How to Email a 'Big Name'

[LivingOffLoans]

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It was recently recommended to me by a professional mentor that I email a certain big name player in the field who lives in my area. I never would have considered it prior, but have been thinking about it since it was suggested.

They are a theorist, researcher, and author, whose work has highly influenced my graduate training. I have devoted a number of projects, including my master's thesis, to trying to further their social and political arguments. If I was able to somehow arrange a meeting with them, I think it would be a good opportunity to network, ask some questions about what they feel needs to happen next to further their vision, maybe see if they are looking for a research assistant (this person is not affiliated with a university, though they do research).

Have any of you ever had experience with doing something like this? Do you have any suggestions on how I should go about introducing myself in an email? It seems a little different than contacting a POI, though there may be some overlap. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[fallen625]

My only experience emailing someone big was when I was a sophomore looking for an RA position - I had no idea they were pretty much the best in that field of study at that point, so I just emailed like I would email anyone else in a professional setting. I got a positive response. So maybe that was strategy that works?

I would just email saying something along the lines of what you said in this post, and asking for a meeting for coffee.