For entrepreneurs, building a successful business often depends on the people they meet along the way. But knowing where to find those people, and which relationships are worth pursuing, isn’t always easy.
Shanea Leven knows that challenge well. Having spent years working in technology at companies including Google, eBay, Cloudflare and Docker, she went on to found CodeSee, a developer technology company acquired by GitKraken in 2024. Today, she’s the CEO of Empromptu AI, a company helping businesses develop enterprise AI applications.
During a conversation with Developers.Net, Leven shared her perspective on how you make sure you’re spending time with the right people.
Finding the Right Room Takes Work
Building startups in competitive environments like San Francisco, networking can become a significant investment of time and energy. Between running a business and attending events, it’s difficult to know which opportunities will actually lead somewhere.
Leven believes that uncertainty is simply part of the process.
“You just have to burn a lot of energy until you find the right rooms,” she said.
She acknowledges that some entrepreneurs have the advantage of growing up with connections that can help open doors. For those who don’t, finding the right people requires persistence.
Even after a long day, Leven sometimes makes the decision to attend another event, knowing it may not lead to anything.
“I am sometimes dog tired, and I will go to that party at the end of the day,” she said.
Her reasoning is that you can’t always predict which conversation will create an opportunity. Someone you meet today might introduce you to another person months later. An acquaintance from years ago might remember you when an opportunity arises.
“The proximity just increases the odds of the percentages,” Leven explained.
For her, being present matters because opportunities often begin with relationships that don’t immediately appear valuable.
What Makes It the Right Room?
Meeting more people doesn’t necessarily mean meeting the people who can help your business grow.
When asked what defines the right room for her today, Leven offered a more specific answer.
“I think the right room is the person who sees the vision and actually has power to take action to help you achieve whatever the goal is that you’re trying to achieve,” she said.
That person could be a potential customer or someone who can introduce you to an investor. It could also be someone who helps you find the talent needed to move your business forward.
What’s important is finding people who understand what you’re trying to accomplish and have the ability to contribute to it.
For Leven, developing those relationships is an important part of a founder’s responsibility.
“As a founder, one of the best things that we need to focus on is go-to-market and networks,” she said.
One Relationship Can Change Everything
There isn’t a formula for knowing which event to attend or which introduction will ultimately matter. Even experienced entrepreneurs like Leven continue investing time in relationships without knowing what the outcome will be.
Her advice is to remain persistent and recognize that the value of a connection isn’t always immediately apparent.
“Someone can open the door for you, and that, that one person can change your entire world,” she said.
“But you have to find them and convince them.”
For entrepreneurs wondering whether another event or conversation is worth their time, Leven’s experience offers a useful perspective. You may not know which room holds your next opportunity, but you have to be there to discover it.
