Hi there,
1) I am attending a McKinsey Virtual Event, one of the partners in my area is going to be attending as well. Since there are 300+ people attending and it's virtual it's kind of hard to get noticed. Any suggestions on how to better connect with the partner?
I would not recommend to try to be noticed by the partner during the event if there are 300+ people and it is virtual, it’s not likely to be possible. You can ask genuine questions, but not with the goal to try to “stand out”.
Instead, if you want to connect with that partner I would try to reach out after the event.
2) Should I send something beforehand? Or after the event text her on LinkedIn?
If you want to reach out, I would do so after the event (I would not recommend LinkedIn though). However you are going to have a lot more chances if you target alumni of your school instead if your goal is to get a referral.
For more on referrals you can check the following:
▶ How to Get an MBB Invitation
▶ The Exact Steps to Get a Referral
Good luck!
Francesco