Founding Partner of the expat networking event, Brian Heinen, reflects on ten years of organising Guiri Business.
How did the idea to create the Guiri Business community and networking events develop?
Originally, my old business partner had the idea to start a LinkedIn group, and asked me to be his partner. I launched the monthly networking drinks soon after we started the group, and asked Richard Cardwell and the Metropolitan Magazine to get on board, as a valuable voice in the local entrepreneur community.
The concept of Guiri Business is to nurture an inclusive business narrative and focus on better jobs and better collaborations - we do that through empowering a community of professionals with networking, business insights, and events. We encourage building a community that shares information, and looks to build up their profiles by being doorways for opportunities, helping navigate barriers and overcome antiquated professional norms.
The idea is that we are internationals, but no matter where you come from and regardless of your culture, country, gender, race or educational background, everyone can feel like a Guiri when trying to find a job, start a new business, send out resumes for a new career or look for better opportunities. It can feel like a completely new language, set of customs and culture in this way.
What makes Guiri Business different from other networking events in the city?
From the beginning, we have stayed committed to professional-focused activities, and reaching out to any and all groups that want to promote inclusive business activities. The community was built on LinkedIn, and the majority of our members communicate through the site, so it has acted as a filter to attract professionals. I think it is that, and our consistency to be engaged with the business community that sets us apart.
How has the Guiri community changed over the years?
We have become less reliant on LinkedIn. Although LinkedIn has been the most valuable platform by far for creating business opportunities for my company and this group, the change has also lead to more opportunities to get further involved with promoting other business events on our website, which were previously promoted only on LinkedIn. The great thing is that I still see people who have been attending our monthly networking drinks over the ten years comment on articles in the group.
What difficulties or challenges have you faced over the years in organising the events?
We have reached out to almost every other business community over the years to cross promote their events. Many agreed to do so, but some refused, and most of the platforms that refused are not around much anymore. The main challenges we have faced surround encouraging particular organisations to be open and promote our activities, and to not think of networking as a closed ecosystem. However, I believe that our communities’ involvement with other groups is one of our greatest strengths.
What makes Barcelona a good place for professional expats?
We have a strong community of entrepreneurs that are looking to share and gain knowledge, and it is ever evolving and growing.
How do you feel about Guiri Business reaching the ten year milestone?
I love speaking to people who tell me they got a job through our group, or started a company with someone they met at our monthly networking drinks. It's also great speaking to members who have started their own networking event, which I completely encourage, as this sharing of knowledge only improves the business community for everyone else.
It is surprising to think how quickly these ten years have gone. We also wanted to start the group because we saw what was happening with the economy in 2007, and that then, more than ever, our community was going to need to find ways to collaborate better if we were going to survive the impending crisis. It is nothing short than a minor miracle how things have turn around for the local economy since then. It is important to maintain moments of reflection as a business community, and I continue to believe the only way forward is a focus on innovating together, with a focus on better and more inclusive advancement of our professional culture.
What are the future plans for Guiri Business?
We will continue to get more involved in promoting professional events in Barcelona. We want to make it easier for our member's to participate in these events, and find avenues to contribute as thought leaders.
We hope to announce a tech and innovation media platform very soon, which is focused on local and visiting professionals and professional events in the city. I hope one day every business event will be listed on our site.
Find out more about the Guiri Business Networking event.