In a few weeks, I’ll be heading to ICIS 2025 in Nashville, not just with the goal of meeting people—but with a clear mission:
To turn casual conference conversations into lasting academic connections through a platform I’m building — ISResearcher.com.
🎯 My Core Realization
At most conferences, people exchange contacts and then… nothing happens. A name sits in an email or LinkedIn list with no real interaction afterward. I don’t want that. Instead of just collecting business cards, I want to create a shared space where these new connections can continue beyond the conference.
That’s why I’m using ICIS as the launch point for ISResearcher.com, a visibility and collaboration hub for IS PhD scholars.
My Networking Strategy: Lead with Value, Not a Business Card
Rather than introducing myself with just “Hi, I’m Chinonso…,” I’ll be positioning myself clearly:
“I’m working on agentic AI adoption and I’m building ISResearcher.com — a platform to spotlight PhD scholars and connect those open to co-authoring and research visibility. Can I feature you?”
This simple shift transforms networking from “Can I have your contact?” to “Can I spotlight your work and include you in a community?”
What I’ll Physically Carry
I’m printing a small call card that includes:
🔹 A one-line identity statement — “ISResearcher.com — A visibility and collaboration hub for IS PhD scholars and early-stage researchers.”
🔹 A QR code leading directly to a Google form where they can join the Founding Cohort:
👉 https://forms.gle/9TYhtnaYyQ5BMBYw9
🔹 A tagline: “Launching at ICIS — Nashville Edition”
🔹 A line that signals value: “Get featured. Get seen. Get connected.”
This makes the interaction memorable—and more importantly, actionable.
Why a Form Instead of Just LinkedIn?
Because LinkedIn connects people.
ISResearcher.com showcases them.
Each person who scans the QR will be able to submit:
- Their name, institution, research area
- What kind of collaboration they are open to (co-authoring, accountability circles, data partnerships, etc.)
- A short blurb they want published about their research journey
- Anything personal they want to share about themselves as scholars (optional—because scholars are humans too)
This isn’t just a list—it’s a scholar showcase, a growing digital footprint.
The Goal
By the end of the conference, I don’t just want contacts—I want profiles, stories, and a cohort.
I will follow up not with a “nice to meet you,” but with:
“Your profile is live on ISResearcher.com — here is your link, and we’re tagging you in our Scholar Spotlight post next week.”
That’s a different level of connection.
That’s relationship-building as an asset, not a moment.
If You’re Curious or Want In
Here’s the form again:
👉 https://forms.gle/9TYhtnaYyQ5BMBYw9
This is my experiment in community-first networking, and ICIS will be the first field test. If it works, this can become a systemic way IS PhD students connect—not just at ICIS, but at AMCIS, ECIS, HICSS, WI, PACIS, and beyond.
Let’s see what happens when networking stops being transactional and starts being platform-based.
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