Conferences offer a goldmine of opportunities for growth and connections. To get the most out of them, consider:
- Scheduling in advance. Identify key sessions and allocate time slots for networking around these.
- Setting specific goals. Know what you aim to learn and whom you want to meet to stay focused.
- Being flexible. Allow room for spontaneous interactions that could lead to valuable insights or partnerships.
Curious about how others navigate conference agendas? Share your strategies.
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Prioritize: Identify must-attend sessions and allot time for networking around them. Example: Attend a session on AI trends, then network with speakers during breaks. Set goals: Determine specific learning objectives and networking targets. Example: Learn about blockchain applications and connect with 3 experts in the field. Be flexible: Allow room for serendipitous interactions. Example: Engage in a thought-provoking discussion during lunch that leads to a potential collaboration. Quality over quantity: Engage in meaningful conversations rather than collecting business cards. Follow up: Connect with new contacts after the conference. Example: Send a personalized message to a new connection, suggesting a future meeting.
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The coffee station is the best opportunity to network - relaxed, informal with chance to chat about the previous/forthcoming session, what the venue is like, general chit chat. It's usually quite a short period so you can easily move on to chat to other attendees (which is often the most awkward part of networking!) or if moving on is tricky, the coffee break ends and you're back in the conference session!
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