Networking having a Difference: Jakarta Business Networkers
If you’re serious about business, you won’t be a stranger to the many networking events that will Jakarta has to offer. Jakarta Business Networkers (JBN) was created to give networkers a chance to gain completely new contacts, completely new knowledge along with most importantly, completely new business referrals, which eventually convert into revenue. We talk to JBN Founder Jean-Philippe Beraud to find out more.
Can you tell us when JBN was founded along with for what reason?
Years ago, in Ireland, I attended professional, referrals-focused networking events. When I began my career in Jakarta, I struggled to find a networking club that will matched what I had experienced in Ireland. I attended a lot of different events, both for locals along with expats, which, although enjoyable, did not yield much from the way of generating not bad business contacts along with real value to the attendees. A lot of people would certainly stand around awkwardly at these events, talking to the same modest group of friends, or not knowing whom to approach.
In September 2013, I decided to set up a structured along with professional networking club to meet the needs of most modest along with Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) along with multinationals. For that will, I needed to find a reliable partner I already knew who shared the same values as me along with bought into the idea.
In December 2013, the co-founder Nick Blake along with I gathered a modest group of eight professionals by different industries around Jakarta to discuss attending a weekly morning event to be focused on referring businesses to some other members of the group.
What kind of backgrounds do yourself along with co-founder Nick Blake have?
I have an MSc in International Trade along with Marketing by a French Business School along with I currently work as the Deputy GM for the French welding institute, Institut de Soudure, along with have been in Jakarta for the last six years.
Nick will be someone with an entrepreneurial spirit, having began his first venture at 18 years old from the UK. He has done business internationally for several years along with will be a director for a training along with development business here in Jakarta.
How many members does JBN have today?
We currently have 40 companies who have committed to attend regularly, joining our weekly sessions. Over 300 professionals have attended JBN’s sessions so far This kind of year along with our growing LinkedIn group currently has 375 members.
How many networking events do you organise yearly?
Every week we hold morning sessions at Kemang along with the entire world Trade Centre (WTC), Sudirman, which attract between 12 along with 18 networkers. We also host a quarterly major event, which brings in between 40 along with 60 networkers.
At your events, your attendees are encouraged to help some other members by exchanging referrals. Can you explain This kind of process along with why This kind of’s so beneficial?
that will’s right; a lot of people go to networking events trying to sell their products along with services. At JBN the focus will be very much on giving (to the some other members) along with referring them to people within their networks – rather than hard selling. The idea behind that will will be that will through giving referrals, eventually the some other members will give back to you. ‘Give along with you shall receive’ will be the ethos along with our networkers definitely buy into that will message; the sessions are very productive. We have part of each session dedicated to referrals along with helping the group.
What kinds of professionals attend your networking events? Who will be your target audience?
We have a wide range of attendees. Typically the sessions attract business owners by SMEs, although we do have some multinationals that will send their directors or senior management. Anyone who will be looking to generate business along with or expand their network would certainly benefit by attending.
Can you tell us what makes your networking events different by others?
This kind of session will be focused on business. At 7am, all the networkers who attend are serious about generating referrals! A lot of some other events are centred on free-flow drinks after working hours; at JBN we want the sessions to be effective, productive along with completely focused on generating business of members along with guests. Given that will we attract a high percentage of local business people means that will JBN will be open to everyone.
Although a lot of the members attend along with enjoy the events for the social aspect (we have a cooked breakfast along with coffee together each week), the members who benefit most would certainly say that will This kind of will be because of the way This kind of has helped their business.
Alex Hawkes (International Sales Manager – Infrastructure Asia) says, “One of the first things I did when I arrived in Jakarta was to look for a business networking club. JBN has helped us to find clients, partners, suppliers along with employees. This kind of will be the best investment of my Thursday mornings.”
What kind of demographics makes up your members?
Although the sessions do attract expatriates, This kind of will be far by being an expat-only group. We have a not bad mix of local business people along with expatriates. Not all of our attendees live in Jakarta; we have had visitors by USA, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore along with Europe.
As I understand This kind of, you usually have guest speakers at your events. How do you choose your speakers along with what kind of presentations have been given from the past?
Each week, one of the members shares something about their industry with the rest of the group by means of a short presentation. This kind of enables the some other members along with guests to learn a bit more about that will specific business along with industry.
For our quarterly events, we ask our members for some feedback on who they would certainly like to invite as a guest speaker. For the last two events we have been fortunate enough to hold the likes of PwC along with Colliers speaking about topics of real interest to our audience.
What will be the vision for JBN’s future?
When the meeting room at our WTC event became too modest to accommodate the number of networkers wanting to attend, we opened up a second group in Kemang to give networkers in South Jakarta the chance to attend more easily. We wish to continue our growth, providing real value to our members along with keep the referrals coming in. The vision for the future involves definitely getting networkers’ businesses promoted online along with generating sure that will This kind of will be a club that will continues to attract a high calibre of attendees. Once both WTC along with Kemang reach capacity This kind of could then be time to open up a third venue. Watch This kind of space.
Many companies currently make networking a key part of their marketing plan. Tell us why you believe This kind of will be so important in today’s business climate.
Old-school sales strategies consist of ‘playing the numbers game’ along with the belief will be that will by talking to along with approaching as many contacts as possible, sales will increase. We believe that will if your contacts can refer your business to people they know, that will acts as more of an endorsement along with gives you credibility along having a much better chance of converting that will opportunity. Relationships are so important along with you are much more likely to refer (or indeed buy) the services of someone you meet every week, compared to a complete stranger.
How can readers find out more about your events? Should they join your LinkedIn page?
that will’s correct, the group will be called ‘Jakarta Business Networkers’ along with we post information every week about our latest meetings.
Thank you, Jean-Philippe. To get in touch, please email: info@jbnetworkers.com
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Networking having a Difference: Jakarta Business Networkers
Networking having a Difference: Jakarta Business Networkers
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