Heang Tan posted on February 05, 2010 14:17
NAAAP -Connecticut hosted a successful Lunar New Year Professional Networking Event, a networking reception that served as the kick-off to the 2010 NAAAP National Leadership Retreat. Over one hundred NAAAP leaders and members, non-NAAAP members and Connecticut community leaders gathered together to meet and network with other Asian American professionals. The theme of the night seemed to be captured in a statement made by Dr. William A. Howe, one of our esteemed guest speakers: “It is no longer only about what you know, but who you know.” All of the attendees we interviewed unanimously believed in the value and importance of networking. Interestingly, however, several attendees had uniquely personal networking objectives. For example, an entrepreneur who recently established his own business was seeking to expand his network of potential new clients; a professional considering a change in careers was hoping to gain some employment leads; and a veteran NAAAP leader was scouting the field for the recruitment of future leaders and was hoping to give back to the Asian American community through networking. Many NAAAP members attended the event to reconnect with old friends and acquaintances they had met through other NAAAP events. Regardless of whether they had a specific agenda or whether they had none at all, the attendees all expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity to connect and network with Asian American professionals from across the nation. By the end of the evening, the NAAAP-CT community demonstrated its satisfaction and support by registering an additional 13% of total membership!