NETWORKING TIPS - How to make Global connections (£600/3hrs)
- miriamm6
- Mar 24, 2022
- 3 min read
Updated: May 31, 2022
"It's not what you know, it's WHO you know"
Directors, Managers and business leaders with little or poor digital presence are missing out on many opportunities for themselves, their businesses, opportunities for global careers, building their brand on the international stage, Board/Advisory roles, as well as, opportunities to connect with global business partners & potential investors.
There are many opportunities to be explored and understood and this begins with two important strategies:
NETWORKING – Connecting with the right people;
ONLINE PROFILE - An online profile to enable people to learn more about you, your career, your business etc. After all, how can anyone connect with or, recommend you for jobs or to people they respect, if they don't even know who you are and, if/when they do, your LinkedIn profile is out of date or sparse?
HOW TO CONNECT WITH (GLOBAL) PEOPLE
It's true that not everyone is comfortable or, confident networking however, it’s been said that to be taken seriously as a global thinker, people need to know you because you’re often judged by the company you keep.
If you’re supposedly a leading thinker in your field, but none of the other prominent voices know who you are, then you will not be taken seriously.
Furthermore, while it’s not unusual for an EMEA Executive to be based in London or Paris; we rarely see a CEO or COO based in Nairobi, Accra, Kigali or Lagos managing teams in the USA, UK or the EU?
This is why, ambitious African executives & business leaders need to build and grow their digital presence and connections.
We now live in a global, digital world and this offers many opportunities.
Previously, one would have had to fly to, or attend a meeting or event in another country to reach a global audience, investors or recruiters. This is no longer the case.
Some startups (incl. those based in Africa), are raising millions of dollars on Zoom from US investors who previously would have insisted on, face-to-face meetings.
Technology continues to improve our lives and now means that people from one part of the world, can connect with and build, global networks thus opening opportunities which previously may have been closed. In addition, CEOs and leaders in the USA and Europe are facing demands from their millennial employees who are calling for more diversity.
So while networking can be challenging, awkward and, uncomfortable for some, it offers an opportunity to connect with potential employers, mentors, investors or, business partners.
Why do I need to network when I have many friends working in top companies?
You'd be surprised! The number of times I have approached a candidate to discuss a vacancy only for it to then turn out that they actually have a friend working for the same organisation and yet it was a stranger (and not the friend), who alerted them to this vacancy. My advice:
Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
Sometimes it's the stranger who helps you achieve your goals or alerts you to opportunities - rather than close friends. Let's look at the Egyptian founder above, who raised $millions from US VCs. Are we really to believe that he's not approached any millionaire or wealthy friends in his own country before connecting with investors from overseas?
The rewards therefore from networking can be high and means that even those who are shy or introverts (especially in face-to-face settings), can build a network of people from around the world, which can lead to jobs, partnerships or even, potential customers or investors.
NEXT STEPS?
To learn more about my Networking Coaching services, how to build your digital footprint or, LinkedIn optimisation, book your FREE 15 mins Zoom call below.
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