Ilde needs no introduction.
Say Ilde and you’re saying Networking, Contacts, Events, Thursday, Ham, Wine, Friends, Fun, Camaraderie and much more…
These are the main labels that define him. He’s a real box of surprises, and a great person too.
I met Ilde, as his friends call him, or Ildefonso Mayorgas Quintana, when, as it could hardly have been otherwise, I took the plunge into social networks, specifically XING. My boss encouraged me to join XING and, while looking for events, up popped “THURSDAY” – what a discovery!!!!
It was held at the CEOE on Diego de León, with the room packed to the rafters. Why? Because at his Thursday, Ilde always has the best speakers, the top experts in new technologies and the internet. On that occasion the speaker was Ismael El-Qudsi, another star I’ve followed ever since. Also there was another Thursday, events and networking regular, Wilhem Lappe.
Ilde is networking in its purest form. Below is the definition of networking he gave me for my book El poder del Networking (“The Power of Networking”):
A poem:
What is networking? you ask as we swap business cards and shake hands.
What is networking? And you ask me that?
Networking… is you.
Networking: Compadraje (camaraderie), according to the Dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy: a union of people to help each other
Networking: Making it easier for the supply and demand of products, services or relationships to meet among the members of a network.
Networking: Giving first so as to receive later
Networking: “You need friends, even in hell”
Networking: Asking yourself how you can help your contacts, so that they naturally help you in return, adding efficiency and value to the network.
The guy is good, no doubt about it…
Why do I consider him a great networker?
- He’s a down-to-earth, approachable guy
- He never lacks a sense of humour
- He’s always looking for ways to help you
- He’s generous
- He looks after his network well
- He doesn’t hesitate for a second to connect you with his network
- He has resources for everything
- He’s creative with the format of his events
- He’s a master of social networks
For all these reasons and more, ever since I met him I’ve tried to help him however I can, especially with his super event “Thursday”, or Last Jueves, the longest-running networking event in Spain.
Ilde is a pioneer, always inviting the best speakers to his event – the most original, the most authentic, the big shots in the sector such as Sebas Muriel or Antonio González Barros – and sometimes the attendees themselves are the speakers, at the now traditional Jam On Sessions (a play on “jamón”: ham, wine and open conversation from everyone) Watch this video.
If you’re a friend of Ilde’s, your network will grow exponentially, and with very good people too. Thanks to him I’m friends and have an excellent relationship with professionals I was a fan of when I met them at his events. Here’s the list…
- Sebas Muriel. Needs no introduction: work hard, party hard
- Jaime Estévez. CEO of Agora News, a must at any event so that it reaches the world through his streaming
- Antonio Fumero. Researcher at the UPM, partner at Win Win, a unique, fun and intelligent character
- Oscar Espiritusanto. From Periodismo ciudadano (Citizen Journalism). Well, being friends with the Holy Spirit is priceless 😉
- Jan Hinrichs. CEO of Beluga linguistics and IBotanika. The pioneer of XING networking events in Madrid
- Miki Saiz. Director of 5ª Avenida, always with his camera to capture the precious Thursdays
- Yolanda Rueda. President of the Cibervoluntarios foundation and a super entrepreneur
- Maria Criado. From Accenture and founding partner of Dotware TI
- Tommy Pelluz. From E-magister and co-founder of Qapacity, but above all we envy him for being a fashion photographer
- Mari Trini Giner. Cyberwoman, cyberjournalist, cybervolunteer and cyberfun – that’s Mari Trini
Not everyone who deserves to be here is listed, but everyone listed deserves to be here.
If you’re looking for a superconnector, a guide, a sherpa, Ilde is your man.
Happy Networking!