Networking with AI professionals in different time zones can be challenging, but also rewarding. You can learn from diverse perspectives, access global opportunities, and expand your horizons. In this article, you will discover some practical tips on how to network effectively across time zones, using online tools and strategies.
Before you start networking, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve. Do you want to find a mentor, a collaborator, a client, or a friend? Do you want to learn new skills, share your insights, or get feedback? Having a specific goal will help you narrow down your search for potential contacts, and tailor your communication accordingly.
Connecting with AI professionals or any other tech experts doesn't significantly impact the outcome, what truly matters are your communication skills and the platform you choose. In this regard, LinkedIn stands out as the best platform. Additionally, you can explore Discord servers where hackathons are being hosted, providing another avenue to connect with professionals in the field.
One thing I have found helpful in networking with AI professionals in different time zones is to leverage online platforms and social media groups. These digital spaces allow for asynchronous communication, meaning you can connect and engage with professionals around the world at any time. For example, I've seen individuals successfully expand their network by joining AI-focused LinkedIn groups and participating in discussions, or by attending virtual conferences and webinars. This approach helps overcome the barrier of time differences, facilitating global networking opportunities.
Successful networking begins with clarifying your goals. Specify whom you most want to connect with and why. If seeking mentors, target respected industry veterans with specialized expertise aligned to your learning objectives. To raise visibility for talent scouting, identify principals and hiring managers from aspirational employers. For potential collaborators, pinpoint those undertaking complementary research. Also get very clear on your unique value proposition — what novel perspectives or projects can you share that would intrinsically interest them?
Networking with AI professionals across different time zones unlocks a unique opportunity for '24-hour brainstorming', where ideas continuously evolve around the globe, bringing fresh perspectives with each sunrise. This model not only speeds up innovation but also broadens participation from diverse geographical areas, emphasizing that AI is not a one-size-fits-all domain. This approach enriches our understanding of AI's varied applications and standards across regions, offering insights into the field's diverse goals and ethical considerations. It leads to a more holistic view of AI, ensuring that solutions are not only technologically sound but also culturally sensitive and globally relevant.
The subject of AI unifies people from all over the globe. Everyone is hungry, keen to learn and trying their best to keep up with the AI wave. Computer Science as a field has always been highly community oriented, open source and people are eager to help each other. More challenging is the problem, stronger is the force behind to solve the problem. In order to network with AI professionals across different time zones, it is important to leverage multiple channels for engagement, brainstorming and collaborations. Having regular cadence meetings, posting on AI focused LinkedIn groups, having close group conversations over Slack, and engaging on Discord are some of the means I find effective to network with people across the globe.
Finding and connecting with AI professionals in different time zones is made easier by various online platforms. LinkedIn is the most popular professional network, where you can create a profile, join groups, follow influencers, and send messages. Twitter is a micro-blogging platform, where you can follow hashtags, join chats, and tweet at people active in the AI field. Meetup is a platform that organizes online and offline events for various topics, where you can join AI-related groups, attend webinars, and network with attendees. Slack is a communication tool that allows you to create or join channels for specific topics, so that you can chat, share files, and collaborate with other AI enthusiasts.
Digital channels enable connecting with leading AI minds globally, unconstrained by geography. Actively participate in relevant LinkedIn groups and Reddit forums to share insights and showcase expertise. Follow thought leaders on Twitter, retweeting and commenting on posts to organically join conversations. Publish articles discussing innovations on platforms like Medium where practitioners aggregate content. Subscribe to newsletters from top conferences to get visibility on accepted speakers and program tracks aligned to your interests.
I wanted to share a little personal insight with you all today. These tips have truly worked wonders for me in building connections with AI professionals worldwide. Now, let's dive into how they can work for you too: ?? LinkedIn: My go-to professional network! Create your profile, join AI groups, follow influencers, and connect with fellow AI enthusiasts. ?? Twitter: A micro-blogging hub! Follow AI-related hashtags, join discussions, and engage with AI experts through tweets. ?? Meetup: Discover online and offline AI events! Join AI-related groups, attend webinars, and network with fellow attendees. ?? Slack: Enhance collaboration! Join AI-focused channels, chat, share files, and collaborate with AI enthusiasts in real-time.
For me, the best networking across time zones has originated from LinkedIn Groups. In the past year, I’ve been fortunate to become a member of 45 LinkedIn Groups of professionals discussing AI and its subtopics of machine learning, data science, virtual assistants and chatbots, and more. You’ll find knowledgeable professionals and subject matter experts in these groups who share content and points of view from all over the world. With generative AI little more than a year old, many group members are keen to learn, share, and even connect as we collectively learn how to interact with LLMs and apply genAI within our own functions, companies, and industries.
Meaningful collaboration with AI on online platforms is fundamentally a reciprocal endeavor, with around 80% of the effort dedicated to investing in others. This involves engaging with and commenting on others’ posts, providing thoughtful insights and feedback, and importantly, reposting and sharing their content. Such actions amplify their voices and align you with their expertise, enhancing your visibility. This approach of elevating others fosters a virtuous cycle of engagement, where your genuine interaction and support encourage them to reciprocate, thus strengthening your professional network. Authentic engagement is key, focusing on building meaningful connections rather than merely increasing follower counts and post impressions.
Many conferences, workshops, and networking events are now held online, facilitating participation across time zones. Explore platforms like Zoom, Hopin, or Remo. Leverage social media: Follow AI professionals and influencers on LinkedIn, Twitter, or other platforms. Engage with their content and participate in relevant conversations.
Networking with AI professionals in different time zones requires respect for their availability and preferences. To ensure that you don't inconvenience or annoy them, use a tool such as World Time Buddy or Time Zone Converter to check the time and date in their location compared to yours. Ask them what their preferred time and mode of communication are, and do your best to accommodate them. Additionally, be sure to avoid sending messages or requests at odd hours unless they give you permission to do so. Lastly, confirm the time and date of any scheduled calls or meetings, and use a calendar app or reminder to avoid missing or being late.
When connecting across time zones, schedule meetings consciously and confirm details responsibly. Time zone miscues convey disrespect, sabotaging meaningful discussions before they even start. Do homework beforehand on the other party’s location to correctly calculate time differentials and align on coordinated slots. Calendar invitations should confirm the appropriate zone – don’t assume your settings propagate. Establish contact preferences too – do they prefer video conferencing first or email? Double check that booked times sync on both ends. Signal flexibility to reschedule if unavoidable conflicts arise.
I usually ask what time zone folks are in and when they start and stop taking calls. This is important because people work at all different hours these days, but may also have other obligations: work, family, side hustle, etc.
Being clear and specific about time zones is essential when networking with professionals across different regions. Mentioning a time without specifying the time zone can lead to confusion and potential scheduling mishaps. For instance, stating "let's meet at 6 pm KSA time" is more precise and considerate than merely saying "let's meet at 6 pm" without indicating the time zone. This approach respects the other person's time and helps in avoiding any misunderstandings related to time differences, contributing to smoother and more efficient communication and collaboration across various time zones.
Offer alternative communication options like email, asynchronous messaging, or pre-recorded video messages if real-time meetings are difficult to coordinate. Be mindful of cultural norms: Be respectful of cultural differences in communication styles and working hours.
When networking across different time zones, it's crucial to be mindful of the other person's time. Use tools like World Time Buddy to schedule meetings at convenient times. Always confirm the meeting time and date, taking into account the time zone differences.
Networking is not a one-time event, but a continuous process that requires you to be proactive. To build trust and rapport, you should send a thank-you note after an initial conversation expressing your interest in staying in touch. Additionally, you can share content that might interest them or spark a discussion, congratulate them on their achievements, ask for feedback or referrals, and invite them to join or attend other online events or platforms that you are part of. All of these are great ways to stay in touch and nurture relationships.
Successful networking requires proactive effort, especially from a distance. After meetings, quickly share any slides, articles or other resources discussed. Honor any commitments made during conversations in a timely manner. Follow up consistently without always expecting immediate responses given asynchronous workflows. Find unobtrusive ways to provide value – share an interesting paper you discovered or conference you recommend attending aligned to their interests.
Follow up with people - not just to say thank you, but in a couple of weeks with something that brings value to both you and your contact. This can be small (a link to a relevant article from your conversation), a gentle reminder (something that you both agreed to do) or a personal note (e.g. wishing them good luck with their plans for the New Year).
Networking is an ongoing process. After initial contacts, it's important to maintain the relationship by sharing relevant content, congratulating them on achievements, or simply following up periodically. This helps build trust and keeps you on their radar.
Building enduring connections in the AI field hinges on proactive and consistent follow-up. After your initial interaction with AI professionals, it's courteous to send a thank-you note, signaling your appreciation and desire for ongoing communication. To maintain engagement, consider sharing articles, papers, or projects that align with their interests or could provoke thoughtful discourse. Celebrate their professional milestones and achievements, showing genuine interest in their career progression. Inviting feedback or seeking their opinion on AI-related topics can further enrich the conversation.
Networking is an ongoing journey, and being proactive is the key: ?? Send Thanks: Express gratitude after initial conversations. ?? Share Content: Keep discussions alive with valuable content. ?? Celebrate Wins: Congratulate on achievements to build rapport. ?? Seek Input: Ask for feedback and recommendations. ?? Extend Invitations: Invite them to relevant events or platforms. Networking is all about nurturing relationships; these steps make it effective.
Networking with AI professionals in different time zones can be a fun and rewarding experience if you embrace it. To make it more enjoyable, be authentic and genuine, showing your personality and passion for AI. Respect and curiosity towards others will help you to actively listen to them. Additionally, be open and honest when sharing your challenges, successes, goals, and aspirations. A positive and friendly attitude with some humor and compliments will lighten the mood and create rapport. Lastly, be flexible and adaptable when it comes to embracing the diversity of networking across time zones.
??LinkedIn Top Voice | PhD in Innovation | Business Scientist | Healthcare Analytics
Time zones are just numbers: Don't let cultural differences or unfamiliar time zones hold you back. Embrace the diversity of the global AI community and see it as a source of learning and growth. Be open to new perspectives and communication styles, and you'll be amazed by the richness of your connections. Networking with AI professionals in different time zones isn't just about finding collaborators or mentors, it's about expanding your horizons and enriching your AI journey. So, embrace the adventure, be yourself, and let your passion for AI guide you across the globe. Go forth, AI adventurers, and network your way to a future filled with groundbreaking ideas and meaningful connections, one-time zone at a time!
Networking often conjures images of stuffy small talk and elevator pitches. But transcontinental connections blossom when you relax and relate authentically without pretence from halfway across the globe. Bring your whole self to conversations instead of some polished persona. Share amusing cultural quirks you notice, like how meetings rarely start precisely on time despite the stereotype of perfect Swiss timing.
In a world of auto-generated ChatGPT text, being yourself is the number one quality. Don't be afraid to say you don't know something - but introduce somebody that you think might be able to help.
Dedicate a few minutes everyday and be authentic, no canned responses. Try an add value to your interactions. Authenticity always wins. And we can all find an extra five minutes a day to connect with someone new.?
Networking can be a delightful journey if you keep these tips in mind: ?? Authenticity: Be yourself and let your passion for AI shine through. ?? Respect and Curiosity: Approach others with respect and curiosity; active listening is key. ?? Openness: Share your challenges, successes, and aspirations honestly. ?? Positivity: Infuse positivity, humor, and compliments into your interactions. ?? Embrace Diversity: Stay adaptable when connecting with people from different time zones. Networking should be enjoyable, so make it a pleasant and genuine experience.
Sharing pre-recorded content can be a valuable way to introduce yourself to potential collaborators despite scheduling challenges. Utilize translation services to communicate effectively when dealing with language barriers. Take the first step by reaching out to individuals you'd like to connect with. Express your interest in their work and explore potential collaboration opportunities. Go beyond superficial interactions and invest time in developing meaningful relationships with AI professionals. Share your knowledge and skills with others in the community. This demonstrates your expertise and builds trust, fostering stronger connections.
When scheduling knowledge transfer sessions, virtual meet ups or webinars, a great collaborative hack is to do two webinars instead of one - one for each time zone East and West of GMT ???? I've found that two sessions 12 hours apart (need not be the same day even) work well
AI Professionals are becoming a broader array of people and roles, and the demand for these folks is only increasing. Finding your AI Pro tribe will also determine the platform(s) you'll find the most engaging conversations and insights, and often the latest news and developments. For example, if you're seeking developers for AI tools, X, Reddit and Discord are your top places to be, in addition to LinkedIn. Creatives? Insta! Additionally, use communication platforms such as WhatsApp or Telegram to connect more deeply, and keep up with those you wish to learn the most from or collaborate with. Overall, flexibility with platform and schedule will benefit anyone greatly! Have fun, learn more and #StayHuman! ??
UI/UX Designer | No-code developer | Making Websites and Apps Easy and Enjoyable to Use.
Network with AI professionals in different time zones by leveraging virtual platforms like LinkedIn and professional forums. Schedule virtual meetings accommodating various time zones. Attend international conferences or webinars. Engage in asynchronous communication, utilizing emails or collaborative tools. Proactively express flexibility in scheduling. Join global AI communities to establish connections. Be mindful of time differences and demonstrate adaptability. Building a diverse network fosters collaboration and broadens perspectives in the AI field.
Be clear on the value you have to add, what you have to say, and what you want to learn. Not everybody will write a book, but shorter articles are just as good to signal the expertise you can bring to a connection. Don't forget to listen - no matter what their level, you can learn somethng from every conversation.