In the quest to forge powerful connections within the tech leadership realm, we’ve gathered insights from CEOs and founders among other tech visionaries. From offering help to build relationships to expanding your network via LinkedIn connections, these seventeen professionals divulge their most effective strategies for networking success. Here’s how to build strong networks and connections in the technology leadership community:
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- Offer Help to Build Relationships
- Engage in Public Speaking and Social Media
- Cultivate Connections Through Curiosity
- Form Advisory Boards for Strategic Networking
- Share Real-World Experiences to Connect
- Forge Partnerships Through SaaS Brand Collaborations
- Lead With Empathy for Genuine Relationships
- Gamify Networking with Value Exchanges
- Leverage Mentorship for Business Growth and Networking
- Create Meetups for Connections
- Collaborate on Projects for Diverse Networks
- Make Informal Connections Beyond Business
- Attend Tech Conferences for Industry Insights
- Find Organic Growth Through Personal Introductions
- Help Others to Build Reciprocal Relationships
- Participate in Online Tech Communities
- Expand Your Network via LinkedIn Connections
Offer Help to Build Relationships
Offer help before you ask for it, and don’t expect anything in return. All important relationships I’ve built within the tech community have been based on a mutual desire to support the other person’s journey.
Cari Murray, Director of Marketing, Marvin
Engage in Public Speaking and Social Media
Getting out there and speaking on panels and in online forums has been huge for growing my professional network with other tech leaders. I’ve gained some good name recognition and credibility by putting myself out there to share my expertise. It’s also opened opportunities to team up on projects with new contacts.
And when you post insightful stuff online, it helps more people take notice of you as an authority in the field. Being proactive about public speaking and engaging in discussions on social media has helped me make meaningful connections. And, of course, that expanded network boosts your influence.
I’d encourage finding ways to showcase your know-how, whether at live events or online conversations. It can make a real difference in building your reputation and partnerships.
Syed Lateef, CEO, SyedBNB
Cultivate Connections Through Curiosity
As a long-time tech executive focused on cultivating an expansive yet authentic professional network, I’ve learned the accelerator for meaningful connections boils down to curiosity—sincerely exploring my peers’ passions, challenges, and unique vantage points to identify potential mutual growth opportunities. While events and digital channels have their networking place, nothing substitutes for fully engaging in 1:1 dialogues.
Early on, I prioritized quantity over quality in building contacts, moving quickly between conference small talks, grasping for business cards, and LinkedIn invites. But the connections felt superficial. I shifted my networking approach to dive deeper in understanding leadership styles, culture-building techniques, and career arcs for admired industry friends before brainstorming collaborations.
For example, an hour-long cafe chat with a past founder-turned-VC discussing the ups and downs of his entrepreneurial journey revealed common perspectives on work-life balance. This sparked an organic, ongoing peer advisory relationship.
I found that networking centered on mutual human understanding precipitates more impactful referrals, advice, and partnerships than commodity exchanges of personal brands. Leadership is often lonely. Forging bonds through genuine curiosity leads to rewarding confidant relationships where everyone expands perspectives. My most treasured network connections grew from listening to learn long before business needs.
Debbie Chew, Global SEO Manager, Dialpad
Form Advisory Boards for Strategic Networking
In my erstwhile organization, we identified early the growing need for digital transformation and the development of multi-channel capability for competitive advantage and effective promotion of our range of pharma products in the market. We surveyed and understood that our internal IT capability would require specialized external support to take that quantum leap.
The company accepted my recommendation for open innovation and put in place an advisory board with collaboration from three technology majors and a university in the US who were interested in mapping out this transformation journey and the kind of solutions required. The advisory board operated for almost three years, creating guidance and solutions for digital and remote detailing, optimized channel mix, digital tools for promotion, and associated CLM provisions.
As the central coordinator and convenor, I maximized the privilege to establish connections and networks with some of the leading technology minds in those three companies and some tech academicians.
Bikas Mukherjee, Partner and Advisor Global Operations, NamanHR
Share Real-World Experiences to Connect
I’ve found that genuine connections often stem from sharing experiences. One standout moment was at a tech summit where I got into a lively discussion about cybersecurity. I didn’t just sit back; I jumped in, sharing our insights from Mammoth Security. It turns out people were eager to hear real-world experiences. That discussion turned into a series of exchanges, follow-up chats, and even collaborations.
This time, it was with folks who shared similar interests. It was eye-opening how simply sharing our experiences opens doors. So, meaningful connections within the tech leadership circle became easier through this approach. That taught me the power of exchanging knowledge as a way to expand your network in this field.
Eugene Klimaszewski, President, Mammoth Security
Forge Partnerships Through SaaS Brand Collaborations
SaaS brand partnerships have been a great resource for me. By partnering with brands, we get to know their leadership and forge long-standing friendships based on shared values.
With any professional network, each relationship also naturally includes more chances to expand your network through invites to networking events, introductions, and more. Every strong connection you make with a leader could mean dozens more down the road. Often, great colleagues will proactively offer these introductions because, with a deeper understanding of you and the other party, they see similarities and potential opportunities that you might not yet.
Robert Kaskel, Chief People Officer, Checkr
Lead With Empathy for Genuine Relationships
I’ve learned that genuine relationships are built through listening, understanding individual needs, and delivering tailored solutions.
This client-centric approach has organically grown my network as I gain a reputation for custom-fitting each recruitment solution while selflessly guiding candidates toward opportunities where they can thrive. Though success comes through understanding the human element, maintaining this mindset amidst rapid growth remains an everyday challenge. My advice: Lead with empathy.
Lou Reverchuk, Co-Founder and CEO, EchoGlobal
Gamify Networking with Value Exchanges
Gamify your networking! How I do it: My goal is to connect with 50 new entrepreneurs each year in fields like marketing, sales, web design, and SaaS. I start these connections by offering something valuable: a high-quality link worth $500, for free. I understand not everyone will see the value or reciprocate, but those who do are the connections I actively seek.
I track my progress using Google Sheets, noting each interaction and following up with further value exchanges. It helps to keep track of everything, nurture relationships, and gradually escalate the mutual benefits. I aim to grow these favors into significant, mutually beneficial partnerships.
In 2023, I ended up with 17 new partners this way. How much would you pay for this? It is so much easier to grow your business when you are not alone!
Divyesh Bhatasana, Founder and CEO, Jeenam Infotech
Leverage Mentorship for Business Growth and Networking
My mentor was Tom Mohr, a tech-startup guru and CEO coach, and his guidance proved invaluable in successfully growing my business in a short period. Some tenets of his mentorship included building a business on pillars of solid ethics and social responsibility, putting clients first and building personal relationships, and scaling up a business from the ground up.
Tom advocates for a metrics-driven, holistic approach to building a business. His work and mentorship focus on practical tips, implements, and human-led innovation. Sustainable companies ultimately start with a decisive breakthrough into the market but must maintain their competitive advantage by continuously improving it.
By extending and refining their initial value into multiple pathways for maximum exposure and retention, Mohr taught that great companies utilize an optimized four-way congruence between team, product, model, and market to sustain themselves for more than five years after launch.
Kevin Miller, Founder, kevinmiller.com
Create Meetups for Connections
I’m a huge fan of both creating meetups and then leveraging those meetups. I’m an organizer of both the NYC Search Engine Optimization Meetup and the largest blockchain meetup in the world—also run out of NYC. Through these meetups, I’ve met and created relationships with some of the most notable leaders in technology.
The obvious is that people will come to my events. The non-obvious is that I will use my status as “organizer of so-and-so meetup” to get one-on-ones with people who typically would say no to a meeting. I’ve used this tactic to create friendships with famous founders, investors, and other influencers—all in technology. The great part of this strategy is that the one-on-ones can also be virtual and done from anywhere in the world.
By leveraging my status as a meetup organizer, it becomes clear I’m somebody worth knowing.
I’m not only somewhat of a niche influencer, but I’m also a connector. Because of this, people want to be my friend.
I would say I’m a relatively affable person, so from the one-on-one meetings, it’s usually common for me to keep in touch with the leaders that I meet. They find me interesting, fun, and enthusiastic.
Creating and leveraging meetups is my number one tip!
Edward Sturm, Fractional CMO, Edwardsturm.com
Collaborate on Projects for Diverse Networks
Collaborating on projects helped me a lot to build strong networks and connections within the technology leadership community. Every project I dove into became a chance to link up with professionals. It wasn’t just about the work; it was about forging relationships.
These collaborations went beyond enhancing our skills—they created a network of diverse individuals. I’ve also been to conferences, seminars, and tech events, mingling with fellow leaders, which worked wonders for me. I suggest being a regular on platforms like LinkedIn, engaging in discussions, connecting with leaders, and linking up in the online community.
Varun Mukhi, Co-Founder, Scoop Global
Make Informal Connections Beyond Business
For a long time, I viewed networking as a stilted business exercise done at specially coordinated events and during backroom discussions, but the genuinely most helpful and rewarding connections I have made within the technology leadership community have all been made in informal settings or during downtime on projects.
When working with someone new, take a second to grab a cup of coffee with them or make time during a virtual meeting to get to know them better as a person. I think sometimes people forget the humans behind all the business and technology discussions.
Shannon Listopad, Owner and Founder, November Consulting
Attend Tech Conferences for Industry Insights
Building strong networks within the technology leadership community is something I view as a necessity because the industry I’m in is constantly evolving.
The reason why I value these networks so much is that it’s where I get access to the latest technology and hear about the newest tech trends to implement in my business, helping me stay on top of the competition.
One of my favorite and most productive strategies for building connections is attending tech conferences and industry events.
That’s where I network with leaders in the SEO field, pick up highly valuable and cutting-edge insights, and communicate new ideas and suggestions to implement in my own business.
Nikola Baldikov, Founder, InBound Blogging
Find Organic Growth Through Personal Introductions
It was an extremely slow and steady sort of growth, with me transitioning from a programmer to an entrepreneur over the last twelve years or so. Organic growth is often the most enduring, in my experience, as the people I met through networking events were only marginally useful, whereas the people I met because I was introduced by a friend—due to some help either I needed or they needed—are the most valuable long-term contacts for your professional network.
My advice is to just do what needs to be done for your business and keep your ears open, as you’ll naturally run into opportunities to expand your network a little at a time without it feeling like a fake networking exercise.
Dragos Badea, CEO, Yarooms
Help Others to Build Reciprocal Relationships
The best way to build strong relationships is by helping others expecting nothing in return. When you give before you receive, people will naturally want to reciprocate. They may not help you in that exact moment, but many of them will think of you when opportunities arise in the future.
And, if you reach out for help at some point, they’ll be more inclined to support you because you already supported them. Over time, you’ll develop a reputation as being a helpful person. More people will speak kindly about you, and sometimes the right person will hear those conversations and reach out to you.
Dennis Consorte, Digital Marketing and Leadership Consultant for Startups, Snackable Solutions
Participate in Online Tech Communities
Actively engaging in online communities: Reddit, Stack Overflow, and GitHub are just a few of the online communities where I take part in online debates and forums. This allows me to engage in conversation with developers, researchers, and leaders from a wide range of technological subfields, to stay abreast of the most recent trends, and to gain insight into the issues and viewpoints they face.
Furthermore, I participate by providing answers to questions, offering insights, and initiating conversations, all of which contribute to the development of trust and rapport within the community.
Amber Moseley, CEO and Co-Founder, IWC
Expand Your Network via LinkedIn Connections
The number one tip I can give is: add everyone on LinkedIn! I often hear people, even friends of mine, saying, “But I don’t know them; why would I accept their connection request?”
On LinkedIn, whether you know the person or not, doesn’t really matter. A lot of business relationships and connections you will make in your life are not with people that you knew beforehand. Therefore, add everyone, follow what they do, give them the opportunity to reach out to you with an interesting business idea, or reach out to them yourself. You never know what can come from it.
Nicolas Montauban, Product Manager, Codific
