Brad Kult, P.E. (MN)’s Post

Budgets are tight. Time is short. What do you look for in a professional conference? #ATDCore4 was great this week because it checked all the normal boxes. Great location. ✅ Informative speakers. ✅ A chance to connect with others. ✅ Plus, they gave me the opportunity to lead not 1 but 2 different sessions. But there is something else that I really liked about it. It's size. Conferences can be really overwhelming. You step into a sea of people, have an endless number of sessions you could attend. At the end of the day, your head is so full of ideas you aren't sure what to do next. This was a much different experience. With only a couple of hundred attendees, I felt like I was seeing the same people and got to know a few of them well. If you get as overwhelmed as I do at most conferences, I have a suggestion for you. On November 6-7, I will be joining a number of my closest friends at Andy Storch's Talent Development Think Tank Conference. This conference is going to provide an opportunity that most conferences lack. The opportunity to not just learn, but to also deeply connect with a small group of people. If that sounds like something you would enjoy, I want to see you there. You can find more info in the comments below. #TDTT #TalentDevelopment #Connection

This is it, folks. Less than 10 hours to FUSECON. This wasn’t just the second Design Leadership KL conference. This wasn’t a new name pulled out of nowhere, being cliché or jumping on any bandwagon. This wasn’t the vision I had 10 months ago. This wasn’t a journey I anticipated. This wasn’t something I did just for fun. But… FUSECON is the result of a conversation between myself, Colin Pal, and Tze Chin Tang. FUSECON is a play on the word "CONFUSE," which was the original idea, but we have a strong reason why it’s called FUSECON. FUSECON was originally aimed at 300 attendees, confidently and comfortably. But now, it’s turned into almost 800 attendees. FUSECON aims to break silos and foster collaboration among the core functions in a product development environment. FUSECON has not been a comfortable journey for me, by far. FUSECON is going to be a reality tomorrow. FUSECON may not be as cool, techy, or edgy as other famous events, but at its core, it’s about sparking connections and engagement among people. If you’ve ever seen a massive marathon on TV, with hundreds of thousands of runners at the starting line—that’s exactly what’s in my mind right now. I aim for nothing but the best experience, journey, and takeaways for the sponsors, partners, speakers, and attendees, with the hope of elevating the community to a new level. See you tomorrow. *picture for partial illustration purposes. not AI-generated.

My client, let’s call him Mr Jones, is the MD of the company he’s spent years building up. And he’s anxious. Really anxious. His company’s annual conference, TechForward, is only a month away. It is supposed to be a pivotal event, showcasing his company’s groundbreaking products to a global audience of investors, partners, and tech enthusiasts. But Mr Jones fears it might turn out to be a disaster. The previous year’s conference had been plagued by technical glitches, a lacklustre turnout, and underwhelming presentations. Determined to avoid a repeat, Mr Jones has invested heavily in cutting-edge technology, but the looming fear of failure kept him awake at night. The thing he really needs to invest in is an MC. I’m able to offer: • Experience and Professionalism • Thorough Preparation • Clear Communication Channels • Detailed Briefing Sessions • Contingency Planning • Real-Time Coordination Mr Jones soon realised that his initial anxiety had pushed him into investing a small sum, to ensure every detail was meticulously planned. The dedication and the hard work of his MC had transformed TechForward into a benchmark for industry conferences. Make sure your event is still being talked about for all the right reasons. Speak to me for industry insights and easy tips to make sure your conference is a success.

My “There’s been a lot of talk about conferences” post. Conferences should add value, case closed. I’m impressed with posts emphasizing that strategy and execution are required on the participant’s end. You can’t just show up and expect connections and insights to appear out of thin air. However, if your conference isn’t doing everything they can to facilitate meaningful networking, push content forward, and create a valuable experience, you absolutely have the right to ask why not. A conference’s purpose is to bring together large amounts of people, and add value. As we have all know in business, you can never make everyone happy. Many parties have conflicting interests, and all organizers must thoughtfully weave this quilt. It is the organizer's responsibility to do everything they can to serve each party, and continuously push the boundaries of innovation and value creation. Cheers to the real estate industry that really cares about these things and invests in community and connections.

Reflection on #PAWorld 2024 London This was the best PA conference I’ve attended in the last seven years. 1. I witness the value of this conference remains very high. I recall some comments last year after the conference that there was little new material, and it was somewhat boring. This might be because this is already the 10th annual conference and for some PA experts with long-term experience, there may not be much novelty. However, the external environment is changing rapidly, and we need to consider, communicate, discuss in depth how we handle this uncertainty together. I have no doubt that the PAWorld is a forefront and leading conference where we can synthesise our collaborative intelligence.    2. Several companies attend almost every year, even though the speaker from these companies sometimes change. This continuity allows me to understand how a company’s PA strategy evolves over the long term. For example, Nestle shared its current stage, which focuses on skill-driven strategic workforce planning. This type of presentations often share ongoing strategies and directions rather than just success stories. During the session, participants could have the opportunity to collectively identify problems, think, and seek better solutions together. The Coca-Cola session, which shared lessons learned from developing its PA function over the past several years was similar. I’m convinced this is a significant strength of PAWorld. 3. Skill-based work is not just about the productised strategy by vendors; it’s also one of the top priorities for most companies. As uncertainty increases, a skill-based approach seems essential. However, many companies still struggle to measure proficiency objectively. If any company can develop a solution that logically addresses this issue, it could lead to highly disruptive innovation in the PA market. 4. Although I attend the PAWorld conference every year, 70-80% of the attendees are new. It is notable that there is an increase in attendees from Marketing and Finance, besides HR and Tech. Additionally, the number of tech solution vendors in PA continues to grow. Vendors like Glint and Peakon which were small startups when I first attended the conference seven years ago, have seen significant growth and success, with some being acquired by large corporations.  Companies like OneModel, Visier, Talentneuron, crunchhr, revelio labs, Agentnoon, Claro, Techwolf, Pigment, horsefly, and WorkBuzz are not just tech sellers but essential partners in expanding the PA ecosystem. I am excited about their future. 5. Meeting people in person and having face-to-face conversations was highly enjoyable. The reason conference tickets were sold out is clear. Because people appreciate its value. I am grateful for the opportunity to spend meaningful time with many PA colleagues and look forward to more collaborations and discussions in the future.

🚀 Unleashing New Possibilities: The Power of Conferences for Our Growth! 🚀 Attending conferences isn’t just a checkbox for us—it’s a goldmine of inspiration and opportunities! 🌟 As business developers, we know that every conference brings something new to the table, fueling our ambition to stay ahead in a fast-paced world. 🌍💡 By immersing ourselves in these gatherings of innovation and thought leadership, we’re able to spot emerging trends, meet game-changers, and explore tech that has the power to elevate our company to new heights. 🏆✨ These insights aren’t just valuable—they’re essential for shaping our strategies, optimizing our operations, and ensuring we stay agile and competitive. 📈🔥 And let’s not forget the power of networking! 🤝 Conferences open doors to new partnerships and collaborations that we might never have encountered otherwise. Every connection is a potential spark for growth, innovation, and success. 🌐🤩 In short, conferences are where opportunities meet ambition! By investing in these experiences, we’re not just expanding our knowledge—we’re bringing back fresh ideas, enhanced skills, and a competitive edge that benefits our entire team and company. Let’s keep pushing boundaries and embracing every chance to grow, learn, and innovate! 🚀🌟 See you at Web Summit 2024 !!! #BusinessDevelopment #GrowthMindset #Innovation #WebSummit #NetworkingOpportunities #FutureOfTech #StayAhead #Inspiration #TechTrends #ElevateYourGame #ContinuousImprovement #NewPossibilities #InvestInGrowth #DriveSuccess #ConferenceInsights

2024: The Year I Hit the Conference Circuit (and Lived to Tell the Tale) As mentioned in my last post, I’m reflecting on the absolute whirlwind of industry events I attended this year. From powerhouses like PropTech Connect, RETCON, Realcomm Events, CREtech London, and Cretech New York, to sustainability deep-dives at the ESG Summit and Innovation Zero, and full-on market insight sessions at MIPIM, UKREiiF, and the LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group) I packed my calendar with more conferences than I ever thought possible. Why do this? Well, I firmly believe that face-to-face industry gatherings are a window into the future, and a great way to maintain relationships. I have always believed this, even from the early days of my career when I'd volunteer at conferences just so I could understand how they worked and were delivered (thank you Greater Vancouver Board of Trade). They’re where buzzwords transform into actual strategy, and where random conversations can spark the kind of partnerships that redefine how we work - WORKTECH as a great example. Plus, I’ve always had a soft spot for the energy and creativity that comes from getting smart people into the same room. Over the next few weeks, I’m going to break down the insights, trends, and yes, even the etiquette do’s and don'ts. Consider it your insider’s guide from someone who’s navigated the conference halls, hotels, and coffee queues a few too many times this year. I'm dissecting which events moved the needle, who’s reshaping the conversation around sustainability, how tech is changing the way we build and operate, and how to make the most of your networking moments. Stick with me for this countdown to 2025 as I evaluate the Meeesh Unlimited Ltd. event budget for next year...

This conference just began and I already have thoughts… super impressed by what James Dice, Rosy Tyan and the Nexus Labs team have built with Nexuscon. I’ve been to 7-12 conferences a year for smart buildings, facilities management and engineering for the last 12 years. Here’s what’s already different: 1. The vibe. I normally wouldn’t say something like this but somehow they have pulled off a real community feeling where technology vendors and consultants and owner buyers are truly rowing in the same direction to solve problems. 2. The conference is only 1/3 vendors. IYKYK. This is normally not the case. Quality over quantity! 3. Very clear education tracks - the program is highly curated to the personas of the attendees. Too often program content is based on vendor sponsorships or thrown together panels that don’t really make sense. The session list here is on point and clearly differentiated not only by topic but by the expertise level. It’s great to see a conscious space for newer folks to the industry (the foundations track). 4. Connecting people - major effort to facilitate people meeting - “pod leaders” have 15 people each organizing meetups, there are breakout round tables on the agenda, organized lunch discussions, ice breakers. There is a very conscious effort for people to connect and learn from each other that’s very cool.

At conferences, I prioritize creating a space for people to express their thoughts and ideas openly. It's vital to hear diverse perspectives on critical topics, although the time is short, it gives me insight into the lens of my audience. #CollaborativeLearning #Innovation #Conferences

It's conference season, and I am all about a productive conference! How about some tips and tricks on how to make the most of a business conference? Shout out to Rachel Antman for inviting me to contribute to this article. See the excerpts below: - “Put yourself in position to bump into people in hallways or cocktail parties at the event. There is so much good that can come out of these encounters.” - Landon Williams, SIOR, CCIM - Capital Markets Advisor - “Lean into the nerves. Don’t shy away just because you’re nervous. Use that as a catalyst to jump in and talk to people.” - Kostas Stoilas, MBA, SIOR - “As long as I can make 5-10 new contacts with the possibility of a future deal emerging, then it’s a positive return on investment.” - David Isaac Behar - “Typically, before I go to a show, I have a ‘hit list’ of people I want to talk to." - Bryce Custer, SIOR, CCIM - “Focus on the people that are two to three years above and below you because a few years down the road, they’ll be the team leads doing the majority of the deals.” - Dan Palmeri, SIOR - Prestigious speakers often make themselves available for “meet and greets” and questions following a presentation. These occasions present valuable opportunities for introductions. - Tom Ross, CCIM, SIOR - “It’s still up to the attendees to maximize the opportunity. You get out of conferences what you put into them.” - Landon Williams, SIOR, CCIM - Capital Markets Advisor SIOR Global, #InvestmentSales, #CapitalMarkets, #CommercialRealEstate, #RealEstateInvestment, #CRE https://lnkd.in/etb4BHqn