Networking Advice

To put it simply how does networking work in the finance industry?

All I hear about nowadays are coffee chats, LinkedIn messages, and hunting down emails of analysts from ______ bank/firm. What I am wondering is how does one initiate networking such as a coffee chat. I may be more on the awkward side, but I am curious if networking can be awkward from the view of both sides. What I fear most is looking under-educated and being written off as someone who saw the Wolf of Wall Street one too many times. Any advice would be appreciated on how I can begin to network and form relationships with people in my intended industry.