Andy Lopata is a specialist speaker on professional relationships, mentoring, networking, and social media strategy. He is a firm believer that professional relationships underpin our success in business, our roles, and our careers. The right relationships with the right people can lead to new business opportunities, investment, collaborative working, Innovation, and career progress. We just need to be comfortable approaching those relationships strategically, without making people feel ‘networked’ by us.
Andy has worked in the field of networking and professional relationships for 25 years, working with global giants such as Paypal, GSK, AstraZeneca, Wella, HSBC, Wembley Stadium, the BBC, and the Prime Minister’s Office of the UAE, among many others during that time. He has also worked with leading universities including NYU, Duke University, and Oxford University’s Said Business School.
A regular blogger for Psychology Today, Andy has been quoted in The Sunday Times, The Financial Times, and The Guardian, as well as many other national and regional newspapers and magazines worldwide. He has written or co-authored six books on networking and professional relationships, with his sixth book, "The Financial Times Guide to Mentoring," being published in Spring 2024. He is also the host of The Connected Leadership Podcast and has interviewed globally recognized names in business, academia, sports, and Entertainment for the show.
Andy has been inducted into the PSAE Hall of Fame – the Professional Speaking Association Award of Excellence, which was held by only 21 other speakers at the time it was presented. He is a Fellow and a former President of the Fellows’ Community of the Professional Speaking Association (PSA), a Fellow of the Learning and Performance Institute (LPI), and a Member of the Association of Business Mentors and the Meetings Industry Association.
Recent Content
This episode of Connected Leadership Bytes features a revisit of Andy's conversation with Melva Lajoy Legrand, a leading event planner. Andy and Melva discuss the art of creating authentic connection…
This episode of Conn…
This episode of Connected Leadership Bytes features a revisit of Andy's conversation with Melva Lajoy Legrand, a leading event planner. Andy and Melva discuss the art of creating authentic connections, not just at large-scale events but also within teams and with individual relationships. Melva emphasises the importance of designing experiences that make people feel seen, valued, and heard. She shares practical strategies for event organisers, including using icebreakers that encourage storytelling, and creating spaces catering to diverse personality types (introverts and extroverts).The conv…
In this episode of Connected Leadership Bytes, Lisa Fane, CEO of the Center for Mentoring Excellence, and her colleague Michelle Hancock interview Andy Lopata. They discuss the importance of professio…
In this episode of C…
In this episode of Connected Leadership Bytes, Lisa Fane, CEO of the Center for Mentoring Excellence, and her colleague Michelle Hancock interview Andy Lopata. They discuss the importance of professional relationships, networking, and mentoring. Focusing on building authentic connections, understanding the difference between networking and professional relationships, and the concept of a personal board of advisors. Andy shares strategies for maintaining professional networks, the role of vulnerability in mentorship and the impact of remote work on mentoring and professional relationships. He e…
In this month’s premiere episode of the Connected Leadership Podcast, Andy Lopata interviews David Avrin. David is one of the most in-demand Customer Experience speakers and consultants in the worl…
In this month’s pr…
In this month’s premiere episode of the Connected Leadership Podcast, Andy Lopata interviews David Avrin. David is one of the most in-demand Customer Experience speakers and consultants in the world today, He has shared his content-rich, entertaining and actionable presentations with enthusiastic audiences across North America and in 24 countries around the world. David helps organisations better understand and connect with their customers and clients to help future-proof their businesses. David's insights have been featured on thousands of media outlets around the world. He is also the au…
Approaches to mentoring need to be more considered, responding to the needs and expectations of individual mentees rather than taking a catch-all approach.
Approaches to mentor…
Approaches to mentoring need to be more considered, responding to the needs and expectations of individual mentees rather than taking a catch-all approach.
In this episode of the Connected Leadership Bytes, we feature Andy Lopata’s guest interview on the Authority Podcast with Ross Romano. Andy is a specialist speaker on professional relationships and …
In this episode of t…
In this episode of the Connected Leadership Bytes, we feature Andy Lopata’s guest interview on the Authority Podcast with Ross Romano. Andy is a specialist speaker on professional relationships and co-author with Dr Ruth Gotian, of the Financial Times Guide to Mentoring.Mentoring in its various forms and benefits for both mentors and mentees is discussed. Andy explains that mentoring isn't just a hierarchical senior-junior relationship; it can be reverse mentoring (junior mentoring senior), peer-to-peer and formal/informal approaches. He emphasises the importance of having a "mentoring team…
This week, Connected Leadership Bytes dives into a conversation with Paul McGee, author and speaker known for his book “SUMO (Shut Up, Move On) and his latest release “The Happiness Revolution”.…
This week, Connected…
This week, Connected Leadership Bytes dives into a conversation with Paul McGee, author and speaker known for his book “SUMO (Shut Up, Move On) and his latest release “The Happiness Revolution”. Andy and Paul explore the complexities of happiness in a world filled with technological advancements and social media pressures.Paul emphasises that happiness is not a destination but a byproduct of living life well, embracing challenges, and fostering meaningful connections. He highlights the importance of embracing a holistic approach to well-being, taking care of our physical, mental, and emo…
Get ready to raise a glass... of sparkling water! In this episode of Connected Leadership Bytes, Andy Lopata revisits his episode with Janey Lee Grace, a familiar voice from BBC Radio 2 and a passiona…
Get ready to raise a…
Get ready to raise a glass... of sparkling water! In this episode of Connected Leadership Bytes, Andy Lopata revisits his episode with Janey Lee Grace, a familiar voice from BBC Radio 2 and a passionate advocate for alcohol-free living.Janey shares her personal journey from pop star to radio presenter, revealing how she navigated a world obsessed with alcohol and ultimately decided to embrace a sober Lifestyle. She discusses how alcohol is deeply ingrained in our culture, and the challenges of politely declining a drink without feeling like you're missing out.Janey and Andy discuss the crucial…
Allow other people to help you find that dream role. You likely have the support you need around you but need to get out of your own way.
Allow other people t…
Allow other people to help you find that dream role. You likely have the support you need around you but need to get out of your own way.
In this episode of the Connected Leadership Podcast, host Andy Lopata welcomes Nathan Farrugia, leader of the Vistage Group. Nathan is an experienced business coach with more than 20 years’ experien…
In this episode of t…
In this episode of the Connected Leadership Podcast, host Andy Lopata welcomes Nathan Farrugia, leader of the Vistage Group. Nathan is an experienced business coach with more than 20 years’ experience across Technology, construction, healthcare, Education, and hospitality, as well as a TEDx speaker, philanthropist and record-breaking adventurer. Nathan's impressive resume includes setting a world record for running 27 marathons in 27 countries in 27 days.Andy and Nathan examine the art of asking tough questions, a skill vital for leaders. Nathan believes many leaders, particularly those grap…
This episode of Connected Leadership Bytes examines the concept of lateral mentoring, a powerful yet often overlooked form of support. Deborah Heiser, PhD, founder of The Mentor Project, introduces th…
This episode of Conn…
This episode of Connected Leadership Bytes examines the concept of lateral mentoring, a powerful yet often overlooked form of support. Deborah Heiser, PhD, founder of The Mentor Project, introduces the idea that mentoring doesn't always have to be hierarchical. It can be a dynamic exchange of knowledge and experience between peers, even those in different departments or industries.Deborah emphasises the importance of embracing vulnerability and asking for help, even from unexpected sources. She shares real-life examples of how individuals have leveraged lateral mentoring to achieve breakthroug…
In this episode of Connected Leadership Bytes, Andy Lopata revisits his interview featuring Chelsey Baker, founder of National Mentoring Day. Andy and Chelsey discuss the importance of mentoring and t…
In this episode of C…
In this episode of Connected Leadership Bytes, Andy Lopata revisits his interview featuring Chelsey Baker, founder of National Mentoring Day. Andy and Chelsey discuss the importance of mentoring and the difference between mentoring and Coaching, pointing out that mentoring is about providing answers and sharing expertise, while coaching focuses on specific skills and goals.They explore the benefits of mentoring across all levels, from startups and young entrepreneurs to C-suite executives and students. Chelsey highlights the essential role mentoring plays in fostering confidence, connectedness…
This episode of Connected Leadership Bytes, originally featured as a guest interview on the Kwame Christian podcast "Negotiate Anything," features Andy Lopata, professional relationship strategist, au…
This episode of Conn…
This episode of Connected Leadership Bytes, originally featured as a guest interview on the Kwame Christian podcast "Negotiate Anything," features Andy Lopata, professional relationship strategist, author of "The Financial Times Guide to Mentoring," and host of the Connected Leadership" podcast. Andy shares his insights on the importance of building and leveraging professional relationships, and particularly the role of mentoring.Andy argues that building a strong network of mentors is essential for career Growth, citing research that shows performance accounts for only 10% of promotion decisi…
In this episode of the Connected Leadership podcast Andy Lopata features Derrick Noble. Dr. Derrick has spent the past two decades helping business leaders elevate their leadership and communication s…
In this episode of t…
In this episode of the Connected Leadership podcast Andy Lopata features Derrick Noble. Dr. Derrick has spent the past two decades helping business leaders elevate their leadership and communication skills. Overcoming a severe stutter and speech impediment in his youth, Derrick defied the odds to become an award-winning keynote speaker, two-time TEDx speaker, speech coach, and trainer. Known for his humor, he often says, "At first, I couldn’t talk, and now they can’t shut me up!" He works with leaders from various sectors, including business, non-profits, and government agencies, with clie…
Three key relationships can help you deal with workplace saboteurs, the people who get in the way of your success.
Three key relationsh…
Three key relationships can help you deal with workplace saboteurs, the people who get in the way of your success.
Andy Lopata recalls his conversation with workplace communication expert Antoni Licanai In this episode of the Connected Leadership Bytes. They examine the concept of how internal workplace culture in…
Andy Lopata recalls …
Andy Lopata recalls his conversation with workplace communication expert Antoni Licanai In this episode of the Connected Leadership Bytes. They examine the concept of how internal workplace culture influences external engagement, with Antoni arguing that treating colleagues poorly leads to poorer customer service.Antoni argues that the responsibility for fostering a positive workplace culture lies with leadership. He shares several examples of how poor leadership created toxic environments that negatively impacted employee engagement and, subsequently, customer service.Andy and Antoni discuss …
In this episode of the Connected Leadership Bytes, Andy Lopata revisits his interviews with Todd Cherches, an academic from New York who specialises in visual leadership. They discuss the concept of v…
In this episode of t…
In this episode of the Connected Leadership Bytes, Andy Lopata revisits his interviews with Todd Cherches, an academic from New York who specialises in visual leadership. They discuss the concept of visual leadership, exploring how it goes beyond simply incorporating pictures into presentations. Cherches argues that visual leadership is about how we see the world and how that shapes our vision as leaders. He emphasises the importance of diversity and inclusion in shaping our vision, highlighting that different perspectives can lead to more innovative solutions.Andy and Todd look at the power o…
In this episode of the Connected Leadership Bytes, Andy Lopata revisits his interview with Renee Lee Rosenberg, a talent development coach, trainer and international speaker. They discuss the challeng…
In this episode of t…
In this episode of the Connected Leadership Bytes, Andy Lopata revisits his interview with Renee Lee Rosenberg, a talent development coach, trainer and international speaker. They discuss the challenges and opportunities of navigating a multi-generational workforce. Andy and Renee explore the characteristics of five distinct generations: the Silent Generation, Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z, highlighting their differences in values, communication styles, and expectations.Renee shares anecdotes from her own experiences to illustrate the challenges of bridging these generational div…
In this episode of the Connected Leadership Bytes, Andy Lopata revisits his conversation with Bruce Y Lee, a writer, journalist, and professor whose ability to communicate complex scientific ideas in …
In this episode of t…
In this episode of the Connected Leadership Bytes, Andy Lopata revisits his conversation with Bruce Y Lee, a writer, journalist, and professor whose ability to communicate complex scientific ideas in an engaging way is truly remarkable. They discuss the art of balancing gravitas and humor in writing, with Bruce sharing his experience of being challenged for writing about topics like vibrating Yoga pants. He argues that using humor doesn't diminish the seriousness of an issue, but rather makes it more memorable and accessible.Andy and Bruce examine Bruce's writing process and he emphasises the …