Networking Insight

Why Do You Attend Networking Events?

Each month, it is a good idea to meet new people and to nurture your existing relationships. One way to accomplish this is to attend business networking events. It is important to be consistent each month so you are visible in your community. Find new events to attend to expand and diversify your network.

One of the best reasons to attend an event is so you can reconnect with people who you already know. The more that you interact with some of these people the better your relationship will become. As a result, they will become a regular part of your network.  Visibility is extremely important so you are top of mind with others.

Also, by attending events, you will have the chance to meet new people. You may get introduced by those who you already know or you may just meet people on your own. Either way, it is a good idea to add new people into your business world. Follow-up after the event to get to know some of the people whom you meet. Your network will naturally grow as you get to know new people.

Another reason to attend an event is to share your expertise with others. When you speak with people they will get to know more about you and soon you will be branded as a subject matter expert. The more you get in front of others the more you will be a known business professional.

Why do you attend networking events?

 

How to Connect with Important Individuals at a Conference

At conferences, there is often an imbalance of networking opportunities. Many believe speakers and/or sponsors are the people who they need should meet.  As a result, a long line usually forms with people waiting to meet certain individuals. Meanwhile, there are other people in the room who are by themselves waiting and wanting to talk to other attendees. These people are often the gems in the room, hidden in plain sight.

The Founder and Managing Director of Fearless Revival has created unique event networking strategies. Recently he shared the following tip:  "After a session ends, introduce yourself to the audience member who asked the most interesting question. The panelists will be up there for a while so you don't lose by doing this, you only gain. I'm amazed at how often that person is as fascinating as the speaker(s)!", says CEO advisor and keynote speaker David Dalka.

David said that this technique has led him to meet startup founders both pre-launch and post-exit, senior executives at Fortune 500 companies, and journalists. He has met some very interesting people this way. 

Many times, you may be the only person in the room who will connect with the individual who had asked the question. Your post conference follow-up with this person will be easier to schedule a meeting or call in part because the individual received fewer business cards than the keynote speaker. Also, your interaction at the conference with this person was most likely more memorable and more meaningful.

Consider introducing yourself to the person who asks the most interesting question at a conference. You often will be glad that you did.

Top Reasons to Attend 2015 Greater Chicago Networking Extravaganza

 

• 13th event in the series – Long-running-event series with a successful track record that has brought hundreds of people together to connect and learn for the past 10 years. This version of the GCNE will focus on how to leverage relationships to start, build and grow a company.  And along with the way you'll learn how to increase brand awareness, sales and career success through the art and science of networking.

• Seasoned hosts – Event is co-produced and co-hosted by Lillian Bjorseth and Jason Jacobsohn who are synonymous with relationship building and connecting entrepreneurs and other professionals in the Chicago area. Lillian is a nationally renowned face-to-face networking authority and author of Breakthrough Networking: Building Relationships That Last.  Jason is well known in the Chicago area as a “connector” for entrepreneurs, veteran panel facilitator and director of the Founder Institute.

• Successful entrepreneur panel - A panel of successful entrepreneurs will share the vital role that relationships played and continue to in the growth of their businesses and individual well-being. Already confirmed is Gary Rabine, founder and CEO of the Rabine Group, a group of facilities maintenance companies that are leaders in the paving, roofing, snow removal and fuel distribution industries. Also sharing her information is Genevieve Thiers, whose company, Sittercity.com, is America’s first online caregiving service, which has millions of users nationwide and serves hundreds of corporate clients. In addition, we are featuring Thaddeus Wong, co-founder of @properties, the largest independently owned residential real estate brokerage firm in Illinois and one of the 25 largest brokerage firms in the U.S. by sales volume.

• Grow your network – During the event, you will have the chance to network with entrepreneurs and seasoned professionals during our structured and open networking time. Mingle with sponsors that have products and services to assist you and help your business grow. You are guaranteed to meet 10 or more new people with whom who can start to build relationships. 

• Enhance your relationship building skills – During the event, you will acquire valuable face-to-face and online networking tips and techniques. You will learn how the right relationships can add immeasurably to your success.  In addition, you will gain skills and confidence that you can transfer to other networking opportunities.

For more details about the 5/14 event, go to www.greaterchicagonetworking.com

 

Greater Chicago Networking Extravaganza - May 14

 

Below are details for my annual event. This year's event is focused on entrepreneurs.

Greater Chicago Networking Extravaganza

May 14, 2015

5:30-8:45pm

TechNexus, 20 N. Wacker, Suite 1200, Chicago

Relationships are crucial to finding customers, partners, advisors, capital and peers with whom to share the journey. The 13th version of the GCNE will focus on how to leverage relationships to start, build and grow a company. And along with the way you'll learn how to increase brand awareness, sales and career success through the art and science of networking.

 

You'll start and end the evening with open networking. In between, you'll hear from Lillian Bjorseth, co-host and nationally renowned face-to-face networking authority, who will share the importance of a relationship-building plan to help you network strategically and systematically to meet the right people.

A panel of successful entrepreneurs will share the vital role that relationships played and continue to in the growth of their businesses and individual well-being.  Moderator is Jason Jacobsohn event co-host and veteran panel moderator for the entrepreneurial and technology communities.

Panelists

- Gary Rabine, Founder & CEO, Rabine Group

- Genevievie Thiers, Founder, Sittercity

- Jason Jacobsohn, Director, Founder Institute (moderator)

Sponsors: TechNexus, Inbox

 

To sign up or inquire about sponsorship opportunities, go to www.greaterchicagonetworking.com

 

Founder Night Out in Chicago - 9/9

The Founder Night Out is a fun, social event where you can meet local entrepreneurs and technology CEOs, and share your business ideas and aspirations with like-minded peers. Meet the local Director as well as Mentors and Graduates. Join us for drinks and some startup networking! 

Sponsors

DESIGNATION - Full-time, full-immersion, full-stack design bootcamp. Over 18 weeks, students learn digital design, front-end development and user experience (UX), and build their portfolios by working with live clients on real world projects.

Early Growth Financial Services - Provides a complete suite of outsourced financial services, from high-level financial strategy to day-to-day accounting, taxes, and valuation.

mLevel - Casual learning platform that represents a new paradigm in enterprise learning and skills mastery: fun and engaging games that can be played anytime, anywhere and from nearly any device.

Event Details

Date: September 9, 2014

Time: 6:00-9:00PM

Location: DESIGNATION, 1440 N Dayton St, #203, Chicago

For more details and to register, go to http://fi.co/e/24411

Making the Leap from Employee to Entrepreneur Event in Chicago - 8/13

The Founder Institute is the world’s largest entrepreneur training and startup launch program, helping aspiring founders across the globe build enduring technology companies. Join us in partnership with Flank 5 Academy for an opportunity to find out what it takes to make the leap from employee to entrepreneur. Do you want to start your own technology company, but don't know where to get started? You are not alone. Every day millions of people got to jobs they don't enjoy, but few do something about it. At the “Employee to Entrepreneur” event, you can hear the stories, tips, and best practices of those who left their jobs to pursue their own startup company. Listen to the experiences of people just like you that have made the transition, and discuss any questions or concerns that you have. How do you know if you have a good idea? What are the first steps in an entrepreneurial journey? Join us for a fun evening!

Panelists include Founder Institute mentors Lou Morales (Co-Founder, Optyn) and Seyi Fabode (Co-Founder, Power2Switch) and graduates Reva Minkoff (Founder, DigitaGroundUp) and Chris Motley (Co-Founder, Better Weekdays). Facilitator is Todd Connor who is the Co-Founder of Flank 5 Academy, which is a complete, step-by-step, 10 week Professional Transformation Incubator that brings together business strategy and cutting-edge psychology to help people launch new businesses and new careers. In addition, Todd is the CEO of The Bunker Incubator, which assists veteran entrepreneurs. Sponsors are Grind and Jenner & Block.

Event Details

August 13, 2014

5:30-9:00PM

Grind, 2 North LaSalle Street, 14th Floor, Chicago

For more details and to register http://fi.co/e/17931

Founder Night Out in Chicago - 8/5

The Founder Night Out is a fun, social event where you can meet local entrepreneurs and technology CEOs, and share your business ideas and aspirations with like-minded peers. Meet the local Director as well as Mentors and Graduates. Join us for drinks and some startup networking!  The evening is hosted and sponsored by Forum Coworking, a new executive coworking space in the West Loop. Forum helps entrepreneurs reach new levels of business via superior work space technologies, amenities, location, and access to integrated services through a membership community.

Date: August 5, 2014

Time: 6:00-9:00PM

Location: Forum Coworking, 1035 W. Lake Street, Chicago

For more details and to register, go to http://fi.co/courses/17911

The Chicago Autumn 2014 Semester is now accepting applications. The final application deadline is 9/14. For more information and to apply, go to http://fi.co/join

Founder Institute Information Session - 7/24

Founder Institute Information Session

The Founder Institute is the world’s largest entrepreneur training and startup launch program, helping aspiring founders across the globe build enduring technology companies. Join us for a informational event where you can meet the local Director, mentors, and graduates to ask questions, and learn how you can launch a startup with the Founder Institute's help. What is it like to be in the Founder Institute? Who are some of the peers that you will be working with? Can the Institute help you build your dream company? Venue sponsor is Holland & Knight.

Event Details
Date: July 24, 2014
Time: 5:30-9:00pm
Location: Holland & Knight, 131 South Dearborn Street, 30th Floor, Chicago

To register, go to http://fi.co/e/17941

The Chicago Autumn 2014 Semester is now accepting applications. For more information, go to http://fi.co/join.

Host Events to Bring Your Network Together

In addition to attending events to meet you new people, it is important to consider hosting your own events. By doing so, you will be able to bring your network together and meet new people as well.

By organizing your own event, people will see you as an expert on the subject. Pay special attention to the type of event that you host so it enhances your personal brand.

Invite your network to attend. Many of them will attend to support you and because they will be curious about what you have organized.

If you have a speaker event, then consider inviting a person in your network to speak at the event. Depending the topic and individual, you could have this person be the keynote. So, when you market the event, you can highlight this person.

By marketing a speaker as the main draw, you will further build your relationship with this individual. In return, this person will promote the event to his/her network and generate additional interest.

In addition, new people for you to meet will attend your event.  So, you will expand your network with people who are connected to certain people in your network.  Also, if you promote the event publicy, then new people will naturally attend as well.

As a continual relationship builder, you should always be looking for ways to grow your network. Hosting your own events will make you very visible and bring people to you.

If you like this blog post, then subscribe via email or RSS feed.

 

Startup Ideation Bootcamp in Chicago - 6/24

You have an idea for a startup, but don't know what to do next? In just three hours, the Founder Institute's Startup Ideation Bootcamp will help you improve your idea, come up with new ideas, determine the next steps, and even recruit potential co-founders. This intensive, collaborative workshop begins with talks by an innovation expert and startup founder designed to teach you the components of good and bad startup ideas. For example, is your market big enough, is there organic growth potential, and a clear path to profitability? Then, attendees can share their ideas with both experts and peers to receive constructive feedback. Join us for a fun evening!  Speakers include: Dave Sonders, Partner, Gravitytank and Dave Culver, Co-Founder, Forward Momentum. After the event, we will go out for drinks at English (444 N. LaSalle Dr).

Event Details
Date: June 24, 2014
Time: 6:30-9:30PM
Location: Gravitytank, 114 W. Illinois, 3rd Floor, Chicago

For more details and to register, go to http://tinyurl.com/m9c48p2