Put Words in My Mouth – How to Get…

by Angela McConnell

Put Words in My Mouth:
How to Get a Meeting with a Senior Leader

“You need to build relationships with senior leaders” is common career-building advice. But what is that supposed to look like in practice?

Do you just…walk up to an SVP at a networking event and compliment them on their shoes? …or mosey on over to a Senior Director who just gave a dazzling presentation and try to ask an intelligent question that doesn’t make you sound like a starstruck groupie? …or start a conversation with your CEO about the deliciousness of leftover lasagna while they’re microwaving their lunch in the break room?

Ugh. Thousands of ideas, each more awkward than the last. How would a midday conversation about pasta even help you get your next promotion anyways? If you’re at a loss for how to open these conversations and turn them into career-building meetings and long-term relationships, then this talk is for you.

Talk Outline:

This talk will focus on the exact words to use to turn a brief encounter with a senior leader into your next meeting (and new work bestie). We'll cover:

Easy ways to break the ice (without freezing up or awkwardly rambling!)
How to frame your asks so senior leaders will say yes to your meeting request
Word-by-word scripts for talking with leaders in the coffee area at work, at networking events, or after seeing them speak
Low-pressure ways to turn your conversation into your next meeting so you can continue to build the relationship

The goal of this talk is to give you ready-to-use language to turn informal moments with senior leaders into valuable conversations and long-term relationships.

May Busch

Executive Coach

May Busch works with good people who want to advance their careers and make the difference they’re meant to make in the world – without sacrificing their values in the process.

After her own 24-year rise to Chief Operating Officer of Morgan Stanley Europe, she discovered the hidden shift that separates those who advance from those who plateau: it’s not enough to deliver excellent performance – you also need to make your potential visible to key decision-makers.

As Founder & CEO of Career Mastery®, May has developed a practical framework that helps mid-career professionals accelerate their advancement while staying authentic. Her approach has guided thousands of professionals toward promotions, leadership roles, and greater career satisfaction.

May is the #1 International Bestselling author of VISIBLE: How to Advance Your Career without Playing Politics, Selling Your Soul or Working Yourself into the Ground and Accelerate: 9 Capabilities to Achieve Success at Any Career Stage.

A Harvard College and Harvard Business School graduate, May serves as Senior Advisor for Leadership at Arizona State University and provides executive coaching globally. Her work proves that good people can finish first. Everything May shares is what she wishes she’d had during her own journey.

Gender:

Privacy & Photography:

No Selling, Pitching, or Finding Your Next Client

Stims, Fidgets & Self-Regulation

Dress Code

Donations to PAFNW (Pacific Association of First Nations Women):