DRN president Dolphine Okeyo / BRIAN OTIENO

DRN Muthiaga branch coordinator Doreen Bosibori / BRIAN OTIENO

Professional networks are fast becoming the go-to places for new business opportunities for companies.

This is because the professional networks forma pool of human resources who sometimes hold the keys to doors that have remained closed for some time.

“In business, we are told that your network is actually your net worth,” Directors Referral Network (DRN) president Dolphine Okeyo.

Okeyo spoke ahead of the DRN 2026 End Year Convention that will take place at the Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club in Nairobi on November 20.

The one-day convention, which will run from 8am to 6pm, will bring together business leaders from different sectors of the economy who will discuss challenges that affect business in the country.

This comes as businesses struggle to find new clients, manage cash flows and remain profitable in the tough business environment that the country is undergoing.

Okeyo said the convention will provide opportunities for company directors and chief executives to make new contacts and exchange professional views in order to unlock new opportunities.

“The forum is aimed at strengthening business connections, sharing leadership experiences and generating referrals that could translate into new customers and partnerships,” she said.

This year’s theme is “Growing SMEs Through Strategy, Cash Flow and Networking”.

Already, over 200 business executives, directors, entrepreneurs, and other key decision-makers have confirmed participation.

“The convention would provide a platform for business leaders to discuss challenges affecting their organizations and explore practical solutions through collaboration,” the DRN president said.

She noted that the gathering would focus on solving everyday business challenges rather than simply exchanging pleasantries.

“We are not coming just to talk about business. We are coming to solve real-world challenges that we face day to day,” Okeyo said.

DRN Muthaiga branch coordinator Doreen Bosibori said the convention will also give directors an opportunity to showcase their products and services while learning from professionals in other industries.

“Business is hard to get. You cannot just walk into a room and get business. Meeting, networking and getting to understand one another makes it easier to strike a deal,” she said.

Explicit Risk, Audit and Data Ltd (ERAD) managing director Steve Gathai said access to decision-makers could make a difference for businesses seeking clients and strategic partnerships.

He said there will be opportunities for firms to connect with other firms for services they actually need.

“This is where companies requiring taxation, auditing, fraud prevention and risk management services will meet professionals who provide those very services,” Gathai said.

He said in a company, there are people that can make you have dreams for your own company and there the key people that can actually turn those dreams into realities.

“You need to meet decision-makers. This forum is where you interact with decision-makers, and that is what makes the difference between a struggling and a successful business,” Gathai said.

Beyond referrals, he said, participants could benefit from the experiences of established entrepreneurs, including lessons from mistakes made while building their businesses.

The convention will feature speakers from different sectors, including corporate leadership, human resources, technology, tourism, entrepreneurship and business development.

The organizers said the event is open not only to CEOs and directors but also to general managers, operations managers and other representatives authorized to make business decisions.

“Registration costs Sh7,000 under the early-bird offer, which runs from October 1 to 31, while the normal rate is Sh10,000 for registrations from November 1 to 18,” Okeyo said.

“For participating businesses, the central promise is that stronger professional relationships can open doors to customers, partnerships and knowledge that may otherwise be difficult or expensive to access,” she said.