• Networking Tips for the Aspiring Young Professional

    Networking Tips for the Aspiring Young Professional

    As a new professional in PR, you’ll quickly find that networking can be a surefire way to a win for your team: sharing tips with industry colleagues; making friendly with a reporter at a target publication; or kicking off a new business lead. The bounties are endless, but there’s loads to learn before making some of these moves. Excited by the prospect of getting out there? Here are some tips from one Yo’Pro to another, including a celeb-shot from Matter Portland’s Networking Committee Chair, Nick Brown.

     

    Test the waters.

    The adage, “you miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take,” is ringing in my ears. First things first, just give a networking event the ol’ college try – whether you end up loving or hating it, you’d never have known without giving it a shot. Events typically run for two hours, and there’s no need to even stick it out for the whole time. Check your hesitations at the door and just show up – you may end up finding a secret passion!

     

    Do a little research.

    Your time is valuable, and you don’t want to head into an event out of the loop. Especially as you’re starting out, take thirty minutes to poke around the website and get familiar with the scale and scope of the event. What is the theme or goal? What types of people can you expect to see there? Will there be a presentation? If so, who is speaking and what should you know about them? At least taking a stab at these questions before you show up will set you up for success. For instance, Matter Portland sponsors a monthly networking event, called NewTech PDX – simply knowing the name of the event already welcomes assumptions about the content and crowd type. Remember, you flag tons of events for your clients, and for good reason – now it’s your turn!

     

    Pack (three) business cards. 

    Instead of letting them gather dust on your desk, take your business cards on a well-earned trip. But only bring three – this will force you to be thoughtful about who you give your information to. If you happen to dish out the three you brought, only to then meet someone you want to connect with, don’t panic. Breathe. They can give you their information, and now you’re in the driver’s seat for following up afterwards. Set the goal to deal out your three cards before you leave; that’s at least three more connections or business prospects than you had when you walked in!

     

    Guest tip from Matter Portland Networking Committee Chair, Nick Brown: Know what you do.

    It’s shocking how many people freeze as soon as they’re asked what they do, and even more so what PR is. I recommend that you write down a few lines to memorize what you do for the company. From there, it’s also helpful to have a few lines from your company’s elevator pitch in mind for when you get the inevitable question, “So what is Matter?”

     

    Be yourself.

    It’s true: networking events can attract professionals who are mighty-fine at peacocking and posturing for position. But don’t fall into that trap! Above all else, be engaged, be interested, ask questions and speak like you typically do. People will find your interest and candor genuine, and you’ll end up making more meaningful connections.

     

    Don’t drink too much…

    Most networking events these days will ply you with a drink or two, and you should feel comfortable to partake, but please remember that you’re in a professional environment. Not a college party. Especially while you’re making a name for yourself at the start of your career, you don’t want that name to be associated with someone who can’t control themselves.

     

    Don’t be a stranger.

    You’ve taken the leap, done the research, handed out your valuable card stack, pitched yourself and your work, and kept yourself, you. But the work isn’t done! When you get home, or back to the office the next day, whip out the business cards you’ve been given and give yourself a quick event recap. Connect with your newfound acquaintances on LinkedIn, or shoot them an email if you’re serious about staying in touch. You never know how these connections could manifest themselves later on!

    Take these tips into account and get out there! Soon, you’ll be swimming in business cards like Scrooge McDuck.

    via GIPHY

    Matter

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  • Exploring the Portland Startup Scene at NewTech PDX

    Exploring the Portland Startup Scene at NewTech PDX

    As a Massachusetts native, I’ve encountered my fair share of smart, scrappy founders working to turn their ideas into reality in a competitive ecosystem. As a transplant to the west coast and working in Matter’s Portland office, it’s easy to see there’s something different in the air here, and startups love it. To date, I haven’t been more reminded of that than I was at a recent NewTech PDX gathering. A monthly networking event, it brings together individuals from across Portland’s diverse business community to make new connections and support the professionals that power this budding startup mecca. This month’s event, hosted at New Relic, was themed after a subject near and dear to Portland’s heart: Food.

    Before you start salivating, check out the video we created below that takes a closer look at the individuals and organizations that make up NewTech PDX.

    Companies like Intel and Nike give Portland a reputation for top notch tech and consumer goods, but there’s no discussing the best things in Portland without mentioning its culinary culture. It’s also perhaps one of the best ways to understand what drives this city’s robust startup community. Food and drink is everywhere in Portland, from high end steakhouses to Froot Loop donuts; from molecular mixology to gourmet grilled cheese food carts. It’s a boon for diners, but even moreso for entrepreneurs looking to make a splash in food.

    During this month’s NewTech PDX event, I had the chance to sample some unbelievable cuisine and to hear from a handful of companies leading the charge in foodtech. As I listened to founders passionately describing their projects, there were some standout takeaways that illustrate why Portland is such a great place for startups, delicious and otherwise.

    1. This is a haven of sustainable and intentional living. It might be the overwhelming beauty of our natural landscapes, or Oregon’s strong farming and craft culture, but the demand for transparency and responsibility in food production is pervasive. Leveraging a regional predilection for farm-to-table with tech-driven convenience, MilkRun has found a willing test audience in Portland to take their fresh, farmer-friendly take on food delivery to a national stage.
    2. Portland’s people and infrastructure are evidence of a community ready to let technology reshape daily life. From bikeshare kiosks to digitized streetcar tickets to iPad cash registers, a night (or day) on the town is unavoidably digital. YouAte, a free food journaling app available for iOS, is finding new ways for technology to help us make healthier choices and enjoy all the great food this city has to offer in a more mindful way.
    3. Portland loves a food fad, but from food carts to underground gastropubs, the people here also know that great dining experiences often come in unexpected packages. Feastly, a company that connects chefs with venues for pop-up restaurants and experimental culinary events, is providing a new platform to make this happen. It’s great for chefs looking for adventurous eaters, and vice versa. I’ve personally got my eye on Food of Guam next month, but there’s plenty of great meals to go around, regardless of your preferred tastes.
    4. I’ve been here for a year, and about half of the people I meet at a given event have been here for less time. The fact is that talented young professionals are flocking to Stumptown in droves, and they need jobs. Poached, another NewTech presenter, is changing the way restaurants hire, providing a platform that opens up a world of new opportunities for those working in the foodservice industry. With new restaurants popping up every day and torrent of professional transplants, business is booming.

    While Portland’s startup culture has exploded in recent years, the city has a well established and long standing reputation as a haven for entrepreneurs. Most of us have heard, at least a dozen or so times, the story of Portland’s original deal maker, Henry Pittock, who showed up penniless in 1853 on the banks of the Willamette before becoming a self-made millionaire. In 2017, his sprawling family mansion is still a Portland landmark, and a testament to the fact that if you’ve got a crazy idea and a willingness to work hard for it, this is a great place to be. If only he’d also predicted Portland’s inexplicable obsession with donuts, his house might have been even bigger…

     

    Matter

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  • Get Out There on International Women’s Day

    Get Out There on International Women’s Day

    Today is International Women’s Day. All throughout the world, individuals, colleagues, friends, family members, businesses and organizations are showing their support of women with demonstrations that range from gentle encouragement to groundbreaking stands against oppression. I count myself as extraordinarily lucky to work alongside some of the most intelligent, most passionate, most driven women – nay, people – I’ve ever known.  But there are many women out there, in our industry and far beyond, that are on the hunt for sources of community. Sources of inspiration. Sources of action.

    No matter what moves you, there are a number of fantastic groups, events, publications and initiatives that would love to add you to their ranks. Here are a few of our favorite finds:

    If You Love PR & Marketing

    The brand new Organization of American Women in PR seeks to connect female leaders in the PR industry and provide education, networking opportunities and support.

    Near Boston: Take a look at Young Women in Digital, a networking organization dedicated to young women building careers in digital marketing, social media, public relations and more.

    If You Love Journalism

    The Journalism and Women Symposium (JAWS) is a renown organization for female writers, offering a series of impactful events and even a fascinating member showcase packed to the brim with books, videos, podcasts and blogs.

    If You Love Politics

    Based at the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers, the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) gives you a clear look at the state of female-led politics in your specific region, in addition to ways you can get involved.

    If You Love Technology, STEM or STEAM

    The Women in Tech Summit is widely regarded as one of the critical events for any women looking to advance their position in technology fields. Check out their individual city listings for some of the smaller events happening in or near your own back yard.

    Near Boston: If STEAM is your passion, She Geeks Out might be the community for you. In addition to providing a number of local events, their blog features profiles and podcasts from highly influential women in the field.

    If You Love The Arts

    The National Museum of Women in the Arts in D.C. is a great stop for learning and advocacy, and provides helpful resources like this fantastic list of websites and organizations serving individual interests.

    If You Love Design

    The AIGA has a Women Lead steering committee that creates meaningful content around the achievements, gender-related issues and amazing innovations of women in design – perfect for learning and inspiration.

    If You Love Business & Entrepreneurship

    The Ellevate Network connects women in business through an online portal, major events and local chapters. If you’re not sure about joining, there are local events that are open to the public.

    Near Boston: Women Founders in Boston works to give female entrepreneurs the boost they need to grow their businesses and realize their visions. Want to get hyper-local? WE BOS is a city-run organization with the same fantastic goal. Meanwhile, Wonder Women of Boston is an open community of ambitious, accomplished women of all ages and backgrounds in the greater Boston area.

    What did we miss? Tell us your favorite events, organizations, even kick-ass women we should all know something about.

    Vanessa Boynton

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  • A Travel Guide to Portland Networking

    A Travel Guide to Portland Networking

    Moving to a new city offers an exciting opportunity to experience a new culture, but it also provides you with a chance to expand your professional network. When I first moved to Matter’s Portland, OR office from headquarters in Newburyport, MA I was excited about the challenge of meeting new professionals and getting to know a new corporate landscape – one that’s known for its entrepreneurial attitude and vibrant tech culture from giants like Nike to vision care innovators like Sightbox.

    Networking events can be an excellent way to learn more about the professional landscape of any new city you move to. It also gives you a chance to unwind, meet other professionals in the area and make new business partnerships too. When it comes to Portland, I always recommend the following:

    • NewTechPDX – A favorite of mine, NewTechPDX is the place to be to learn about the latest tech disrupting Portland and the West Coast. The event starts with casual networking and includes 3 short demos from companies related to the theme of the month such as automotive, VR and smart cities.
    • Network After Work – Want to meet the most amount of people in the shortest amount of time? If so, Network After Work is for you. The theme is broad and it allows you to meet professionals across sectors from financial advisors to graphic designers.
    • New Relic FutureTalks – If looking into the crystal ball of technology executives and futurists is for you, then you’ve come to the right place. Whenever I’m looking for new trends to keep an eye out for I always try to attend FutureTalks. As the name alludes, this event is all about the future whether it’s 6 months or 6 years from now.
    • Startup Happy Hour – The heart of Portland lies in the startup community. If you own, work or are just interested in startups then this is the perfect event for you. Get to know your peers across industries and discover the innovators making a name for themselves in the city.

    Each networking event is different and after attending one or two you’ll find which events you enjoy most. The above is just a sample of my favorites. Are there any I’m missing? Tell me in the comments!

    Follow Matter PDX on Twitter and Instagram to see which events my colleagues and I are attending!

    Matter

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  • PR Networking In Portland: An Opportunity To Connect

    This past week the Matter Portland office took a trip to an evening networking event hosted by Women In Information Technology (WITI), a group hosts get-together’s for women working in the technology industry. As we headed out the door we were all excited to get our feet wet in the local community, building relationships with other professional women in the technology world – and it didn’t hurt that the event was taking place at a Jaguar R&D center.

    If you haven’t been to a networking event for some time, the idea of chatting with new people can be overwhelming and intimidating. However, networking events are a great opportunity to forge new connections since everyone in the room is there because they are interested in expanding their network and learning about new companies, people, and opportunities in the area.

    So, if you are feeling a little bit rusty here are some great ways to prepare:

    • Practice your elevator pitch: At a networking event everyone wants to know who each other is, who they work for, and what they do there. You want to be able to share this information quickly, concisely, but still with personality.
    • Put on your happy face: How likely are you to walk up to someone who is scowling? Not very. You want to put off an open vibe that will invite people to come speak with you. What’s one easy way to do this? Smile and meet the eyes of those around you.
    • Dress the part: Depending on the venue and event you may want to dress up, or down. Do a little bit of research beforehand. Is the event taking place at a nice location, or somewhere more low key?
    • Get excited: You only have as much fun at these events as you allow yourself to. Take advantage of the opportunity and get excited about all of the people you will meet. There’s no shame in playing a little pump up music.

    You never know who you may meet that will be a great connection in the future. Think about it this way, the Portland team works with mostly technology clients, so connecting with women in technology startups or established companies may open doors for new business down the road. Similarly, if there is a technology journalist at the event taking a moment to chat may help you gain insight into her interests, which gives you great pitching insight to take to work.

    Matter

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  • Come to LunchSpotting 4.0 at PayPal in Boston!

    I’m excited about the 4th Lunchspotting event that we are hosting in conjunction with MITX at PayPal Media Network in Boston’s Innovation District, and here are the two reasons why:

    First, everyone eats lunch. Right? At the very minimum, everyone takes some kind of mid-day break. In addition to valuable networking with smart folks from myriad companies – described below – you indeed get a free lunch at LunchSpotting. Life is good!

    Second, our LunchSpotting events are zero-pressure networking outings with like-minded individuals who may end up contributing to your business, or you to theirs. While enjoying a tasty sandwich you may meet a prospective employer, employee or business partner, while learning about new resources that can help your business prosper. Lunchspotting events are held deliberately in various locations in Boston’s Innovation District for the purpose of connecting professionals who want to expand their contacts, broaden their horizons and, at the very least, fill their bellies.

    Tuesday’s event takes place at the office of the PayPal media network, and the attendee list already looks great. I’m looking forward to saying hello to some familiar faces while introducing myself to a number of professionals I do not yet know, and I hope you are able to join me. (And if so, I’ll buy you lunch.)

    Scott Signore

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