How To Build a Lasting MBA Network

If you spend enough time on campus, you start to realize business school isn’t a place so much as a network in motion. It moves through classrooms, coffee chats and long nights of group work. The peers sitting next to you in class, the alumni a few years ahead of you and the professionals you meet through events and internships — all of these people and moments form the network that will shape your career long after graduation.

Networking has a reputation for being transactional, but it’s really about curiosity — about paying attention to people and what they care about. The good news is, you can practice that every day. 

Here are some tips to keep in mind.

1. Lead With Presence

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Janet Moore, senior lecturer and director of the Rice Business communication program, says that effective networking begins with how you show up. Preparation, attention and respect all communicate confidence.

“Confidence, not arrogance, is a key element of executive presence. Effective networkers exude executive presence while also communicating interest in others,” she says. “People remember how you make them feel — so focus on listening as much as you speak.”

That means preparing before events, asking thoughtful questions and showing genuine interest in others’ experiences. Presence also includes nonverbal cues — eye contact, posture, dress — that signal confidence and approachability.
 

2. Be Curious

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Jessica Campbell, executive director of the Career Development Office at Rice Business, encourages MBA students to think of networking as exploration, not extraction.

“People can tell when you’re reaching out for a transaction instead of a connection,” says Campbell. “Start by learning someone’s story and finding common ground. Trust grows when you lead with curiosity, not a request.”

Instead of asking, “Can you help me get a job?” Campbell suggests asking questions like “What do you enjoy most about your role?” or “What skills helped you succeed in your industry?” Curiosity opens doors that self-interest can close.

3. Diversify Your Connections

It’s easy to gravitate toward classmates or colleagues who share your background, interests or career goals. But your most valuable connections often come from unexpected places.

Join a club outside your comfort zone, attend a conference in a different field or volunteer for a cross-functional project. These experiences expand not only your network but also your perspective.

4. Follow Up — and Stay in Touch

The real work of networking happens after the first meeting. Send a short thank-you email, share an article related to a conversation you had, or simply check in periodically. Relationships deepen over time through small, consistent gestures of interest and respect.

“The conversation shouldn’t end when you walk out of the room,” Moore says. “A thoughtful follow-up shows that you valued the interaction — and gives you a chance to start building a relationship.”

5. Remember: Networking Is a Long Game

Your network doesn’t end when you graduate — it evolves with you. Stay curious, keep showing up, and you’ll find that the best connections are the ones that grow alongside your career.

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As Campbell notes, “The connections you make now may pay off years later. Listen, show respect, and invest in relationships over time, and you’ll build social capital that will carry you through every stage of your career.”

The MBA experience is one of the few times in your career when you’re surrounded by hundreds of ambitious, curious people who want to help each other grow. Show up with confidence, stay curious and play the long game — and you’ll leave business school with more than a degree. You’ll leave with a network that lasts a lifetime.
 

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