Caroline Grimont

1. Send out a brief, be clear about desired outcome of the meeting 2. Ask everyone to do some prep work 3. Set an interactive & rolling agenda 4. Confirm who is leading what part of the meeting; seek input from everyone (allocate time efficiently) 5. Circulate notes & follow up tasks 6. Set follow up meeting

We over triple assess any potential vulnerabilities. We do outsource the main networks & internal systems, but on the marketing side... we use a top level hosting provider including web application firewall, network firewall, DDoS Protection, SSL/TSL Encryption, Malware Scanning & Removal and the list goes one. We have a daily & weekly maintenance check. AND most importantly, we keep everything updated to the latest version. Know your escalation process for handling issues or incidents beyond initial level or support. Back up...back up and back up

If you are a natural storyteller, makes networking that much easier. My approach is that the wider your network, the more you can also help introduce people who might benefit from the connection. I try to build alliances that will help my company, but also think bigger picture. Use other contacts to introduce you to people you want to meet with, be genuine, enjoy meeting people and sharing ideas, stories. Too pushy is painful.

You have to build your profile, have key clients as references. Most importantly when I pitch a consulting gig, I build a story that connect the dots for the prospective client -- from the problem to the solution, broken down into gradual steps. But focus on the desired outcome...paint that picture.

Preparation. Get a sense for what you want to get out of the informational interview, prepare thoughtful questions, research the interviewee (field of study, career path, industry affiliations, achievements), study their company & competitive landscape, industry trends, identify and question what the key skills and competencies are needed for that role. Focus on asking about the skills they find the most valuable, training programs or certifications required. On a more casual level, try to understand what a typical day is, but have follow up questions ready too. If you sound interested and keen, most interviewees will be generous with their advice and recommendations.