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What sort of networking events would YOU like?
We have all been to golf outings, maybe a deep sea fishing trip, a fancy cocktail hour whatever. As a GenX female, what sort of events would really help you meet and connect with people? I am helping to plan events and I am not a golfer, not a yoga lover but I would love something like a spa day or a fashion show etc. What would work for you? Please throw any ideas out, cost isn't an issue at this point because it's all conceptual.
Some of the ideas we have floated are -
Vineyard Tour/Wine Tasting
Spa Day (facials/massage/nails) followed by networking/meals
Yoga or other fitness classes
Fashion Show/Makeup presentation
A fall carnival type of activity is great. You can have games (bag-o, relays, volleyball, etc) and catered food. It social, outside and fun!
Maybe a hike and a picnic?
A Wine tasting where a sommelier is there to explain things. I went to an event once where they did a flamenco lesson and then a wine tasting which was fun.
We used to take clients to make their own customized sneakers at Nike. They let you reserve the room for a few hours and that was fun looking at all the designs people came up with. Another thing that would be fun is a cooking class where each team makes part of the dinner and then you all sit down to dinner to eat what you have made
Crafting event (think scrapbook/card making "make & take")
Volunteer opportunities
Workshops that focus on interesting topics (self-improvement, writing your elevator speech, brushing up your resume, etc.) and encourage 1:1 time with multiple partner changes
i don't like networking lunches, what do you talk about ? your food? i prefer something hands on that i can bond with someone over and then create enough comfortable-ness with people to THEN begin to network.
i like the idea learning something w/o others or doing activities (non sports) spa day seems more for yourself and not much opp to connect w/ others. i like painting parties, cooking classes, volunteering (habitat for humanity, local food bank)
One of my former bosses rented us a cabin and took us all to a local Christmas light event. There were only five of us in the department, which is probably why she could afford to do that, and I still remember that to this day. It is one of the only times I felt any camaraderie with that group of coworkers. (Granted, this was a part time job in the late 00's...)
Cooking Class
Hobbyist Bartending/cocktails class
Axe Throwing
In a non-covid & dream world, a networking activity where I can drop my bag off somewhere, have someone rub my feet, massage my shoulders while I meet new people who come to me sounds perfect :-)
Speed networking, group activities where you have to communicate and work together.
Happy Hours (Maybe with themed martinis)
Lunch and Learns
Chili Cook-off
Anything but bowling, it is the networking activity that my company uses frequently, and most of the women I know hate it.
Volunteer time at an animal shelter.
A hike. Something outdoors.
I would personally prefer networking over lunch but that again is something I love. However, organising fun workshops where people can learn a new hobby like a photography workshop or a food styling workshop would be great.