Networking Activities for Professional Women's Alliance “How You Show Up” Workshop
How Do You Help New Alliance Members Meet the Group at a Workshop?
Women come to grow and build a support network, but they spend the session taking notes. They chat with the person beside them, and new members leave without meeting the alliance.
Key takeaways (6)
- ✓The main obstacles are all listening, new members on the edge, and surface small talk.
- ✓What works: a reason to walk up, real conversations, and contacts saved.
- ✓Run it once everyone has arrived and before the meal, during open networking time — not during talks.
- ✓Plan about 3–5 minutes per conversation: roughly 25–35 minutes for five conversations each.
- ✓Mix easy, observable prompts with a few questions and challenges, and write two to three times as many prompts as conversations.
- ✓Works well for women's professional workshops, women in business programs, and personal branding sessions.
The Professional Women's Alliance “How You Show Up” Workshop brings together business owners, corporate professionals, new alliance members, speakers, and sponsors.
Women sit with the friend or coworker they came with, and the workshop leaves little time to meet anyone else.
A light, open game before and after the workshop helps every woman meet someone new.
How?
Give people a simple, structured reason to start conversations with someone new — short conversation prompts they complete by meeting and talking to different people — instead of leaving it to open mingling. Before the workshop, guests scan a QR code and get prompts like 'Find someone who changed how they introduce themselves this year.' They talk, scan each other's codes, and unlock the next prompt.
1. during the networking session
Introduce Jam Bingo to get attendees started.
2. Attendees scan to participate
Guests open their phone camera and scan the QR Code.
3. Everyone gets a conversation starter
Each guest receives a tailored conversation starter.
4. How to unlock the next prompt
After chatting, scan the other person's QR Code to mark the connection and unlock your next prompt.
5. Contact Exchange: share socials
(Optional) Attendees can add their LinkedIn, Email, or Website.
6. Never lose track of people met
When the event ends, every player can review all their new connections in one spot.
7. Get everyone talking naturally
Attendees approach each other, ask their prompt, and talk.
How to Run It: Networking Activities for Professional Women's Alliance “How You Show Up” Workshop
A practical guide to networking activities for professional women's alliance “how you show up” workshop: how to set up your game and what to do on the day.
- 01
Before the event checklist:
- ✓Watch how Jam Bingo works
- ✓Create your Jam Bingo and add your prompts.
- ✓Set how many people each guest should meet.
- ✓Download the QR code and add it to your slides, table tents, or printed signs.
- ✓Test scanning the QR code from the back of the room.
- ✓Check the room has phone signal or Wi-Fi.
- ✓Brief your emcee or helpers on the announcement and timing.
- ✓Decide on prizes (and who will hand them out).
Where to display the QR code
One screen or a few printed QR codes on tables is plenty. The more places people see it, the faster everyone joins. If your event has name badges, printing the QR code on the badge or agenda works well too.
✂️ Instructions for printouts or slides - 1.Scan the QR code (or enter the game code) to open the game.
- 2.Prompts appear directly on each guest's phone screen.
- 3.Guests walk around and find someone who can answer their prompt.
- 4.Scan their QR code to unlock the next prompt.
- 5.Repeat, mingle, and have fun!
- 02
Run of show (about 60 minutes)
- 1
Minute 0 — Get everyone's attention
Read the announcement below (or have your emcee read it), with the QR code already on screen. - 2
Minutes 1–5 — Everyone scans in
Guests scan the QR code and type their name. For your group size, allow about 1 minute. - 3
First prompts — People start moving
Walk the room and nudge anyone standing still: “What's your prompt? Let's find someone for it.” - 4
Around minute 30 — Halfway update
Give a quick time check and remind people to meet someone they haven't talked to yet. - 5
Minute 55 — Final call
Let everyone know they have five minutes left to unlock their last prompt. - 6
Minute 60 — Wrap up
Share the leaderboard, hand out prizes, and thank everyone for playing.
📣 What to say when you start “We're about to start Jam Bingo, a networking activity designed to help you meet and get to know each other. Scan the QR code on the screen to join. You'll receive a prompt on your phone, and your goal is to find someone who can answer it. Once you've had a conversation, scan their QR code to unlock your next prompt. Keep moving around, meet new people, and have fun!”
While it's running
- ✓Join in yourself — guests follow the host's energy.
- ✓Look for people standing alone and introduce them to someone.
- ✓If someone's camera won't scan, show them how to type in the other person's code instead.
- ✓If someone is stuck on a prompt, remind them a Skip button appears after about a minute.
The simple way to get people talking!
Jam Bingo gets people having meaningful conversations and meeting as many new people as possible.
Make It a Success
How to write good prompts, how long to run the game, how to wrap up, and what guests (and your team) will ask.
- 01
Prompts are what make the game work. A good prompt gives someone a reason to walk up to a stranger — and something to talk about once they do. Mix a few different types for chamber women's alliances, women's business groups & workshop facilitators:
Types of prompts
Questions
The easiest way in. The player asks one question and listens.
“Ask someone what three words their friends would use to describe them.”
Find someone who…
Sends people across the room looking for a match — great for mixing groups.
“Find someone who has lived in more than two cities.”
Observation prompts
Zero pressure: the player can spot the right person before saying a word.
“Find someone wearing something blue and ask about their favorite weekend activity.”
Challenges
Quick, playful actions that get laughs and lift the energy in the room.
“Challenge someone to a quick game of rock, paper, scissors.”
Deeper questions
Lead to real stories — use a few once people have warmed up.
“Ask someone about a decision that changed the direction of their career.”
Event-specific prompts
Tie the game to why people are there, so the conversations are actually useful.
“Find someone from a different team and ask what they're working on this month.”
A good mix
Aim for roughly 40% easy prompts (observation and “find someone who…”), 40% questions, and 20% challenges and deeper prompts. Easy prompts get people moving; the deeper ones lead to the conversations people remember.
How many prompts to write
Each guest gets one prompt per person they meet — 10 in your plan. Write 20–30 prompts in total: every player gets them in a different, shuffled order, so a bigger list means more variety and fewer people looking for the same conversation at once.
Do
- ✓Start with easy, observable prompts, then build up to deeper ones.
- ✓Make every prompt about another person, so it always leads to a conversation.
- ✓Keep prompts short enough to read at a glance on a phone.
- ✓Write prompts almost everyone can complete — no one should feel left out.
Don't
- ✕Avoid yes/no prompts that end the conversation in one word.
- ✕Avoid inside jokes that only one group will understand.
Example prompts for networking activities for professional women's alliance “how you show up” workshop
- 💬Ask someone how she balances work and everything else
- 💬Ask someone which habit changed how she shows up
- 💬Ask someone what she hopes to take away from today
- 💬Ask someone about a time she spoke up and it changed things
- 💬Challenge someone to introduce herself in a way she never has before
- 💬Ask someone about a first impression she got wrong and what she learned
Get all 26 How You Show Up Workshop prompts — sorted into sets for 10–15, 25–35, and 40–60 minute sessions. Add a whole set to your game in one click.
Need a starting point? Browse ready-made prompt templates for different kinds of events and adapt them to your group.
- 02
When to run it
Once everyone has arrived
Start 15–30 minutes into the networking block. If networking begins at 10:00 AM, kick off at 10:30 AM — latecomers have arrived and people haven't settled into their usual groups yet.
Before the meal, not after
Run it before people eat. Eating speeds vary, and running it after a meal makes slower eaters feel rushed or left out. If it has to be after, announce clear timings in advance.
After drinks are in hand
Let guests grab a drink when they arrive, then gather everyone's attention right before you start.
Not during talks
Keep it to open networking time. People can't mingle while they're expected to listen to a speaker.
How long to run it
Plan about 3–5 minutes per conversation. Each prompt is one conversation, so the length of the game depends on how many people you want each guest to meet.
For 10 people each
Kick-off
5 min
Playing (10 prompts)
30–50 min
Wrap-up
5 min
Total
40–60 min
Kick-off Playing Wrap-upFor your group size (50 attendees): give everyone about 1 minute to scan in. One screen or a few printed QR codes on tables is plenty.
- 03
- 1
Give a final call
Five minutes before the end, let everyone know it's their last chance to unlock a prompt. - 2
Share the leaderboard
Your dashboard shows who met the most new people. Put it on the screen and read out the top few. - 3
Hand out prizes at the very end
Wait until everyone has finished, so no one stops mingling early. Swag, gift cards, or a small gift all work well. - 4
Encourage follow-up
Remind everyone that each connection is saved on their phone, and that they can share their socials with the people they met.
- 04
Common questions guests (and your team) will ask
Do guests need to download an app?
No. Guests scan the QR code with their phone camera and it opens in the browser. They type their name and start playing.
What if someone's camera won't scan a QR code?
Every player has a short code. Guests can type in the other person's code instead of scanning it.
What if a guest gets a prompt they can't complete?
After about a minute on a prompt, a Skip button appears so they can move on to a different one.
Does everyone get the same prompts?
No. Each player gets the prompts in a different, shuffled order, so people are looking for different conversations at the same time.
What if someone doesn't have a phone?
Pair them with a friend or a colleague to play as a team. They'll still meet everyone their partner meets.
How do I know who won?
Your dashboard has a leaderboard showing who met the most new people. Share it at the end and reward the top connectors.
What happens to the connections afterwards?
Each player keeps a list of the people they met and the prompts they talked about, and can share their socials with them.
What should people do if they finish early?
Encourage them to keep mingling and help others complete their prompts — early finishers are great at pulling quieter guests into conversations.
Is Jam Bingo right for you?
Each person will meet and talk with 10 different people.
Starting at$200Jam Bingo is a simple, non-structured networking activity designed to get people talking organically. Rather than forced icebreakers, it delivers gamified prompts to participants' phones that encourage lighthearted interactions across large groups without feeling awkward or artificial.
Getting approval from your chamber women's alliances, women's business groups & workshop facilitators
- ✓Run the Jam Bingo Demo with your team so they see it first-hand.
- ✓Share the pricing and the plan from this guide.
- ✓Once approved, create a Jam Bingo and customize it with your own prompts.
How You Show Up Starts With Saying Hello
A workshop on presence works best when guests practice it. Meeting new people is the easiest way to do that. Most people come to network but wait for someone else to start.
All Listening
Workshops leave little time to connect.
New Members on the Edge
New members don't know the regulars.
Surface Small Talk
'What do you do?' doesn't build a support network.
Why a game makes networking easier at a women's professional workshop.
Before the workshop, guests scan a QR code and get prompts like 'Find someone who changed how they introduce themselves this year.' They talk, scan each other's codes, and unlock the next prompt.
Where this works best: women's professional workshops, women in business programs, and personal branding sessions.
A Reason to Walk Up
The prompt is the opening line. No awkward 'so, what do you do?'
Real Conversations
Prompts lead to stories, not just job titles.
Contacts Saved
Every match is saved, so following up is easy.
Networking Activities: How to Run It at How You Show Up Workshop
- 1
Write your prompts
Add prompts about first impressions, confidence, career moves, and role models.
- 2
Create the game
Add your prompts to Jam Bingo. Mix career prompts with fun ones.
- 3
Open networking
Show the QR code at check-in and on each table when networking time starts.
- 4
Play before the workshop
Run it while guests arrive, then again for 10 minutes after the session.
Questions This Guide Answers
How to get people networking at a women's professional workshop?
The short version: write your prompts, create the game, open networking, and play before the workshop. Add prompts about first impressions, confidence, career moves, and role models. The step-by-step guide on this page covers each part in detail — including when to run it, how long it takes, and how to write good prompts.
Best networking activities for a women's professional workshop?
The approaches that work best share a few things: a reason to walk up, real conversations, and contacts saved. The prompt is the opening line.
Ways to help guests network at a women's professional workshop?
Start by designing around what usually gets in the way: all listening, new members on the edge, and surface small talk. Before the workshop, guests scan a QR code and get prompts like 'Find someone who changed how they introduce themselves this year.' They talk, scan each other's codes, and unlock the next prompt.
How You Show Up Workshop Prompts for Your Networking Time
Best for 40–60 MinutesConversation Starters
20 prompts+
Conversation Starters
20 prompts. Ask-and-challenge prompts for longer conversations people remember.
Best for 10–15 MinutesQuick and Light
6 prompts+
Quick and Light
6 prompts. Fast, light-hearted prompts. People find a match, laugh, and move on.
Best for 25–35 MinutesQuestions That Get People Sharing
10 prompts+
Questions That Get People Sharing
10 prompts. Each prompt asks for a story, a tip, or an opinion.
See how other organizers did it
Networking Event Games: The Complete Playbook
Networking event games that actually get guests talking to new people. 14 games rated on mixing, cringe risk and prep, mapped to arrival, warm-up, main block, dinner and closing, with host scripts, run-of-shows and fixes for when a game stalls.
How I Hosted My First Networking Event (75 People Showed Up!)
The complete blueprint for hosting successful networking events in Calgary - from promotion to engagement to venue negotiation. Learn how I got 75 attendees to my first event.
200 Best Professional Networking Conversation Starters & Strategies
A practical list of professional conversation starters that help break the ice at in-person events, spark real conversations, and make networking feel more natural instead of awkward.
How to Run Interactive Workshops for 50+ People Without Chaos
Large workshops fail when hosts confuse 'activity' with 'chaos'. Here's a practical guide to running interactive activities for large workshops — including what to do before people sit down, how to structure participation, and the tools that make it all work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it fit the workshop's topic?
Yes. Prompts about first impressions let guests practice how they show up.
Can speakers play?
Yes. Add a prompt that sends guests to find the speaker.
Is it too playful for professionals?
No. The prompts set the tone. Use career prompts for a professional crowd.
Do guests keep the contacts?
Yes. Every match is saved.
What do guests need?
A phone with a camera.
Ways to Get People Talking, Compared
There's more than one way to solve this for women's professional workshops, women in business programs, and personal branding sessions. Here's how the common approaches compare.
| Approach | Setup effort | Group size | Gets people mixing | How it feels for guests | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open mingling (no structure)Put people in a room with food and drinks and let conversations happen. | None | Any size | Low — most people stay with who they already know | Easy for outgoing people, hard for quieter guests | Cliques form within minutes, and newcomers end up on the edges. |
| “Ask me about” name tagsGuests write one topic on their name tag as a ready-made conversation starter. | Low — markers and name tags | Any size | Medium — gives people an opener, but no reason to move around | Natural and low-pressure | Easy to ignore; it only works if people read badges and act on them. |
| Paper human bingoA printed grid of “find someone who…” squares that guests fill in with names. | Medium — design, print, and hand out cards and pens | Best up to about 100 people | Medium to high — people have to approach others | Fun, but can turn into a quick signature hunt | People rush to fill squares instead of talking, and printing takes time. |
| Speed networkingTimed one-on-one conversations; people rotate to a new partner every few minutes. | Medium to high — seating plan, timer, and someone running it | Best up to about 60 per round | High — everyone is guaranteed several new conversations | Can feel forced or interview-like | Rigid and needs strong facilitation; feels out of place at relaxed social events. |
| Table topics / roundtablesEach table gets a discussion topic, and people join the one that interests them. | Low to medium — topic cards or table signs | Any size (in tables of 6–10) | Medium — great conversations within a table, little across tables unless you rotate | Natural, especially for professional audiences | People settle at one table for the whole session. |
| Jam BingoPhone-based conversation prompts (e.g. Jam Bingo)Guests scan a QR code and get conversation prompts on their phone; meeting someone unlocks the next prompt. | Low — write prompts and display a QR code | Any group size | High — each prompt sends people to someone new | Natural — the prompt gives everyone a reason to start talking | Needs guests to have a phone and signal (pair anyone without one with a buddy). |
Open mingling (no structure)
Put people in a room with food and drinks and let conversations happen.
- Setup effort
- None
- Group size
- Any size
- Gets people mixing
- Low — most people stay with who they already know
- How it feels for guests
- Easy for outgoing people, hard for quieter guests
- Watch out for
- Cliques form within minutes, and newcomers end up on the edges.
“Ask me about” name tags
Guests write one topic on their name tag as a ready-made conversation starter.
- Setup effort
- Low — markers and name tags
- Group size
- Any size
- Gets people mixing
- Medium — gives people an opener, but no reason to move around
- How it feels for guests
- Natural and low-pressure
- Watch out for
- Easy to ignore; it only works if people read badges and act on them.
Paper human bingo
A printed grid of “find someone who…” squares that guests fill in with names.
- Setup effort
- Medium — design, print, and hand out cards and pens
- Group size
- Best up to about 100 people
- Gets people mixing
- Medium to high — people have to approach others
- How it feels for guests
- Fun, but can turn into a quick signature hunt
- Watch out for
- People rush to fill squares instead of talking, and printing takes time.
Speed networking
Timed one-on-one conversations; people rotate to a new partner every few minutes.
- Setup effort
- Medium to high — seating plan, timer, and someone running it
- Group size
- Best up to about 60 per round
- Gets people mixing
- High — everyone is guaranteed several new conversations
- How it feels for guests
- Can feel forced or interview-like
- Watch out for
- Rigid and needs strong facilitation; feels out of place at relaxed social events.
Table topics / roundtables
Each table gets a discussion topic, and people join the one that interests them.
- Setup effort
- Low to medium — topic cards or table signs
- Group size
- Any size (in tables of 6–10)
- Gets people mixing
- Medium — great conversations within a table, little across tables unless you rotate
- How it feels for guests
- Natural, especially for professional audiences
- Watch out for
- People settle at one table for the whole session.
Phone-based conversation prompts (e.g. Jam Bingo)
Guests scan a QR code and get conversation prompts on their phone; meeting someone unlocks the next prompt.
- Setup effort
- Low — write prompts and display a QR code
- Group size
- Any group size
- Gets people mixing
- High — each prompt sends people to someone new
- How it feels for guests
- Natural — the prompt gives everyone a reason to start talking
- Watch out for
- Needs guests to have a phone and signal (pair anyone without one with a buddy).
Related Solutions
Networking Icebreaker Activities for Professional Women's Alliance “How You Show Up” Workshop
Perfect for:
Chamber Women's Alliances, Women's Business Groups & Workshop Facilitators
Easy Large Group Game for Professional Women's Alliance “How You Show Up” Workshop
Perfect for:
Chamber Women's Alliances, Women's Business Groups & Workshop Facilitators
Event Games for Professional Women's Alliance “How You Show Up” Workshop
Perfect for:
Chamber Women's Alliances, Women's Business Groups & Workshop Facilitators
Networking Activities for Member's Legacy Luncheon
Perfect for:
Chambers of Commerce, Membership Committees & Chamber Boards
Networking Activities for STORIES Gala
Perfect for:
Chambers of Commerce, Gala Committees & Community Foundations
Networking Activities for Wine Auction & Gala Weekend
Perfect for:
Chambers of Commerce, Gala Committees & Fundraising Teams