Author, speaker, and artist Laurie Finkelstein knows how nerve-wracking networking and speaking events can be for her fellow introverts. Something she does to calm her nerves at large events and conferences is think of herself as an ambassador. She has a job: find other people who are just as uncomfortable as she is and build a relationship with them. Finkelstein does this throughout the day so by the time a networking event or dinner rolls around, she already knows some contacts she can talk to. In preparation for speaking events, Finkelstein educates herself as much as she can on the subject and acknowledges that it can take a lot of practice to be a confident speaker. An author’s first few conferences or speaking events may not be perfect, but with practice, time, and learning, they will become more comfortable.