Networking for novices

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

The Guardian’s Small Business Network has tips on how to get the most out of networking events: www.theguardian.com/ small-business-network

TAKE ACTION!

Go along to a networking event and network! Come to one of the events run by the Entrepreneurship Institute – most have networking receptions afterwards. Register your interest: bit.ly/EntEngage Facebook: KingsEntrepreneurship

Getting out there and networking to meet the right people is crucial if you want help getting an idea off the ground, advice on careers, or to get your foot in the door for an internship. But entering a room full of strangers can be intimidating. We asked King’s students what makes them most anxious about networking. Gilly Wiscarson, a business advisor and Leadership Expert in Residence 2018 on the King’s20 Accelerator, responds with her advice.

HOW SHOULD I BEST APPROACH PEOPLE I DON’T KNOW AT AN EVENT?

The whole purpose of these events is to meet people you don’t know yet. So everyone will be relieved if someone takes the lead. Pick out a person who looks friendly and walk confidently up to them with your arm outstretched ready for the handshake. Say: ‘Can I introduce myself? My name is xxxx and I’m here because xxxx.’ Give a good firm handshake with strong eye contact and listen carefully when they tell you their name – and use it in the next few sentences.

HOW DO I MOVE ON AFTER TALKING TO SOMEONE SO I CAN MEET OTHER PEOPLE WITHOUT APPEARING TO BE RUDE?

Say: ‘It’s been lovely to chat with you but we are supposed to circulate at these events. Let’s go and introduce ourselves to that group over there.’ Take their arm and lead the way.

HOW DO I BEST KEEP IN TOUCH WITH PEOPLE I MEET?

Keep their business card and contact them the next day. Say: ‘It was a great pleasure to meet you at the event yesterday and we seem to have many common interests. Shall we try to make a date for coffee? Can I suggest 11am on Monday 15 June, or 2pm on Wednesday 2 July? I’d be very happy to come to your office.’

HOW DO I AVOID APPEARING INEXPERIENCED AND INFERIOR TO PEOPLE AT NETWORKING EVENTS?

This is something that’s quite personal. Generally speaking, we forget that we know much more about our subject and our business than 99 per cent of the population – that makes us expert and we need to recognise our own strengths.

Here are Gilly’s other top tips for effective networking

• Plan in advance. If you can, find out who is going to the event and how they might be able to help you – or you help them!

• You don’t need a business to have a business card. Having a business card with your main contact details and something that will help a person remember you is useful.

• People judge your competence and likability in about four seconds – so look smart and appropriate for the occasion.

• Switch off your mobile phone – you need to bring your full attention to the event.

• Aim to collect up to three contacts – you need to keep it manageable so you can follow up.

• If you are talking about an idea for a business or social venture, be clear about the BENEFITS (not just features) of the venture and make sure you can describe them in one minute.

• In the conversation, your listening skills are paramount – people like to talk about themselves so practise standing still, keeping quiet, and showing interest in the other person.

• Keep the door open – even if the meeting doesn’t happen this time, keep the person on your contacts list and send them warm wishes occasionally.

Research has shown that the UK economy is missing out on more than 1.2 million new enterprises due to the untapped potential of women. 1 Here we celebrate the achievements of 10 entrepreneurial women who are students and alumni of King’s.

They are all innovators in their fields of expertise and have all stepped forward with new ideas and new approaches. They are truly inspiring, and we hope that you’ll be inspired by them too.

Julie Devonshire OBE Director, Entrepreneurship Institute

KING’S WOMEN IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP

DR BHAVAGAYA BAKSHI

From the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine. Medicine (2005–11)

ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITY

Bhavagaya is a GP and co-founder of C the Signs, a digital tool that uses artificial intelligence to identify patients at risk of cancer. Currently, half of all cancers are diagnosed in the late stages, and because of this about 80 per cent of those patients will die from their cancer. C the Signs technology can enable patients to be diagnosed early, resulting in 80 per cent of patients surviving their cancer.

LESSON LEARNED

‘Believe in yourself and don’t be scared.’

PIPPASHA KHAN

From the Dental Institute. Dentistry (2014–19)

ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITY

Pippa is the co-president of Smile Society, a society working to raise awareness of good dental health in the community.

LESSON LEARNED

‘Persevere and you’ll receive.’

SABRINA SHAHAWI

From King’s Business School. MSc Public Policy & Management (2017–18)

ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITY

Sabrina started a non-profit organisation in Colombia with her family called Cristy’s Pride Tutoring. It provides free tutoring services to children in maths, reading and writing to avoid them dropping out of school and to help them progress into their next grades.

LESSON LEARNED

‘Failure is ok. Although failure is hard to accept, it’s part of the process and other doors will open and other opportunities will present themselves.’

ALICIA BEYLAN NAVARRETE

From the Faculty of Natural & Mathematical Sciences. BSc Computer Science & Robotics (2014–18)

ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITY

Alicia is the founder of Free From Baking, a subscription box for baking, providing tailored recipes that are gluten-free, sugar-free and dairy-free.

LESSON LEARNED

‘People will disagree with your idea and competition will be fierce, but even if you get intimidated, you should keep going and follow your heart.’

OLGA KRAVCHENKO

From the Faculty of Arts & Humanities. MA Arts & Cultural Management (2016–17)

ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITY

Olga is the co-founder of Musemio, a virtual reality edtech platform which aims to spark children’s interest in arts and culture by doing what they enjoy the most, playing. She is also the co-founder of Memento which allows people to create and share their best memories in virtual reality using just their smartphones.

LESSON LEARNED

‘You cannot build something great on your own, you need a team. The team is what will get you through tough moments.’

BASMA BAFADAL

From the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience. MSc Neuroscience (2016–17)

ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITY

Basma is in the early stages of two entrepreneurial ventures. The first is a social enterprise that eliminates paper receipts and instead stores them on an online database. The second is a personalised skincare product which works by assessing a person’s skin and creating a formula especially for them.

LESSON LEARNED

‘Open up to others and get their help, it’s really important.’

ZEINAB RUHOMAULY

From the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine. Medicine MBBS (2014–20)

ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITY

Zeinab is in the process of developing Centrality Health. This is a mobilebased platform to improve communication between patients and doctors during visits to Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments in hospitals.

LESSON LEARNED

‘There is a hierarchical structure in the National Health Service in the UK which can make it quite hard to implement change. However, I’ve learned to have confidence in myself and that my opinions as a medical student have great value.’

ONYINYEWCHUKWU UDOKPORO

From the Faculty of Arts & Humanities. BA Religion, Politics & Society (2016–19)

ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITY

Onyinye started her venture at 13 years old when she tutored a few children after school. Today, she runs her own tutoring business and, so far, has tutored over 100 students.

LESSON LEARNED

‘Determination is the only thing that failure cannot cope with.’

‘CONFIDENCE AND MOTIVATION HAS TO COME FROM WITHIN. IF IT COMES FROM OTHER PEOPLE, IT’S ONLY GOING TO GET YOU SO FAR’

AEYSHA AHMED

KATY SUTHERLAND

From the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care. PGDip Adult Nursing (2016–18)

ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITY

Katy’s project is a website and app for student nurses. It gives them information and resources to help them care for someone who is dying.

LESSON LEARNED

‘A small seed of an idea can grow, if you just give it some time and don’t try to rush it.’

AEYSHA AHMED

From the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy. BSc Global Health & Social Medicine (2014–18)

ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITY

Aeysha has designed a Halal nail polish for Muslim women which lasts longer than other Halal nail polishes. It allows water to permeate through the surface of the nail so that there is valid completion of a pre-prayer washing ritual. The nail polish allows Muslim women to access a beauty product which they haven’t really been able to use before.

LESSON LEARNED

‘Confidence and motivation has to come from within. If it comes from other people, it’s only going to get you so far.’

TAKE ACTION!

Take part in the Enterprise Award which recognises student enterprise activities outside of formal studies.

Check out the opportunities to develop your entrepreneurial skills including Future Founders, a series of workshops designed with female founders in mind. www.kcl.ac.uk/entrepreneurship-institute

Get a fix of inspiration and motivation every semester. Sign up to hear from amazing entrepreneurs and innovators: bit.ly/EntEngage