Prospect from Ghana

I'm always on the look out for women who I feel would bring value to my networking group. I ran into a prospect last Friday while attending a premiere minority business award recognition luncheon with colleagues from work. As I was browsing through one of the the materials on the table (which happened to be from the year before), I couldn't help but take notice of the picture of the only black woman on the page. I would have never guessed from her look or name that she was African but the first thing mentioned was that she is originally from Ghana—bingo!

I was interested right away. I asked around about her and learned that she and her husband are pretty well known in the minority business community circle. She had received the business owner of the year award the previous year and actively participates on committees and boards around the cities. It so happens that she was volunteering at the registration desk and so after the event I made sure to catch up with her. I introduced myself, told her that I had seen her info in the materials on the table, briefly told her about my networking group and swapped business cards. She was very polite and expressed interest in what she had heard of the group and thanked me for approaching her.

I send an email as soon as I got back to the office and requested a meeting to learn more about what she does and to share more about my networking group and what direction we're trying to take it. I heard back from her the following Tuesday. She asked me to give her a couple of dates for her to choose from. I did and am waiting to hear back.

Now I have to ensure that I have a story that's compelling enough to provide a hook and come up with a strategy to interest her.

We'll see. Wish me luck.