The Edge for March 2024
Now is a good time to brush up on your networking skills - with the state’s top business networking event, the N.J. Chamber’s ReNew Jersey Business Summit and Expo coming up on March 26 and 27. We have asked some N.J. Chamber members to dish out their secrets on meeting people and developing prospects. Their answers are below.
Be Yourself. Be Authentic.
Actively listen and hear what others are saying. Try to understand their needs and interests. It will help you convey your message and make that connection. Be yourself. Be authentic. Share information. Stay aware of why you are connecting – whether you are looking for a role or looking to build relationships. Respect the other person’s time.
– Tara Thurber, Co-Founder & Director of Talent Partnerships, DefinedTalent
Present Mutually Beneficial Opportunities
Be selective on who you approach – think quality over quantity. When you engage in conversation, think about ways you can offer value to your new contact. Think about an article they should read or people they could meet. Present mutually beneficial opportunities. Perhaps you can make an introduction at the event. Building a network is not a ‘you’ exercise. It is a ‘we’ exercise.
– Omprakash Rajagopalan, Founder & CEO, Rzolve LLC
Listen Attentively and Ask Meaningful Questions
Everyone at the event is there to network so don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and make those connections. Best-case scenario, you will come out with a bunch of new connections you can follow up with later on. It’s a simple as saying ‘hi’ and introducing yourself. Listen attentively and ask meaningful questions.
– Charisse Lim, Senior Campus & Military Recruiter, Fiserv
Follow-Up on LinkedIn with a Personalized Message
Be strategic in regards to overall networking approach. Focus on topics that will directly impact you or your business. Make sure you are attending networking events that are related to what you are looking to accomplish. Follow-up on LinkedIn with a personalized message.
– Nick Malefyt, Owner, Master Search Solutions
Hackensack Meridian Pascack Valley Medical Center appointed Thomas Bisignani as CFO. Bisignani most recently served as CFO at the Moses Taylor Foundation in Scranton, Pa.
New Jersey Institute of Technology named Sandy Curko to serve as general counsel and vice president of legal affairs, effective Oct. 2. Curko brings over 25 years of extensive legal experience, having represented corporate entities and educational institutions throughout her career.
New Jersey Institute of Technology named William Brady to serve as the new vice president of human resources, effective Oct. 1. Brady brings two decades of HR experience and leadership. He previously served as chief human resources officer at both Boise State University and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Kelly Conaway has been promoted to managing director for CBRE‘s Greater Philadelphia region, which includes oversight for southern New Jersey, as well as downtown and suburban Philadelphia, Delaware, Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley and Central Pennsylvania. Conaway previously led the marketing department in the Northeast for nearly two decades.
Stephanie Olivo, the longtime director of compliance at the N.J. Election Law Enforcement Commission, has joined McCarter & English, the law firm recently announced. Olivo, in her position at ELEC since 2015, will advise corporate clients on compliance.