Targeted Conference Networking
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time to result
- ~days to results
- Steps
- 7
- Confidence
- —
Chris approaches conferences as a targeted search rather than relying entirely on chance. He obtains the attendee list, combines it with the public speaker roster, and identifies the people most relevant to his goals. He adds their photos to a mobile note so he can recognize them in a crowded room and uses scheduled talks to predict where speakers will be. Because initiating conversations can feel uncomfortable, he recommends practicing with strangers in low-stakes settings. During the actual interaction, he leaves before overstaying his welcome and seeks a soft commitment to the next action while still face-to-face. The method preserves serendipity while substantially increasing the probability of meeting priority contacts.
Origin
Extracted from Deep Dive with Ali Abdaal
How to run it
- 1
Obtain the attendee list
Ask the organizer for the attendee list or use the list supplied to participants.
Pro tip Request it early enough to research participants before traveling.
Watch out Do not assume the attendee list includes speakers.
- 2
Add the speaker roster
Combine attendees with the publicly available list of speakers to create a fuller map of who will be present.
Pro tip Use the agenda to identify when and where a speaker is most likely to appear.
- 3
Prioritize target contacts
Review the combined list one person at a time and select those with whom a conversation could be especially valuable.
Pro tip Keep the target group small enough to remember and pursue.
Watch out A target list should not prevent spontaneous conversations with unexpected people.
- 4
Build a visual reference
Place recognizable photos of priority contacts in a phone note and review it periodically during the event.
Pro tip Use recent professional photos where possible.
Watch out Use the reference discreetly and respectfully.
- 5
Approach at predictable moments
Look for the target shortly before or after their scheduled talk, when their location is known.
Pro tip Prepare a concise opening connected to the event or the person’s work.
Watch out Do not block a speaker who is visibly rushing to another commitment.
- 6
Practice low-stakes approaches
Build the skill of starting conversations by approaching strangers in settings where the outcome does not matter.
Pro tip Practice while traveling or at a social venue where future overlap is unlikely.
- 7
Exit and secure the next step
End the conversation first, then seek a soft in-person commitment to a coffee, introduction, interview, or follow-up.
Pro tip Make the proposed next action specific enough to be remembered.
Watch out Do not prolong the interaction until the other person is searching for an escape.
In the wild
Chris combines attendee and speaker lists, selects people he wants to meet, and puts their photos in an iPhone note. At the event, he periodically reviews the faces and looks for those people in the room. Although he does not reach everyone, he estimates that he meets roughly 30–40% of his targets—contacts he likely would not have found without preparation.
→ The system converts a meaningful portion of priority contacts into actual conversations.
Common mistakes
Relying only on serendipity
Chance encounters can be valuable, but preparation makes priority conversations more likely.
Overstaying the conversation
A concise interaction that ends gracefully is preferable to holding someone’s attention indefinitely.
Leaving follow-up entirely to email
Obtaining a soft commitment in person can make the next action easier to complete.
From the transcript
“so I'll go through the list one by one trying to figure out who at this conference do I want to interact with”
“leaving always being the person who leaves first”
From the episode
Simple Hacks To Optimise Your Life - Chris Hutchins (All The Hacks Podcast)