Andy Lopata is an acclaimed professional relationships strategist, who has worked with global clients including Paypal, GlaxoSmithKline and Brother.
He has written six books on networking and professional relationships, with his sixth book, ‘The Financial Times Guide to Mentoring’ published in Spring 2024. He writes a regular blog for Psychology Today and has often been quoted in the media, including The Sunday Times, The Financial Times and Inc. In fact, the FT called Andy ‘one of Europe’s leading business networking strategists’ and both Forbes.com and The Independent called him ‘a true master of networking’.
Andy holds the PSAE award – that’s the UK and Ireland’s ‘Hall of Fame’ award, designed to recognise excellence in professional speaking. He is a two-time Board Member and former President of the Fellows Community of the Professional Speaking Association (PSA) UK and Ireland. He’s also a Fellow of the Learning and Performance Institute (LPI) and a member of the Meetings Industry Association, Association of Business Mentors and Society of Authors.
He started working in networking in 1999, and spent eight years as Managing Director of a UK networking organisation that had over 2,000 member companies.
Andy’s approach to building professional relationships is about being a whole, authentic person. That covers sharing social information as well as professional. So here’s where you can get to know him a little better…
Outside work, Andy is an avid fan of Charlton Athletic Football Club – although he describes this as a “dubious pleasure”. He also follows other sports, including athletics, tennis, rugby union and cricket.
He also loves music. After growing up listening to The Doors, Hendrix, Lou Reed and Bowie, today his tastes range from classical to punk with everything in between. “Except Coldplay,” he stresses.
As well as attending sporting events and live music gigs, Andy often goes to the theatre and cinema.
At home, he has a passion for cooking, and claims to make a “mean chocolate truffle torte”.
He tries to keep in a reasonable shape by regularly walking, attending reformer pilates and playing padel tennis.