Emil Michael is one of the most revered businessmen in the world, with a list of accomplishments few could match. The Egyptian-born entrepreneur has been hailed as one of the 100 Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company. He launched his career at Goldman Sachs and went on to turn Uber into a verb, become COO of Klout, and, as one of 15 selected White House Fellows, served as special assistant to the Secretary of Defense. The DPCM Capital CEO shook up Silicon Valley with his passion to help startups think more globally. Consistently several steps ahead of the competition when it comes to trends, he’s been an early investor in Brex, Gopuff, Revolut, ByteDance, Gusto, SpaceX, and Stripe, just to name a few, and he says he’s always eager to lend his seasoned advisory and consulting services to scouting out the next hot history-making venture.
Still, Michael admits he couldn’t do it without his network who helped buoy his meteoric rise to success. And today he says he pays if forward by opening up his vast network to his many mentees. Networking is a core career move, according to Forbes. The global media company maintains that it not only opens doors but builds lasting relationships. Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and Mark Cuban didn’t get to the top without the magic of networking. Here are some of Emil Michael’s tips on growing one’s network and why it matters now more than ever.
Be Generous With Your Network.
Emil Michael has been known to be generous with his network of contacts, especially when it comes to mentoring new talent. Emil Michael famously mentored Katelin Holloway at Klout. Now an investor and founding partner at Seven Seven Six, a venture capital firm built on software and created with intention by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, Holloway cherishes how Emil Michael empowered her to increase her network and use her skills to become a leader who also elevates the careers of others. Michael revolutionized the way Holloway would ultimately craft policies around career development during her professional journey.
Emil Michael Recommends Seeking Out Creative Partnerships.
“My creative bests have always been around partnerships that link companies together in uncommon ways that drive value for everyone involved,” Emil Michael says. “You have to throw away the templates for these and start from a fresh sheet of paper.”
Stay Connected With Fellow Alumni From Your Alma Mater.
Although Emil Michael admits he feels branded education is less important than it once was, for those who have attended college or graduate school, he recommends keeping in touch with classmates. As a graduate of Harvard University and Stanford Law School, Emil Michael has expanded a solid network of contacts. Emil Michael has also hosted a virtual event for Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs, where he spoke about leadership, career strategies, and other valuable business topics.
Stay Connected on Social Media.
Twitter is a great way to stay connected to one’s network, according to Emil Michael. He has more than 10,000 followers, who include Miami Heat mixmaster DJ Irie and pro hockey player Zach Boychuk. Emil Michael tweets about everything from his investments in quick commerce apps to breaking news in tech and finance. He’s also been known to be active on LinkedIn, liking and sharing posts and articles. The professional social network is a great way to show off your skills and position yourself as top talent to recruiters.
Remember: You Can’t Do It on Your Own.
Having a dynamic team that pays attention to the details matters and nobody knows that more than Emil Michael. Mentors who bring their network to the table can foster a roster of talent. Michael adds that he believes in paying it forward and feels the people who are doing it right really take their companies to the next level.
“The pay-it-forward mentality is really writ large, deeply ingrained in Silicon Valley, and the people who do it well really lift their companies and their people up,” Michael confides. “Post-Klout, [I] ran around with this CEO crowd, where I observed the same thing,” he adds. “The ones who were open to mentorship — and you have to do it, be very open to it — ended up going farther faster than the ones who thought they knew it all.”
In fact, about 80% of professionals consider networking important to career success, LinkedIn reports. The pandemic has changed the way many people connect, making networking more essential than ever before. LinkedIn also found that despite business people wanting to remain in touch with their network, 38% said they find it difficult, mainly due to time restraints. However, making the effort is clearly worth it, because the majority of people are hired at companies where they had a connection.
