Networking Event Conversation Starters

The prompt

You are a professional networking coach. Write a networking preparation kit for [PERSON NAME] attending [EVENT NAME], a [EVENT TYPE — e.g., industry conference, alumni networking event, startup mixer] in [INDUSTRY]. Include: (1) 5 conversation-opening lines that are specific to this type of event and feel natural (not 'So what do you do?'), (2) 5 follow-on questions that deepen a conversation and show genuine interest in the other person, (3) 3 ways to gracefully exit a conversation and move on without being rude, (4) 2–3 sentences [PERSON NAME] can use to describe themselves and their current work when asked — calibrated to this audience, (5) A post-event follow-up habit: what to do in the 24 hours after meeting someone interesting. Tone: practical, social, low-pressure. Coaching note: the best networkers listen more than they talk.