KS Koh

One of the interest groups I joined in my resident network (RN) is the Financing and Procurement Group, which is also responsible for fundraising activities.

The immediate task was to secure an anchor tenant to organize courses at the RN. These courses needed the People’s Association mark of approval.

Despite the limited choices of approved course providers, we had a list of contacts to reach out to.

Before I joined this group, I was told there was a blockage because some of the existing members were too “shy” to approach these prospects.

However, with 15 years of sales experience, I excel at sending cold emails. Over the years, I’ve developed a thick skin and don’t mind sending out emails with low expectations for a response.

I understand the hesitation to start due to fear of rejection. With any cold call or email, the first rule is to be prepared for the recipient not to respond.

Actually, I prefer if the recipient sends a clear “no” rather than ignoring me. With a “no,” I can move on and not disturb them again.

For the RN project, I created a template to quickly send out cold emails, inviting potential course providers to consider using the RN venue and offering to conduct trial classes first.

Out of 15 emails sent, 3 replied. After further filtering, 1 provider was interested. Once we had their interest, other group members helped by opening the RN venue 30 minutes early for setup and preparing the room for the trials.

In the age of AI, I frequently use technology for work, but it’s very rewarding to use my own experiences and skills to build community relations and help the RN raise funds for future activities for the residents.