From Startup Walks to TechWalk

Brooklyn TechWalk

Walking meetings. I started doing these about 15 years ago at a tech startup. Organizing lunchtime walks around our office complex as a way to escape our desks and grab some fresh air. I hadn't given them much thought since then, until recently.

Last week I sat in on a Toastmasters club meeting. One of the speakers' topics was walking meetings. He shared a few things about them that made a lot of sense. 

​These include:

• Chemistry: moving our bodies at the same time and same pace gets us in sync physically. This side–by-side movement can feel collaborative.
• Eye contact makes some people uncomfortable. Or they have a hard time concentrating on the conversation and making eye contact. It’s usually a good idea to watch where you’re going. That means you need to look at the path in front of you. And that means less eye contact with your walking partner.

One of the best parts about walking meetings is the ideas generated. Walking outside is energizing and that carries into the conversation. 

Full circle, I actually heard about this particular Toastmasters meeting from someone I met at a networking walk. There are networking walks happening in cities across the globe. They are structured and for people who work in or are interested in tech. 

TechWalk was founded by Christine Farrier Rosemin in 2023. This community of tech and SaaS pros meet regularly for outdoor networking. Each walk gives guests the opportunity to meet several people. During the hour-long walk, we have 10-15 minute conversations and then stop to chat with someone else. This low-pressure setting allows real connections to form. 

Christine, an accounting industry growth partner and B2B marketing leader, has a vision for these walks to feel inclusive, intentional, and accessible. TechWalk boasts some pretty impressive stats, especially for being just a few years old. 

• 15,000+ registrations
• 500+ events
• 67% repeat attendees

Product and UX Designer, Lauren McLean and I jumped at the opportunity when we heard there were openings for Co-Directors of the Brooklyn chapter. I’ve always loved meeting people, so this role combining monthly networking with real tech conversations was a no-brainer.

Our next walk is coming up on Saturday, May 30th. The theme is AdTech and we’ve got two industry pros joining us as co-hosts. 

Danny Stedman is the founder of Brooklyn Magazine. He built a tech org in Education (writing instruction for K-8). Now he’s a B2B marketer, leading AccountCast - it's CTV for B2B - Finally!

When asked what advice he’d provide to someone who wants a role like his someday, he said “This is a great time to be building everything (new products, new systems, etc) and learning. AI is changing everyone's role, and everyone is upside down, so it's a great time to step up to bat.”

His perspective on the energy of this moment is exactly the kind of real conversation that happens during our walks. 

Marybeth Tassinari is a creative marketing strategist and small business coach. She specializes in helping service-based businesses acquire and retain ideal customers and build a powerful, recognizable brand. She founded Mb Marketing after more than a decade of experience in corporate marketing and communications where she led a global marketing team for a $1B business and worked with executives at Fortune 100 companies.

When asked about her approach to networking, Marybeth says “I embrace all opportunities to meet people, and I never go for a hard sell. I like to make relationships organically and know that they may or may not lead to future opportunities. I have been part of a women's triathlon group for years and when I left corporate to start my own business, I have been asked by multiple members to support their, or their family's, endeavors.”

If you’re in the NYC area, you won’t want to miss this! Register now on Luma. ​🌳