Seeking advice on networking with consulting partners

Hi,
thanks for the intro! Regarding:
Initiating contact
Start with a short LinkedIn message that references something specific (e.g., a shared background, a relevant article they published, or a recent event). Example: “Hi [Name], I came across your recent panel on digital risk strategy and found it highly relevant to my work in banking. I’d love to stay connected and follow your insights.”

Building and maintaining relationships
Follow up occasionally with something meaningful, e.g., a short update or relevant article. You could ask for advice only when relevant but avoid spamming or being too generic.

Providing value
Use your banking and regulatory expertise to offer insight, e.g., share a trend you're seeing in the market or offer to collaborate on a panel. Even a short message showing awareness of their field can create reciprocity.

Pitfalls to avoid
Avoid generic outreach without context or immediately asking for job opportunities. Also, don’t disappear after one exchange; relationships build slowly.

Happy to provide more examples. Best of luck!

Hey! Regarding the points you've asked, here are practical strategies from my experience: 

Initiating contact
When reaching out to senior consultants, avoid overly formal or generic messages. Aim for something casual and human. Start by sharing a common interest or a specific question related to their work. For example:
"Hi [Name], I noticed your work on [specific project/industry trend] and thought your approach to [a specific aspect] was really interesting. I’m currently exploring similar topics in my work, and I’d love to hear your perspective on [related question]. Looking forward to connecting!"

This is a respectful way to start a conversation while making the outreach more personalized.

Building and maintaining relationships
Networking is about nurturing relationships over time. After your initial message, don’t expect immediate responses or favors. Stay present by adding value to the conversation regularly.
For instance, you could send updates about projects you’re working on or offer to share insights on a recent development in the industry. Example:
"Hi [Name], I recently came across a whitepaper on [topic], and I thought it was highly relevant to the discussion we had about [specific topic]. I’d love to hear your thoughts on it."

This shows you are staying engaged and interested in their expertise, rather than just reaching out when you need something.

Providing value
A great way to build credibility is by offering insights that reflect your expertise. In your case, leveraging your experience in banking and risk advisory, you could share relevant reports, industry news, or even potential risks or challenges you've identified in your work. An example could be:
"Hi [Name], I’m currently seeing a rise in [specific trend] in the banking sector, which could impact [aspect of their work]. It might be interesting to explore how firms in your space are preparing for this shift."

By sharing valuable insights, you establish yourself as a knowledgeable contact and a resource, not just someone seeking help.

Pitfalls to avoid

1. Avoiding superficiality: Networking isn’t about just saying “hello” and hoping for a response. Your messages should always have a purpose, whether it's seeking insights or sharing something of value.
2. Asking for too much too soon: It's tempting to ask for referrals or job opportunities immediately after making contact. However, this can come off as opportunistic. Instead, focus on building a relationship first and let the natural progression of professional connection unfold.
3. Forgetting to follow up: Once you’ve made a connection, don’t just leave it at that. Following up after a few months, or after any major developments in your field or theirs, will keep you on their radar without seeming pushy.

These points will help you approach networking from a long-term, relationship-building perspective while maintaining authenticity and professionalism. Best of luck!

Best alessa 

You are seeing this upside down :)

You are a potential client and someone who can open doors for them. This means that YOU have value for them. A lot of value. They would love to be asked to do presentations in your company and discuss collaboration opportunities. 

If you can help them arrange meetings with stakeholders and can support them in understanding your companies most pressing needs (of course, within reason consider what can be shared with an outside party), they will be happy to engage you in regular conversations. If they see you as someone who is helping them, they will be the ones frequently reaching out to you.