For my networking event experience, I attended a reception following a business event that acted as an opportunity for networking among the attendees. The event was the Panasci Technology Entrepreneurship Competition, which was held at the UB Center for the Arts on April 10. At the competition, students in the final round gave 10-minute pitches for their business and answered 10 minutes of questions from a panel of judges. While the judges finalized the winner, there was a reception for the competitors and spectators. I first caught up with some fellow UB students that I recognized from the program we are in, the WNY Prosperity Fellowship, where this event counted as a networking event fulfillment. From there, I started a conversation with someone I didn’t know, but I had watched his pitch. He was the CEO of a company called Coldspace, where you can rent a refrigerated locker for the lunch you bring to campus. I asked some questions and congratulated him, and gave him my card since he was interested in finding a graphic designer to help with social media. Lastly, I ran into someone I met two years ago at an event called Startup Weekend, and he was part of my team. He is actually the founder of 19 Ideas, a local marketing agency, and I was quite shocked that he remembered me. He remembered he was impressed with the graphic design work that I had done two years ago, asked me to contact him through their website if I was interested in an internship or other doing other work for them.
Through this event I met new and old contacts, from students to CEOs to student CEOs. Even though the event was centered around business and startups, I have found that graphic design is always needed in this field, and there are many opportunities for DMA students within the business realm. I learned that I should always be aware of the impression I give to others, good or bad, because that can follow me for a long time, and lead to (or lead away from) new and exciting opportunities.
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