Sheri Kasnik and Cynthia Durand-Smith
Connecting people with people
CYNTHIA DURAND-SMITH AND SHERI KASNIK
Evening mixers are fantastic fun, but sometimes people are tied up after work or they prefer more formal ways of making friends. For Sheri Kasnik and Cynthia Durand-Smith, the best time to network is before the day begins.
Kasnik, cash management advisor at Island Savings, and Durand-Smith, Vancouver Island director for the BC Cancer Foundation, met over breakfast. More specifically, at a Chamber Member Networking Breakfast — one of the many opportunities The Chamber hosts to keep the business community connected.
“It’s excellent, it works,” says Kasnik, who spends her day building relationships with people in the business community. “I was looking for a way to meet as many people as possible.”
Networking breakfasts steal a page from speed-dating’s playbook by taking the preamble of schmoozing out of the equation. These a.m. events offer a chance for business people to give their elevator pitch, and listen to other people around the table give theirs. A time limit ensures everyone gets a chance to speak, and a set rotation means everyone in the room is guaranteed to meet. Oh, and it comes with breakfast.
“It’s a good opportunity to build a relationship,” Kasnik says. “You can connect people with other people, which is part of what my job is — connecting people.”
At one of the breakfasts, Kasnik discovered Durand-Smith and the women immediately saw the mutual benefits of getting to know each other.
Durand-Smith was able to show decision-makers at Island Savings some of the cutting-edge research at BC Cancer.
“The work being done here is mind blowing. How wonderful to know it’s happening on our very island. We don’t throw around the words world-class often — this is world class,” Durand-Smith says.
As an organization that survives on the generosity of others, making connections with businesses is key to being able to thrive and continue the foundation’s ground-breaking work.
“This is the beginning of a long-standing relationship,” Durand-Smith says. “I find this Chamber is very informative, even just reading BizNews for details of upcoming events and news about local businesses.”
Kasnik agrees, adding she uses The Chamber’s calendar of events as a foundation for planning her schedule.
She likes the variety of opportunities to connect, and the calibre of seminars and speakers who want to talk directly to Greater Victoria’s business community.
“We are attracting some very powerful people and I think we deserve that.”
Kasnik, cash management advisor at Island Savings, and Durand-Smith, Vancouver Island director for the BC Cancer Foundation, met over breakfast. More specifically, at a Chamber Member Networking Breakfast — one of the many opportunities The Chamber hosts to keep the business community connected.
“It’s excellent, it works,” says Kasnik, who spends her day building relationships with people in the business community. “I was looking for a way to meet as many people as possible.”
Networking breakfasts steal a page from speed-dating’s playbook by taking the preamble of schmoozing out of the equation. These a.m. events offer a chance for business people to give their elevator pitch, and listen to other people around the table give theirs. A time limit ensures everyone gets a chance to speak, and a set rotation means everyone in the room is guaranteed to meet. Oh, and it comes with breakfast.
“It’s a good opportunity to build a relationship,” Kasnik says. “You can connect people with other people, which is part of what my job is — connecting people.”
At one of the breakfasts, Kasnik discovered Durand-Smith and the women immediately saw the mutual benefits of getting to know each other.
Durand-Smith was able to show decision-makers at Island Savings some of the cutting-edge research at BC Cancer.
“The work being done here is mind blowing. How wonderful to know it’s happening on our very island. We don’t throw around the words world-class often — this is world class,” Durand-Smith says.
As an organization that survives on the generosity of others, making connections with businesses is key to being able to thrive and continue the foundation’s ground-breaking work.
“This is the beginning of a long-standing relationship,” Durand-Smith says. “I find this Chamber is very informative, even just reading BizNews for details of upcoming events and news about local businesses.”
Kasnik agrees, adding she uses The Chamber’s calendar of events as a foundation for planning her schedule.
She likes the variety of opportunities to connect, and the calibre of seminars and speakers who want to talk directly to Greater Victoria’s business community.
“We are attracting some very powerful people and I think we deserve that.”
Read the stories about how these Chamber members met
Getting results often means knowing who can help you get things done. READ DARLENE AND SHAUN'S STORY HERE 
How did the Chamber help develop the boardroom skills of two prominent business people? READ JOHN AND RAHIM'S STORY HERE 
A new generation of leaders sharing innovation and energy to inspire positive change. READ JARED AND BRIANNA'S STORY HERE 
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Find out how certain business truths connected two members of the Chamber. READ FRANK AND STEPHEN'S STORY HERE 
Neighbours with a long history and strong cultures learn how they can better help each other READ CHRISTINA AND JASON'S STORY HERE |
