From the European SharePoint, Office 365, and Azure Conference - Karuana and Heather will discuss networking skills for both introverts and extroverts. Explore ways to be comfortable in those first-time meetings and deepen your existing professional relationships. Networking is about listening as much as it is about talking. We’ll look at how to create your “why” elevator pitch and a list of tactics to take with you for all your networking moments.

2. Diversity and Inclusion Workshop -
Networking
KARUANA GATIMU
DIRECTOR, CUSTOMER ADVOCACY GROUP
MICROSOFT TEAMS ENGINEERING, USA
HEATHER NEWMAN
CMO, CONTENT PANDA, USA

3. ESCP 2019 -
Networking
3

4. LinkedIn – Find Nearby
With Find Nearby, you’ll be able to network more
efficiently, as you’ll see other LinkedIn members who
also have the feature enabled within your Bluetooth
range. The feature works well at conferences and
events to help you locate people in your proximity.
For your privacy, you'll need to opt-in to use this
feature and enable Bluetooth sharing. When Find
Nearby is turned on, other members can discover you,
even when you aren’t using the LinkedIn mobile app.
To prevent other members from discovering you, you
can switch the Find Nearby feature off.

5. There is no “right” way to
network, there are many ways to
grow your community, reach
and connections that are
comfortable for you.
5

6. Connecting, learning, communicating and growing your reach
both inside and outside of your community.
6

7. Strategic Networking
Depending on the situation you are in, there are many ways to connect.
• Be thankful – meet your host to start your experience
• Be strategic about the events you attend
• Be curious about others ask more questions than speak
• Be an active listener
• Give someone your full attention, put away your phone till the end
• Commit to taking one action when you get home
• Best places to network – main door, by the food or bar
• Repeat the persons name 2-3 times in conversation

8. Deeper Connections
Making a meeting stick after the initial hello.
• When you meet someone for the first time, you have 48 hours to follow up
with them before they will completely forget about meeting you
• A networking event is not a time to see how many business cards you can
acquire. Rather, it is a time to develop a few relationships that have potential

9. Business Cards or Not?
We are living in a digital world, BUT printed cards can be useful and a ritual of
giving and receiving them in some cultures.
• If you use them keep them in your pocket for easy access
• Do not leave a conversation without a connect
• Open your contacts, and add phone and email and a note directly in
your phone
• Connect on Twitter or Instagram
• Use the scan code or connect on LinkedIn
• Take a photo of a business card and give it back to the giver
• Write a note of who, why and what to follow up with later
• Take a picture with the person, and text it to them with a note to
remember later

10. Three Questions
How to open up a conversation with open-ended questions.
• Where Else Do You Normally Network?
• What Do You Like Best About What You Do?
• What Got You Started on Your Career Trajectory?

11. Networking for Introverts
Everyone is different in how they approach networking and introverts handle
siuations differently than others.
• Balance the need for recharging with navigating in-person networking events
and social media
• The recipe is different for everyone
• Filter out noise, bring a friend, use social media to take a first step
See Sonia Cuff’s Microsoft Ignite Session: Networking for Introverts
https://myignite.techcommunity.microsoft.com/sessions/81710?source=sessions

12. Networking Tips
With a little preparation and planning you can learn to network at your speed
and with confidence.
• Toastmasters is a great organization to help with public speaking
• Concentrate on a few great conversations over quantity
• Follow-up quickly offering value or answers to someone that would like
your services or product
• Leverage your natural strengths, you don’t have to fake being an extrovert
to network well.
• Authenticity is everything