How to Build the Relationships That Build Careers, Companies, and Influence

Network Effects
Designing the Relationships That Design Careers, Companies, and Influence

***Session Format: ***Two-hour hands-on strategy workshop

Participants are encouraged to bring laptops, resumes, business plans, and real career or business challenges

Overview
In cybersecurity and technology, skills open the door, but relationships decide who gets invited inside. Roles are filled before they are posted. Deals happen through trust. Careers and companies grow faster when the right people know your name and understand your value.

This interactive two-hour workshop is designed to help participants intentionally plan and build a network that directly supports their career or business goals. Led by François Guay, Founder of the Canadian Cybersecurity Network, the session draws on real world methods used to grow Canada’s largest digital trust and cybersecurity community and a national business ecosystem from the ground up.

This is not a presentation. It is a working session.

Participants will actively map their current network, define their target outcomes, refine their personal or business positioning, and build a practical ninety-day plan to activate new relationships that lead to opportunities, clients, partnerships, and influence.

Who Should Attend

• Job seekers and early career professionals looking to break into cybersecurity or tech
• Experienced professionals aiming to accelerate their next career move
• Founders and consultants looking to generate client leads and partnerships
• Business leaders looking to expand influence and deal flow through relationships

What Participants Will Do

• Clarify a specific career or business outcome they want to achieve
• Map the people and roles that influence those outcomes
• Identify gaps and opportunities in their current network
• Refine a clear positioning statement tied to business or career value
• Draft real outreach messages to decision makers, peers, and mentors
• Build a structured ninety-day networking and relationship activation plan

What Participants Will Leave With

• A written personal or business network blueprint
• Clear messaging that explains who they are and the value they bring
• Three ready to use outreach messages
• Access to tools and activities to grow the networks they need
• A ninety-day action plan with measurable next steps
• A repeatable framework they can use throughout their career or business journey

What Makes This Session Different
Most networking sessions focus on tactics like LinkedIn tips or elevator pitches. This workshop focuses on strategy, intention, and execution. Participants learn how to turn networking into a long-term asset rather than a random activity.

By the end of the session, attendees will understand how to design a network that compounds over time and directly supports career growth, business development, and professional credibility.

Presenter: François Guay
Founder, Canadian Cybersecurity Network

François Guay is the founder of Canada’s largest digital trust and cybersecurity community, connecting tens of thousands of professionals, leaders, founders, and organizations across the country. His work focuses on building trust driven ecosystems that support careers, companies, and Canada’s digital economy.