Here's how you can maximize industry conferences and events for your continuing education.

Before going to an event I look at all the speakers and list the ones that are relevant to me and then do research : their backgrounds, what they're interested in, and what the link that would make it an interesting meeting. I then reach to them on LinkedIn pre-emptively to connect. I found it's a better way than cold-connecting in the events app (if there's one) which often seems spammy for the person on the other side - as they need to do the extra effort of checking my LinkedIn themselves

Maximizing industry conferences and events for continuing education involves strategic planning and active participation. Start by researching and selecting events that align with your professional goals. Prepare by reviewing the agenda and identifying key sessions and speakers. Network proactively by engaging with peers and industry leaders. Take detailed notes during sessions and participate in discussions. Follow up with new contacts and apply the insights gained to your work. If you have any additional thoughts or contributions, please reply to this comment. I always appreciate and look forward to hearing more from you. Thank you!

Don't underestimate the power of informal interactions at industry events. While structured sessions offer valuable insights, spontaneous conversations during coffee breaks, networking events, or even chance encounters can spark unexpected connections and lead to valuable learning opportunities. Be open to engaging with fellow attendees, sharing experiences, and exchanging ideas in a relaxed setting. These informal interactions can foster genuine relationships and expose you to diverse perspectives, enhancing your overall learning experience and expanding your professional network.

At large conferences with multiple stages and simultaneous speakers, study the topics of each session and add your preferred ones to your calendar. Even if a topic isn't relevant, you might still want to attend for a specific speaker. Reach out to speakers you want to meet ahead of time to schedule in-person meetings, typically lasting 15 minutes for quick networking. If you don't have a scheduled meeting, the best time to connect with speakers is right after their panel. Always carry business cards, as exchanging them can still work magic in networking! Additionally, post your attendance on social media to help schedule more meetings—you never know who from your network might be attending.

According to my experience, networking is as important as attending sessions in a conference. Some aspects I would consider to have an effective networking in a conference: 1.- Before attending the event, know who you want to meet and why. If you can contact them in advance to coordinate a meeting, much better. Stayed focused but open, in case you meet someone not included in your list. 2.- Prepare conversation starters /icebreakers / topics to discuss for the people in your list. 3.- Practice active listening during conversations, and take notes after these meetings (e.g., about the people you've met) so you will remember later. 6.- After the event, follow up with your new contacts (e.g., email, msg).

Generally speaking, a strategy that has served me well over the years is to i) zone in on the speakers/panellists of the talks I want to hear or try to connect with, ii) check out a couple of talks in domain areas I'm familiar with to make sure I've not missed any fresh new perspectives, and iii) pick at least one talk that is completely unconnected to my knowledge and experience, to expose myself to new ideas.

Put away your phone/laptop and actually engage in a human way with the folks around you. You will be surprised how effective this is, and how refreshingly authentic the conversations will feel. Just be yourself. And be curious. Think about 2-3 questions that you are genuinely interested in the answer to and ask them of people. Then listen to the answers. More times than not, you will like where it takes you.

When I'm in the audience, I always listen with a specific objective: what would be my question? As a speaker, there's this very awkward moment after finishing: " any questions"... And. No. No one. Brrr... Terrifying. The feeling of shame and failure up there is real. So being that person that directly asks a question is an incredible gift for the speaker - and a great opportunity to reach to the person just after, to continue the conversation: they usually remember me ;)

Right after an event, I need a day to digest all the information, and I assume that others do too. So, I will follow up one or two days after the event to refresh the conversation, thank everyone for their time, and offer any help I can provide.

Attending the event with a clear agenda and staying organized is crucial for post-event success. Connect with people you meet at the event right after your conversation to ensure you are connected on platforms like LinkedIn, or reach out to them soon after while memories are fresh. Events offer more than networking opportunities; they provide a chance to learn, be inspired, and apply insights to your personal & professional life. Always take notes and store them in an accessible place for future reference. This will help you optimize your time and participation at future events. Keep the conversations going with your new connections and remember that you don't need to be in the mindset of monetizing the relationship immediately!

Follow-up! It's crazy how many people go to events, network like crazy, and then just move on to the next event without following up! I try to do all event follow-ups within 48 hours, ideally more like 12-24 hours. After that, everyone is back home and into the crazy flow of things. I do my best event follow-up work on the flight back home. I also make notes to myself on things like "the one really weird new thing that I learned," the new book/podcast I want to check out, or "the one intriguing new person I want to learn more about." Events are as much about learning as they are about networking.

It is also worth to come to the event with an open mind, be proactive and let the universe do its thing! You never know who would sit next to you in the audience, who would stand behind you in the queue for lunch or who will wash their hands next to you :))) Sometimes these random conversations turn out to be gemstones and lead to great collaborations!

Focusing on fewer (oftentimes smaller) events leads to an increased chance of meeting great people and building real relationships. Cultivate serendipity by leaning into newer events, less prestigious gatherings, and other things that might not seem obvious. And don't be afraid to skip the "big obvious" events. Generally speaking, by the time an event is "famous," its sort of "done" and the really interesting people have moved on to someplace new.

The best way to get meaningful value from events is actually to say no to many of them. And if you are going, make sure which 'goal' you are serving. - Dealflow - Education In most conferences, the two don't live side by side. If a conference doesn't provide you with strong impact on one of the two, don't go.