Reframing the Role of a Connector: Moving Beyond the Buzzword

It’s Friday, and as I reflect on the past week, I can’t help but feel grateful for an amazing Thanksgiving weekend with family, good food, and a chance to unwind before diving back into what’s shaping up to be a very exciting few weeks. Right now, we’re in the thick of Investment Readiness Day, and if you aren’t here with us, I hope the FOMO isn’t too bad. But don't worry—there's still plenty happening with the Emerging Technologies in Automation event and YQG Green Expo just around the corner.

This week, I've been thinking about the term “connector”—a label I often get, but one that doesn’t quite capture everything about the work I do. I’ve come to realize that being a connector isn’t just about knowing a lot of people or making introductions. It’s about exercising a skill that grows with practice. The more you do it, the better you get. The real art lies in understanding how to bring the right people together at the right time, in ways that lead to meaningful results.

Take the conversations I’ve had this week, for instance. Whether it’s helping a startup in the cleantech space get in touch with the right funding partners or introducing a seasoned entrepreneur to a technical team that can help them scale, these connections aren’t random. It’s about identifying needs, paying attention to where people are in their journey, and being thoughtful in how relationships can help solve problems or unlock new opportunities. The truth is, making connections isn’t a talent reserved for a select few—it’s a skill that gets better with experience. The more you do it, the more you learn who needs to meet whom, and how to time those introductions to maximize impact.

Another key part of this skill is timing. A well-timed introduction can make all the difference, especially when it comes to making connections that matter at pivotal moments. Whether it’s aligning a company with a funding opportunity at a crucial point in their growth or introducing an entrepreneur to technical support when they’re ready to scale, the timing of a connection can be as critical as the introduction itself. This is something you learn by staying engaged, understanding the challenges people face, and being mindful of where they are on their journey.

It’s also important to keep in mind that connecting people isn’t about grand gestures. At the end of the day, what matters is that these connections lead to tangible results. It could be helping someone find the right technical partner, guiding a business to an investor who truly understands their industry, or facilitating a partnership that leads to new market opportunities. What’s essential is that each connection serves a purpose. Over time, you begin to see that this is less about making introductions for the sake of it and more about strategic problem-solving. You’re using relationships to drive outcomes, and that requires practice, observation, and learning.

When you strip away the clichés, it becomes clear that anyone can develop the ability to be an effective connector. It’s not about having an impressive network or being naturally extroverted. It’s about building relationships carefully, understanding how to use those connections wisely, and consistently working to make sure the introductions you facilitate serve a clear goal. This shift in focus—from knowing people to using relationships effectively—helps move beyond the idea that connecting is a soft skill. Instead, it’s a valuable profesional and life skill for helping others grow.

If you're reflecting on your own role as a connector, or even just thinking about how to improve the way you build relationships, remember that the best connections are intentional and timely. There’s always an opportunity to practice—whether it's aligning the right people or finding the perfect moment to introduce someone. And with the exciting events coming up, like the YQG Green Expo and Emerging Technologies in Automation, the opportunities to make those connections count are endless. Keep practicing, stay intentional, and watch how the right connections can truly create lasting impact.