From Attendee to Influencer: Using Events to Build Your Hospitality Career

In hospitality, careers are built through people. The leaders who advance are the ones who get in the room, build real relationships, and stay connected over time. In this episode of the LEAD Podcast, hosts Matt Rolfe and Amy Hom sit down with Lauren Selman of the International Food and Beverage Technology Association to break down how networking and industry events drive professional growth. Lauren works as a connector across the food and beverage industry, occupying a neutral position that lets her link operators, suppliers, and emerging leaders who would otherwise never cross paths. She shares the practical side of getting started, from finding events and using LinkedIn to preparing before you walk through the door. The conversation is honest about the discomfort of networking. Matt admits he finds rooms of peers harder than any stage, and Lauren reframes the work as building confidence rather than collecting contacts. She explains why authenticity opens doors, why transactional behavior fails in this industry, and why small talk is often where the most valuable connections begin. This episode gives emerging leaders a clear path: commit to attending, prepare with intention, show up as yourself, and treat every interaction as a relationship rather than a transaction. The payoff is a community that supports your career and your life well beyond any single event. ✅ What You'll Learn: ✨ How to find industry events and why LinkedIn has become the new business card ✨ Why networking is a confidence skill you can build, not a personality trait you are born with ✨ How to prepare for an event so you walk in with a clear purpose and plan ✨ Why authentic, non-transactional connection wins in the hospitality industry ✨ How small talk and consistency turn first meetings into lasting relationships ✨ How to approach senior leaders by remembering they are human and often want connection too ✨ Why a strong professional community becomes a source of support inside and outside of work 🙌 This episode is for: 🔥 Leaders who want to grow their influence through relationships and industry presence 👥 Operators and managers who feel uncomfortable or unsure at networking events 💡 Emerging leaders looking to access events and build a professional network from scratch 🌱 Anyone who wants to turn industry connections into a lasting community and career advantage