Connections That Count: ‘Master Connector’ Nichole…
We’ve all heard the saying, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know,” but Nichole Harmon-Pointdujour is taking that message a step additional by making sure entrepreneurs even have access to the people making the choices.
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BOSSIP’s Liz Smith just lately sat down with Nichole Harmon-Pointdujour, recognized as the “Master Connector,” to talk about her transition from Wall Street to entrepreneurship, navigating company areas as a Black lady, her new e book The Master Connector, and the inspiration behind her growing In the Room event sequence.
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After spending 21 years on Wall Street as an investment banker and equity trader, including 5 years main national partnerships at JPMorgan Chase, Nichole realized she had been given access to areas most people never see.
“So my background I was on Wall Street for 21 years as an investment banker and an equity trader. And in the last five years, I was head of national partnerships at JPMorgan Chase,” she explained. “And so with that, being a vice president and being an equity trader in New York, I was invited to a lot of closed door conversations, just a lot of rooms that most people didn’t know about. So this all came from God. He said you’re going to bring them all together in one room and build this community.”
And that is strictly what she did.
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In the Room was created to bridge the hole between company executives and entrepreneurs looking for funding, sponsorship alternatives, assets, and real business data. Instead of another networking event where attendees exchange business playing cards and hope for the best, Nichole deliberately fills the room with people who can truly make issues occur.
Her past featured company have included Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson, Yandy Smith-Harris, Dr. Eric Thomas and Angela Yee. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and former Mayor Kasim Reed have also supported the sequence.
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“At each event, I interview a multimillionaire that has made it to tell their story,” Nichole said.
The next In the Room takes place October 15 at Prime on Peachtree in Atlanta and options powerhouse government Valeisha Butterfield.
“Valeisha Butterfield is a powerhouse. She used to work for Obama. She was the head of D&I at Google. She’s on the board of the Grammy. She’s on the board of Clark Atlanta. And she supports me and can really help those with their business who will be in the room.”
Nichole has also secured major company companions including Amazon, Puma, Truist, Northwestern Mutual and JPMorgan Chase, one thing she credit to her community and, frankly, having the audacity to ask.
Each sponsor is anticipated to convey company executives into the space, giving entrepreneurs direct access to decision-makers.
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“This event is different because it’s the fact that you’re getting access to the decision makers at these major institutions.”
That confidence was constructed long before entrepreneurship. Nichole recalled coming into JPMorgan’s investment banking program despite coming from a different background than many of her friends.
“I had to go through 13 interviews. Everyone there went to Ivy League: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, typically white males,” she said. “But I survived. I knew I was smart and never had imposter syndrome. I knew I was supposed to be in that room and figure things out.”
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Now she is instructing others how to do the same.
Her largest networking classes are simple: lead with worth, do good work, and comply with up. Nichole recommends reconnecting within 24 to 72 hours after assembly somebody, even sending a photograph from the interplay to help jog their reminiscence.
And for GWN readers prepared to get in the room themselves, Nichole is offering 10% off tickets with code BOSSIP10.
Because sometimes one introduction actually can change all the pieces.
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The post Connections That Count: ‘Master Connector’ Nichole Harmon-Pointdujour Talks Connecting Entrepreneurs With Power Players [Exclusive] appeared first on GWN.
