Forget happy hour: 9 professionals share how they make networking fun

If the word networking brings to mind handshakes during conferences or hours on the links, it’s time for a reset. Common interests can create opportunities for people to come together and talk shop, regardless of industry. So if making small talk over boring luncheons or Zoom gatherings isn’t your cup of tea, it might be time to rethink how and where you’re making connections.

These professionals are purposefully combining their business and other interests to take the “work” out of networking:

In the air

Serial entrepreneur Peter Shankman, author of Faster Than Normal: Turbocharge Your Focus, Productivity, and Success With Secrets of the ADHD Brain, discovered his love of skydiving after organizing Webdive 2000 more than two decades ago. The PR firm he owned at the time took 165 dot-com CEOs skydiving in one day.

“My agency got tons of press and, of course, I got addicted to jumping,” Shankman says. “I’ve taken several clients and prospective clients jumping over the years. They’ve all loved it, because it’s not something you’ll do if you’re not totally psyched about doing it from the start.”

On land or at sea

Doug Cunnington, management consultant and founder of affiliate marketing firm Niche Site Project, organizes a monthly “Hike and Brainstorm” meetup with other local business owners and professionals.

“We meet at a nearby trail, spend about an hour hiking, and then settle in at a scenic spot to discuss business challenges and ideas,” he says. One hike led to a collaboration between a web designer and a local brewery owner. There are some rules: Shop talk is limited to the brainstorming session, for example.

“During the hike itself, we focus on getting to know each other as people, sharing stories about our families, hobbies, and personal goals,” Cunnington says. “This helps create deeper, more meaningful connections that extend beyond just business.”

Meanwhile, Becca Milstein, CEO of tinned seafood company Fishwife, is making contacts at an ocean swim club she found through a colleague. The California group of founders and investors meet regularly to dive into the Pacific Ocean together.

In a pickle(ball)

Every Tuesday, Matt Little, founder and managing director of the Sydney-based decorative-lighting supply business Festoon House, gets together with other founders, suppliers, and influencers on the pickleball court. After about an hour of play, participants move to a coffee shop.

“What makes these sessions so productive is that the game serves as a great equalizer. Whether you’re a CEO or a new entrepreneur, everyone’s just trying to win the match,” Little says. He recently finalized a deal with a lighting supplier he met during one of the sessions.

With some books

Book clubs come in all forms, and some people use them to connect with fellow professionals. Tired of what she called the “dearth of people [her] age” in her Long Island, New York, community, PR and marketing professional Cass Lovett cofounded Shelf Love, a book club for women in media, marketing, and creative services.

“We meet monthly to discuss books,” Lovett says, “but what makes it feel particularly valuable through a networking perspective is that our discussion centers around how each book inspires our creative journey.”

To the dogs

The dog park is Sam Olmsted’s favorite place to network creatively. The managing director of Online Optimism, a digital design and marketing agency, says the universal love of pets at these parks makes it easy to start conversations and make genuine connections.

“I run an Instagram account that features local dogs, which immediately gives me credibility with the people I meet,” Olmsted says. “Because I work at a digital marketing agency, sometimes the conversation naturally flows to other aspects of marketing online, opening the door for potential business prospects in an organic way.”

In the dirt

Jason English, CEO of holding company CG Tech, has a 20-year background in finance, but likes to get his hands dirty with prospective contacts through urban gardening meetups. “A few colleagues and I share responsibility for a community garden plot, where we regularly meet up to plant, tend, and harvest. It’s an incredibly refreshing break from the typical office setting, and it’s become a powerful way to connect on a deeper level,” he says.

Conversations drift from gardening tips to business trends, workplace sustainability, and personal interests. “We’ve found that the informal, outdoor environment really helps to break down barriers, allowing us to brainstorm work projects or share professional advice in a much more relaxed and open way,” English says.

With a game

Board games are another way people connect. LinkedIn specialist Katie Rasure is part of a dedicated board game group that meets up once or twice per month after work to play board or card games, have dinner, and “chat about all of our different work ups and downs.”

Chris Dukich, owner of Display Now, a software as a service marketing platform, gets together with colleagues to play games like Settlers of Catan or Ticket to Ride, “which reveal a lot of insight into people’s thought processes, collaboration, and problem-solving—guaranteed valuable insights in any business setting,” he says. “These gatherings help create authentic relationships, build trust, and open the doors of possibilities for future collaborations.”