Growing Your Social Capital

After watching Dr. Pryor’s weekly update video, I realized that we should be reaching out to true experts that know a lot about their field. He explained that he doesn’t expect us to get responses before the assignment due date, or ever, and that helped me realize that I can reach out to bigger names for this assignment, with the hopes that they may one day respond, but the expectation that they will most likely not. 

Domain Expert

1. Who they are & what their background is:
1. I chose to reach out to the CEO of Apple regarding their Airpods. His name is Tim Cook. My idea is a lot like airpods and the design would greatly resemble them, as there are not many different ways to design wireless earbuds. I would basically be making one of Apple’s products, but with added features, so I thought that someone high up in Apple’s company could really help me.
2. How is this person a “domain expert”:
1. Tim Cook obviously knows a lot about Apple products as the CEO. It is obvious that to get to the place that he is now, he had to learn a lot about the domain and how the products are made and function. I think that Tim Cook was the perfect person to contact for the domain expert. Anyone that high up in the “Apple world” is obviously a professional and expert in their department.
3. How I found and contacted this person:
1. I automatically thought of Apple in order to reach out to a domain expert. I searched “contact Apple CEO” on the internet and ended up finding Tim Cook’s work email. It was so easy to the point where I’m sure he gets so many emails each day. 
4. Nature of exchange- What they did for me & what is the return expectation:
1. I sent Time Cook an email explaining my product idea with part of my pitch included. I also described that I would be creating something similar to airpods, so I thought he could have great advice. I am awaiting a response, but also not truly expecting it. The email included the information to write me back if he ever saw my message. 
5. How will including them enhance my ability to exploit an opportunity:
1. Reaching out to my biggest competitor will hopefully affect my understanding of the product and what I need to do to make it successful; Not necessarily in sales, but to better the design, quality and features. If I were to get a response from Cook, I would have a lot more insight as to how to make the best product. I am aware that he will most likely not answer me, but you never know! 

Market Expert

1. Who they are & what their background is:
1. Corie Barry is the CEO of Best Buy. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and management from the College of St. Benedict.
2. How is this person a “market expert”:
1. She knows a lot about the market of selling electronics and their accessories. Since she is in the field of work that she is in, it is obvious that she is a great person to contact to get information on my possible earbud business. 
3. How I found and contacted this person:
1. I went to the internet to find Corie Barry’s email. I had to sign up for a 3rd party website to view her email, but it was free so I didn’t mind. 
4. Nature of exchange- What they did for me & what is the return expectation:
1. I emailed her almost the same email as my other experts. I began with my business idea and part of my pitch, but instead of asking for answers and advice on design, quality and features, I instead focused more on how to get the product out there. It is convenient that she is the CEO of Best Buy because I think that Best Buy would be a great company to have contact with. If my business could branch out enough to sell its products at Best Buy, that would be great. Again, I don’t expect much in return unless she sees my email and wants to reply. I reached out to big names in order to learn more on my end, so I would understand if Barry were to never get back to me.
5. How will including them enhance my ability to exploit an opportunity:
1. There are a lot of opportunities for my business if I get acquainted with people high up in Best Buy. Best Buy is a great place for my product to be sold and I think that it would be great if I could get my foot in the door by messaging someone so important so early on in my business idea’s career. 

Industry Supplier

1. Who they are & what their background is:
1. Tim Howlett from Alpha Wire Co. The company is based out of New Jersey and it is a manufacturing company for electronic and electronic products for many needs, with one being entertainment. Alpha Wire Co. was founded in 1921 and is the second top wire and cable manufacturer in the U.S. with annual sales ranging from $100-250 million per year. 
2. How is this person an “industry supplier”:
1. Tim Howlett is the sales manager at Alpha Wire Co. He has a lot of responsibilities and with those, he has lots of knowledge and experience in his field. He is an industry supplier because he works with one of the largest companies that we could use when supplying my product, or at least parts of it.  
3. How I found and contacted this person:
1. Through the internet, I found his email. Once again, I found it on a 3rd party website and it was not that difficult. I contacted him by sending the email. 
4. Nature of exchange- What they did for me & what is the return expectation:
1. Just like my other emails to experts, I started by introducing my product and explaining some of the pitch. I think it is important for the email receiver to understand exactly what you’re talking about, and by starting with the description and pitch, this is possible. I, once again, am not expecting a reply very quickly from this expert, but I think that it is more likely to get a reply from Howlett rather than my other experts. I am hoping for the advice from Howlett and the insight as to what I need to do to produce the actual headphones with all of their features. 
5. How will including them enhance my ability to exploit an opportunity:
1. I hope to establish a relationship with someone who can truly help my business flourish. I need people to help me make my business idea into a real product because I do not know how to do wiring and all of the inside technologies of headphones. It would be great if I could be introduced to people who would join my team, or help me out, in the beginning of my business. 

Finally: Reflect. 

This assignment was very interesting. It got me thinking of how hard it would be to create my idea with just me. I really do need help and advice from others, especially experts. I think that I would receive more from this experience if they responded, so I will have to wait and see if they do! I am glad that I got to reach out to different people with great knowledge in different aspects of this possible business. I think that I could really expand my business (if it were real) to new heights with the replies that I may get. In future networking events, I would know a little more about who I would want to get acquainted with. This experience was very different from all of the interviews and interactions that I have had in the past because this experience I am not sure if I will be receiving feedback, which is a little weird. I do think this experience still helped me though, mainly in the aspect of learning more about my product and who I would contact if I were truly making it a product.