The art of the forwardable email

We’re all constantly networking — for jobs, partnerships, opportunities — and the difference between a dead end and a warm intro often comes down to how you write the ask. Most people don’t do it right, and for most of my career, neither did I.
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A few years ago, I hired a very smart advisor (hi Arjun Dev Arora!) who taught me how to do it the right way. He calls it a Request for Introduction (an RFI), and I’ve come to think of it as a "forwardable" email. Because that’s the real secret: the email has to be forwardable.

Welcome back to Watch Me AI—my weekly note on using AI to work smarter, earn more, and stay ahead of the curve. Today's newsletter describes the perfect Request for Introduction email and how to use AI to do the legwork. I also share my new favorite tool for visualizing any concept (it's seriously so cool). Let's dig in.

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Why “forwardable” is the key when asking for an introduction​
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When you ask someone for an introduction, you’re asking for a favor. You’re asking them to take time out of their day and use their social capital to help you get something you want.

So here's the number one rule: make it as easy as possible for them to do this favor.

A forwardable email means your contact can literally hit “forward,” add a quick note, and send it. They don’t need to delete or rewrite anything. The entire email, including the part addressed to them, is designed to be forwarded as-is.

That’s what makes it work. You’ve already given them the context, the “ask,” and a short blurb about you that makes sense to the recipient. So they feel comfortable using their social capital to do you this favor, and they don't need to spend time writing their own email.

The second rule for RFI's: make it as easy as possible for the recipient to say Yes.

How do you do that? Clarity, personalization, and a touch of flattery. Let's break it down.

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The anatomy of a great Request for Introduction email (RFI)

Here’s the structure I use every time. (with examples below)

1. Subject line: Simple and clear: Mollie Mueller ↔ [Name] Intro
2. Greeting: Address it to the person you’re asking to make the intro. Keep it short and warm.
3. The Ask: Clearly ask for the introduction, and write one to two sentences on why you want the intro to them. It should sound thoughtful and slightly flattering toward the person you’re trying to meet.
4. The sign-off: A mention of your blurb below, and a thank you.
5. The blurb below: A concise, strategic, personalized blurb summarizing you or your company. Include:
   1. A short “about me” or "about [company]" paragraph – one or two sentences summarizing who you are.
   2. 3–4 bullet points – highlights that make you relevant or credible.
   3. Links – add your LinkedIn or website if helpful (and make sure they’re also in your email signature).

The goal: make it clear why you’re worth meeting and make it effortless for the forwarder. They should send the entire email to give the recipient the full context.

Here's an example of a job hunting RFI:

In the above example, Alex (the sender) has made a clear ask, given a strong reason for "why", added details/flattery on "why them" (i.e., specific mention of Jordan's relevant experience), and included a personalized "why me" section to prove relevance.

In this case, Taylor (the introducer) should hit forward, add a short note like "Hey Jordan, Alex is one of the best PM's I've worked with, I'd love to introduce you" and hit send.

When to send an RFI

The most common reasons you need an introduction are for job hunting and sales. But this format works for any introduction.

For job seekers

When you’re applying for roles, a warm introduction can make or break your chances. Without one, your resume is just one of thousands in an applicant tracking system.

But remember: people at top companies get a lot of these requests. You need to make it easy for them to say yes. Do your homework. Show that you’ve paid attention.

For example:

• Reference an article or post they’ve written that inspired you.
• Mention a shared alma mater or professional interest.

Then, in your “about me” section, make your bullet points directly relevant to the role or team. Show you’ve thought about why you belong there.

For founders, sellers, or solopreneurs

If you’re in sales, fundraising, or partnerships, the same logic applies. You’re asking busy people to connect you with potential customers, investors, or collaborators. Most have never heard of you and may not care yet.

So do the work for them:

• Be specific about why you want to meet this person.
• Show that you understand their world.
• Make it obvious how the connection could be mutually beneficial.

Here's an example of a sales RFI:

A note for founders and fundraisers

If you’re raising money, the RFI format is essential. You’ll likely ask dozens of people for introductions to investors, and this is the fastest, most respectful way to do it.

How AI can help

What I’ve described so far takes real effort, and it should. But AI can now handle much of the tedious part: the research and customization.

Before AI, I’d make a target list, open every LinkedIn profile, read bios and posts, find that “why them” nugget, and tweak each “about me” section manually.

Now, I let AI do 80% of that work.

Here's the simplest process:

Open up ChatGPT, Claude, or your favorite general AI tool.

Feed it:

• Your RFI template (you can use mine below)
• The name and LinkedIn URL of the person you want to connect with
• Context about your goal (job, partnership, etc.)

Ask it to:

1. Research that person
2. Suggest a relevant reason for why them. (You're likely clear on why that company, but you need to personalize it to the human)
3. Customize your “about me” section or bullets to match your goal and their interests

If you’re job-hunting, you can paste in the job description so your bullets are tailored to that role.

Coming up next: AI for Small Business

If you liked this workflow, you’ll love my new course, Build and Grow your Business with AI — designed to help founders, solopreneurs, and consultants use AI to:

• Automate outreach and marketing
• Streamline client communication
• Save hours on proposals, social posts, and admin work

Early-bird pricing is live now, and this RFI example is just one of many AI workflows inside.

👉 Enroll now​

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RFI Template (copy and adapt)

Subject: Mollie Mueller ↔ [Person you want to meet's name] Intro

Hi [Name],

Great catching up last week. Could you connect me to [Person]?

I’d love to meet them because [short, thoughtful reason].

I’ve included a quick blurb below. Thank you so much.

Mollie

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About me:

I’m [1–2 sentence summary].

Highlights:

• [Bullet 1: relevant achievement or role]

• [Bullet 2: notable project or result]

• [Bullet 3: credibility or shared connection]

Links:

[LinkedIn] | [Website]

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