As a tech investor and fractional CTO I have spent lots of time visiting tech events by myself or with a team of software developers. Buying a ticket and spending time at Dev World is an investment not only for yourself, but also for your company.
I would like to share some of my tips for (A) preparation, what to do (B) at the event and last but not least, (C) what to do AFTER the event.
(A) Preparing for Dev World Amsterdam
- Set Objectives: Define clear goals for attending the conference, such as learning about new technologies, networking with industry experts, or gaining insights into market trends. Share these objectives with your team to align their expectations.
- Research the Agenda: Look into the conference agenda to identify sessions, workshops, and speakers relevant to your industry and interests. Prioritise those that focus on emerging technologies, best practices, and case studies related to your tech stack or the industry you’re interested in.
- Pre-Conference Networking: My favourite. Reach out to other attendees, speakers, and exhibitors through social media or conference forums. Arrange meetings to connect with like-minded professionals.
- Review Vendor Exhibits: Explore the list of exhibitors to identify software vendors, tools, and platforms that could enhance your development processes or address specific challenges in your industry. Schedule demos or meetings with key vendors to discuss their offerings.
- Plan Team Activities: Organise team-building activities or brainstorming sessions before the conference to prepare your team for productive discussions during the event and make them aware this is both an investment and an opportunity.
(B) During the Event
- Attend Keynote Presentations: Attend keynote speeches by industry leaders to gain insights into future trends, market disruptions, and strategic directions that could impact your business.
- Participate in Workshops: Engage in hands-on workshops or interactive sessions to learn new skills, methodologies, or tools relevant to your tech stack.
- Network with Peers: Take advantage of networking opportunities to exchange ideas, share experiences, and build relationships with other professionals in your field. Don't hesitate to approach speakers, exhibitors, or fellow attendees during breaks or social events. Most people don’t ;)
- Explore Emerging Technologies: Visit booths, demo areas, or innovation hubs to explore emerging technologies such as AI, IoT, blockchain, or AR/VR that have potential applications in your industry.
- Take Notes and Ask Questions: Encourage your team to take notes during sessions and ask questions to speakers or panellists to deepen their understanding of key topics and clarify any doubts.
(C) After the Event
- Debriefing Session: Schedule a debriefing session with your team to discuss key takeaways, insights, and actionable items from the conference. Encourage team members to share their learnings and observations.
- Implement Learnings: Identify specific ideas, strategies, or technologies discovered during the conference that could benefit your projects or business objectives. Develop a plan to integrate these learnings into your development roadmap or innovation initiatives.
- Follow Up with Contacts: Reach out to new contacts made during the event via email or LinkedIn to nurture relationships and explore potential collaborations or partnerships. Share relevant resources or insights to maintain engagement.
- Document and Share Knowledge: Encourage team members to document their learnings and share them with the broader team. This ensures that valuable insights from the conference are shared across the organisation.
- Plan for Future Events: Evaluate the effectiveness of attending the conference in achieving your objectives and consider participating in similar events in the future. Incorporate feedback from team members to refine your approach and maximise the value of attending industry conferences.
