In connection with research for The Virtual Handshake: Opening Doors and Closing Deals Online (http://thevirtualhandshake.com/order-amazon.htm), below is the next in a series of articles on networks in different special-interest communities.

South Asian Diaspora

Networking Groups and Resources

by Neha Shanbhag and David Teten

South Asian-Americans, which include people of Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, and Nepali heritages, have rapidly begun to influence and excel in the business world, politics, and the arts.

South Asian Americans are one of the wealthiest and best educated communities in the United States. With a median household income of $60,093, compared with $41,110 for non-Hispanic white families, and over 67% holding advances degrees, there are few ethnic groups that have comparable income and education levels[1]. Indian-Americans and Pakistani-Americans are among the fastest growing and most successful communities of all ethnic groups in the United States.

According to a 1999 University of California, Berkeley study, at least 15% of all technology companies in Silicon Valley are Indian-run.[2] Among the more prominent South Asian-Americans in recent years are: Vinod Khosla, co-founder of Sun Microsystems and general partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers; Arun Netravali, president of Bell Labs; Rajat Gupta, managing partner at McKinsey; and Indra Nooyi, current president and CFO of Pepsi Co.[3] According to the 2000 U.S. Census, the Indian American population stands at approximately 1,678,765, roughly a 106% increase over the 1990 figures.[4] “Nearly 85% have at least graduated from high school, and 58% have received a bachelor’s degree or higher. This is an impressive level of higher education, especially when compared with the twenty percent of the total population who hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Of those participating in the labor force, 44% are employed in managerial and professional specialties. The mean earnings of Indian-American households in 1989 were $56,438, as compared with the mean earnings of $30,078[5] of the total U.S population.” [6]

With the emergence of South Asian-Americans in practically every aspect of American society, new networking associations targeted solely towards the South Asian communities are quickly gaining popularity. Many of these nonprofit organizations aim not only to provide a medium for networking and professional development, but also to raise political awareness, promote community service, and provide cultural enrichment opportunities.

With new social / professional groups coming into existence continuously, it can be an arduous task keeping track of the most informative and useful organizations and websites. An excellent solution to this problem is provided by GaramChai.com’s webpage, http://www.garamchai.com/desiassc.htm, which provides a comprehensive listing of the best Indian business and non-profit organizations in the US. Whether you are searching for a professional organization, social networks, or simply web-based discussions on the topics which most interest you, GaramChai.com, roughly translated to a “hot cup of tea,” provides news and information on the South Asian diaspora community. Listed below are links, contact information, and brief descriptions for a few of the leading South Asian Diaspora networking associations.

General South Asian Professional Networking Resources:

1.) The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE)

Website: www.tie.org

Focus: The Indus Entrepreneurs is a well-established South Asian-American professional association. Its primary goal is to provide career support, networking options, and access to vocational insights for South Asian professionals and entrepreneurs throughout the United States and abroad.

Number of Members: TiE currently consists of 49 chapters in nine countries with a total membership of over 8,000 individuals

CEO/Organizer: The current organizational chairman of TiE is Desh Deshpande. To contact him, e-mail tieadmin@tie.org.

Fees: An annual fee of $100 is collected to fund TiE events, as well as to sponsor professional activities and resources.

Founded: Tie was founded in 1992 in Silicon Valley. Its initial targets were people of Indian origin, but it now serves the broader South Asian and entrepreneurial community.

Description: Although “The Indus Entrepreneurs” signifies the South Asian roots of the founders, the acronym TiE has over time come to stand for something more: “talent, ideas and enterprise.”[7] A significant number of non-Indians attend their programs, and TiE has been a pioneer in organizing events in cooperation with other ethnic networking groups. TiE hosts career-building seminars, conferences, and professional workshops annually. These provide excellent opportunities for business networking, as do their mailing lists and many web resources. TiE members include entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and venture capitalists. Membership is divided into two categories: charter members and general members. Charter membership is available only by way of invitation, and is reserved for seasoned experts who are willing to serve as mentors to the up and coming generations of entrepreneurs. The general membership of TiE is open to anyone who pays the nominal dues, approximately $100 (this may vary with chapters).

2.) Indus Women Leaders

Website: www.induswomenleaders.org

Focus: Indus Women Leaders (IWL) is a national forum that develops South Asian women leaders. IWL provides South Asian women with the resources to achieve their life goals through goal setting tools, advocacy, networking, mentorship, and education[8].

CEO/Organizer: The current operations director of IWL is Hemali Dassani. For more information, e-mail info@induswomenleaders.org.

Fees: Standard membership is free of charge. Event and conference attendance charges do apply (vary from year to year.)

Founded: Indus Women Leaders (IWL) was established in 2001 in order to create a national support network addressing the many challenges female South Asian professionals face each day.

Description: Indus Women Leaders strives to empower South Asian women to become great leaders by unleashing their potential through a strong foundation of support, inspiration, and mentorship[9]. This organization is targeted towards South Asian women of all professions and of all ages; those seeking to be a mentor should have at least five years of professional experience. In addition to an extensive mailing list, IWL hosts annual networking conference, organizes mentor programs, and conducts extensive research and surveys. For more information about the organization or upcoming events, visit the IWL website or e-mail info@induswomenleaders.org.

3.) Asian American Hotel Owner’s Association (AAHOA)

Website: www.aahoa.com

Focus: AAHOA is committed to providing an interactive forum through which Asian American hotel owner’s can exchange ideas, interact, and access professional resources. They are strong proponents of anti-discriminatory measures in the hospitality industry and are continually promoting greater cultural awareness through conferences, newsletters, and hands on educational opportunities.

Number of Members: Membership currently stands at approximately 8000.

Fees: There is an annual membership fee of $100.

Founded: AAHOA was established in 1989.

Description: The single largest member-based Indian business organization in the United States, the Asian American Hotel Owner’s Association aims to eliminate the “distinct challenges that face hoteliers today, and to provide answers through advocacy and education programs which help Asians succeed.[10]” AAHOA is host to several professional events and conferences each year, all of which specifically cater to the needs of those in the hospitality industry. A unique online “toolbox” of resources, monthly publications, and periodic trade shows provide extensive information on topics of interest to South Asian Americans, and also help promote solidarity among hoteliers across the U.S. For more information about the organization or upcoming events, visit the AAHOA website or e-mail info@aahoa.com.

4.) South Asian Bar Association (SABA)

Website: www.sabadc.org

Focus: SABA is a professional networking group for lawyers and students in the legal profession of South Asian heritage, as well as a resource for attorneys across North America. The organization seeks to cultivate ties among South Asian-American lawyers, and to increase awareness and encourage resolution of issues of concern for South Asian-Americans.

Number of Members: Current membership in the South Asian Bar Association stands at several hundred, and continues to expand each day.

CEO/Organizer: The current national President and Chairman of SABA is Geeta Oberoi. She can be contacted at geetaoberoi@hotmail.com.

Fees: Standard membership is free of charge and membership in SABA is open to all South Asian involved in the legal profession, as well as students of South Asian decent currently pursuing a degree in law.

Founded: SABA was founded 2001 as the successor to the Indian-American Bar Association (IAB).

Description: SABA is a voluntary organization dedicated to furthering the professional development and advancement of South Asian-Americans involved in legal professions. It aims to provide a forum for professional networking, and development, as well as to increase awareness of the legal, political, and cultural environment of South Asia. SABA facilitates easy access to information for South Asian lawyers throughout the United States; namely through mailing lists, seminars, receptions with dignitaries, mentoring programs, and recruiting events for law students. For more information, visit the official SABA website at http://www.sabadc.org/index.html, or e-mail sabdc@sabdc.org.

5.) South Asian Journalists Association (SAJA)

Website: www.saja.org

Focus: SAJA is a professional networking group for journalists and a resource for newsrooms across North America. The organization seeks to cultivate ties among South Asian- American journalists, and to improve and expand journalistic coverage of South Asia and its diaspora.

Number of Members: Current membership in the South Asian Journalists Association is approximately 800.

CEO/Organizer: The current national President of SAJA is S. Mitra Kalita, an author and reporter at The Washington Post. She can be contacted at mitra@desiwriter.com.

Fees: Membership dues of $20 are collected annually. Full membership in SAJA is open to all South Asians involved in journalism, and to all non-South Asian journalists primarily covering topics related to South Asia and the South Asian Diaspora.

Founded: SAJA was founded in March 1994

Description: SAJA is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the professional development and advancement of South Asian-Americans involved in journalism, and the media. It aims to provide a conduit of information for South Asian journalists throughout the US and Canada; namely through mailing lists, job searches, career counseling, a mentoring program, and scholarship opportunities. SAJA sponsors several writing workshops and seminars each year, as well as discussion panels regarding the Indian subcontinent.

6.) South Asian Networking Association (SANA):

Website: www.sanaonline.com/

Description: SANA is a general purpose networking association aimed towards all members of the South Asian community. It is designed to provide South Asian professionals with a casual opportunity to interact, forge business ties, and develop networking relationships amongst one another. Bi-monthly happy hour events, mailing lists, and their soon to be redesigned interactive web site all provide members with an excellent opportunity to chat, share ideas, and learn more about the many achievements and innovations of the South Asian community. Be sure to check out the SANA website for more information, especially following the launch of their newly revamped website. Until then, direct your specific questions, general inquiries, and membership requests to info@sanaonline.com.

Indian Professional Networking Resources:

7.) American Association of Physicians from India (AAPI)

Website: www.aapiusa.org/aapi.nsf

Focus: The American Association of Physicians from India aims to facilitate the professional advancement and development of Indian American physicians through seminars, web-based discussions, and community outreach programs. AAPI endeavors to improve standards of patient care, to encourage and expand research efforts, and to facilitate professional and community-based activities.

Number of Members: AAPI currently consists of approximately 35,000 practicing physicians and over 10,000 medical students and residents- a total membership exceeding 45,000 individuals.

CEO/Organizer: The current national chairman for AAPI is Sharad Lakhanpal, MD. He can be contacted at slakhanpal@arthritis-dallas.com.

Fees: Annual membership dues of $75. These funds go towards sponsoring AAPI’s charitable foundations, community health columns, and continuing medical education programs.

Founded: AAPI was founded in 1984 by a small group of Indian-American physicians interested in the rise of ethnic and cultural diversity in the medical industry, as well as the radical changes taking place in health-care programs around the United States.

Description: When first formed, the American Association of Physicians from India (AAPI) envisioned “promoting professional solidarity in the pursuit of excellence in patient care, teaching and research, and bringing to American medicine the distinctive contributions from India.” [11] In the nineteen years since its founding, AAPI has worked hard to not only uphold this creed, but also to expand its vision by propagating new medical ideas and knowledge amongst members. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, AAPI serves as an umbrella organization for 100 professional associations. It is the largest ethnic medical organization in the US. AAPI sponsors and organizes several community-service initiatives annually, publishes periodic newsletters and mailing lists, and is actively involved in elevating the status and presence of Indian-American medical professionals everywhere. For more information about AAPI, visit the official website at http://www.aapiusa.org/ .

8.) American Society of Engineers of Indian Origin (ASEIO):

Website: www.aseio.org

Focus: ASEIO is an international non-profit professional organization of engineers, both students and seasoned professionals. ASEIO aspires to stimulate and supply a continuous line of knowledge pertinent to engineering and related industries. It fosters open-communication amongst members and a sense of professional solidarity and cooperation.

Number of Members: ASEIO currently includes several hundred members in each of its eleven chapters.

CEO/Organizer: The current national President is Rabindra Rout. You can contact him at rrout16@hotmail.com.

Fees: Standard membership is free of charge. Event and conference attendance charges do apply (vary from year to year.)

Founded: ASEIO was established in 1983.

Description: ASEIO provides numerous resources for engineers, architects, and technical professionals of Indian heritage. They aim to foster cooperation and an exchange of ideas and knowledge between the United States and India, as well as to facilitate practical, career, and technical development amongst its members. Each year, ASEIO sponsors numerous professional events for its members, as well as community service initiatives and public outreach programs. Global networking, career guidance, practical training, and business development, are just a few of the many issues regularly discussed and promoted by ASEIO. Besides providing a forum for networking, ASEIO is also actively engaged in providing training to its members in the areas of leadership skills; new technology, such as 6-sigma and Taguchi methods; bio sciences; and holistic approaches to engineering. ASEIO also seeks to promote/encourage engineering education among second generation Indians living in USA. Numerous scholarships are granted to graduating high school students and undergraduate and graduate students every year; and outstanding students of Indian origin are periodically recognized. In addition, picnics, seminars, and conventions are organized annually for members.

9.) Global Organization of People of Indian Origin:

Website: www.gopio.net

Focus: GOPIO aspires to not only promote the interests and well-being of people of Indian origin, but to also facilitate cooperation, collaboration, and interactions among Indian communities worldwide.

Number of Members: GOPIO currently includes several thousand members worldwide.

CEO/Organizer: The current international President of GOPIO is Dr. Thomas Abraham. For more information, e-mail gopio@optonline.net.

Fees: Membership dues of $50 are collected annually.

Founded: GOPIO was founded at the First Global Convention of People of Indian Origin in New York in 1989.

Description: GOPIO is a non-partisan organization actively involved in the expansion and development of ties amongst the global Indian community. Above all else, GOPIO endeavors to encourage interaction between communities of Indians abroad, thus laying the foundation for international cooperation and deliberation on issues pertinent to all people of Indian origin. Annual conventions, periodic publications, and a multi-purpose discussion board, are just a few of the means employed to unite Indians everywhere and foster interaction on a global scale. In addition, GOPIO provides a medium for members to mobilize intellectual and professional resources for their mutual development and advancement.[12] Networking opportunities, business contacts, and cultural heritage programs are all integral components of GOPIO’s quest to strengthen cultural ties and further the goals and ambitions of Indians everywhere. For more information about the organization or upcoming events, visit the GOPIO website or e-mail gopio@optonline.net.

10.) Indian American Leadership Initiative (IALI)

Website: www.ialipac.org

Focus: The Indian American Leadership Initiative aims to empower high caliber leaders of Indian decent by providing open access to quality political and public policy training. IALI facilitates the professional advancement and development of Indian American political candidates through leadership training, technical skill development, campaign infrastructure, and fundraising/networking support. By providing countless resources to rising Indian-American leaders, IALI endeavors to increase the political prominence of Indian-Americans throughout the U.S, and actively represent their social/political causes and issues.

Number of Members: IALI currently includes several hundred members across the U.S.

Fees: A standard membership / subscription is free of charge.

Founded: IALI was founded in the early 1990’s by a group of Indian-Americans seeking to raise political awareness, and provide a forum for rising Indian-American leaders to project their ideas and political ambitions.

Description: South Asians are among the fastest growing populations in America and as already stated, are also among the wealthiest and best-educated ethnic groups in the country according to the U.S Census. This growth and prosperity, however has not been met by high levels of Indian American electoral participation and political clout. In fact, there are currently only four Indian American state legislators nationwide and no members of Congress[13]. The Indian American Leadership Initiative (IALI), with its goal of “10 by 2010”, aims to change this seemingly troubling problem. By training and funding new political leaders, sponsoring several community- service initiatives annually, and building momentum for candidates, IALI hopes to increase the presence of Indian-American politicians everywhere, and perhaps accomplish their ultimate goal: have 10 South Asian Americans elected to Congress by the year 2010. For more information about IALI, visit the official website at http://www.ialipac.org/about.html, or e-mail info@ialipac.org.

11.) Indian American Policy Institute (IAPI)

Website: www.iapolicy.org

Focus: The Indian American Policy Institute is “a nonprofit Washington, D.C. based research and educational foundation providing the intellectual framework for crafting a new vision of the United States in the 21st Century grounded in the values and experiences of the Indian-American community.”[14]

Fees: Standard membership is free of charge and membership in IAPI is open to all South Asians interested in public policy and the implementation of Indian-American ideals in U.S policy.

Founded: IAPI was recently founded in 2002 and is gradually gaining a great deal of momentum, with its membership consisting of up and coming Indian-American leaders from all fields.

Description: “The Indian-American Policy Institute was established by leading Indian Americans who recognized the importance of political involvement, the power of ideas, and the opportunity to affect US public policy.”[15] Through seminars aimed towards educating Indian- Americans about policy initiatives, publications and articles, and a forum to discuss pressing social/cultural issues, IAPI is one of the premiere organizations for Indian-American leaders from all fields. Because the organization is still in its initial stages, it is continually evolving in terms of the interactive forums and events open to members. For more information, visit the IAPI website at: http://www.iapolicy.org/content/main.asp.

12.) Network of Indian Professionals

Website: www.netip.org

Focus: The Network of Indian Professionals is an Indian-American association dedicated to advancing, connecting, as well as recognizing the accomplishments of Indian American professionals throughout the US. They sponsor several professional development, community service, cultural heritage, and scholarship programs annually.

Number of Members: The Network of Indian Professionals currently hosts members from over twenty chapters, and has a total membership of over 5,000 individuals.

Fees: Annual membership fee of $50.

Founded: NetIP was established in 1990.

Description: The network of Indian Professionals (NetIP) is among the largest national associations catering to the needs of Indian American professionals. NetIP aims to enable members to secure key connections with people around the US with similar interests and professional skills. NetIP members include successful Indian professionals working in a broad spectrum of fields: financial services, accounting, commercial and investment banking, law, medicine, and engineering, just to name a few. NetIP uses extensive mailing lists and weekly newsletters to help connect its many members for both professional and social ends. For more information about NetIP and upcoming events, visit your local chapter website, or e-mail info@netip.org.

13.) Non-Resident Indians Network ((NRI): a RYZE subdivision)

Website: nri-network.ryze.com

Focus: NRI aims to serve as a general purpose online business networking site for the Indian diaspora community. Discussion boards cover everything from preparing for an interview, to preserving Indian cultural traditions in western society, to making some of the best chicken tikka masala.

Number of Members: Membership currently stands at approximately 100.

CEO/Organizer: The NRI network is organized and maintained by Ranjit Gill. You can contact him at http://www.ryze.com/view.php?who=ranjitgill

Fees: Standard membership is free of charge.

Founded: The NRI network was founded in 2000 as a subdivision of the RYZE network.

Description: The Non-Resident Indians Network is a subdivision of Ryze, a general-purpose business networking site. Ryze is host to a plethora of diverse business networks and social/cultural platforms, the Non-Resident Indians (NRI) Network being one of these. The NRI network is aimed primarily towards members of the India Diasporas and provides worthwhile information for Indians in the US and abroad. Discussion boards provide extensive information on topics of interest to the India-American community, and provide a unique social and business platform for interested members. Basic membership to Ryze is free, and will allow you to set up a profile, explore other people’s profiles, and participate in a variety of networks.

14.) Silicon ValleyIndian Professionals Association (SIPA)

Website: www.sipa.org

Focus: The Silicon Valley Indian Professionals Association is a network of Indian-Americans specializing in the high technology sector.

Number of Members: Currently, SIPA consists of over 2,300 members from practically all professions.

Fees: Annual membership fee of $20.

Founded: SIPA was founded in 1987 in Santa Clara, California.

Description: SIPA is a nonprofit, voluntary organization. It aims to provide members with both an online forum as well as professional activities and events in order to forge contacts with one another, exchange ideas pertinent to technology and innovation, and further their own professional interests. SIPA tried to foster cooperation between the United States and India in high technology areas, as well as to facilitate professional, career, and business development amongst its members. SIPA members continuously gain new information and perspectives through an array of speaker series and informational seminars. SIPA membership includes highly qualified engineers, corporate managers, financial experts, and other professionals. Many are actively involved in the high-technology industry and hail from almost every major company in the Silicon Valley. For more information, visit the SIPA website, or e-mail contact@sipa.org.

Pakistani Professional Networking Resources:

15.) Network of Pakistani Professionals (DASTAK):

Website: www.dastak.org/

Focus: DASTAK is a nonprofit professional association aimed towards the advancement, professional development, and community/cultural involvement of members of the Pakistani community. DASTAK aspires to “create an environment conducive to professional growth, to provide networking opportunities, and to promote philanthropic activities.”[16] It fosters open-communication amongst members and a sense of professional solidarity and cooperation.

Number of Members: DASTAK currently includes several members throughout its chapters in the tri-state area.

CEO/Organizer: The current President is Ahsan Naqvi. You can contact him at president@dastak.org.

Fees: Membership dues of $50 are collected annually.

Founded: DASTAK was established in 1996.

Description: Since its inception in 1996, DASTAK has been committed to fostering a sense of community among members, as well as furthering their professional/personal aspirations. Taking its name from the Urdu language, DASTAK, roughly translated to “knocking on the doors of opportunity,” has been doing just this for the past seven years. DASTAK aims to eliminate barriers imposed upon the Pakistani community, all the while refining and favorably expanding upon the typical image of Pakistanis. They aim to foster cooperation and an exchange of ideas and knowledge between Pakistani communities throughout the tri-state area, as well as to facilitate practical, and career development amongst its members. Each year, DASTAK sponsors numerous professional events for its members, as well as community service initiatives and public outreach programs. In addition, dinners, seminars, and conventions are organized annually for members.

16.) Pakistani Professionals Networking Association (PPNA):

Website: www.pakistaninetworking.org/

Focus: The Pakistani Professionals Networking Association, aspires to not only provide a medium for the exchange of business/professional ideas among people of Pakistani origin, but also a convenient means with which to form friendships, cultural ties, and general purpose networking groups.

Number of Members: PPNA currently includes several hundred members throughout NY.

Fees: Membership dues of $20 are collected annually.

Description: The Pakistani Professionals Networking Association is a general purpose networking organization actively involved in the development of ties amongst members of the Pakistani community. Above all else, PPNA endeavors to encourage interaction between Pakistani professionals residing in and around New York City, in order to disseminate information about the Pakistani community and form professional/social bonds amongst members. Frequent events at some of NY’s top restaurants and venues, as well as mailing lists and up to date news headlines on the Pakistani community here and abroad, are the primary services provided to members. Networking opportunities, business contacts, and cultural dinners, are all integral components of PPNA’s quest to strengthen cultural ties and further the goals and ambitions of Pakistanis in NY. For more information about the organization or upcoming events, visit the PPNA website or e-mail info@pakistaninetworking.org.

Neha Shanbhag is a senior at the Wharton School of Business, majoring in finance and accounting. She has previously served as general manager at the University of Pennsylvania Student Federal Credit Union, currently works as a teaching assistant in the Wharton Finance Department, and is a member of the Penn South Asia Society and the Wharton Finance Club.

David Teten recently completed his first book, The Virtual Handshake: Opening Doors and Closing Deals Online (www.TheVirtualHandshake.com), published by the American Management Association, and co-written with Scott Allen. The Virtual Handshake is the first book that explains how to find your next client, your next job, or your next business partner online. The Virtual Handshake explains how to take full advantage of blogs, virtual communities, social network sites, and other “social software”. David is CEO of Nitron Advisors, LLC (www.NitronAdvisors.com), which provides institutional investors with direct access to frontline industry experts, and Chairman of Teten Recruiting (www.TetenCo.com), an executive recruiting firm. He was formerly CEO of an investment bank specializing in internet domain names. He is a frequent keynote speaker to finance and technology industry conferences and at such universities as Wharton, Columbia Business School, Yale, and Princeton. David formerly worked for Bear Stearns’ technology/defense investment banking team, and was a strategy consultant with Mars & Co. He holds a Harvard MBA and a Yale BA.

[1] South Asia Monitor Specials. South Asia Monitor.

http://www.southasiamonitor.org/. 16 October 2003

[2] Interview with Analee Saxenian. Rediff.com

http://www.rediff.com/money/2000/nov/07saxen.htm. 29 July 2003.

[3] Foreigner’s Envy, Nation’s Pride. Business Standard’s Billionaire Club.

http://www.business-standard.com/special/billion/year2000/story6.htm. 28 July, 2003.

[4] 2000 United States Census. United States Census Bureau.

http://www.census.gov. 24 July 2003

[5] Historical income Tables. United States Census.

http://www.census.gov/hhes/income/histinc/p23.html. 29 July, 2003.

[6] The Indian American Community in the United States. Embassy of India in Washington D.C.

http://www.outofindia.net/abroad/WashingtonDC/indian_american_community.htm. 24 July 2003

[7] About TiE. The Indus Entrepreneurs.

http://www.tie.org/site/About/About%20TiE. 25 July 2003.

[8] Indus Women Leaders.

http://portal.induswomenleaders.org/DesktopDefault.aspx. 31 March 2004

[9] Indus Women Leaders.

http://portal.induswomenleaders.org/DesktopDefault.aspx. 31 March 2004

[10] About AAHOA. The Asian American Hotel Owner’s Association.

http://www.aahoa.com/aboutAAHOA/about-aahoa.asp. 13 October 2003.

[11] The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin. AAPI.

http://www.aapiusa.org/aapi.nsf. 25 July 2003.

[12] Objectives of GOPIO. The Global organization of People of Indian Origin.

http://www.gopio.net/formation_gopio.htm. 3 August 2003.

[13] Indo-Americans Train Political Candidates and Raise Clout. IndoLink.Com.http://www.indolink.com/News/NRI/news_073103-145150.php. 13 October 2003.

[14] The Indian American Policy Institute. http://www.iapolicy.org/content/main.asp. 13 October 13, 2003.

[15] The Indian American Policy Institute. http://www.iapolicy.org/content/aboutus.asp. 13 October 13, 2003.

[16] DASTAK, Network of Pakistani Professionals. http://www.dastak.org/. 16 October 2003.

In connection with research for our new book, The Virtual Handshake: Opening Doors and Closing Deals Online(www.TheVirtualHandshake.com), following is another in a series of articles on different special-interest communities. Given that my wife is from the former Soviet Union (as is most of my family tree), I have a particular interest in this community.

Building Business Relationships in the Russian Diaspora

by Vica Vinogradova and David Teten

Russians: who are they?

Russia’s political, economic, and technological transformations have greatly impacted the social identity of its current and former citizens. Several trends are notable: increased financial stability powered by the desire for continuing material advancement; a new sense of sophistication and investment in social success; a continuing tradition of good education; and a serious awareness of technology, fashion and lifestyle trends.

While Russian speakers abroad/émigrés circa 1970 were political refugees primarily focused on survival, today’s Russian diaspora considers the world — and, particularly, its homeland — a business opportunity without borders and acts upon the notion. For them, Russia is no longer an oppressive country to be fled at any cost, but a dynamically evolving nation that offers enormous business opportunities. In fact, while many Russians come to the US and Europe to receive a higher education and secure a top-paying job, some return to Russia after years of immigration to take advantage of these opportunities.

Regardless of professional field, an “average” Russian speaker living abroad is a well-educated professional in an executive or managerial position, or a business owner. Traditionally, Russians do well in IT, law, sciences, finance and arts.

Many Russian speakers are rather particular when it comes to networking. While not overtly communicative and even shy on the first encounter, they can be very warm and friendly once you pass the initial absence of a smile. Russian speakers often don’t know how to and why they should engage in small talk, and simply avoid it as a waste of time. If one is not assertive, it may lead to plentiful pauses in a conversation: when your Russian counterpart has nothing to say, he will most likely remain silent. This is particularly true for those who are not completely at ease with English. Therefore, when talking to a Russian, one would be well advised to initiate a conversation with a clear thought path and expect a certain degree of intellectual play.

Younger Russian speakers are more open and ready to plunge into a conversation to see if there is an opportunity to develop a possible business connection. A representative of this new league of twenty- and thirty-somethings describes the group as follows: “Russian businessmen are quite engaging and lavishly entertaining in small talk, which is more acerbic than that of Americans, and is reminiscent of the English country club; it’s the precision that counts, not volume. Dressed to kill (or at least to strike), their appearance is often representative of the behavior.”

Russians indeed are extremely brand-conscious when it comes to cars, fashion and travel. Career titles matter, and business card exchange is welcome. Dressing well and with style is extremely important to Russians, and if you don’t appear well accessorized (from shoes to watches), you might have trouble building credibility. It is incomprehensible to many Russians why one would choose to dress-down at an important occasion. For instance, a Russian would consider a woman wearing a skirt and sneakers as careless and lacking any sense of style. Yet, ultimately, it is your intelligence, achievements and eloquence that will make or break a meaningful connection. Russians innately have interest in fine art and fine things in life and will be impressed by someone who knows his Renoir and Rembrandt, and of course Chagall and Kandinsky. If you can show knowledge of Vasnetsov or Repin, you will certainly make the right first impression.

Russians love a good joke, but more often than not, American humor does not translate into Russian, and vice versa. So, before you make a joke, make sure that your counterpart can understand the references. In addition, successful Russian businessmen (especially those who live in Russia) are often arrogant and could have very sarcastic sense of humor. Russians do like to drink, but don’t kill your good intentions by offering someone a shot of vodka just because he is Russian. Many Russian businessmen are connoisseurs of scotch, and will expect you to know the brands. Women mostly drink wine, and will find it offensive when offered vodka as it will seem a usual case of stereotyping.

Russians abroad are typically well assimilated and don’t have a desire to define themselves as a separate ethnic entity. For example, there is no Russian Parade on 5^th Avenue in New York. Russians socialize in well-established, closely-knit circles, both in terms of friends and business. A personal reference is the best way to join any such group. Online networking is far more “user-friendly” and open: people readily sign up and develop relationships without personal references, drawn together by the same cause (business, art, education, etc.)

Russian and Russia-related Online Communities

There are very few exclusively English-language online Russian communities for self-explanatory reasons. Those described below normally have both Russian- and English-language sections, where the latter is often a digest of the former.

U.S.- Russia Business Council [usrbc.org]

The U.S.-Russia Business Council is a Washington-based trade association that represents the interests of nearly 300 member companies operating in the Russian market. Its mission is “to expand and enhance the U.S.-Russian commercial relationship.”

Since its founding in 1993, the Council has been chaired by Robert Strauss, who served as U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union in 1991 and U.S. Ambassador to Russia in 1992. Eugene K. Lawson is the President of USRBC.

Council members receive commercial updates, issue briefs and event summaries via email listserv. In addition, the web site serves as a “virtual connection to the Council, and as a library of information on political, economic and commercial developments in Russia. More than three-quarters of the site is dedicated to an extensive members-only section that contains an online membership directory, … biographical profiles of Russian and U.S. Executive and Legislative branch officials” and more.

Membership fees vary: $1,250 yearly for non-profit organizations; $1,500 for companies with sales under $10 Million; $1,750 for companies with $10 Million – $100 Million in sales, to $12,500 for companies with sales over $10 Billion.

RAND’s Center for Russia and Eurasia Business Forum

[rand.org/nsrd/cre/blf]

The RAND Center for Russia and Eurasia provides policymakers, scholars, business leaders, and citizens with an in-depth understanding of developmental processes in Russia and the New Independent States in Eurasia since 1948. Jeremy Azrael has been the Executive Director of RAND’s Center for Russia and Eurasia since 1985.

The Center provides organizational and analytical support for the RAND Business Leaders Forum—a membership organization that facilitates in-depth discussions among leading corporate executives from Russia, the United States, and Western Europe of strategic opportunities and challenges in the development of economic and business relations.”

One of the CRE Business Forum’s missions is to “promote mutually beneficial commercial relations and to overcome obstacles to economic cooperation”. To fulfill its mission, the Forum holds two plenary meetings per year—one in the United States in May or June and one in Russia in November. The Forum also conducts focused meetings and workshops and sponsors research projects on issues of special interest.

CluMBA — Club of Russian-speaking MBAs [clumba.com]

CluMBA unites over 950 Russian-speaking MBAs around the world and aims to develop trustworthy business relationships among its members. Founded in 1999 by Andrey Gusev (Wharton) and Alexander Gorbunov (Harvard), cluMBA received its current name in 2000. Its word play incorporates references to the Russian word klumba (flower bed) and the MBA.

A typical member of the community is a 25-45 year old banker or consultant in an entry or mid-management position. To become a member, one has to be a native Russian speaker who holds an MBA from (or is a full time MBA student in) one of the following schools: Berkeley, Cambridge, Carnegie-Mellon, Chicago, Columbia, Cornell, Darden, Dartmouth, Duke, Erasmus, Harvard, IESE, IMD, INSEAD, Kellogg, Kelley, Kenan–Flagler, LBS, Michigan, MIT, NYU, Oxford, Rochester, Stanford, UCLA, Wharton, or Yale. There are no membership fees.

CluMBA offers its members several options for online networking, including discussion boards for registered users and global/regional mailing lists. CluMBA holds occasional career seminars with speakers on various topics. Social events are held quarterly in a trendy urban location. Non-members can participate in CluMBA’s social gatherings if invited by a member.

AmBAR – American Business Association of Russian Expatriates [ambarclub.org]

AmBAR is a non-profit organization with a mission to “build a full-fledged networking platform for Russian-speaking professionals to spur cooperation and technology innovation.” Founded in October 2002 by a group of Russian-speaking entrepreneurs in the Silicon Valley area, the organization has grown to over 500 members in less than a year, and is rapidly expanding into other areas.

“AmBAR was created to foster the entrepreneurship and develop a pool of human capital representing IT and business professionals, angel and VC investors.” Its membership consists of a “healthy mix of professionals, executives, entrepreneurs and academia” and is headed by a respected Board of Directors. AmBAR hosts regular events at Stanford University, which range from speaker series and panel discussions to workshops on business and technology topics. A recent panel of speakers included Sergei Brin, President of technology and Co-founder of Google. Each event is attended by several hundreds of participants.

The Web site offers various forms of online networking, including mailing list, discussion forums and job postings. Annual membership of $30 (free membership until 2004) allows access to various premium resources services, including discounted entry fees to AmBAR events; full access to the membership base; private mail to AmBAR members and regularly updated job postings. Members also have an opportunity to make a 30 seconds announcement to the entire membership during meetings and are eligible to purchase a table at the Mini-Trade Shows held during the meetings, for demos, recruiting, and other promotional activities.

New York Russian Club [nyrussianclub.org]

New York Russian Club was formed in January 2002 with the goal of uniting and serving the Russian-speaking business and professional community in the greater New York area.

The Club is a private, non-profit organization uniting almost 100 members under the directorship of the art collector Natalia Kolodzei and the lawyer Michael Solton. The club is a full-fledged charitable organization for various worthy Russia-related causes, namely not-for-profit scientific, literary and cultural projects in the former Soviet Union and within the Russian community in the U.S.

Besides online networking via mailing lists, the Club regularly organizes a variety of social and educational functions for its members and invited guests (book readings, wine tasting, concerts). The Club enjoys a close relationship with the Russian Consulate in New York, where it holds its meetings and functions. In 2002 the club organized two charitable receptions at the consulate, one benefiting Russian orphanages and another the American-Russian International Orchestra The average member is a mid-level associate at a law, brokerage or accounting firm, 30 years of age or older. The Annual membership fee is $285.

YCROP — Young Creative Russians Online Portfolio [ycrop.com]

YCROP is a community of creative Russians in the USA. Founded by Radion Schwartz in 2000, the community profiles over 150 artists, photographers, writers and musicians residing in New York and other states. YCROP is an open community with no membership fees. Artists are encouraged to post their profiles on the site through a user-friendly interface. Each profile lists a short bio, samples of works, and a photo and provides the e-mail/Web site address of the artist.

The online community offers daily updates on cultural events in the Tri-State area, a periodic e-mail newsletter with art-related announcements; features prominent artists, and holds occasional social gatherings in New York’s East Village.

e-xecutive.ru

e-xecutive.ru is a project of Ward Howell International, an executive search and consulting company, aimed at the “creation of an online community of professional managers who are working in Russia, are related to Russia or interested in the country.” The larger part of the site is in Russian. The recently launched English version states the Community’s motto as: “Building Russia’s Human Capital”.

The goal of the community is to create a system of online services which would allow its members to advance in their professional careers and develop business on a qualitatively new level; to bring together experts with unique professional skills and knowledge; to create an environment which fosters the exchange of ideas and provides professional assistance.

The community offers various services, including executive search; management search and selection; career counseling and information exchange.

Vica Vinogradova is Vice President of Corporate Communications at DataArt (www.dataart.com ), a software outsourcing company with headquarters in New York and an R&D center in St. Petersburg, Russia. Graduate of Interactive Telecommunications Program at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, she has contributed to the development of Sonicnet, AOL’s Digital City and is a co-founder of Ladno Communications ( www.ladno.com ). A St. Petersburg native, Ms. Vinogradova has long been a link between Russia and the United States through the development of marketing and Web capabilities between the two countries. She has served as Director of Marketing & Advertising for the Kremlin Cup tennis tournament and for TBS/Goodwill Games. She is also an adjunct professor at Hunter College, CUNY.

David Teten recently wrote his first book, The Virtual Handshake: Opening Doors and Closing Deals Online (www.TheVirtualHandshake.com), published by the American Management Association, and coauthored with Scott Allen. He is CEO of Nitron Advisors, LLC (www.NitronAdvisors.com), which provides institutional investors with access to frontline industry experts. He was formerly CEO of an investment bank specializing in internet domain names. He has spoken before audiences at Wharton, Columbia Business School, Yale, Princeton, and at industry conferences. David formerly worked for Bear Stearns’ technology/defense investment banking team, and was a strategy consultant with Mars & Co. He holds a Harvard MBA and a Yale BA.