connection. “I’m going to grab a drink before the session starts.” “Are you on LinkedIn? Would love to stay in touch.”   You don’t have to be extroverted. You just have to be intentional. 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁. Follow me for more practical leadership tools that help you rise without pretending. #ExecutivePresence #LeadershipGrowth  #StrategicCommunication #SmallTalk