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At a VBI Global event last March, I met a founder who had just graduated from INSEAD. In 3 hours, he handed out business cards to 47 people. Six months later, he had zero substantive follow-up meetings.

Networking the wrong way is a waste of resources. Done right, it's the leverage that transforms your journey.

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“Give first, without conditions. That's the number one principle of effective networking. When you genuinely help someone, they remember you forever.”

— Pham Thu Huong

The Connection Matrix

I divide networks into 4 groups: Mentors (2-3 people 5-10 years ahead of you), Peers (5-10 people at the same stage), Connectors (3-5 well-connected people), and Future builders (5-10 talented younger people you invest in — the relationship goes both ways).