Croissants vs. Bagels: Strategic, Effective, and Inclusive Networking at Conferences

A practical guide to help you build meaningful and authentic relationships. When you register for a conference, it’s a big investment. The cost might be covered by your company, but you will still need to be out of the office for a few days. Are you planning ahead so you’ll use the time away strategically? Do you feel confident about making the most of the opportunities at the event? Rather than collect an overflowing stack of business cards on your desk, learn how to follow up effectively. Collecting business cards is not building relationships. Whether you’re an introvert or extrovert, networking novice or master schmoozer, this book is for you. You’re probably wondering about the title--what does “croissants” and “bagels” have to do with networking? Picture those tight networking circles at events--those are the “bagels.” If someone opens up their body language and makes space for others to join the circle--viola! “Croissant.” Set the intention to meet people and your body language will reflect your intention. If you feel anxious about networking, this book shares practical steps to help you feel empowered. This book focuses on being inclusive. Clear examples of how to approach and engage people who are different from you are provided, so they’ll want to keep the conversation going. Learn how to shift your mindset around relationship-building to discover new connections and business opportunities in the world around you. Then act on them. Recognized networking expert and speaker Robbie Samuels shares these and many other tips and strategies to help you level-up your networking prowess. Whether your goal is to get the most ROI from participation in conferences or elevate your ability to network authentically, you will walk away with techniques enabling you to be more strategic, more effective, and more inclusive.