Growing your social captial

1) Who they are and what their background is.

Angelica Suarez Trujillo - created a non-profit organization at the age of 19 and it is still running today (did not ask her current age but assume the mid to late 30s).

Robert Decicco- has an autistic son, late 20's.

Linda Ann- works in the tourism government in Sarasota County - corresponds with parks and recreation, she is in the early '60s.


2) Which 'slot' you are filling with each person (i.e., domain expert, market expert, supplier), and how the person fills the spot.

I would fill Angelica with the domain expert because she knows the ins and outs of how to run a non-profit and will help us raise money for the creation of the park.

I would fill Robert into the market expert because he has an autistic son and can understand the needs of the customer.

I would fill in Linda as the supplier because she works closely in her local government with the creation of parks.

3) A description of how you found the person and contacted the person.

I met Angelica through Santa Fe College when I was a Student Ambassador and contacted her when I found the product I wanted to create for this class.

Robert was my babysitter growing up and I messaged him on Instagram.

Linda is one of my mom's friends and I contacted her through my mom.

4) The nature of the exchange you have with the person -- what favor did they do for you? What is the return expectation?

For all people that I interviewed, I merely asked them questions about what they think would be best for my product. There was no expectation of returning the favor. They asked me to let them know how this class goes. Hope it goes well!

5) How will including this person in your network enhance your ability to exploit an opportunity?

Referencing back to the book I just completed reading, Innovation and Entrepreneurship by Peter Drucker, I realized that I needed to get advice from different people and also put myself into the customer's shoes. I believe that the people that I have interviewed will give me that perspective I am looking for.

I have networked a few times before but with people that I didn't know. This time, I networked with people who knew me growing up or at least a few years ago. It was nice talking to them about their passions and connect on issues that are important to them.