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- The Art of Showing Up with Networking and Events
The Art of Showing Up with Networking and Events
Benjamin Friedman
July 08, 2025
Morning beehiivcommunity!
This newsletter turns experience into lessons you can apply to your startup. As a growth partner for visionary founders, we help sharpen leadership skills and unlock growth potential.
Networking: Preparation, Survival, and Science
“Networking is more quality, and less quantity. It’s better to form a solid connection with one new person, than a liquid connection with ten.” – Jarod Kintz
When caught in a storm, a ship captain must decide how to respond to the rough waves and brutal winds. The decision to turn toward the storm may seem counterintuitive, but it's actually the best approach. Facing the trouble minimizes the boat's rocking from water and wind and offers the quickest path through the storm to calmer waters.
Similarly, though less perilous, many leaders experience genuine stress when attending numerous events. While some gatherings may prove unexpectedly enjoyable, people often dread public functions. Yet events are crucial for establishing valuable connections and advancing professional objectives.
This post covers how to approach events strategically, seek authentic interactions, pace yourself, and use your natural strengths to maximize value. There's even a brief science lesson explaining different personality types.
Photo by Leah Friedman
On July 15, we’ll explore how 409A valuations, employee incentives, and secondary market liquidity impact company valuation and employee engagement.
𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀:
Zak Nugent, CEO at Scalar, a valuation firm specializing in tax, financial reporting, transaction advisory, and litigation.
Andrew Ritter, Partner at Wiggin and Dana LLP, where he is Co-Chair of the firm’s M&A and PE Practice Groups.
Dr. Lawrence Skor, Global Head of Tax at Checkout, with previous experience at GE, Oracle, and Coinbase.
Moderator: Benjamin Friedman, Founder and President of Build Scale Grow and Community Director, New York Tech CFO Group.
Light food and refreshments will be served, with networking opportunities before and after the panel. To join us on July 15, 6-8 PM, in the NYC Flatiron District. You can register HERE.
Expert Tips for Startups
Quick, valuable insights from accomplished founders
Photo by Leah Friedman
Highlights from the CEO-CFO Alliance Event
Our expert panel shared insights into effective collaboration, discussed common challenges, and revealed key lessons from their real-world experiences.
Here are some highlights:
“In the CEO-CFO relationship, surprises are bad. It's critical that the CFO shares both key context on business trajectory on an ongoing basis and any unexpected problems immediately.”
- David Snider, Founder & CEO at Harness
“The strategic CFO as a role is the most important in the world of AI.”
- Ali Hussain, Founder & CEO at Tabs
“The relationship between the CEO and CFO is like a marriage in that it requires trust, communication, and shared vision. When it works, it's the most powerful partnership in business.”
- Matthew Novick, CFO at Guideline
“As the CFO role evolves into a more strategic position, it is essential to have not only strong analytical skills but also excellent emotional intelligence to deliver tough messages while maintaining respect and trust.”
- Jodi Brauer, CFO at Dossier
Startup Lean Coffee: Where Founders Find Useful Ideas and Real Conversations
Since 2019, Startup Lean Coffee has grown into a vibrant community of over 1,000 new and repeat founders, startup advisors, corporate employees, fractional leaders, and experienced investors in NYC.
We share questions, challenges, and opportunities from our journeys. It's a fun, collaborative, and lightly facilitated meeting that fosters innovation, mentorship, and connections, enabling startups to thrive.
Because our theme is startups, almost any topic is welcome! Our previous discussions have ranged from fundraising and social equity to lean product experiments, technical co-founders, and even psychedelic-induced "flow" states.
Our next event is on July 16, 9-11 AM, in Midtown. You can register HERE.
How We Can Help
Over 90% of startups fail. Build Scale Grow helps founders beat these odds by efficiently scaling businesses and aligning vision, resources, and efforts.
We partner with founders to build and manage teams, systems, and functions, such as Customer Success and Revenue Operations, that drive rapid growth.
Book a free 30-minute call HERE to see how we can help.