Become a power broker
More than just introducing two previously unlinked parties
A power broker is an indispensable "catalyst" for unique collaborations to happen. As a power broker, people come to you for advice, resources, and connections. In the academic context, a power broker can be a PI who connects a start-up company with an existing collaborator of his/hers. A power broker can also be a graduate student who champions a multidisciplinary project by facilitating communication among participants. The benefits of becoming a power broker are multi-fold:
You can often experience quite different perspectives on the complex problem you want to solve collectively
From a pragmatic perspective, you can have your name attached to multiple deliverables when you are involved in many different projects as a well-connected power broker
To be a power broker, you need:
A vision: how the parties involved will grow synergistically WITH your involvement
Have a good understanding of what both parties can offer, their strength, their needs, their common objectives (if work together)
Maintain smooth communication between two parties
Understand your unique advantage (irreplaceable): knowledge, skill, assets (e.g., access to database and software, computation resources, lab space)
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