Here”™s how it works: relative strangers sit across from each other along a wide table. A bell rings and participants have three minutes to describe who they are and what they do to the person seated across from them. When the bell rings again, it”™s the other person”™s turn to talk. One more ring, and they move down the table to start over with new partners.
This may sound like a scene from a speed dating event, but it”™s not. It”™s speed networking.
Launched last month as a collaboration with the New Canaan-based Ladies Launch Club and The Luxury Marketing Council of Connecticut-Hudson Valley, the quarterly events are intended as a way for members of the two organizations to meet to create strategic partnerships with each other and other groups and individuals that will be invited to join.
Kathy McShane, CEO of the Ladies Launch Club, said that while digital networking is good, it”™s still necessary to get out and meet people face to face whenever possible.
“So here they can get to meet a lot of people in a short period of time and then they can take a business card and say ”˜OK, I”™m going to follow up with you,”™” McShane said. “So it”™s a really cool way to meet a lot of people very quickly.”
McShane”™s club is focused on helping women 45 and older start their own businesses. The Luxury Marketing Council of Connecticut-Hudson Valley is a chapter of an invitation-only networking organization for senior sales and marketing executives.
“There”™s a very good synergy with Kathy”™s group,” said Kathryn Minckler, founder and chairman of The Luxury Marketing Council chapter. “Because in this area there are many people on second, third or fourth careers, so most of our members are founders and CEOs of their own companies.”
The first event was held May 25 at Lillian August in Norwalk. McShane said about 50 people attended. Tickets were free for members of the organizations involved, while nonmembers paid $35.
Minckler said that while she and McShane at first had to provide suggestions for topics to talk about, the noise level in the room went up as the night went on. “People really got into it.”
Minckler added that the rapid pace of the event meant that people had to be direct and concise in describing what they can do and what type of working partnerships they are looking for.
“Sometimes with networking events you tend to stay in your comfort zone with your own groups,” she said. “This forces you to go out and perfect your elevator speech and literally walk away with 10 new business cards.”
The next speed networking event is planned for Sept. 27 at Lillian August. The two organizers expect to grow the events, though not significantly.
Minckler said the advice she gives to people before networking is to think beyond developing clients. “Some people go into these things with the viewpoint of ”˜I want to get my next client. I think it is probably more important to think in terms of collaborations and partnerships,” she said.
That”™s a view that McShane said fits with her own beliefs about business.
“I don”™t believe that there is any competition. I believe people can strategically align and help each other out,” McShane said. “Find those strategic alliances and you have double the power.”
