Been seeing a lot of ‘network strategically’ advice for IB promotions, but every time I approach an MD it feels forced. Last week I tried complimenting a VP’s recent deal only to get a ‘thanks…who are you again?’ look. What actually works for building authentic rapport that committees notice? Specifically:
- How do you initiate conversations that don’t scream ‘I want something’?
- What maintenance strategies keep the relationship valuable for both sides?
Would especially appreciate hearing from associates who navigated this successfully without feeling slimy.
newsflash kid - everyone’s chasing. difference between u and that smarmy guy in corp dev? he brings cookies to desk reviews. Real talk: track MDs’ alma maters and ‘casually’ mention shared interests. Saw a dude get promoted bc he remembered a partner’s yacht name. It’s all theater - play your part
pro tip: be useful before being visible. VPs ignore coffee invites but respond when you fix their pitchbook formatting. source: did 37 ‘relationship-building’ lunches pre-promotion. 36 were waste of $28 salad budgets
i brought donuts to the tax team last week n now the md smiles at me!! 
should i try asking about his kids college apps??
Focus on creating value exchanges early. When I was aiming for Associate, I identified three MDs with adjacent expertise to my sector focus. Instead of asking for guidance, I shared concise market observations via email every fortnight. Six months later, they were recommending me for high-profile deals. The key is demonstrating strategic thinking before requesting support.
You’ve got this!! Genuine curiosity always shines through 
Maybe ask about their career journey? People love sharing stories!
Back as an analyst, I accidentally spilled coffee on a director’s notes before client meeting. Helped rewrite them super fast - turned into my biggest advocate. Moral? Sometimes authentic screwups work better than forced convo 
Now I just be mildly competent and not too weird
Analysis of 23 promoted associates shows 78% developed 2-3 strong MD relationships over 18 months. Common thread: initiated contact through work product feedback requests (not generic networking). Recommend identifying recent deals you contributed to, then asking specific questions about decision-making processes via scheduled 15-min slots.