From Engineer to Connector: A Social Experiment
November 12, 2024, marks the debut show of BS99, but more importantly, a social experiment in my opinion. I wanted to see how many friends an engineer nerd like me, with 20+ years in the field, could gather for an event. One week before the event, the invitation went out as follows:
“Hello everyone, We started as a small group of energy modelers, engineers who enjoy a little social connection outside of our work. Recently, one of us (you know who!) experienced quite a transformation, inspiring some surprise and curiosity in the best way possible. This sparked an idea: let’s turn our upcoming potluck into a chance to learn more about each other and celebrate how we’ve all grown.
This time, we’re opening up the group to include professionals from other fields, media, business, architecture, and even teenage reporters! We hope this will make for a lively and diverse gathering, with new perspectives and fresh ideas.
Cheney Chen, founder of BS99 and the driving force behind this event, is passionate about fostering clear, comfortable communication and inspiring new ventures. Having evolved from a quieter, introverted personality to someone who champions connecting confidently, he’s keen to help others break through social barriers and create meaningful connections. His focus on spin-off business opportunities adds an exciting twist, sparking growth and collaboration.
Are you interested? If so, this is the social event you don’t want to miss.”
I’m not going to elaborate on the hospitality of the landlord who generously provided a space to broadcast the launch of my company. I won’t focus on the delicious food (though the image I’ve shared might give you a clue). And I definitely won’t spoil how I used my story to confuse everyone on-site, laugh out loudly…What I do want to share is the result of my attempt to connect and gather people quickly. Social connecting isn’t typically my engineering strength, but I think I’ve done pretty well this time.
Here’s the outcome: attendees included professionals from HCMA, Jacobs, BC Hydro, BCIT, AECOM, Williams Engineering, Rocky Point Engineering, Perkins & Will, Global Sharing Foundation, and Vital Mechanics. Their titles ranged from Senior Engineer, Senior Energy Modeler, and Director of Project Delivery to Global Principal of Building Performance, Faculty, Chairman, Team Leader, and Researcher.
In addition to friends from these major organizations, we were also joined by a smaller but mighty group of entrepreneurs: PushPull, Lia Engineering Ltd, RootMaths, and my own BS99. We are all owners and founders. While we may be in the minority, we’re proud to offer a unique perspective and appreciate the opportunity to gain insights into the institutional visions of larger organizations, insights we might not typically encounter at our scale.
Now you see, a nerdy engineer can be a great connector, bringing talented people together. Would this be an incredible opportunity for brainstorming? Absolutely, yes!
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