Making Authentic International Connections

 

Seeing herself more as a conductor who brings harmony to her clients’ message, than a networker, Rochelle Arjmand stepped onto the international business, financial, and social influencers stage.  As an invited speaker by the founder of the High Net Connect Summer Conference, she spoke on the necessity of using connecting and networking to benefit society.  As an invited guest, Arjmand attended Tessy’s Brunch, further extending her influence as she was introduced and interacted with the socially prominent European influencers.

Arjmand spoke on the differences between making authentic connections and merely networking.  Making authentic connections builds bridges in which people are seen as individuals instead of business opportunities.  Learning more about what inspires each other builds the understanding and trust that enables them to speak more freely about business.  By clearly understanding the goals of her clients, she coordinates the resources and connections they need to bring harmony to their message.  However, her 360-degree approach includes understanding the objectives of all involved, not just her clients.  It creates an ever-expanding hub of which Arjmand is the center.

Founded by Liz Baitson BEM, High Net Connect facilitates relationships for business, pleasure, and philanthropy.  (https://www.highnetconnect.co.uk/)  With a background in finance as a commercial financer and co-director of Preneur Capital, Baitson ‘s passion lies in supporting philanthropic and impactful investment.  She believes that a person’s worth is based on more than just finances, but  on their ethics, integrity, and compassion.  The speaker’s list for the event also included:

Elliott Rayne: Multi-National Award-Winning serial entrepreneur and expert in blockchain and Venture Capital Funding - Rayne Enterprises Holdings

https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliottrayne/

Dr. Daniel Moses: Forbes Council and award-winning property entrepreneur. https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdanielmoses

David Blackhurst: Founder and TedX speaker – The Tiny Homes Foundation

https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidblackhurst

Wynford Dore: Pioneer of Cerebeller, an expert in neuroplasticity and neurodivergence https://www.linkedin.com/in/braindevelopment

Meena Samara & Rachel Wayte: Intuitives and expert energy workers https://www.linkedin.com/in/meenasamara  

https://www.rachelwayte.com/

Buckso Dw: Performer and coach

https://www.linkedin.com/in/buckso-dhillon-894384212/

Emily Moon: ULTRA SOPRANO

https://www.linkedin.com/in/moonrising/

Fidel Beauhill: "The Kingmaker" and bestselling author of "Divorce, A Modern Man's Guide" https://www.linkedin.com/in/fidel-modernman-beauhill

Helen Pollock, Kerryn Fields, and Sarah Fletcher: Power UP your Public Relations, CONNECTIONS, SOCIAL MEDIA & MARKETING! 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/pollockhelen/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerryn-fields/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/svfletcher/

Tony Courtney Brown: Founder of Total Body Health - where tech meets nature. https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-courtney-brown/

Jess Roper: Former 2 x English Kickboxing Champion https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-fleischer-iamfightingfit/

Ken Dunn: Managing Director and Founder of Eternal Flame, Africa’s Gift and Connecting Communities Worldwide https://www.linkedin.com/in/ken-dunn-mbe-frgs-mfa-/

 

The Director of the Diana Award (https://diana-award.org.uk/), Tessy Ojo CBE, periodically organizes brunches to make introductions among the influencers, who use their time and resources to create positive social change.   The Diana Award continues Diana, Princess of Wales’s legacy by developing and inspiring projects which empower young people to become socially active.  In 2020, Ojo’s work earned her recognition in the Queen’s Birthday Honors with a CBE – Commander of The British Empire for her services to children and young people.  Additionally, for the last 20 years, she has worked closely with Diana’s sons to ensure the award honors her memory and legacy. Ojo believes that the future will be created by the present investing in it.   Tessy’s brunches and her work at the Diana Award have been designed to bring awareness and support to socially relevant projects that achieve sustainable change. The June brunch speakers include:

 Gina London: former CNN Anchor Correspondent, CEO, Executive Advisor, TEDx Speaker, Author, and Columnist

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginalondonexecutiveadvisor/

Helen Cook: Deputy Director, Prime Minister's Policy Unit

https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-cook-8a43a616/

Ciara McElligott: Investor, Strategic Advisor, NED in human capital/work tech

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ciara-mcelligott-41542124/

Dr. Aziza Sesay: General Practitioner, Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer, Host, Speaker, Educator, Health Content Cobreator, UN Women UK delegate 2023 (volunteer)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-aziza-sesay-36b2b2200/

Annie Castano: Corporate and Personal Stylist

https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-castano-09703012b/

Sally Flatman: Podcaster, former BBC Producer

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sally-flatman-12bab154/

Chizzy Akudolu: Actor, presenter, writer

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chizzy-akudolu-97133946/

 

Arjmand has realigned Catalytic Connections’ mission statement to focus on representing those who lack the time, connections, or inclination to connect with the people they seek to meet.  At the High Net Connect Summer Conference, she began by asking if anyone had heard an orchestra play without a conductor.  Without someone coordinating the musicians, the music lacks cohesion and harmony.  However, harmony is restored when the conductor becomes the focal point.  Arjmand coordinates her client’s message so that is honed and structured for presentation.  Additionally, she acts as the conduit to arrange introductions and make presentations.  She represents her client’s interests at meetings and events they are, for whatever reason, unable to attend. Currently, she is interviewing for available positions for her extremely limited client list.  Her appointment schedule can be found on her website.

https://catalyticconnections.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rochellearjmand/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/catalytic-connections/

 

 

#RochelleArjamand #CatalyticConnections #TessyOjoCBE #DianaAward #LizBaitson #HighNetConnect #ElliottRayne #DrDanielMoses #DavidBlackhurst #WynfordDore #MeenaSamara #RachelWayte #BucksoDw #EmilyMoon #FidelBeauhill #HelenPollock #KerrynFields #SarahFletcher  #TonyCourtneyBrown #JessRoper #KenDunn #GinaLondon #HelenCook #CiaraMcElligott #DrAzizaSesay #AnnieCastano #SallyFlatman #ChizzyAkudolu #OrchestratorofAuthenticBusinessConnections  #OrchestratingAuthenticConnections

 

 

 

 

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Four Mistakes of Connection Building

 

Networking and connecting can be extremely beneficial, except when it is done incorrectly.  As beneficial as it can be, it can also be extremely detrimental to the brand or a person’s reputation.  A profitable asset can be easily turned into a liability.

 

1.      Don’t try to be anyone other than yourself 

There is an old saying, be yourself, everyone else is taken. Being yourself means some people will like you and some won’t.  A façade can only be maintained for so long; eventually, the real you will appear.  Once that happens you will lose all the trust you have built because no one will know which person is real.

2.      Don’t falsify or inflate your education, experience, or connections

It’s easy to talk big and make grandiose boasts, but there will come a time or situation when you will have to produce or follow through. Making excuses or ignoring what you said only kicks the can down the road.  It only delays the inevitable. Eventually, you will be held accountable for your claims.  If you can’t follow through or another proves your claims to be false, the result to your business reputation will be worse than if you said nothing at all.

 

3.      Don’t over-share personal information

Learn how to read the room and the person you are speaking with.  Some somethings are not meant to be shared with work associates, even if they are true.  Becoming too “intimate” or oversharing even in the context or under the pretense of a joke is a recipe for disaster.  It can lead to uncomfortable situations, which could damage your business reputation and lead to legal consequences. 

 

4.      Don’t be negative

There are ways to approach challenging times and difficult topics without being harsh or confrontational, especially when it comes to business relationships. How we speak to and about our bosses, co-workers, and clients matters.   It sets the tone of those relationships from that moment forward.  It’s impossible to always agree.  Some disagreements are inevitable.  However, choosing personal attacks instead of staying on the topic will never end well. Once said or done, it’s permanent.   Apologies can be made and even accepted; what is forgiven, isn’t always forgotten.

 

Trust and respect are the basis of every business relationship. Rebuilding them can be a long and costly process. Depending on how they were broken can sometimes be impossible.

Website

Networking vs Connecting:

 

Many people mistakenly use networking and connecting as interchangeable terms.  Although they have similar qualities and goals, they are very different.  Networking is “the process or action of interacting with others to exchange information and developing professional or social contacts” while connecting is defined as “joining or linking things together, especially as to provide access and communication”.  Both involve the interaction between individuals, yet the means and methods of each radically differ.

Networking is indiscriminately reaching out either in person or virtually. It could be best described as casting a net or creating a spiderweb to randomly catch whoever or whatever happens to be around. The message stays the same without regard to who or how it’s presented.  Little is known about the receiver. It’s nothing more than a cold call.    Although people chose to sign up for networking events, they are little more than group cold calls.  Little is known about the others beforehand; by the end of the event, not much has changed.  Everyone is scrambling to meet as many people as possible in hope that they will find who and what they need.  Most collect business cards, hoping that one or two can be developed into leads.  However, with time restraints, very few interactions develop into business relationships.

Connecting events can be best described as introductions done by a friend or associate.     They are more like connecting the dots rather than cold calls.  They are smaller and more personalized with the connector acting as a bridge between the attendees.  Unlike with cold calls, the connector knows everyone and what they need.   It gives her or him the ability to smooth out the awkward moments both at the introduction but also when it comes to asking for what is needed.  As an intermediary, she or he crafts the message according to whom it is being pitched.  One approach may be very successful with one person while crashing and burning with another.  A connector’s knowledge, connections, and interpersonal skills are what give her or him the ability to develop relationships and make introductions that positively fulfill her clients’ needs.

The Master Catalytic Connector, Rochelle Arjmand has these skills.  Before making the introductions, Arjmand helps prepare her clients for the meeting.  It is only after the paperwork has been fully vetted and the client prepped will the introductions be made.  By helping her clients know what to expect in advance and properly prep them, Arjmand has been able to give her clients the confidence they need to project a strong and professional image.  It puts everyone at ease and helps lead to a positive outcome.

Rochelle Arjmand’s exclusive client list includes those from the entertainment industry, finance, advertising, and publishing.  What they have in common is that they make a positive difference in the world.  She is currently accepting clients.  Her services require a monthly retainer.  To learn more about how she can help you visit her website and book an introductory meeting.

Website

How to successfully network and connect

 

Networking remains an essential element in all marketing and promotional campaigns. Without this ever-expanding web, individuals, companies, and organizations will become stagnant. However, without developing a proper strategy, it's like throwing spaghetti against the wall and seeing what sticks. It wastes time and energy. In many cases, it's counter-productive. However, following the five rules of connecting will turn networking events into positive experiences that generate leads instead of just a stack of business cards.

Get to know the others as people first. Whether the person is a potential customer, employer, or colleague, she or he exists outside work. Focusing solely on business makes for limited and awkward conversations.

Find common ground. Sharing what you are passionate about both in work and in your life adds dimension to the conversations. Finding the balance between over-sharing and being a walking-talking resume will build relationships that last.

Help without expectation. The help we receive back isn't always returned by the same people we assisted. However, if see our support of others as balloons we release rather than a debt to be repaid, we find that who and what we need finds us in unexpected ways.

Accept help when it is offered. No matter how strong, talented, or innovative we are, there will be times and situations in which we will need help. It doesn't make you a lesser person, but one who is wise enough to know that life sometimes has limitations that need to be respected. Not everyone is perfect at everything or sometimes life throws a curveball at us that we need help catching.

Be true to your word. If you can, do. If you can't, say so. If the situation changes, be straightforward and honest about status modification. Most people would rather know ahead of time, rather than be shocked or disappointed later.

Network or connecting events can be best described as a very elaborate and complicated piece of machinery. When the gears are aligned and balanced, the machine produces amazing results. However, when the gears go out of sync or are placed incorrectly, the machine loses its ability to function. Each person that attends the event is a gear. How they interact with the other members will determine how much benefit they will receive by attending.

Website

https://catalyticconnections.com/

How to successful develop business connections

 

 How introductions make connecting more successful

The new face of networking

Both in-person and online, networking remains an important element of promotion and marketing strategies. The events have been designed to bring people together in a safe, comfortable setting in which they can expand their business network, client base, and find necessary resources.

With most in-person events you are given a name tag as you walk into a sea of people. Other than what is printed on the tag, the attendees know very little about each other. Who do you talk to? What's the best way to approach others? Do you just walk up and start talking? What do you say? What is the best way to meet the people you are looking for? The event becomes little more than a series of cold contacts or the equivalent of a speed dating event with most people standing around feeling awkward.

Most online events start with a summit or seminar in which one person or a small group shares their experience and expertise, while others listen. Attendees usually can private message each other, yet in doing so their attention is diverted from the speakers. Sometimes these events break into small groups, in which the members are more able to share and learn about each other. But this contact venue is only viable during the event. The members must quickly exchange their information or the ability to connect is lost at the end of the event.

In both cases, the art of relationships building has gotten lost in the sea of collecting business cards or contact information as the attendees race against the clock to meet as many people as possible. Under these circumstances, it's impossible to develop long-lasting business relationships.

Catalytic Connections doesn't host large networking events, it arranges introductions. Rochelle Arjmand finds connections the same way she chooses her clients. She learns about their businesses but more importantly, she learns who her clients are as people. What they are passionate about? The information gives her the ability to find who and what they need because she has the same information about the people they are trying to meet. However, she does so much more than send a connecting email with simply bios and the reason for the introduction. She brings them together for three-way calls, zoom chats, or in-person introductions. In many ways, Rochelle Arjmand can be described as a conduit in which others find common ground and reach their goals. Her passion is to bring others together to make positive things happen for all involved. A natural connector, Arjmand is best known for connecting people with others that most think are impossible to reach and then having them work together to create a bigger, better vision.

Website

Brand Anthems: The Newest Marketing Tool

From the opening horns of the Star Wars theme to the rhythmic, non-traditional use of the tuba that foreshadowed the appearance of the shark in Jaws, theme songs have become an integral part of brand marketing. Corporations, organizations, and causes have learned that music not only sets the tone and expectations for presentations but it also standardizes their message among the venues. When used properly, the music becomes synonymous with the brand. making it more of an anthem than a theme song.

When choosing the music, most tend to focus on the lyrics to reinforce their brand's message. They overlook the fact that music has as much power to inspire and motivate as words. When the lyrics and the music work in tandem, they reinforce each other, making the piece much more effective. However, ready-made music can only approximate the message and never will be a perfect fit.

Using existing music can be easier and cheaper in the short run. This is a double-edged sword. By choosing a well-known piece, the commonness of its use dilutes the song's effectiveness. But it could also lead to negative backlash if the artists involved or another company, which has used it, become involved with controversy. Additionally, using copyrighted work in a public venue or for-profit could lead to legal and financial jeopardy.

However, it is unnecessary to settle for a song that almost represents the brand message. Singer and Songwriter, FiZ offers an alternative. He and his Grammy Award-winning team have written for some of the most widely known singers in the world. They are available to create anthems that will highlight the brand message and target the desired demographics. The exclusivity of the lyrics and music will virtually eliminate the negative consequences of using existing music while emphasizing the most important aspects of the brand identity. By commissioning a signature song that has been composed specifically for the individual, company, or organization, it will be possible to develop marketing strategies and frameworks that will set them apart and above the competition.

To commission a brand anthem email Rochelle at CatalyticConnections.com

To commission a brand anthem email

Rochelle at CatalyticConnections.com

WEBSITE

#RochelleArjmand #CatalyticConnections #FiZ #TonydiMattia #NancyMatthews #brandanthem #themesong #brandmarketing #branding #originalmusic #marketingcommunications #promotions