The Fetch Blog

Curated reads and events for professionals

Tag: networking

10 online/offline communities taking the globe by storm — July 17, 2015

10 online/offline communities taking the globe by storm

/Krista Gray

Digital communities can be just as powerful as real-life ones, bringing together like-minded people to share knowledge and create change. Today’s brightest communities make use of all channels to be exceptionally engaging:

  1. TED
    Renown for TED Talks, this nonprofit is dedicated to sharing ideas and sparking conversation. From science to global issues, community members can reap the benefits of powerful ideas in more than 100 languages.
  2. Creative Mornings
    People in 117 ‘creative cities’ participate in a monthly breakfast with a short lecture, covering topics like music, design, and new technology. The offline meetups offer members a chance to learn something new while meeting like-minded peers.
  3. Travel Massive
    Travel Massive counts travel industry insiders, leaders and innovators in more than 95 global cities, hoping to connect insiders and empower change in travel. Community members meet, learn and collaborate at events all over the world, helping move the mission forward.
  4. Responsive Org
    In-person meetups take place from Brussels to Brisbane, bringing together those interested in creating a fundamental shift in the way we work and organize in the 21st century. Examples of Responsive Organizations that fit the Community’s manifesto include Google and Tesla.
  5. Social Media Club
    Founded nearly ten years ago, Social Media Club remains one of the world’s most digitally connected communities with a mission to expand digital media literacy and promote standard technologies. Knowledge transfer happens at meetups, which take place at events that range from ‘Content and Coffee’ to ‘Happy Hour with Chipotle.’ Membership levels range from educational to professional, offering flexibility for anyone interested in joining the Club.
  6. Girl Geek Dinners
    Breaking down “old fashioned stereotypes” is no easy feat, but Geek Girl Dinners is intent to do so by empowering women (and men) to talk about their experience and knowledge in the technology industry — over a fun dinner! Founded in the UK, Geek Girl Dinners hopes to make technology accessible for anyone, ditching outdated myths about women and young people in the field along the way.
  7. Startup Grind
    More than 200,000 entrepreneurs take part in shaping this incredible global community, which counts local chapters in 175 countries. Designed to educate, inspire and connect founders and creators through events and discussions, Startup Grind continues to grow and thrive by attracting the best and brightest.
  8. Product Hunt
    Product enthusiasts around the world delight in reading about the latest and greatest gadgets and innovations, surfaced daily by Product Hunt. Hailed as a ‘must read’ for those in technology and startups, the site has amassed a cult-like following in a few short years.
  9. PassionPassport
    Writers and photographers make up this passionate traveling community, created for sharing tales of completed trips and sights seen. An impressive Instagram feed boasts more than a quarter million followers, with photos garnering tens of thousands of likes along with countless comments. Contests encourage friendly competition, but members remain consistently supportive and inspired by one another.
  10. SoulCycle
    Sweating it out is serious business for SoulCycle riders who attend class in more than 30 global cities. The philosophy in each location is the same, inspiring riders to be strong and give them confidence and courage for personal and professional endeavors. Community is at the heart of what SoulCycle does, and its rides are at the center of many friendships.

What, if any, other communities belong on the list? We’d love to learn about them in the comments.

How to connect with top players in your industry while working from home — July 7, 2015

How to connect with top players in your industry while working from home

/The Fetch community

Working from home comes with a plethora of benefits including low to no overhead, the convenience of creating your own schedule, and working in a space where you can best focus on a project. However, there are also some relatively large drawbacks when you work in isolation, including a lack of effective networking opportunities. Having a hard time creating relationships with thought leaders and influencers in your industry? Here are some fool-proof ways that you can connect with important people in your field while managing your workload remotely:

1) Find relevant online groups

One of the greatest benefits of the Internet is its capacity to bring like-minded people together. The hard part isn’t necessarily finding a group; it’s deciding which ones to follow! On Linkedin, search in the “Interests” category to determine which group best suits what you’re looking for. If you can’t find one that fits, you might consider starting your own. Another good resource for finding relevant groups and influencers is Twitter. Click on a category of interest and follow leading players. From there, comment on their tweets or start a chat of your own. You may also consider following some blogs written by successful people in your field. Many times, they’ll share great tips and advice to follow. Leave a comment at the end of their blog and it’s likely they’ll respond. The possibilities are endless when it comes to the online communities that are available.

2) Attend events

It’s nice to chat online and join in discussions, but let’s face it: nothing makes as big an impression as face-to-face meetings. Websites like The Fetch gather important events in major cities around the world so that you can meet with others in your industry. If you don’t live near one of these metropolises, don’t worry. You still can attend chamber mixers, conferences, or special interest clubs in your own demographic through meetups that highlight events within a certain radius of your specific city.

3) Connect with friends (and their friends)

Whether you realize it or not, every friend you have on Facebook and every person you chat with at a party is part of your networking strategy. Think of it like this: if you have 300 friends on Facebook and each of those friends has 300 friends, you are just two steps away from thousands of people who could potentially impact your career. So make your dreams and what you do for a living known! Who knows if your high school buddy has a friend at Lucas Films or a cousin at Amazon that would be willing to give you a few pointers as to how to enter their companies.

4) Leave an online trail

Another way to meet professionals in your field is to leave a strong paper trail on the Internet. Publish your works on Articlebase, Tumblr, Google+, or LinkedIn. Create a blog to shares your professional tips and insights, and share your posts on Twitter or Facebook. Get your name out there and let others in your field find you while they’re scanning through search engine results. (Another benefit to this: you will establish credibility in your field by the knowledge you share.)

It can be difficult to connect with others in your industry when working from home, but reaching your professional potential and creating success are both tied to the business relationships that you create. Keeping up to date in your field and finding future job opportunities will depend on the people that you know or reach out to. It may take a little extra time, but the benefits will far outweigh the sacrifice.

About our writer // Christina Morales is a freelance writer specializing in creating online marketing content. Her dream is to one day rule the world with just an iPad, a case of Cherry Coke, Twizzlers, and a glue gun.

Making the most of conferences: the rule for forming real connections — November 25, 2013

Making the most of conferences: the rule for forming real connections

/The Fetch community

self-education

I nervously grinned at the security guard, my scarf casually covering my not-VIP-enough-for-this-building conference pass. Charm was unnecessary, though; I was floating through the highly-patrolled doorway on the arm of the event’s star speaker. No one would have dared to question her. She was, and still is, my lifelong hero. I’d run into her for the first time on the sidewalk two minutes earlier. Then, just like that, she’d insisted on bringing me to her talk, one that low-level attendees weren’t invited to. It was a talk, I suspected, that might change my life. (I was right.)

Here’s the takeaway: lovely things can happen at conferences, if you’re prepared to make them happen. And doing so is deceptively simple.

The Ultimate Conference Rule: Everyone is Awesome

There are lots of rules for making the most of conferences. They often involve business cards, highlighted agendas, and a color-coded lists of objectives. And they often lose sight of a crucial point: that conferences are made of people. This human-centered focus led me to The Ultimate Conference Rule. Which is, simply, that everyone is awesome. (Don’t forget the corollary, which indicates that you are also awesome.) There are great reasons for you to know that person in front of you, even if they’re not immediately apparent. The Rule has changed my life in more ways than I can count.

How the rule works

If everyone is awesome, including you, then you have nothing to fear from hurling yourself over the sometimes-scary cliff of random new encounters, even if you’re silently yelling “Nooooo! I’m kind of an introvert!” on the way down. (Believe me, I know how that feels.) Here’s how it works: Step 1: Assume that each new person you meet, or bump into, or accidentally spill coffee on, is wonderful. You just have to figure out why. Step 2: Smile, say hi, introduce yourself, and shake their hand. Step 3: Dig in. Ask them questions. Listen. Tell them what you’re up to. Offer to help. If you know something cool about them, mention it and find out more.

The effects of the rule

Since I started approaching people based on the Rule, long before I identified it as such, the following things have happened: Jerri, who’d been on my radar for a while, coincidentally sat behind me at a Startingbloc keynote. I said “Hi! Aren’t you Jerri?” We became instant friends. We were also business partners for two years, which taught me a ton. As the lights dimmed at The Feast, I traded business cards with Danny, a super-talented designer. We turned out to have so much in common that I refer to him as my long-lost twin. After a DEMAN panel, I asked a legendary bassist and producer for his thoughts about creating a life around music. Later, he dared me to sing in front of a room full of people. Terrified, I did. We’re now working together. On the way to a talk at the Skoll World Forum, I started chatting with a kind-looking gentleman to my right on the sidewalk. He turned out to be the incredible filmmaker Taghi Amirani, who has inspired me more than he knows. And that’s just a sampling. The best part? Putting yourself out there can help others become more comfortable doing the same. My friend Sara told me that our first impromptu conversation, after a keynote, helped her get over her natural shyness and eagerly connect with new people. What if we all did that for each other at conferences?

How to make the rule easier to follow

Do your research. Read the bios. Make a note of people who already hold interest for you on paper, remember them, and be open to finding them. Be aware. Put your phone down. Look around. See who you’re naturally drawn to. Smile. A lot. Don’t get discouraged. Some people aren’t at their most awesome all the time. If you have a sub-par interaction, chalk it up to a bad day on that person’s part and don’t sweat it.

Making the rule your own

Remember my hero from the opening story? When I saw her on the sidewalk, my bumbling opening line was literally “Hi! You are my hero. Can I… um, give you a hug?” I knew enough about her to believe that she’d be receptive to that, and I also really like hugging people. That may not be your style. Although the Rule does naturally involve leaving your comfort zone, you don’t have to be a crazy extrovert to use it. You can be quiet, quippy, serious, whatever – just be unabashedly yourself, and remember that you and every other person have something to offer each other. Keep that in mind. Now, go discover the awesome.

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About our contributor // Mailande Moran is a musician, writer, and media consultant. You can follow her adventures on Twitter and hear her music on Facebook.

Image credit

Top 13 London Venues for Tech Events — September 22, 2013

Top 13 London Venues for Tech Events

/thatgirlchloe/1 Comment

STH

If you’re an event organiser looking for an interesting venue to host your next tech event, then check out our list below.

Most coworking venues have spaces to hire (you can view our guide to coworking in London here), but we wanted to highlight alternative spaces for your next conference or event.

Spaces for a conference

1. The Brewery

One of our top venues to hold a major conference is The Brewery. In the past, London Web Summit, Wired Conference and FOWA have pitched up here. With a massive auditorium that holds up to 800 people, The Brewery is an ideal venue to host a major conference. There are plenty of break out rooms too for networking and exhibition space.

2. Shoreditch Town Hall

Based in the heart of London’s Tech City, is Shoreditch Town Hall, home to Digital Shoreditch Festival for the last couple of years. There is a grand hall with a stage plus balcony seating for extra capacity. There are several rooms downstairs for workshops and ‘spill over’ areas, however the t-junction at the entrance to the stairs isn’t ideal for networking space. In lieu of this, there is a great space in the basement for an different kind of exhibition including a rabbit warren of cellar rooms; ideal for tech + design + art displays.

Spaces for an exhibition 

3. Business Design Centre

The Business Design Centre is a traditional venue for exhibitions and conferences based in Angel, Islington. It’s best known for major exhibitions such as TNT Travel Show 2013. It’s a great venue for business and entrepreneurial showcases and exhibitions.

4. The Old Truman Brewery

Situated on Brick Lane, the Truman Brewery is a huge warehouse available to be use as an exhibition and conference venue, near the centre of Silicon Roundabout. Known for the Silicon Milkroundabout Jobs Fair, it’s a great venue with plenty of space, and good for hosting exhibitions, road shows and events.

Spaces for networking drinks 

5. Shoreditch Grind

If you’re looking to hire out a venue for some networking drinks, then check out The Shoreditch Grind, a great venue on the corner of Old St Roundabout, and well known haut for Silicon Drinkabout drinks. We love that you can change up their iconic sign, to give your event a personalised touch!

The LightBar

6. The Light Bar

Another great venue to hold a networking event is upstairs in The Light Bar, complete with a lounge area and an outside balcony. It’s perfect for parties, meetings, corporate functions and presentations. It includes a fully stocked bar, DJ booth plus catering options.

Having a private screening?

7. The Hospital Club

If you are looking for a private cinema for a screening, then check out the private members club, The Hospital Club, which has a private cinema that seats approximately 50 people, complete with a popcorn maker and a catering service. It’s a very stylish venue which offers private networking areas for pre- or post-event events.

8. Rich Mix Cinema

For an alternative cinema experience, hire a screening room the independent Rich Mix Cinema in East London. There are several small cinema rooms available with adjoining function rooms for extra event space.

Looking for a room with a view?

9. Altitude360

With a panoramic view of London, Altitude360 is the perfect venue to host a conference, workshop or networking event. The venue offers theatre style conference setting, integrated and customisable audio/visual options plus in-house catering.

10. Centre Point Tower

Based in the centre of Soho, Paramount’s Centre Point Tower, has a restaurant/ bar private dining rooms plus a 360 degree viewing gallery of the city. It’s a good venue for networking events, awards and socials.

Hosting an awards or after party?

11. LSO St Luke’s

For an unusual venue to host your next awards evening, then take a look at LSO St Luke’s centre which is a renovated church. Home to the Lovie Awards for the last couple of years, it’s a unique and stylish venue, great for any event or awards ceremony.

12. Village Underground

If you’re hosting an after party, and you’re looking for oodles of space, then look no further than Village Underground, which is a renovated warehouse in the middle of Shoreditch. With a capacity of 1000 people, this is the place to throw an after party to end all after parties.

On a boat?

13. HMS President 

If you’e throwing a networking event, then check out the HMS President, and host your party on a boat. With a massive ballroom, complete with a stage and decorative fairy lights, this is an excellent venue to host a party with a difference.

This list has been inspired by @Joshr’s crowd sourced list of London Tech Friendly Event Venues.

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Image credit: Top: Shoreditch Town Hall, middle: The Light Bar

The Fetch San Francisco Dinner Conversation on food businesses — July 16, 2013

The Fetch San Francisco Dinner Conversation on food businesses

/The Fetch community

This month, we’re announcing upcoming Dinner Conversation events in London, San Francisco, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne!

For now, if you’re based in the Bay Area check out our event on Tuesday August 6 with host Annie Lin and special guest speaker Sarah Nelson. Sarah is the executive director of 18 Reasons, one of the most well-known food-related organisations in the SF area. The discussion will focus on food entrepreneurship, creatives and SF life. RSVP soon – your ticket includes a two-course meal and drink. Nice!

photo

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