Ted Jordan From Outsider To Ally - Cultivating A Network to Advance Your Career
Ted Jordan spent 24 years at Microsoft as a global program and account manager before becoming a consultant, professional speaker, and guest lecturer at UW Foster School of Business. His talk — From Outsider to Ally — reframes how we think about networking: less about tactics, more about making the other person feel seen.
In this conversation, Ted shares the specific approaches he used to build relationships inside one of the world's most complex organizations — and what he teaches MBA students about doing the same.
What we cover
- The subject line that gets a response every time
- Why curiosity is more valuable than a great question list
- How to turn a single conversation into an ongoing relationship
- The unsolicited message that makes you unforgettable to a hiring manager
- What new interns and first-year employees consistently get wrong
- Why your network becomes your sales force when you're in transition
- How Ted got his job at Microsoft — from a lunch invite and a three-word email
Key takeaways
- Signal that you see someone as an expert — before you ask for anything
- Follow the thread, not your script
- Close the loop: act on advice, then report back
- Your immediate colleagues are your most underused network
- Depth beats breadth — stay long enough to become indispensable
Connect with Ted LinkedIn — Ted Jordan or visit TedJordanTalks.com to learn more about Ted.
Conversations on Careers and Professional Life is hosted by Gregory Heller, career coach and communication instructor at UW Foster School of Business.
