Waffle Wednesdays: A Networking Extravaganza
Unless you’re the type of person who is super comfortable (yes, the Latina Miami girl used the word super) introducing yourself to a group full of strangers, you probably at some point in your life have dreaded the idea of attending a networking event. I’ll be honest. Walking around to worm my way into small talk with a bunch of random people isn’t exactly my cup of tea. In fact, I kinda hate it. But when I heard about Waffle Wednesday-LiveNinja’s premiere networking event of the week-I was sold.
So here’s how it works. Every Wednesday, delicious, mouth-watering, gourmet waffles are served to a room full of millennials talking, exchanging numbers, and sipping on some equally delicious cafecitos. While the foodies like me hang around the kitchen waiting for the next platter of waffles, others strike up conversations over a friendly game of pool. With the music playing, food cooking, and people generally just having a good time, it almost feels like your standard Saturday night fare at a chilled out house party-except here, you’re surrounded by people equally as passionate as you about the start-up world.
It’s a lesson in networking I think corporate America should take note of. Why should people need to awkwardly start conversations over a cheese platter when it can be done so much more organically? Networking doesn’t have to mean talking to a group full of stuffy people trying to shove a business card in your face. It should be just what it was intended to be-a time when people can genuinely get to know other people. Throw in a little fun and some waffles extraordinaire, and you have the recipe for a great opportunity to engage with people on a human level. And that is really what networking should be all about.
