How to Connect with Industry Leaders

By now, you already know: the best roles are rarely filled through job boards. They’re filled through relationships. Over the years, I’ve refined a method I call the “Strategic Access Framework.” Here’s how it works: 1️⃣ Identify the right people inside your target company Don’t just think about recruiters. Instead, ask: Who has insights about the team, culture, and challenges I want to be part of? These are the leaders and decision-makers worth building a connection with. 2️⃣ Initiate a conversation to learn, not to pitch Set up meetings with genuine curiosity. Ask about the company’s direction, leadership priorities, and what success looks like in their roles. When you focus on learning, you naturally leave a stronger impression. 3️⃣ Position yourself for a referral Referrals don’t happen by accident. They come from thoughtful conversations. By asking the right questions and sharing relevant experiences, you’ll naturally open the door for them to connect you to the right opportunity. 4️⃣ Nurture the relationship long-term A single meeting isn’t the end. It’s the beginning. Stay in touch, share insights, and keep the dialogue going. That way, when opportunities arise (and they will), your name is already top of mind. I’ve seen professionals land interviews and offers within weeks by applying this approach. The key is to stop relying on online applications and start investing in the relationships that drive hiring decisions.

Do senior executives remember your name and your contributions?   Want to reach the C-suite by 2030? It starts with building genuine connections. I've watched many talented colleagues hit the mid-career ceiling in their late thirties. They mastered technical skills but missed something crucial. Amit, an ambitious middle manager in a global MNC, believed this myth too, until his VP pulled him aside after he was passed over for promotion to Director of Operations. "Your results are impressive, but no one in the leadership team feels they truly know you," she said, sliding his appraisal report across the conference table. "You haven't built genuine connections with senior executives." Amit met me disheartened, with a long face reflecting his disappointment. He seemed to carry a dark rain cloud over his head, with dim light, pouring cold water over his bright ideas and thoughts. I recollected a workshop I had attended with Paritosh Pathak. He advocated a different approach – building connections by taking a genuine interest in others. This revelation had transformed my approach. Building meaningful connections isn't about distributing your visiting cards, collecting 100+ LinkedIn contacts or sending generic "touching base" emails. It's about demonstrating an authentic interest in others and creating tangible value in your interactions. I shared this approach with Amit. When Amit meets colleagues now, he asks specific questions about their department's 90-day objectives. He listens attentively to their challenges around resource allocation or cross-functional coordination. Then he follows up with relevant assistance: sharing a helpful article about their industry challenge, introducing them to a contact who solved a similar problem, or offering 30 minutes of his expertise on their upcoming project. This is a long-term approach, and it works. It takes time to yield results. The fruits of your value addition may come from an entirely different source, and not just from the person to whom you added value. This unique approach prevents you from becoming just another ambitious climber with impressive metrics but forgettable impact. Try this tomorrow: When speaking with a senior colleague, ask about their most challenging current initiative. Then deliver something valuable soon, where possible,  which directly addresses that challenge. You'll transform from a networking participant to a memorable relationship-builder – someone executives naturally envision in their inner circle. The career ladder narrows dramatically at the top, but genuine connection-builders are precisely those, who senior leaders want beside them when making consequential decisions. What is your approach to building deeper connection with others? Do share in the comments. #CareerCoach #LifeCoach #ParitoshPathak

One of my all-time favorite expressions is, "the best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time," which means when a task feels insurmountable, the key is to break it down and make steady, consistent progress toward the goal. You can apply this wisdom to the job search process. Once your resume is polished, the next steps can feel ambiguous, never-ending, and downright overwhelming. Here's the thing. As a job seeker, you have ONE goal: Land decision-maker conversations. So what exactly is a decision-maker? It’s the person who has the power to say “yes” (or a strong influence on that yes). Depending on the role, that could be a hiring manager, a department head, a senior executive, or even a board member. Recruiters and HR professionals can be valuable allies, but your ultimate goal is to build direct lines of communication with the people who hold hiring authority. How do you get there? Bite by bite. Start by building out a target company list. You need to identify at least 25+ places that could hire your skill set. Take that list and go a step further. -- Who do you know who works at those organizations? -- Who would your exact boss be if you landed a job at one of those companies? Next, focus on the low-hanging fruit: your network. Reconnect with former colleagues, classmates, and mentors. They already know and like you and want to help you! A warm introduction often opens the door to decision-makers faster than a cold application. Be strategic on LinkedIn. Share insights, engage with leaders in your target companies, and position yourself as a peer���not just a job seeker. If you don't have a lot of connections in your industry, focus on adding TEN new connections per day. These can be recruiters in your industry, hiring managers, leaders in your space, etc. Target your outreach. Instead of sending 50 generic messages, I want to challenge you to send FIVE thoughtful messages per day. Just five. The person opening your email needs to feel "special" or at least see that you took the time to personalize an outreach message. Prepare for every conversation. When you do land that call or meeting, focus less on “selling yourself” and more on showing how you can solve their biggest challenges. Remember, landing the job isn’t about applying to the most postings—it’s about creating the right conversations with the right people. And like eating the elephant, it happens one intentional bite at a time.

Building relationships with company leaders outside your group is career-critical. These are the stakeholders who'll be in your promo conversations. I've observed that Supra members who consistently get promoted master three strategies for connecting with senior leaders: 1/ Approach with genuine curiosity and specificity The most successful PMs don't ask for "career advice" or generic meetings. Instead, they identify what the leader is known for excelling at: ↳ "I admire how you partner with Marketing. Could I get 15 minutes to learn your approach?" ↳ "Your strategic narratives are exceptional. Would you share how you structure them?" Everyone loves talking about what they're great at. The specificity demonstrates respect for their time. 2/ Provide unexpected value Leaders remember those who help them succeed. Supra members look for opportunities to: ↳ Share relevant market insights leaders might not see ↳ Connect dots between leadership priorities and their team's work ↳ Offer to lead cross-functional initiatives they care about When you consistently provide value, quarterly check-ins become natural. 3/ Find visibility through cross-team projects Volunteer for initiatives that cut across the org chart: ↳ Leading a PM community of practice ↳ Driving adoption of new tools or processes ↳ Creating templates that solve common challenges These give them authentic reasons to interact with senior leaders while demonstrating their skills. The goal isn't just face time — it's building genuine relationships where leaders see your value firsthand. What strategies have worked for you in building relationships with senior leaders?

Most people freeze when they want to reach out to someone influential. Here’s the 5-step formula I’ve used to connect with the CEO of Scribe, the co-founder of Leland, the content team at Notion, and even creators I admire 👇 1. Follow first. Connect later. Don’t just hit “connect.” Follow them, spend a few weeks learning from their content and activity. Be a quiet observer. 2. Find your entry point. Look for a personal connection - a post you loved, a campaign you admired, a shared background, a comment thread you can join. 3. Create context. Once you find something specific, DM them with a message that shows: → You’ve done your homework → Why this moment made you want to connect → What you admire or learned from them 4. Make the ask polite + specific. Don’t write paragraphs. Respect their time. Example: “Would love to ask you 1 question about your work at [company] – totally okay if now’s not a good time!” 5. Nurture the connection. Even if they don’t reply, keep engaging with their content. Most of my opportunities came weeks after my first message. This method helped me land internships, collaborations, interviews, and lifelong mentors. Try this 5-step system and tell me what worked. #linkedin #network #tips

What's on my mind after Denver Start-Up Week: NETWORKING UP: HOW TO CONNECT WITH THE BIG FISH (WITHOUT BEING A BOTTOM FEEDER)    Networking – we love it or loathe it – but, either way, it’s unavoidable. And the really high stakes opportunities where you’re networking with a big kahuna can feel a lot like a sweaty upper lip and "Oh god, how do I talk to these people without sounding like a desperate fan?"   As someone who's fumbled her way through more networking events than I care to admit, here's what I do to connect with industry leaders without the cringe:   1.    The "Genuine Interest" Approach: Actually care about what they do. Revolutionary, I know.    2.    The "Value First" Strategy: Offer something before asking for anything. Even if it's just a relevant article or insight.   3.    The "Common Ground" Technique: Find shared interests beyond work. Maybe you both love obscure 80s movies or have a weird fascination with pigeons.   4.    The "Question Master" Tactic: Ask thoughtful questions. People love talking about themselves. Let them.   5.    The "Follow-Up" Rule: Send a personalized message after meeting. Reference something specific from your conversation. Show you were actually listening.   6.    The "Long Game" Mindset: Build relationships, not a contact list. Quality over quantity, always.   And remember, networking isn't about collecting business cards like Beanie Babies. It's about building genuine connections.

“How Do I Reach Out on LinkedIn So They Actually Respond?” It’s one of the most common questions I hear from job seekers and it’s a good one. Reaching out to someone in your target industry or company can be a powerful step, but the key is in the approach. Here are a few steps I recommend: 1️. Personalize your request Reference something specific—a post, shared interest, or mutual connection. 💬 Generic requests = generic results. Sample message: “Hi Jamie, I noticed your comment about leadership challenges during remote work transitions and that really resonated with me. I’m exploring opportunities in this space and would love a brief 15-minute conversation to learn more about your company’s approach. I value your insights and promise to keep it short.” 2️. No response? Don’t take it personally. 🔍 First, check their activity—many professionals aren’t on LinkedIn daily. ⏳ If they’re active, wait 5–7 days, then send one thoughtful follow-up with something of value (an article, insight, or relevant question). 🧭 If they’re inactive, consider reaching out to someone else in a similar role. 3️. Build the relationship first Comment on their posts. Share a resource. Engage before asking for a favor. ✨ LinkedIn is about quality conversations, not collecting contacts. What’s worked for you when reaching out to industry professionals? Any creative approaches you’ve tried? I’d love to hear them. Struggling with your outreach strategy? As a career coach, I���m always happy to help. Drop your biggest challenge in the comments and I’ll share personalized tips right here in the thread. You can also schedule a Free discovery call to discuss further, https://lnkd.in/dS3PggYB 

The next opportunity won’t go to the best person. It’ll go to the one with the right allies. 35 years. Multiple careers. One hard truth: The right people change everything. Here’s how to find—and keep—them. After 35+ years building a career across industries, roles, and reinventions I’ve learned that talent and hard work matter. But the real accelerant? The people around you. In fact, 85% of jobs are filled through networking (LinkedIn), and professionals with sponsors are 23% more likely to move up (Harvard Business Review). Here's what no one tells you: You don’t need to be louder, faster, or more polished. You need the right people in your corner. And most of us were never taught how to find them. 10 ways to build a network that has your back: 1) Put the project out before it’s perfect → Visibility creates confidence, not the other way around → Share a draft idea in a team meeting before it’s “ready” 2) Nurture relationships beyond your org chart → External networks build perspective and power → Join a committee in an industry group 3) Cultivate your internal network with intention → Relationships drive visibility and sponsorship → Book a skip-level 1:1 or ask to present to leadership 4) Earn a sponsor by making your value visible → Sponsors notice people who contribute and follow through → Speak up in meetings. Volunteer. Be reliable when it counts. 5) Lead with what energizes you → Passion is more memorable than polish → Open with: “I’m obsessed with solving ____” 6) Ask the question no one else does → Stand out by being curious, not clever → Try: “What’s something you wish people asked you more?” 7) Show up where people pay attention → Add insight, not noise → Comment thoughtfully. Ask smart questions in public forums. 8) Join communities that feel like exhaling → Shared experience is a shortcut to real connection → Go where women say, “You don’t have to explain here” 9) Show them why connecting with you is worth it → Give them a reason to say yes before you ask → Reference their work. Offer an insight. Create real relevance. 10) Send the message you’d want to get → Keep it honest, specific, and human → “This reminded me of your talk—thanks for that perspective.” The magic isn’t working harder. It’s working connected. What’s one relationship that transformed your career? Share your story below. 👇 --- ♻ Repost to share this with someone who needs a better network, not a bigger one. 👉 Follow me, Stephanie Eidelman (Meisel), for more ways to build visibility and connection.

Building a high-level network is the best way to create 'career insurance' - Here are 7 ways you can network BEFORE you need a job And yes - I've done each of these myself. 1 - Connect a high-level leader to someone looking for podcast guests. Become a connector. Find podcast hosts that would be interested in leaders at your firm. 2 - Plan a 'Career Growth' session at work; invite select managers and leaders as guest speakers. Speaking opportunities will appeal to some leaders; give them an opportunity they can't pass up. 3 - Publish a collaborative LinkedIn article - reach out for quotes and comments from leaders or managers in the space. Reach out to 5–6 leaders and ask for 1 quote on an industry trend. Compile their insights into an article or post; tag them, and amplify their visibility. 4 - Send them an "I built this based on..." message Find a keynote or panel where a leader shared a framework or insight. Build a visual, write an article, or make a slide based on the idea; send it to them. 5 - Send a Video, but Make it About Them Instead of pitching or requesting, record a short video sharing a story of how their work impacted you or your team. Keep it under 60 seconds. 6 - Create a 'Modern Mentorship' Series Turn your learning journey into content. Interview 10 high-level leaders via email or LinkedIn DMs and ask 2-3 thoughtful questions. Share each response as a short post. 7 - Send Periodic 'Gratitude Messages' A simple message thanking them for their inspiration - or something valuable they taught you. Have you tried any of these proactive networking approaches? Let me know if/how they worked. ♻️ Repost if you found this list helpful! Follow me for daily job search strategies.

Hate pitching yourself on LinkedIn? Use the “10:3:1” LinkedIn outreach system a method that builds warm connections, without feeling awkward or salesy. Last week, I spoke to six tech professionals. All job hunting. None with a system. Step 1: Search strategically • Use the search bar. Type roles you want next: “Engineering Manager”, “Product Designer”, “Tech Lead” • Click “People” • Filter by location (e.g. Sydney, Melbourne) • Filter by industry (e.g. Information Technology, Startups) • Add “Current Company” filter if you’ve got a shortlist Step 2: Choose 10 profiles daily (or weekly) Scan for: • Shared backgrounds (bootcamps, unis, career switches) • Work at companies you admire • Mutuals in common Save these to a doc or spreadsheet. Step 3: Personalise the connection note Don’t skip this, people remember those who take the time. 📍 Template: Referencing a post “Hey [Name], just read your post on [topic]super relevant as I’m exploring [similar role or space]. Would love to connect.” 📍 Template: Mutual context “Hey [Name], noticed we both worked in [X] or follow [Y]. Always keen to connect with folks solving interesting problems.” 📍 Template: Direct but friendly “Hey [Name], saw your profile while exploring [industry/role]. I’m currently in transition and learning from others doing solid work. Thought I’d say hi.” Step 4: Engage with 3 of their posts • Leave thoughtful comments (not just likes) • Highlight a takeaway or ask a follow-up • If they haven’t posted, check what they engage with Step 5: Nurture 1 relationship per week • Follow up with a question about their role, team, or journey • Offer something of value (a resource, intro, or perspective) • Ask if they’d be open to a quick virtual coffee Why this works: → You build visibility without spamming → You stand out with relevance → You learn directly from people doing the work Start small. 5 reach-outs per week is plenty. No automation. No sales pitch. Just real conversations. In tech, trust opens doors faster than resumes. If this helped, follow me (Eli Gündüz) for practical tactics that actually move your job search forward.