Most people have a love-hate relationship with networking. Instead of becoming a social soirée, it ends up becoming a dreaded chore. Here are a few options to make it easier for you.
What’s the scene in Luxembourg?
Luxembourg is a melting pot of hot talent – finance, tech, marketing – you’ve got people from around the world flowing in for better opportunities. If you’re a job seeker or want to meet like-minded professionals from their domain, Luxembourg has just the place for you.
Furthermore, with the growing startup culture in the city, entrepreneurs and founders alike are always on the lookout for early investors, talent, a sounding board, or just another leader facing similar problems. These connections, vital for the holistic growth of the system, drive the essence of numerous networking events.
Let’s explore what Luxembourg has in store for everyone.
Chamber of Commerce
With many wings under its feathers, Luxembourg’s Chamber of Commerce hosts a plethora of events that have room for a variety of discussions. Are you the founder of a budding fintech or just an enthusiast? Head to Luxembourg House of Financial Technology for their Friday sessions.
Do you need clarification about how to launch your business in Luxembourg, seek mentorship, or just want to understand the startup ecosystem? Try House of Entrepreneurship‘s many online and offline events.
BNI
A network of professionals spanning across France, Belgium and Luxembourg, BNI hosts the most popular business meetups in the city. The community touts a vast global network, multilingual participants (French-speaking), and visibility among professionals who share the same vision.
Startup Apéro
Silicon Luxembourg’s flagship event, Startup Apéro, brings the startup community together for a sizzling discussion on key tech challenges. The evenings are usually divided into 4 parts – a fireside chat, a Q&A, a pitching session open to all attendees followed by some pizza and friendly networking.
So far, this event has been vital in bringing budding entrepreneurs closer to established startups, offering valuable insights and sharing inspiring stories with the community.
Eventbrite
Many expats turn to Eventbrite to network with like-minded people because there’s something for everyone. Much like Meetup, Eventbrite has a variety of individual and institutional events under various domains – tech, business, finance, marketing, etc.
For instance, here’s a recent event by BIL Luxembourg on the future of banking. The event featured a diverse panel of professionals consisting of domain experts, technologists, and financial leaders.
The Network
One of the city’s oldest English-speaking and multicultural organizations, The Network promotes the development of women in Luxembourg. While the membership is women-only, all genders can participate in their meetups. Their networking calendar is one of the most densely populated agendas in the city.
Other communities & networking events
- Luxembourg’s House of Startups offers many opportunities for up-and-coming entrepreneurs to connect and learn from those who’ve been there
- Two women-only networking communities to support equality, diversity, and innovation in tech: Women in Digital Empowerment, and Girls in Tech
- A business networking group on Meetup
- Aperinetwork, an after-work networking event for young professionals
- Fairs for job seekers by Moovijob
In the grand tapestry of professional life, networking is a crucial factor that helps you grow into better roles, opportunities, teams, and companies. It allows you to transcend beyond your immediate circle and tap into bigger things.
The best way to build a network is to let the relationship simmer and develop naturally before asking for help. Let the connection nurture for a few weeks, gracefully extend support, and then ask a favour.
Another valuable insight is exploring your dormant ties – people you already know from work or business school. Given they already have a relationship, it’s easier to seek advice or help from them.
Last, cast a vast network, attend these events, connect with as many people as possible, and try to build a meaningful connection. After all, in the professional world, your network is your net worth.
