Start with the target person and their relevant professional history. Look for former colleagues, publicly documented advisors, portfolio relationships or partner contacts connected to your organisation's wider network.
Avoid making the chain unnecessarily long. Every intermediary adds a willingness and relevance check.
Ask whether the first connector genuinely knows the next person and is comfortable making the request. Explain the business purpose. Do not assume that because one connection is confirmed, the rest of the path is also available.
A possible route can provide account context even when it cannot produce an introduction.
A relevant event, shared community or thoughtful direct outreach may be more appropriate than asking several strangers to relay a favour. Be honest about whether the opening is warm or cold.
Orbb can support research into external professional paths. For no-integration research or Network Graph delivery, confirm current scope directly. Public data can surface hypotheses, while validation and willing participation turn them into usable access.