Start With One Question: The First Step in Building a Powerful Network
External Networking - Blog 2 of 6
"If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time."
A reorganization at Expedia spurred my pivot to tech startups. I had primarily worked with large public companies as a consultant and executive. I had no understanding of the CFO role at a tech startup and therefore, couldn’t say definitively that I wanted the role.
I set an initial objective to answer two questions: What is the role of a tech startup CFO? What is a tech startup?
Through my initial meetings, I learned about venture funding rounds (seed, series A, B, C) and at which stage companies would typically hire a CFO, as well as the role of a startup tech CFO vs. public company CFO.
From there, I set my next objective to identify and connect with hiring managers at startup tech companies that have raised at least their Series B round of financing.
This process resulted in my joining Avvo, a Series E tech startup, as a Corporate Controller reporting to Monica, an experienced CFO. Monica was incredibly supportive of my career aspiration to become a CFO - answering my questions to learn more about her role, showing me what she is working on, and advocating for me within the company. This experience also gave me tech startup credibility.
Three years later, I joined an early stage tech startup as cofounder and COO.
So you want to build a network, but why?
Job search - Do you want to connect with hiring managers for roles in your current field?
Career pivot - Do you want to meet with professionals in your desired role so you can assess what skills you already possess and what you need to develop? Do you want guidance on how to enter your desired field?
Peer mentoring - Do you want to meet with peers in your field so you can learn from each other?
Your objective may change based on your discussions.
Job search - You may refine the list of companies or identify hiring managers with whom you’d like to work. Or you may identify other roles that benefit from your current skills and experience.
Career pivot - You now have a refined vision of your desired role. Your next objective is to connect with hiring managers at your desired companies.
Peer mentoring - You may refine your definition of peers based on industry, company size or discipline.
Your initial objective may not be exactly right. That is ok. You will adjust and refine as you learn more.