How to Actually Get Something Out of Networking Events (Instead of Just Awkwardly Hovering by the Snack Table)

Let’s be real, networking events can either be incredible opportunities or painfully awkward time-wasters.

I’ve been to both. Over the years,

I’ve learned how to walk into a room and actually walk out with something valuable (Besides the free drink and the name tag stuck to your shoe. Don’t lie, it’s happened to you too.).

Whether you're introverted, extroverted, or somewhere in between, here’s my not-so-corporate guide to making the most out of your next networking event:

1. Have a game plan (but make it flexible)

Don’t just show up and hope magic happens. Know why you're there. Are you looking to meet collaborators? Get referrals? Just get out of your house and talk to adults who aren’t on Zoom? Cool. But set that intention.
Bonus tip: Write down 1-2 people or types of people you want to connect with, and go find them. You’re not wandering around a cocktail hour, you’re on a mission (a fun one, though).

2. Ditch the robotic elevator pitch

People can smell a rehearsed pitch a mile away. Instead, focus on being a real human. Start with something simple like:

“Hey, what brought you here?” or
“I loved what you shared during the group convo, tell me more about what you do.”

Let the pitch come up naturally. Trust me, being curious and actually listening goes way further than trying to prove how impressive you are in 30 seconds.

3. Talk to the person standing alone

If you’re unsure who to approach, look for the person quietly sipping their drink and scanning the room. They’re likely just as unsure where to jump in. Be the brave one and say hi. You’ll both be relieved.

4. Don’t underestimate the power of the follow-up

The real magic happens after the event. Follow up within 24–48 hours if you had a good convo. A simple, “It was great meeting you at [event name], would love to stay in touch or collaborate sometime,” goes a long way.
And if you promised to send something? Send it. Follow-through builds trust fast.

5. Quality > Quantity (always)

It’s not about how many business cards you collect or how many people you name-dropped. It’s about who you connected with and whether that conversation felt authentic.
I’d rather have 2 real conversations than 10 forgettable ones. Every time.

6. Find your signature question

When in doubt, have a go-to question that leads to a deeper convo. Mine is:

“What’s something you’re working on right now that you’re excited about?”

It skips the surface-level stuff and gets people talking about what lights them up.

Final Thought:

If you leave an event feeling like you made one solid connection, that’s a win. You don’t need to work the whole room; you just need to be intentional, present, and maybe even have a little fun with it.

So next time you walk into a room full of strangers, remember: you belong there. Stand tall, smile, ask good questions, and maybe stay away from the shrimp cocktail table for too long.

See you at the next Round Table. 💫

Xo,

Danielle Victoriah