Conference Material Preparation

This is especially for the academic conference warriors! Can you believe it's that time of year again? Yep, the #AcademyOfManagement conference season is just around the corner, and I can already smell the coffee and picture the sea of name tags worn by brilliant management scholars and practitioners from across the globe. But before you jump on your plane – are you actually ready for this conference? I mean, really ready? I used to think I was prepared just because I remembered to pack my laptop and a stack of business cards. Oh, how naive I was! 😅. So, let me share my ultimate AOM conference prep checklist. Trust me, this goes way beyond remembering to pack your laptop, an extra phone charger, and your presentation slides (though that's important, too!). 1. Read the program strategically ↳ Identify key sessions, PDWs, and symposia in your research area or the ones you're interested in. Plan your schedule, but leave room for serendipitous discoveries! 2. Craft your research elevator pitch ↳ Prepare a 30-second summary of your current research focus. Keep it short, simple, and engaging - your goal is to spark curiosity and invite further discussion! 3. Update your socials and academic profiles ↳ People will look you up. So, ensure your LinkedIn, university page, Google Scholar, and ResearchGate profiles are current. 4. Prepare thoughtful questions ↳ For each session you plan to attend, prepare at least one insightful question. It's a great way to engage and be remembered. 5. Set strategic networking goals ↳ Identify potential collaborators or mentors you want to connect with. Research their work and plan your approach. It helps if you can email them in advance to set up a meeting 6. Pack your digital toolkit ↳ Have relevant papers, your presentations, and a digital business card on your devices. You never know when you may need them! 7. Plan for self-care ↳ Conferences are intellectually intense, not to mention the socials. Schedule breaks, find quiet spots, and don't forget to hydrate! Bonus point: remember not to drink too much in those socials! 8. Be Authentic ↳You'll find yourself in a room filled with superstars and research idols. Some might even walk past you on the street. Always stay calm, say hello if you want to, smile, and most importantly, be yourself! Remember, you're human first and a scholar or practitioner second. Authenticity can lead to more meaningful connections than any rehearsed pitch or trying to force connections. What's your top AOM conference preparation tip? Share below and let's learn from each other! See you in Chicago! ---------- If you find this helpful, ♻️ share it to help someone. #AOM2024 #ManagementResearch #AcademicNetworking #ConferencePrep #AcademicLife #NetworkingTips #ResearchCommunity

Right now, I am preparing for the 2023 International ADHD Conference… As frustrated as I am, I could have predicted that I would be precisely where I am right now: Hyperfocused and frantically trying to get everything ready, and hoping to get to bed before 2 am. 😳 I am reminded of an infamous scene from the show “Saved By The Bell” in which Jessie sings the lyric: “I’m so excited… but I’m so scared!” because my level of anticipation for this event is akin to how a child looks forward to Christmas! While planning and preparing for a conference can be a bit challenging for someone with ADHD, there are strategies we can use to make the experience more manageable and enjoyable. 1. Create a Checklist: Create a checklist of things you need to do before the trip, such as booking flights, arranging accommodations, and packing. 2. Set Reminders: Use digital tools or apps to set reminders for important deadlines, such as registration dates, flight times, hotel check-ins, and when to go LIVE on social media (obviously 😆). 3. Organize Information: Create a central place to store all the information related to the conference, such as schedules, confirmation emails, and important contacts. (For me, that is a shared google doc that all of my support team can access.) 4. Prioritize Tasks: Identify the most critical tasks and prioritize them. Focus on completing one task at a time rather than tackling everything at once. 5. Break Tasks into Smaller Steps: Instead of thinking about the entire trip preparation as one big task, break it down into smaller, more manageable steps. This can help prevent feeling overwhelmed. 6. Pack Strategically: Make a list of what you need to pack and stick to it. (This is one of the hardest things for me, as I seem to have a knack for simultaneously over AND under-packing for trips!) Packing in advance and using a checklist can help ensure you don't forget essential items. 7. Plan Breaks: Recognize that attention spans can be limited, so plan breaks during your preparation. Taking short breaks can help you stay focused and avoid burnout. 8. Use Visual Aids: Create visual schedules or timelines to represent your trip preparation. This can be more engaging and easier to follow than a written list. 9. Medication and Strategies: If you are prescribed medication for ADHD, make sure you have it with you and take it as directed. Use coping strategies that work for you, such as mindfulness exercises, deep breathing, or brief physical activity, to manage stress and maintain focus. 10. Inform Others: Let others know about your ADHD, especially if you are traveling with colleagues. They can provide support and understanding, and you can work together to ensure everything is in order.

Attending a conference? To increase the ROI from your time, effort, and money - it's important to 1) prepare ahead of time, 2) craft a game plan, 3) stay engaged during the event, and 4) take proactive steps afterward to maximize professional growth and connections. Below and attached are some key tips and a roadmap of to dos to maximize results from conference attendance. ➡️ Prepare Before Your Go: - Define clear goals for attending the conference, such as networking, learning, or scouting new opportunities. - Review the event schedule and identify sessions, speakers, and networking events relevant to your objectives. - Research attendees and, if possible, reach out for pre-conference meetings or introductions. - Prepare an elevator pitch to describe yourself succinctly and bring business cards, or digital equivalents, for easy information exchange. ➡️ Be Ready to Maximize Your Experience: - To expand your network, attend both formal sessions and informal events, such as coffee breaks, dinners, or social activities. - Attend a variety of session formats to broaden your learning, from workshops to panels and lectures. - To cover more ground, consider distributing your team among parallel sessions and share notes afterward. - Throughout the event, take notes on key takeaways, interesting contacts, and actionable tips. - Use the conference app or social media to connect with other attendees and keep track of sessions and people you meet. ➡️ Network Effectively: - Approach new contacts genuinely and avoid overly sales-focused conversations. - Refer to name tags for personalized introductions and ask follow-up questions to foster meaningful dialogue. - Be a giver: offer assistance to others and share insights from sessions to start conversations. - Be ready to end conversations politely and move on as needed. ➡️ Post-Conference Actions: - As soon as possible after the event, review and organize your notes on sessions and contacts. - Summarize and share insights, key takeaways, and resources with your team or network to extend conference value. - Follow up with new contacts via LinkedIn ASAP, and later via email to continue professional relationships. - Take time to reflect on your original goals for attending and whether attending the conference helped you achieve them, then plan for improvements at future events. - Rest and recharge as needed: balance intense participation with self-care. When approached intentionally and actively, attending a conference is a valuable opportunity for professional development and networking. With solid preparation, engaged participation, and strategic follow-up, anyone can turn a single event into long-term benefits and connections! Please share other tips in the comments. Thx! #businessdevelopment #marketing

Ever wondered how to turn a Web3 conference into a goldmine of opportunities? Here's how our team at Ari10 does it. Attending conferences can be tempting, especially after the 2021 crypto boom. There were even memes circulating about who was actually building a company versus who was just hopping from one conference to another. But here's the thing: if you're just using conferences as a way to meet friends without a clear strategy, you're essentially burning money. -- So, how do we make the most out of these events? It's all about preparation and purpose: 1. We do our homework. Before the conference, we research who's attending and dive deep into the companies that'll be there. 2. We connect with the organizers to get a feel for the attendee profile. This helps us tailor our approach. 3. We craft a value proposition specifically for the conference, based on the expected audience. 4. Our team goes in with a game plan. Everyone knows who they should meet and what they want to achieve. 5. We treat each conference like a project. We set goals, make plans, and execute. 6. After the event, we regroup. We discuss what we achieved, what we didn't, and why. It's all about learning and improving for next time. The key is to approach these conferences strategically, not just for fun. By doing this, we've turned what could be expensive networking events into valuable business opportunities. -- What's your take on industry conferences? Are they worth it, or just a expensive distraction? Follow along for more insights on navigating the Web3 world.