Most events that promise to be about “networking” seem to be more about retaining a one-to-many model of engagement. One person speaks everyone else listens. That is a kind of network a centralised one (see (a) in the diagram). But what I think most of us intend by a network event is one where we’re given plenty of scope to be active in choosing our own connections a bit more like (c) in the diagram.
If your networking event is based on (a) then I suggest you call it a hierarching event. That would be closer to the truth.
