Going to UNGA? How to network at global development events

Every September, thousands of people descend on New York for the biggest global development event in the calendar: the United Nations General Assembly. Many of those same people will have been at the World Economic Forum and the World Health Assembly in May and will have the likes of the World Health Summit and the conference of the parties, or COP, scheduled for later in the year. These events bring the cream of the development sector to one place, making them prime moments to meet people who could offer next-step career opportunities. But not designed with recruitment in mind, experts say professionals need to be mindful of how to get the most out of these conferences and network efficiently. “These are extremely crowded spaces and you are one of many so how to be able to stick out and how to make the most of a hectic week [is important],” said Kallie Aultman, humanitarian affairs adviser at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, or IFRC, who has attended six general assemblies and multiple other high-level conferences. Such events will likely have dozens of thematic sessions, sprawling across locations as side events run simultaneously. Attending such a gathering with a view to advancing your career requires a thought-through approach, being cognizant that most people are there with organizational rather than individual goals in mind, and an openness as to when and how you’ll meet people, experts said. “It’s a great opportunity to meet professional friends, but it’s mostly not going to happen when you’re sitting in a huge event with a big famous speaker. More likely it’ll happen at little in-between moments, possibly riding the elevator together,” said Julia Firestone, a coach for social impact professionals, adding that a friend who runs a nonprofit met her biggest donor in the queue for the bathroom at UNGA. Devex asked the experts how to cultivate good contacts at global development events, what the conference faux pas are, and how to translate contacts into potential career opportunities. Prepare accordingly Simply attending a series of sector events and hoping to meet your future boss isn’t enough, said experts. Instead, being strategic about which events and sessions you attend is key. “In a post-pandemic world, where we have all adapted to virtual ways of working, in-person events can be a challenge to navigate, from deciding which one to attend, who, where, when, and why,” said Dominic O’Neill, executive director of the Sanitation and Hygiene Fund, which launched in 2020 and was contingent on the team finding donors and partners. O’Neill suggested considering whether an event will provide access to different people, and help to highlight elements of work that may otherwise be lesser known and to think about whether it aligns with your or your organization’s values and mission. Once you’ve decided to attend a forum, Aultman advised going through the program to identify the sessions most relevant to your area of work. “UNGA is inclusive but it’s really about exclusivity so, to quote Hamilton, it’s important to be in the room where it happens,” she said. That means if your area of work is focused on health, climate change, or WASH, events pertaining to these themes should be prioritized. At a thematic event such as COP, that approach could involve looking at areas where climate change intersects with a more specific focus like gender, biodiversity, or migration. “With a lot of fish going round you can either go around with them and make no sense of what you’re doing … or you can really focus on your own priority and where your interest is,” said Tommaso Della Longa, spokesperson and manager of the media unit at IFRC. Having attended six general assemblies and the European Parliament, he said big, global events are a good way to meet people who can be interesting for the future. Schedule meetings but leave space for spontaneity With so many key people in one place, it makes sense to use a conference and its space to plan meetings but Firestone warned of overscheduling. “It’s great to have a mixture of pre-planned meet-ups, but leave some space for surprising connections,” she said, adding that individuals should use social media to let people know they’ll be attending an event. She also suggested attendees consult contacts about which events they think might be most relevant as a way to spark a conversation and segway into scheduling sideline meetings. Rather than focussing solely on what people can do for you, Aultman said attendees should also consider the value they can provide and what they can do for their network. “Can you connect or make introductions, provide any help or resources, or offer your expertise?” Firestone suggested offering to volunteer at an event or to speak on a panel. She warned that any scheduled meetings are likely to be short and, with such packed agendas, could take place anywhere from 6 a.m. to midnight. Fine-tune your introduction For those more spontaneous meetings that might happen in sessions, cocktail mixers, and breakfast meetings, all the experts said having a brief way to explain who you are and what you do is critical. “You don’t want to scare someone off with a 10-minute career story,” Firestone said. And if an individual chooses to contribute during a live Q&A, they should avoid “being the person who does a live pitch about [themselves] for 15 minutes.” Taking up too much of a person’s time is poor form, she added. “That being said, take your shot,” Firestone said. She approached a popular panelist who had a line of people waiting to talk to him and briefly explained who she was and what she thought she could offer. “Two weeks later, I had a job offer from him,” she shared. Della Longa advised against being set on meeting as many people as possible. Being too aggressive is not the best way to present yourself, he said. For introverts and shy networkers, a focus on asking questions and approaching new conversations with curiosity can help allay nerves around networking, Lois Freeke, manager of the Asia-Pacific and international recruitment business at NGO Recruitment, said in an email. “Research your audience and prepare your deep questioning and active listening techniques and familiarize yourself with speaker topics and delegates in attendance so you are ready for conversations and will learn the most from each interaction and present yourself optimally,” she said. Make time to adequately follow up Rather than leaving business cards in a discarded pile, Della Longa believes follow-up after a big event such as the General Assembly is a must, otherwise, an interaction will just be a “drop in the ocean.” Firestone recommends setting aside half a day the week after a conference to adequately follow up. That means that with each interaction an individual should be exchanging business cards or scanning a virtual card. “I personally get overwhelmed by having a stack of 20 business cards so sometimes it’s easier to connect on LinkedIn on the spot,” Firestone said. From there, Freeke suggested sending a personalized LinkedIn connection request or sending an email, following up on any action items. “If you were offered any help or connections which have benefited you, or proven useful, ensure you follow up to thank whoever assisted you and let them know how they helped. This makes you memorable as well as being good standard practice for networking,” she said. It’s also important that any online profiles or portfolios be up to date considering the potential for incoming traffic. “Check that your profile photo, headline, and employment sections are recent and that your profile is updated and all important information is included and current,” Freeke said. “You want to appear consistent in all your communications and interactions.” Firestone believes a LinkedIn post tagging new connections made at an event also starts a relationship on a positive note. “People always appreciate the tag.”