Assignment 20A - Growing Your Social Capital

Assignment 20A - Growing Your Social Capital

#1 Expert in your industry

1) Who they are and what their background is.

Tina, Marketing Manager

2) Which 'slot' you are filling with each person (i.e., domain expert, market expert, supplier), and how the person fills the spot.

She is a domain expert because she is a manager for the domain in which my industry is related. She knows the in’s and out’s of the marketing for the department.

3) A description of how you found the person and contacted the person.

She was my manager for my marketing internship this past summer.

4) The nature of the exchange you have with the person -- what favor did they do for you? What is the return expectation?

I talked to her about my class and the product I was creating. She thought the idea was great but agreed that I need to be more clear with who I am marketing to.

5) How will including this person in your network enhance your ability to exploit an opportunity?

This person is an expert in her industry and will be able to give me great advice on how to enhance my product based on previous knowledge.

#2 Expert on your market

1) Who they are and what their background is.

Dana, my mother.

2) Which 'slot' you are filling with each person (i.e., domain expert, market expert, supplier), and how the person fills the spot.

Market expert because she is within my target market as she is a mother.

3) A description of how you found the person and contacted the person.

She is my mother and I called her on the phone since she lives 4 hours away from Gainesville.

4) The nature of the exchange you have with the person -- what favor did they do for you? What is the return expectation?

I explained my product idea to her and she loved it. She agreed that this was a problem that needed a solution.

5) How will including this person in your network enhance your ability to exploit an opportunity?

She will help create a product that the market I am targeting would actually want to purchase.

#3  Important supplier to your industry

1) Who they are and what their background is.

Bobby, sales department of a consumer goods company.

2) Which 'slot' you are filling with each person (i.e., domain expert, market expert, supplier), and how the person fills the spot.

Supplier expert because he deals with selling supplies to large retailers.

3) A description of how you found the person and contacted the person.

Knew him from my internship.

4) The nature of the exchange you have with the person -- what favor did they do for you? What is the return expectation?

We discussed my product and he felt that it was a good idea but I would definately have to focus on how I would create the product and what kind of supply I would need.

5) How will including this person in your network enhance your ability to exploit an opportunity?

They will give me sound advice on who are good suppliers to deal with and how to handle them.

Finally: Reflect. This experience requires you to do a little 'targeted networking.' How will this experience shape how you participate in any future networking events? Did this experience differ from your networking experiences in the past? How?

This experience will allow me to understand who exactly I need to talk to in order to get something done. This will allow me to more efficiently participate in future networking events. It differed in that this was much more structured than past networking experiences. Usually I just wing it, but I think this is more effective.