How to Find Networking Events for Senior Level Professionals
TL;DR
- Go where decision-makers are. Prioritize executive roundtables, industry conferences, and invite-only meetups over general job fairs or broad networking events.
- Choose quality over convenience. Traveling for niche, high-value events or joining curated communities will yield far better connections than attending local, general mixers.
- Be proactive and strategic. Don’t wait for invites. Leverage alumni networks, follow industry associations, and engage in volunteer events where your target companies are present.
Why You Should Care
If you're a senior-level professional searching for your next leadership role, you already know that submitting resumes online can feel like shouting into the void. The higher you climb in your career, the more your next opportunity is going to come from a conversation rather than a cold application. Networking isn't just important, it's essential. But here's the problem most seasoned professionals run into:
"I want to attend networking events, but I don't know where to go."
This post is for those who want to build real professional connections that lead to interviews, referrals, and job offers. Not just collect business cards at another random happy hour.
The Right Way to Find Networking Events for Senior Level Professionals
If you're operating at the Senior, Principal, or Director level, your networking strategy needs to evolve. The casual mixers, general job fairs, and broad networking happy hours that served you earlier in your career? They’re probably not going to cut it anymore.
To find networking opportunities that actually move the needle, you need to stop thinking like a job seeker and start thinking like a strategic leader. Here’s how ↓
Go Where the Companies Actually Are
That means attending networking events that attract decision-makers, not just job seekers.
Look for:
- Executive roundtables and panel discussions hosted by consultancies, VCs, or enterprise vendors.
- Invite-only meetups tied to product launches, investor briefings, or local chapters of industry associations.
- Company-sponsored events (e.g., AWS Summits, Deloitte forums, Microsoft Reactor sessions) where leaders are sharing insights. Not just recruiting.
Pro Tip: Follow target companies’ LinkedIn pages and Eventbrite listings. These are often where they promote the events their teams are hosting, sponsoring, or attending.
Prioritize Relevance Over Convenience
It’s tempting to go to the event that’s 15 minutes away. But senior-level roles don’t come from showing up where it’s easy, they come from showing up where the right people are.
If an industry networking event in another city is known to attract Directors and VPs in your space, and you have the means to attend, it’s worth it.
If a virtual roundtable is invite-only and run by a respected firm, it’s worth waking up early for.
Proximity doesn’t equal ROI. Alignment does.
Follow the Value, Not the Crowd
Big crowds can feel like big opportunity, but they often dilute the value.
The best networking events I’ve seen for senior-level professionals are often:
- Hosted by niche professional communities (think: Product-Led Alliance, Revenue Collective, Chief).
- Built around a shared challenge, not just a shared role or title.
- Capped in size, with pre-qualified attendees.
These networking events foster deeper conversations and clearer follow-ups. You’re not just handing out business cards, you’re solving problems in real time, with other professionals who can influence hiring decisions.
The Wrong Way to Find Networking Events
Let’s be honest, there are a lot of low-quality networking events out there.
And while they might feel productive in the moment (“Hey, at least I showed up, right?”), they can actually waste your time and distract you from opportunities that are genuinely aligned with your career goals.
Here are a few traps we see senior professionals fall into again and again:
Relying Solely on Eventbrite or Meetup
These platforms are easy to search, but that’s part of the problem. Anyone can post, anyone can attend, and oftentimes there's not any real curation.
You’ll often end up in rooms with a broad range of participants: early-career job seekers, solopreneurs looking to sell something, and folks who aren’t even in your industry.
→ If your goal is to build relationships with directors, VPs, or industry professionals in a specific vertical, these open-invite events probably aren’t where they’re spending their time.
Use Eventbrite or Meetup as a lead generator only. Once you’ve identified a potential event, research the organizers, speakers, and attendee list before committing your time.
Only Attending Generalist Career Fairs
If you're operating at a senior or executive level, career fairs are often the wrong type of networking event.
These events tend to focus on volume, not precision. They attract large groups of early-career candidates, and the companies represented are often hiring for roles that fall outside your scope or comp band.
You're not just looking for a job. You’re looking for the right job, at the right level, with the right people.
When we work with clients at the Principal or Director level, we advise them to skip general career fairs unless there’s a targeted executive track or curated 1:1 meetings for senior professionals built into the structure.
Waiting for Invites
This is the silent killer of professional networking momentum.
Professionals at your level often assume that the best events will come to them. They often think that after they start posting about industry trends on their LinkedIn account, they’ll be invited to exclusive panels or dinners.
But here’s the truth:
The most successful leaders we coach are the ones who seek out or create the right environments.
That means:
- Reaching out to event organizers of invite-only roundtables
- Asking current or former colleagues where they go to meet other leaders
- Hosting a small dinner or virtual gathering of peers in your function
- Applying to speak on panels or moderate sessions at niche conferences
Waiting is not a strategy.
You don’t need to be famous to get into the right rooms, you just need to be intentional, curious, and proactive.
Not Attending Industry Events in Person
Virtual and hybrid networking events have value, especially if you don’t live near major industry hubs or can’t attend in person due to cost or timing. They’re great for gathering insight, joining discussions, and even making initial connections.
But let’s not ignore the reality:
The most meaningful career conversations usually don’t happen in the chat box or in a video chat.
They happen in hallways, over coffee, or between speakers at industry networking events. These situations are where spontaneous, high-trust conversations unfold naturally. These moments are hard to replicate virtually.
When you're in the room:
- You can build rapport in real time
- You’re more likely to connect with decision-makers between sessions
- You stand out in ways a Zoom room just can’t offer
Virtual events are a strong starting point. But if you're serious about growing your network, prioritize in person networking by attending at least one or two in-person industry events each year. Especially where your target companies are showing up.
Being physically present signals you’re invested, credible, and ready to engage at a higher level.
Three Strategies to Find The Best Networking Events for Senior-Level Professionals
1. Leverage Alumni Networks
If you went to a major university or business school, you already have access to a built-in network of professionals. Many are likely working in the exact industries, roles, or geographies you’re targeting.
Alumni networks aren’t just for homecoming weekends and fundraising drives. Most schools have organized, active alumni chapters that host professional events year-round. Things like career panels, industry mixers, virtual roundtable discussions, and job forums. These aren't generic networking events either. They bring together people with a shared experience, and that shared experience creates instant trust.
These are high-signal rooms. Everyone in the room either wants to connect, or wants to help.
Three practical ways to start:
- Search your alumni LinkedIn group – See who’s in the group, what they’re posting about, and who’s hiring. Don’t be afraid to DM someone with a shared background.
- Check the alumni relations page on your school’s website – Most list events by region, industry, or graduation year. Many also have job boards and mentorship programs.
- Attend regional or virtual meetups – Alumni chapters often hold quarterly mixers and speaker series. These are ideal settings for warm intros, leads on jobs, or informational interviews.
If you’re job searching,
career pivoting, or even just looking to test the market, this is one of the most underutilized channels. And the best part? You don’t need to have been the most involved student to leverage this strong professional network. Your diploma already opened the door. You just have to walk through it.
2. Follow Industry Conferences and Associations
Whether you're in tech, healthcare, finance, or aerospace, your industry has anchor events and professional associations that serve as epicenters for thought leadership, recruiting, and networking.
Organizations like the Project Management Institute (PMI), HIMSS, SHRM, and DEFCON aren’t just putting on events to hand out swag and slide decks. These are career accelerators.
Here's why:
The people who attend these events aren’t just passively watching from the back row. They’re building connections, closing deals, and filling roles.
Three key things happening behind the curtain:
- Leaders are discussing trends and innovation – You’ll hear what's next for the industry before it hits your LinkedIn feed.
- Hiring managers are scouting – These events are where teams source subject matter experts, speakers, and potential hires.
- Peers are forming relationships – The panels are helpful, but the sidebar convos over coffee? That’s where partnerships are born.
Pro tip: Not all value is found inside the main session hall.
Some of the most productive interactions happen during happy hours, hallway run-ins, or early morning coffee lines. These “unofficial” moments often lead to job leads, referrals, or even your next mentor.
Can’t attend in person? Many associations publish member directories, host online roundtables, or offer discounted access to recordings. If budget is a barrier, start by joining the association and attending virtual networking events. They’re a good start for relationship-building and insight gathering.
3. Find High-Intent Volunteer and Community Events
Here’s a real story from my coaching experience:
One of our clients was targeting a role at Microsoft. Instead of just applying to job openings, she signed up for local volunteering events sponsored by Microsoft. These community events were regularly attended by Microsoft employees and leaders. Over a few months, she built personal connections with managers and directors. The result? Two referrals and one interview.
This is a great example of the right strategy actually working.
If you want to gain access to decision makers, sometimes the best move is to show up where they already are, even if it’s not a "networking event" on paper.
Here’s how to find high-intent volunteer and community events where employees and leaders from your target companies may be present:
A. Start With Company Values and CSR Pages
Most large employers publish Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) reports or list their community partners. Look for recurring events, sponsored nonprofits, or volunteer days that the company promotes. Example: Salesforce partners with Year Up, and Microsoft often volunteers with TEALS and Girls Who Code.
→ If they care enough to fund it, there’s a good chance employees are volunteering there.
B. Check LinkedIn for Employee Activity
Search posts by current employees at your target companies. Many will tag or mention organizations they support or events they’re attending. Use that as a breadcrumb trail. Reach out. Show up.
C. Use Platforms like VolunteerMatch or Catchafire
These sites let you filter opportunities by skills, industry, or cause, and sometimes even by sponsoring organization. Target events that are recurring, team-based, or affiliated with corporate partners.
D. Follow Local Chapters of Major Nonprofits
Think: Habitat for Humanity, Junior Achievement, Code.org, or United Way. The regional chapters often have corporate sponsors and volunteer events where teams from local companies show up in force.
Volunteering doesn’t just check the “giving back” box. It can help you build meaningful connections with people who influence hiring decisions. Without the awkward elevator pitch.
If you’re looking for a warm, values-driven way to expand your network, this is it.
Key Takeaways for Senior Level Professionals Searching for Networking Events
- Not all events are created equally. Go where the companies actually are. Prioritize events that attract hiring managers, industry leaders, and professionals aligned with your goals.
- The right strategy works. If you're intentional, consistent, and creative, your networking efforts will generate real job leads in any job market.
- Choose depth over breadth. It’s better to attend one industry-specific conference and walk away with five strong professional connections than to attend ten general events and collect a stack of meaningless business cards.
- Explore alternative venues. Industry mixers, happy hours, speed networking, joint projects, and even community service events can provide unique networking opportunities.
- Use social media wisely. Follow event organizers, company pages, and relevant hashtags on LinkedIn. These platforms can be an early source of announcements for in person events, virtual networking events, and industry conferences.
- Map events to your career goals. Whether you want to pivot industries, break into a mission-driven company, or land a bigger scope, the events you attend should align with that vision.
Ready to Take Your Networking Strategy to the Next Level?
If you’re tired of spinning your wheels, feeling stuck, or unsure how to translate conversations into interviews, let’s talk.
At Broda Coaching, we help senior-level professionals, directors, and VPs develop targeted networking strategies that get real results. We’ve helped professionals across tech, finance, aerospace, and healthcare land referrals, interviews, and offers through smart, intentional networking.
Book a 1:1 Discovery Call to start building a job search strategy that works
for your level
and builds a robust network.
Sources:
- SHRM, "Why Networking Still Matters in 2024", Jan 2024
- Harvard Business Review, "Senior-Level Job Search Trends in 2024", Feb 2024
- Project Management Institute (PMI), Event Calendar, 2024
- Broda Coaching Client Case Studies (2022–2024)
