CTD supports two distinct workflows in the ghost email process: the outreach approver workflow (a gatekeeper who controls which ghost emails reach the connector) and the connector review (where the connector decides whether to send the draft). These are separate steps and serve different purposes.

Outreach approvers

On Business Edition, admins can configure an outreach approver for each connector. This adds a gatekeeper step before the ghost email ever reaches the connector. Admins configure this in Configuring outreach approvers (Settings → Outreach approvers) — where they can set default approvers for all internal requests, all external member requests, or define individual overrides per person.

A typical setup: an AE wants to send a ghost email through a board member to a target. Instead of the draft going directly to the board member, it first goes to the CEO — who reviews whether the ask is appropriate, well-crafted, and worth the board member's attention. If the CEO approves, the draft is forwarded to the board member. If not, it's declined before the board member ever sees it.

The full flow: AE → CEO (outreach approver) → Board member (connector) → Target

Why this matters: From the board member's perspective, the request appears to come from the CEO — not the AE. This significantly increases the likelihood that the board member will follow through and send the intro.

Connector review

Once a ghost email reaches the connector, they receive a notification with:

  • The pre-written email draft
  • Who the email is addressed to and why
  • Context on their relationship with the target

The connector has three options:

  • Send as-is — sends the email exactly as written, from their address, in one click
  • Edit and send — adjust the tone, add personal context, or rewrite it before sending
  • Decline — close the request without sending; the requester is notified
Your name, your call. The email goes out from the connector's address. They're never obligated to send, and they always have full control over what it says before it goes out.

After the connector sends

The requester is automatically CC'd. When the target replies, both the connector and the requester are in the thread. The connector can hand off the conversation or stay involved — up to them.

External members

External members can receive ghost email requests from the teams they're connected to. The same connector review applies: they receive the draft, review it, and decide whether to send or decline.