Networking, an Important Piece to the Puzzle!

by: Sonia Walker

Photos courtesy of McKenzie Career Students & Sonia Walker 

It’s not always what we know but who we know!

I've taught over 19 traditional business classes (at both the high school and collegiate level), and now, as someone who's teaching Entrepreneurship full-time this year, this is one of my top priorities: 

Getting my students to network in person, stay off their phones, and walk away from their comfort zone. 

We see it frequently at events - clusters of students in the corners, sitting at tables, and on their phones with their friends. No meeting new people, no handshakes, and a general apathy that can limit a young professional's potential. 

Being a part of the STARTedUP, I know that collectively, we are giving today’s students a chance to sell their ideas, seek sponsorships, internships, and seed investors. All things that can lead to genuine business partnerships, but this can all fall flat if students aren't talking to those people!

At first, I thought we were pushing them out of their comfort zone, but over the years, I have seen that through networking, these students are not only building a transcript but a support network that can help them transition to work, the military, or college. 

For instance, one of my student teams from last year still contacts me as a team, even though they are now at different colleges and branches of the military. They still have that bond that only passionate cofounders can have (students who go through this program do tend to bond)!

Here are ways I have found to get my students "networking event" ready! 

How can I get my students to start talking? 

Whether it's about their ideas or their business plans, first make sure student teams are working on something of interest. As many of our colleagues have said, “What real-world problem are they trying to solve?”. Students naturally enjoy (and feel a bit more comfortable) talking about things they are passionate about. 

In the classroom, to encourage more conversation, I tell students to leave their phones alone during our Entrepreneurship hour. During this time, I try to give them hands-on projects and different ways to "upload" their ideas versus "downloading" other people's apps and ideas on their phones. 

Where can my students network? 

I try to take my students on field trips. There are many local events students can participate in and places that are welcoming, like local chambers of commerce, small business development centers, and even city planning or local government events. 

But, if field trips are not a part of the budget, I recommend bringing in guest speakers, conducting lunchroom table talks, or having students interview others within the school. 

How can I get my students more comfortable speaking and sharing their ideas? 

I usually recommend practice! Doing announcements over the loudspeaker at the school, writing newspaper articles, and doing volunteer work. For my non-English speaking students, they have started a lunch-and-learn with English-speaking students so they can help each other learn another language.  

Overall, my goal is to make sure students are comfortable talking about something they are passionate about to strangers.

Just think, a generation ago, presentations were not a thing, but now, networking is key to the pitch and a key part of the puzzle. 

Here’s an opportunity! - Click here for video!

I am always open to creating a networking event with your students! Sometimes, the best practice is when new young professionals get to interact with each other!