20 Professional Ways to Express “It Was a Pleasure Meeting You”

In professional settings, expressing appreciation after meeting someone can leave a lasting impression. While “It was a pleasure meeting you” is a polite and common phrase, finding different ways to convey the same message can add variety and show more sincerity. Whether you’re networking, attending a job interview, or collaborating with new colleagues, having several alternatives to “It was a pleasure meeting you” helps maintain a fresh and engaging tone.

In this article, we’ll explore 20 professional ways to say “It was a pleasure meeting you,” giving you the tools to personalize your interactions while keeping the sentiment intact. So, if you’re looking to move beyond the standard “It was a pleasure meeting you,” keep reading for some great ideas!

What to Say Instead of “It Was a Pleasure Meeting You”

• What a delightful conversation we had
• I found our meeting truly enjoyable
• It was great to connect with someone who shares similar interests
• What a wonderful encounter – I learned so much
• It was so nice to meet someone from the same industry
• It was a joy to meet you at the conference
• I was pleased to meet you and learn about your work
• Pleasure connecting with a fellow entrepreneur
• Happy to have met such an inspiring professional
• Glad to meet someone who’s equally passionate about our field
• What a refreshing conversation we shared
• Thoroughly impressed by our discussion
• What an enlightening exchange we had
• Inspired by our meeting and eager to connect again
• What a meaningful conversation we had
• Grateful for the opportunity to meet you
• Energized by our discussion about industry trends
• Valued our conversation immensely
• What a fortunate encounter this was
• Captivated by your insights during our meeting

1. “What a delightful conversation we had”

This phrase works beautifully when you’ve had an engaging discussion that went beyond small talk.

Example Email:

Dear Sarah,

What a delightful conversation we had at yesterday’s tech conference! Your insights about AI implementation in healthcare really opened my eyes to new possibilities. I’d love to continue our discussion over coffee sometime next week if you’re available.

Best regards, Michael

2. “I found our meeting truly enjoyable”

Perfect for situations where you want to emphasize how much you valued the interaction while keeping things professional.

Example LinkedIn Message:

Hi Marcus,

I found our meeting truly enjoyable at the startup mixer yesterday. Your experience in sustainable fashion really resonated with our company’s mission. I’ve attached some resources we discussed about eco-friendly materials.

Warm regards, Rachel

3. “It was great to connect with someone who shares similar interests”

Use this when you’ve discovered common ground with your new acquaintance.

Example Follow-up Note:

Dear Dr. Chen,

It was great to connect with someone who shares similar interests in renewable energy! Your research on solar panel efficiency aligns perfectly with what we’re working on at GreenTech Solutions.

Looking forward to collaborating, James

4. “What a wonderful encounter – I learned so much”

This works especially well after meaningful professional development events or mentoring sessions.

Example Post-Interview Note:

Dear Ms. Rodriguez,

What a wonderful encounter we had during yesterday’s informational interview. Your journey from startup founder to CEO truly inspired me. Thank you for sharing your valuable insights about industry leadership.

Best wishes, Alexandra

5. “It was so nice to meet someone from the same industry”

This casual yet professional phrase works great for networking events.

Example Trade Show Follow-up:

Hi Thomas,

It was so nice to meet someone from the same industry at the Digital Marketing Expo! Your experience with content strategy matches exactly what we’re looking to develop at our agency.

Cheers, Emma

6. “It was a joy to meet you at the conference”

Perfect for expressing genuine enthusiasm after a positive first meeting.

Example Conference Follow-up:

Dear Patricia,

It was a joy to meet you at the Women in Tech Conference! Your keynote speech about breaking barriers in STEM really struck a chord with me. I’ve already started implementing some of your suggested leadership strategies.

Best regards, Sophie

7. “I was pleased to meet you and learn about your work”

This formal yet warm phrase fits perfectly in business contexts.

Example Business Meeting Follow-up:

Dear Mr. Thompson,

I was pleased to meet you and learn about your work in sustainable architecture yesterday. Your innovative approach to urban planning could revolutionize our upcoming downtown project.

Kind regards, Daniel

8. “Pleasure connecting with a fellow entrepreneur”

Great for networking events where you’ve met someone in a similar professional position.

Example Networking Event Follow-up:

Hi Victoria,

Pleasure connecting with a fellow entrepreneur at last night’s startup mixer! Your insights about scaling B2B services were incredibly valuable. I’d love to exchange more ideas over lunch sometime.

Best, Nathan

9. “Happy to have met such an inspiring professional”

Use this when you genuinely feel motivated by someone’s achievements or ideas.

Example Workshop Follow-up:

Dear Professor Williams,

Happy to have met such an inspiring professional at yesterday’s workshop! Your innovative teaching methods have given me fresh ideas for my own classroom.

Warmly, Lisa

10. “Glad to meet someone who’s equally passionate about sustainability”

Perfect for expressing shared enthusiasm about specific interests or causes.

Example Environmental Conference Follow-up:

Dear Jordan,

Glad to meet someone who’s equally passionate about sustainability at the Green Future Summit! Your presentation on reducing corporate carbon footprints was eye-opening. I’ve shared your ideas with my team already.

Best regards, Oliver

11. “What a refreshing conversation we shared”

Perfect for when you’ve had an intellectually stimulating discussion that energized you.

Example Email:

Dear William,

What a refreshing conversation we shared at the Innovation Summit! Your perspective on AI ethics brought a whole new dimension to the discussion. I’d love to explore these ideas further.

Best wishes, Amanda

12. “Thoroughly impressed by our discussion”

Ideal for situations where someone’s expertise or insights really stood out.

Example LinkedIn Message:

Hi Dr. Martinez,

I was thoroughly impressed by our discussion at the Medical Technology Conference. Your groundbreaking work in robotic surgery is exactly what our research team has been exploring.

Kind regards, Robert

13. “What an enlightening exchange we had”

Use this when you’ve gained valuable insights from your interaction.

Example Conference Follow-up:

Dear Professor Kumar,

What an enlightening exchange we had during yesterday’s symposium! Your research on climate change adaptation strategies has opened my eyes to new possibilities in urban planning.

Warm regards, Emily

14. “Inspired by our meeting and eager to connect again”

Perfect for situations where you’re genuinely motivated to maintain contact.

Example Networking Event Follow-up:

Dear Sophia,

I’m truly inspired by our meeting at the Women Entrepreneurs Forum. Your journey from startup to successful CEO resonates deeply with my own aspirations.

Best, Isabella

15. “What a meaningful conversation we had”

Excellent for deep discussions that went beyond surface-level networking.

Example Workshop Follow-up:

Dear Mr. Harrison,

What a meaningful conversation we had during the leadership workshop! Your insights about building inclusive team cultures really struck home.

Regards, David

16. “Grateful for the opportunity to meet you”

This works well when meeting someone you’ve long admired or whose position could be valuable for your career.

Example Post-Interview Note:

Dear Ms. Chang,

I’m grateful for the opportunity to meet you and learn about your innovative approach to sustainable fashion. Your work is truly revolutionary in our industry.

Best regards, Laura

17. “Energized by our discussion about industry trends”

Perfect for professional settings where you’ve had an engaging conversation about your field.

Example Trade Show Follow-up:

Hi Benjamin,

I’m still energized by our discussion about emerging tech trends at the Digital Summit. Your predictions about AI integration really got me thinking.

Cheers, Samuel

18. “Valued our conversation immensely”

Great for expressing sincere appreciation after a meaningful interaction.

Example Mentoring Session Follow-up:

Dear Mrs. O’Connor,

I valued our conversation immensely during yesterday’s mentoring session. Your career advice about navigating corporate transitions was exactly what I needed to hear.

Sincerely, Katherine

19. “What a fortunate encounter this was”

Use this when you feel genuinely lucky to have met someone.

Example Business Meeting Follow-up:

Dear Mr. Patel,

What a fortunate encounter this was at the Startup Incubator meeting! Your expertise in venture capital aligns perfectly with our company’s current needs.

Best wishes, Marcus

20. “Captivated by your insights during our meeting”

Perfect for expressing genuine interest in someone’s expertise or viewpoint.

Example Conference Follow-up:

Dear Dr. Anderson,

I was captivated by your insights during our conversation at the Psychology Conference. Your research on cognitive behavioral therapy brings a fresh perspective to the field.

Warm regards, Elena

Tips for Making These Phrases Your Own(It Was a Pleasure Meeting You)

1. Add personal touches by referencing specific topics you discussed
2. Match the formality to your industry and relationship
3. Include a forward-looking statement if you want to maintain contact
4. Be specific about what made the meeting memorable
5. Keep the tone authentic to your personality

Best Uses for Different Contexts

• Executive Meetings: Use “valued our conversation” or “meaningful conversation”
• Academic Settings: Try “enlightening exchange” or “captivated by your insights”
• Creative Industries: Go with “energized by our discussion” or “refreshing conversation”
• Mentorship Scenarios: Choose “grateful for the opportunity” or “fortunate encounter”

Remember to always personalize your message with specific details from your interaction. This shows you were genuinely engaged and helps the recipient remember your conversation.

The most effective follow-ups combine genuine appreciation with a clear indication of how you’d like to move the relationship forward, whether that’s a future meeting, collaboration opportunity, or simply staying in touch.