Hi all!
As I've been completing this BizDev internship, Saad and I have talked extensively about sending good emails and connecting with people. Although none of you are in sales, you all probably have one or two people you follow and would eventually like to meet/talk to. As a result, I just wanted to share a couple of the things I've learned about sending better emails to people you want to interview:
Make it short. No one likes a long email, and that extends to people even busier than you. If it's over 1 or 2 short paragraphs, figure out a way to be more succinct.
Make it about them. After all, this is a person that *you* want to talk to, so make sure your email demonstrates what you know about them and why you want their time.
Make a connection. If you have a person in common, ask them for an introduction or mention them in your email. If you have the same hobby as your desired contact, mention that. Connect with them on something other than "hey, I like you, please talk to me."
Make it clear. With an email like this, you are definitely making an "ask." You can do this one of two ways: slyly and covertly, or openly and honestly. Always go with the latter. It shows that you respect their time and intelligence, and it lets them know exactly what you want. If all you need is a short phone conversation, ask for that - don't let them think you need an hour of their time when 15 minutes on the phone will do.
Saad is a Master of the Ask, and I would recommend talking to him if this is something you struggle with.
Hope these are helpful, and perhaps they motivate you to reach out to someone who you've admired for awhile but always from a distance!