Yes, I can start the conversation. A simple and effective way to begin is by asking a friendly, open-ended question, such as: "How's your day going so far?"5 This approach shows interest and invites the other person to share.

Other common conversation starters include:

• Commenting on a shared experience: "These networking events are always a little awkward, aren’t they?"5
• Noticing something positive: "That last session was really insightful—did you catch it?"5
• Giving a compliment: "I liked your point in the meeting—you explained it really well."5
• Asking for information: "Do you know if there’s a shuttle running to the airport?"15
• Finding common ground: "Oh, you’re from Denver? I lived there for a few years—what part are you from?"5

These openers help build rapport and make the other person feel comfortable engaging in conversation15.