Assignment 20A - Growing Your Social Capital

Assignment 20A - Growing Your Social Capital

Matt Hench

COO and Co-Founder, Shiftnote

• Matt is the Owner of another Software Company called Shiftnote that is a hotel management software. It's also a scheduling platform.  He has an extensive background in Restaurants and hotels.
• Domain Expert, Owner of a successful company similar to the product I'm looking into. Would be considered a competitor.
• I was familiar with Shiftnote from working at my former hotel, so I looked on LinkedIn and found the highest ranking person. I was fortunate to receive a response.
• He gave me some advice on my Venture Concept. I showed him my idea before submitting it (since I'm doing things out of order) and he gave me some feedback on how to tweak it.
• Befriending the competition!! 

John Cola,

People & Restaurant Manager, Ethos Greek Bistro

• John is the People & Restaurant manager of a local mid-sized restaurant that I frequent. He deals specifically with the day-to-day operation and vendor outsourcing. 
• Market Expert; With his background he literally lives and breathes the market.
• I have a close friend who works at the restaurant and she provided the introduction.
• I showed him my first Elevator Pitch and he gave me feedback on both the product and the pitch itself. He noted that my product was good I just need to work on my sales tactic.
• He will provide me with insider knowledge from the other side of the industry.

Cheryl Duke,

Director of Technical Delivery, American Express

• Cheryl provides Credit Card Services to Restaurants. She oversees her team who are experts in the communication.
• Supplier
• She is my best friend's dad's former boss.
• Cheryl gave me advice on selling tactics in the restaurant industry to partner with my interaction with John Cola from Ethos.
• Outside perspective on the best way to get into the industry.

Reflection: This exercise gave me insight into questions to ask next time I am involved in a networking event. It's all about making the most of the interaction. It differed from my previous networking experiences because I had a reason for reaching out to these people. In the past I had just kind of been talking to people with no purpose.