Assignment 20A – Growing Your Social Capital

Assignment 20A – Growing Your Social Capital

Person 1 – Domain Expert in Industry

I interviewed a man that works with my Dad. He supplies the vending machine to his office. Although his vending machine is food and drink, he is a domain expert on vending machines and their success. He was the first person I thought of for the domain expert when I read this assignment. I asked my dad to put us in contact and I called him on the phone. They spoke to me on the phone and he did not want anything in exchange; he was happy to help me with my assignment. Including him in my network will help me exploit my opportunity by allowing me to get first-hand knowledge from an experienced individual who works with vending machines. 

Person 2 – Expert on Your Market

I interviewed my tutor that I have used for many of my classes. He used to work at a Tutoringzone and has a lot of experience with the UF market. Although he offered tutoring service, he is an expert on the market I am focusing on. This is because the same kind of people who care about their studied would want to use a tutor, as well as, want to rent a computer charger so they don’t have to waste time. He fills this slot because he has knowledge on how to market to the UF student population and infiltrate it with his services. I still am in contact with him and I texted him to help me with my assignment. We exchanged a few texts and in return he wanted to know how I was doing in my classes without the presence of Tutoringzone. Including this individual in my network will help me exploit my opportunity because he will help me to infiltrate the UF market with my idea and how teach me how to successfully target them.

Person 3 – Important Supplier to Your Industry 

I interviewed my boyfriend’s dad who has experience creating pitches and selling products to universities. He has a personalized baby gift company that is licensed with the MLB, NBA, NHL, and many colleges. The University of Florida is one college that he is licensed with. Thus, he fills the important supplier slot because he has experience pitching ideas to the University of Florida and can show me how to be successful in doing so with my idea. I thought of him because I am extremely interested in his company and I texted him to give me a call to chat. He did not want anything in exchange and is always happy to help me, chat with me, and teach me about his business. Including him in my network will help me exploit my opportunity because he will give me expertise in pitching my idea to the University of Florida.

Reflection

This experience was a great one. I had to carefully think of the people I wanted to speak with and go in with a purpose when asking them to chat. This experience will shape how I participate in future networking events because it showed me how successful I can be when I go in with a purpose and a great idea. This experience differed from networking experiences in the past because this was not for a job for another company. This was for my own idea and no to work for someone else.