How to Network Like a CEO: 7 Secrets to Expanding Your Influence

By Evan Nierman (EO South Florida), who is CEO of Red Banyan, a global PR firm specializing in brand building, communications training, and crisis management.

For most people, the word “networking” brings to mind small talk, name tags, and awkward conversations in rooms where everyone seems to be trying a little too hard. Early in my career, I showed up to plenty of those events, armed with business cards and a rehearsed pitch.

Eventually, I realized something: Real networking, the kind that actually leads to opportunities, influence, and long-term relationships, rarely happens in spaces built for networking. It happens when you are simply being yourself, in the proper environments, with no agenda other than to show up and be yourself.

If you want to network like a CEO, then forget the hokey sales tricks. Instead, use these guidelines to build relationships that last.

1. Start the conversation without an agenda

One of the biggest mistakes people make when networking is showing up with an agenda. They arrive hoping to come away with a client, referral, or introduction to someone else -- and it shows.

"Networking is a conversation, not a transaction."

A better approach is to enter any new conversation with an open mind and zero expectations. Stop trying to predict what they might offer, and do not assume that this person has any interest in what you may be selling. Instead, engage them with genuine curiosity. Some conversations that feel casual at first can turn into valuable work-related opportunities. Others may go nowhere, and that is also perfectly fine. When networking is treated as a conversation and not a transaction, it creates space for real relationships to take root.

2. Lead with giving, not getting

If you want to expand your influence, stop asking what someone can do for you. Focus instead on how you can help them.

When you listen carefully and offer value, whether it is an introduction, a helpful idea, or simply showing genuine interest, you build trust. That’s what opens doors and creates reasons for people to stay connected.

The best relationships in business often begin when you provide value with no strings attached. Shifting your mindset from getting to giving is a simple but powerful move.

3. Ditch the pitch and listen actively instead

When looking to grow, there is always the pull to talk about yourself: your background, company, or latest success. But that urge often leads people straight into what I call the “show up and throw up” trap. They launch into a conversation eager to promote themselves, looking for any chance to steer things toward a pitch. And by doing so, they miss the real opportunities.

Networking like a CEO means doing much more listening than talking. Ask thoughtful questions. Pay attention. Actively listen. You will gather vital clues as to what matters to the other person, and you might even recognize a way to help solve challenges that they face.

What people remember is not your pitch, but how you make them feel.

4. Be yourself and be real

The best way to make a lasting impression is to be authentically you. Share your passions. Talk about your family and interests outside of work. It invites the other person to do the same, and that reciprocation builds trust far faster than just talking all business all the time.

7 guidelines to build relationships that last:

1. Start the conversation without an agenda

2. Lead with giving, not getting

3. Ditch the pitch and listen actively instead

4. Be yourself and be real

5. Go where the right people gather

6. Follow up like it matters

7. Stay connected over time

Keep in mind that a confident leader does not need to inflate his/her importance or be something they are not. People can sense when you are being genuine, and when you are not. Authenticity attracts and makes people want to talk to you and then stay in touch afterwards.

5. Go where the right people gather

Not all rooms are created equal. I strenuously avoid “networking events” where people are there to hawk their wares whether I need them or not. Instead, I prefer to spend my valuable time in environments that align with my interests -- conferences, festivals and other gatherings where people are likely to share my passions for learning and growth.

When you are surrounded by curious, values-driven people, conversations happen naturally. Show up ready to connect, not to sell, and the right relationships tend to take shape organically.

6. Follow up like it matters

One of the simplest ways to stand out is also one of the most overlooked: follow through.

If you say you will send something, then make sure you actually send it. If you offer to make an introduction, then do it quickly. Timely follow-up not only keeps you top of mind, but it also reinforces that you are reliable and a person who keeps your word.

People are busy and their attention is usually divided. A fast, thoughtful follow-up cuts through the noise and shows that you were actively listening and that you care enough to do what you promised.

Some of the strongest business relationships that I have built began with a single, intentional follow-up. It is a small act, but one that most people skip, which is precisely why it makes such a strong impression.

7. Stay connected over time

One conversation is not the goal. An introduction should be only the beginning.

Connect with people on social media and keep the interactions going. Share a helpful article. Comment on something they post. Staying in touch does not have to be complicated. Small, consistent gestures over time can be effective ways to keep relationships active.

Many business connections are born in casual moments and built over months or years. A single encounter can turn into something meaningful, but only if you treat it as the start of a relationship, not a one-time transaction.

Networking like a CEO is not about being everywhere or talking to everyone. It’s about being intentional, being human, and giving without keeping score.

If you show up with a willingness to connect, a curiosity about others, and a habit of following through, then the right people will seem to magically show up in your life. The business may or may not come later, but relationships often come first.

Dive deeper with more from Evan Nierman:

• Build a Flywheel to Create Self-Sustaining Business Growth
• Why Authenticity Is Your Greatest Asset as a Business Leader
• 8 Things Entrepreneurs Need to Know About PR Crisis Management in the AI Era
• Navigate the Social Dynamics of High-Stakes Business Meetings