Where to start networking a month or year in advance!

I don't know where to begin networking for IB in MM banks a year or even a month in advance for summer analyst positions or full-time jobs. Do I cold email analysts and ask them for a coffee because I want to get to know the industry better? I know you need to start networking far in advance of when you actually need a job or plan to transition into banking. I just don't really know where to start. Will it not sound awkward if I email people such as analysts and VPs in banks and ask them about what their job entails, etc when I'm not even looking for a job at the moment?

I know there have been many networking posts, but none of them talk about how to network with people who are not alums of your university. There was this one post by somone which talked about how if you're from a nontarget, then all the nontargets at banks are your networking friends.

Any advice from experience will be appreciated!