Many of us have established professional goals for 2023, such as continuing education, working with a life coach, participating in a professional organization, or even getting that promotion we have wanted for years. One great way to help you achieve your professional goals is to attend a conference to learn industry trends, network, expand your knowledge, level up your resume, and even meet an inspiring hero.
Here are a few ways to get the most out of attending a conference by sharing my favorite memories from one of my favorite conferences, the Silicon Valley Leadership Summit (SVLLS) 2022.
Do your research
Identifying the conference that will best meet your needs at your current point in your career is essential. Are you looking to learn about your specific industry? Connect with like-minded professionals? Also, talk to your manager because your company may have a budget to pay for you to attend a conference.
Once you have selected the conference, take some time to look at the agenda and plan which sessions you want to attend. You can also see if there are any speakers or panelists that you would like to meet.
Come prepared
Conferences are all-day and sometimes have after-event soirees, so coming prepared is vital. I suggested wearing comfortable shoes and an outfit that will transition from day to evening if needed.
Some essentials to have on hand include your phone, laptop, and chargers in case their batteries die. Be prepared to either share your business card or use the LinkedIn app to have everyone you meet scan and become an instant connection. Take some time to ensure that your LinkedIn profile is up to date before the conference.
Make connections
Conferences are about the community and the people that attend them, bringing together people from different areas, industry backgrounds, and cultural experiences. I have been attending the Silicon Valley Leadership Summit year after year, and I look forward to meeting up with friends I have made over the years and making new connections.
Expand your knowledge
Conferences offer a variety of ways to expand your knowledge with talks and presentations. But the best part about a conference is the conversations and the opportunities to talk with speakers and panelists in-person.
Be inspired
Many conferences will feature keynote speakers sharing their personal stories that you may have yet to have the opportunity to hear otherwise, and what I love is that you can even meet them afterward.
At the 2022 SVLLS, I had the chance to meet Stedman Graham, author of Identity Leadership.
Post-conference
A great way to reinforce what you learned at a conference is to share your knowledge. Whether you are sharing small tidbits of conference learnings on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or opt for a longer recap article to share on LinkedIn, it’s a great way to spark conversations with like-minded professionals and establish yourself as someone to connect with and follow.
To build those connections, follow up with all the contacts you made by adding them on LinkedIn or drop a quick email to say how much you enjoyed meeting them or hearing them speak at the conference.
I always love the feeling when you leave a conference feeling inspired to be better, do more, and elevate your performance at my job and beyond; that’s how I always feel after attending the SVLLS.
To learn more about the Silicon Valley Latino Leadership Summit, visit https://www.svlls.com/
*Images courtesy of SVLLS.