Power networking isn’t just for pros – put yourself about a bit! By Marie-Claire Andrews and Frances Manwaring

Frances and I often get accused of getting about a bit in Wellington – in the nicest possible way, of course! But for one pulsating week in early July we certainly got about big time, attending no less than four networking events (it would have been five, except F couldn’t make the Chamber’s Business After 5 at Vodafone) in our tireless quest to bring you the skinny about the good, the exceptional and the excruciating this month.

EVENT RATING(ER) SCALE:  ♥ = low;   high = ♥♥♥♥♥

Tuesday was a solo outing for me to the Export NZ bash at the James Cook Hotel. The charming Charles Broad always remembers to invite us to their events and, at the end of a cold day, the slightly warm wine was almost welcome. Scanning the roomful of grey-suited engineers, it was a relief to see Simone from Maxim – she gets about a bit too! There we were, two young(ish!) red-heads in a sea of grey, which included some intimidating(ish!) women not entirely happy about opening their circle to us. Clearly they don’t embrace the inclusive school of networking thought – to connect, you have to converse. After succumbing to a moment of “breadth or depth” angst – should I work the room and collect cards, or limit myself to one or two in-depth conversations? – I opted for depth and was rewarded with a sales lead! 


ER: Networking opportunities♥♥♥ Educational scope♥♥ Cool quotient♥  
Entertainment factor ♥♥ Value for Money♥♥♥

On to Wednesday and the Celsias.com launch hosted by the Sustainable Business Network at the Wellington Chamber’s palace on the 28th floor of the Majestic Centre – the best networking venue in town. I know the Celsias team and F tagged along on point duty, as back-up in case it was one of those nights when all you can think of to say is: “Do you come here often?” as you notice that you’ve dribbled pesto dip down your white blouse. The crowd was disappointingly small, but perfectly formed – and what is it about sustainable types that make them so friendly? F scored a couple more leads. Happy days! 


ER: Networking opportunities♥♥♥♥ Educational scope♥♥Cool quotient♥♥♥  Entertainment factor ♥♥♥♥  Value for Money♥♥♥♥

Thursday – another solo gig – saw me at the Wellington Rowing Club for Unlimited Potential and Start-Up.Com’s launch of Start-Up magazine. At this point F told me, in the interests of transparency, to ‘fess up to being chair of UP’s board and one of the event organisers. I agonised about this for . . . oh . . . at least five seconds, but feel absolutely no conflict in reporting that this was a truly great night! Seriously, how can you go wrong with free wine, food (pizza just qualifies), swag bags, and the chance to rub shoulders with the who’s who of the ICT industry? Clearly, connecting with this crowd delivers kudos – 
the great and the ICT good who couldn’t make it sent apologies (seriously!), read by Tim Norton, self-appointed Wallah of Silicon Welly.

ER: Networking opportunities♥♥♥♥♥ Educational scope♥  
Cool quotient♥♥♥♥  Entertainment factor ♥♥  
Value for Money♥♥♥♥♥

After fitting in some paid work, your Sects crew blearily stumbled into the NZTE Export Breakfast on exporting to India – back to the James Cook. These events are often chocka with NZTEers, consultants and other groupies (hmm, that could include us), but a fair few of this crowd were Actual Businesses. We snuck out after hearing five of the six presenters (too many for one event, particularly with the overlap in content), but not before the beautiful man from Westpac boggled us with statistics – imagine a place with 12 million corner dairies – about the massive opportunities for New Zealand businesses. By the way, don’t be concerned if your contract doesn’t get signed in a hurry – it’s probably an inauspicious time and you’ll have to wait till the stars align more favourably! The queue for curry – a nice touch (no really) given the Indian theme – was the best place to connect. NZTE usually applies enforced networking – you stand up and swap cards with others at your table – but with the speaker-marathon it slipped off the schedule. Shame.

ER: Networking opportunities♥♥  Educational scope♥♥♥♥♥  
Cool quotient♥♥ Entertainment factor ♥♥♥  Value for Money♥♥♥♥

So that was the week that was. Four events, three sales leads, two knackered networkers . . . and zero pesto drizzled on blouses!

Power networking isn’t just for pros though. It’s a good tactic for novices – by dipping into the smorgasbord like this you get a handle on what’s out there, extend your network, get seen – and then need the rest of the month to recover!

Marie-Claire Andrews and Frances Manwaring are dedicated Wellington networkers.