100 Virtual Coffees: What I’ve Learned from 20 No-Agenda Chats

I’ve committed to complete 100 virtual coffees over 2026, I shared it in my newsletter and the response was unanimous: you wanted to know more about my commitment and why networking is so important to growing my business.

Networking often gets a bad rap for being transactional but I wanted to see what would happen if I stepped into these rooms with no agenda other than connection. Why virtual? I currently live 1 hour and 40 minutes outside of London so face-to-face meet ups were unlikely.

At the time of writing this, I've completed 20 of these 30-minute Zoom chats. Here is what I’ve learned about business and building a network from my conversations so far.

The Art of Becoming a Super Connector

The satisfaction I feel when someone says, "Hey, I'm working on X," and I get to introduce them to someone who can help with Y, is truly unmatched. By positioning yourself as a super-connector, you become an invaluable asset to your network.

So far, I've been able to connect a creative in New York to a London-based brand and link an ex-client in beauty formulations to a founder building a skincare business. Networking for founders isn't just about what you get; it’s about the ecosystem you build.

You Have to Give to Get (and Yes, Some People Suck at Networking)

Generosity is a brilliant cure for the isolation of entrepreneurship. But you can't help someone build if you have no idea what they’re building or what is currently keeping them up at night.

I’ve learned that while some people are naturally great at conversation, others struggle, and that’s okay. For every call where the other person doesn't ask a single question, there's a call that introduces me to a mentor who worked with the UK’s biggest brands or a marketer handling the Olympics. It’s reminded me that I’m only ever one Zoom call away from the biggest stages in the world.

Writing Books and Landing Speaking Gigs

A few people in my network are publishing books, and it's cool to have these opportunities around me, especially as I see writing a book in my future. I know who I'd ask if I needed a book agent, what kind of book advance I should aim for, and the experiences with different publishers etc.

Even better? I might have just bagged a speaking gig at a conference through one of these casual chats. (I’m still working on it so stay tuned!)

Stop Waiting for the Invitation

If you want to land spots at industry leading conferences or work with dream brands, you have to be in the room where it happens even if that room is a digital one.