As social beings, we’ve been meeting, connecting, and building relationships with others for thousands of years, but it’s only been a few decades that we’ve been studying the profound effects of Social Capital on our lives. Looking at your connections as an asset class gives you a whole new perspective on how you approach networking. Building your social capital is the most effective way to create opportunities for yourself to achieve your desired success.

As a third-generation entrepreneur, Reza Varzidehkar knows the value of connections. As a first-generation immigrant, he was faced with the reality of starting fresh and building a network from scratch. His quest to differentiate himself during professional interactions led him to create OVOU, a smart business card that lets you share your contact information with just a tap. His mission is to inspire people to put themselves out there, make new connections, and grow their network. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx