Part A: The Open-Ended Question Bank

Conversation Starters That Work

For First Meetings:

• "What brought you to [industry/event/company]?"
• "What's the most exciting project you're working on?"
• "What trends are you seeing in your industry?"
• "How did you get started in [their field]?"
• "What's been surprising about [recent change/trend]?"

For Deepening Connections:

• "What's the biggest challenge you're facing right now?"
• "How do you see [industry] evolving?"
• "What would need to happen for you to 10x your business?"
• "Who else should I be talking to about this?"
• "What's one thing you wish more people understood about your work?"

For Creating Opportunities:

• "What would make this project a massive success for you?"
• "What resources do you need that you don't have?"
• "How can I help you achieve [their stated goal]?"
• "Who in my network would be valuable for you to know?"
• "What's preventing you from moving forward?"