The BISS Fellowship  /  The Art of the Intro

A Fellowship field guide

The art of the intro.

A warm introduction is one of the most valuable things the community can give you, and there's a craft to asking for one and handling it well. Here's the whole arc, stage by stage, with the exact emails, annotated line by line.

One thing before you start: industries and cultures do things differently. This guide is heavily influenced by experience in tech, and in the English-speaking professional world, where things run a little less formally. The underlying principles (be specific, be considerate, take initiative, close the loop) travel almost everywhere. Some of the surface details (how formal to be, email vs. message) may not. Read it as a strong default, not a rulebook.

The art of the intro Stage 1 of 8

Stage 1

Ask for the introduction.

You: MayaThe connector: Daniel

You ask when you spot someone who can open a door. Maybe you notice on LinkedIn that they're connected to people in a field you're chasing, or they've offered to make introductions. The first message is short and does three things: says who you are, says exactly what you're looking for, and makes one clear ask.

This can start as a LinkedIn message, but like it or not the professional world still runs on email, so it tends to move there fast.

Tap the highlighted phrases for the coaching notes.
Stage 1 of 8

Stage 2

The connector says yes.

The connector: DanielYou: Maya

A good connector will come back with something like "happy to help." They might name a few people they have in mind, or offer to go and find someone relevant. And then comes the pivotal line: they'll ask you to send them something to forward.

What does "something to forward" mean? It's a brand-new email, separate from this conversation, written so that it can be forwarded to a stranger exactly as-is. That's what you write next.

Stage 2 of 8

Stage 3

Write the email they can forward.

You: MayaThe connector: Daniel· brand-new email

Open a fresh email, not a reply. Give it a clear subject. Thank them, say who you are, say what you're looking for, and, if you can, add a short paragraph on why you're a relevant, interesting introduction. Then the connector forwards it without having to rewrite a thing.

Stage 3 of 8

Stage 4

The connector forwards, then loops you in.

The connector: DanielYou + the contact: Elena

The connector doesn't write anything new. He forwards your note straight to his contact and asks if they're open to a chat. Once the contact says yes, he replies on that same thread and adds you to Cc, handing the baton over. That's the moment his job ends and yours begins.

Stage 4 of 8

Stage 5

Take the wheel.

You: MayaThe contact: Elena· Daniel to BCC

This reply is where most of the work is won or lost. Three moves: reply first and quickly (don't wait for the contact), move the connector to BCC so they fall off the thread gracefully, and offer one or two concrete times rather than asking the other person to do the scheduling.

Stage 5 of 8

Stage 6

Follow up once, kindly.

You: MayaThe contact: Elena· about a week later

People are busy, and emails sink. If you don't hear back, a single warm follow-up after about a week is completely normal: no pressure, no guilt. It would be unusual to hear nothing after someone agreed to the intro, but it happens.

Stage 6 of 8

Stage 7

Show up as your best self.

You: MayaThe contact: Elena

Remember why this door opened: someone vouched for you. The connector is counting on you to make them look good, so when you're sharp, prepared and genuinely engaged, you're repaying their trust as much as building your own case.

Intro call · Maya & ElenaTue 14 May, 10:00–10:20 · Google Meet · invite sent by you

Bring your best to the room

  • Come prepared.Know the fund, know their background, have two or three real questions ready. Preparation is the clearest sign of respect.
  • Be curious, not transactional.Ask about their path and listen. A good conversation is worth more than a rushed pitch of yourself.
  • Be your talented, high-potential self.That's exactly why you were worth introducing: let it show, without overselling.
  • End with a clear next step.Ask what a useful follow-up might be, and whether there's anyone else they'd suggest you talk to.
Stage 7 of 8

Stage 8 · the step people skip

Close the loop.

You: MayaThe connector: Daniel

After the meeting, go back to the connector with a short note: thank them, and tell them what actually came of it. Most people never do this, which is a mistake. When someone sees that their introduction led somewhere good, they're far more likely to make the next one for you.

Stage 8 of 8

The whole arc, at a glance

Eight stages, one principle: make it easy to help you.

Your move

Now put it to work.

The Fellowship exists to make introductions like this one. Tell us who you're trying to reach, and we'll do our best to connect you with someone in the BISS community who can help.

Tell us what you need See how the community helps