Personalize a connection request

I’m personalizing a request to Lina, a senior recruiter at Atlas Ventures, who posted about diversity hiring last month. Send a connection note on Wednesday that references her post on diversity, states I’m looking for VP talent roles in fintech, and asks for a 10-minute call to learn how Atlas sources senior talent; keep tone professional but warm.

Before I personalize the request to Lina at Atlas Ventures, surface the exact language from her diversity post and two recent portfolio hires that make the note feel specific. Flag any wording that could sound like a job pitch and rewrite the note so it leads with interest in her work, not my resume.

Lina posted about diversity hiring and I want to connect without sounding like I’m pitching myself. What’s the safest opening line that acknowledges her post and asks for a brief informational call, and give me a 25–30 word message that passes as genuine curiosity rather than a job application.

I frequently spend too much time tailoring connection requests and sometimes reuse phrases that feel inauthentic. What one practice will keep my messages genuinely specific while cutting preparation time in half? Offer the practice and two quick checks to ensure authenticity before sending.