Jennifer Kent’s Post

Conferences can be a gamble 🎲 Anytime I attend a conference for the first time I’m always worried that it’ll be a dud. The planning, the money, the travel… when all is said and done all you can hope for is that the event goes well. And that's not always the case. However, the past couple of days in Vegas at #FintechMeetup has been truly incredible. Not only was I able to catch up with Tim Hsia, Amarildo Gjondrekaj, Zachary Pardey, Santiago Rodriguez Lebrija, and Gracie Zaro which is always fun to do, but I also got link up with new people. Notably, I had the pleasure of meeting Ian Tan, Brock Bontrager, Jennifer Lowe, and Diego Represas—I’m 100% missing out on some other notable people as well, but I’m writing all of this quick. After events like this I always think about ROI. And usually it’s never straight forward—personally I’m not selling a product to individuals in attendance. Sure, it was a fun event and I inherently enjoy networking. But I also recognize the immense value of face-to-face interactions. ⭐️ → So much of business is just liking the people you’re around and getting along with them. ⭐️ → It’s harder to BS in real life, I believe in-person meetings result in more “genuine" interactions. ⭐️ → Conferences increases the chances of the intersection of hard-work and serendipity. I'm looking forward to the next conference and hope to see everyone I met in the near future.

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.

💼Conferences, while an important facet of our industry, can be overwhelming – especially if you don't have a solid plan of action. On this week's blog, Robert Buttery shares his top tips for #conference planning in a digestible how-to guide: https://lnkd.in/eamrHd2F 💡Discover what actions you should take before, during and after conferences to ensure maximum impact and engagement.

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

Why do we have so many conferences, events, meetings, but very few changes in society? The answer is evidence that lacks. Sufficient proof that you attended a conference is NOT the pictures with speakers and attendees… Sufficient proof that you read a book is NOT the pictures of it… Sufficient proof that you met someone is NOT the pictures with them… What then should account? The transformation. What truly matters you found much value in a book, a conference, a conversation, NOT the tale of it, but the story your life tells with the knowledge you internalised. While pictures and chats are good, the real questions: -what have you done with the insights you gleaned? -when last did you go through the notes you have been taken? #51weeksofvalue in #linkedinadventure24

I’ve enjoyed reading all of the NexusCon post-conference takes. I agree with many of the takeaways that others have observed. It was certainly a unique conference and I believe it achieved many of its objectives. There was a focus on being vulnerable and sharing failures and challenges as well as successes. This brought a lot of honesty and raw unfiltered conversations that are often absent from conferences. Be your wonderfully imperfect self! My takeaways from the show: The technology is here and is proven, we have the case studies and data, and practitioners are capable. There tends to be a lack of will on the buyers'/owner's side to deviate from the status quo, and even when there's willingness the operations and project budgets are not there to support everything owners want to do with their buildings and portfolios. Intelligent buildings adoption requires champions at all levels. The owner's team needs to buy-in and budget for innovation. The build teams need to embrace new solutions and alternative ways of working together to deliver a whole that's greater than the sum of the parts. And the engineers and practitioners must have the knowledge and experience to successfully deliver designs and manage project delivery. The closing keynote asked us each to reflect on the conference: #1 Takeaway - As change makers and innovators we’re largely a group of non-conformists. This can create some friction within traditional ecosystems, but that just means we need to push harder. #1 Lesson Learned - Intelligent building solutions are still primarily oriented to clients operating at scale, and incorporating the smaller building types that make up the majority of the market is an opportunity with room for growth. What will I commit to do? - Create more changemakers and internal champions by influencing my team members and clients who are not already onboard the intelligent building train. Who will you stay in touch with after the conference? - Brad B., I really enjoyed the networking hike and I want to follow up with some of the ideas we discussed about industry recruitment and showing what's attractive about our industry to developing minds who may not have found us on their own. A great BIG thanks to the entire Nexus Labs team for all the hard work they put in to make this a rewarding experience for everyone there. I look forward to greater collaboration between Nexus and BIG - Building Intelligence Group. Missed having Mahmoud Shouman, P.Eng., SmartScore AP there to lead collaboration discussions, more to follow! Thanks again to Danielle Radden for organizing what I hope is the first annual BIG happy hour to kick off the first night before the conference! It was a huge lift but it looked effortless and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Thanks as well to happy hour sponsor buildee and game card sponsors facil.ai and switch automation. Adults playing arcade games is so entertaining!!

LEARN TO DEBRIEF AFTER A CONFERENCE I copy pasted this from a mail from Nicky Skene. I found it so useful that I shared his mail (which I was invited to do). A workshop like this can be useful for an organisation. Dear reader, You know how people attend conferences, and the day after the conference looks exactly like the day before the conference... Have you been there as well? It is one of the most common questions I get asked: what happens after a week in Silicon Valley? And the answer is brutal: you have about 24-48 hours to follow up, implement, adapt, or document. After the timer goes off, insights will disappear. And soon, it will not be much more than great memories. Quite a steep investment for "Great Memories," right? Together with my partner in crime, Jonathan Brill, we have developed a "Playbook." We think that we need to provide our participants with a document that can scale the experience of the program across their entire company. Something you can distribute and turn a single experience of the Inspiration Tour into an insightful compass for everyone in the organization. What sounds like a huge promise is actually truly powerful. In the next Silicon Valley Inspiration Tour in the week of August 19 (https://lnkd.in/esj-qpwX) , we will have up to 5 meetings each day. That is a lot of information during a 5-day program. To capture this experience, we will provide each participant with a comprehensive executive summary of every conversation and a customized debrief with potential action plans relevant to the participant, their industrial background, and their company. You don’t have to rely on your notes or good memory; during the meeting, you can fully focus on the conversation and only need to document potential follow-up questions to the individuals we met: you will receive a personal intro-mail to everyone we met during the tour. It might be called "Inspiration Tour," but actually, it is more of an "Insights-to-Action-Tour," since just inspiration might be quite a luxury these days. This program is designed for impact. Will I see you in August (https://lnkd.in/esj-qpwX) ? Best Niki

In just a few days, the Curious2024 conference will finally open its doors! We look forward to welcoming delegates and speakers from all over the world.   Join us for inspiring talks, exciting workshops and more. Don't forget to register now on our online platform. This platform will give you the opportunity to exchange ideas with other participants, make valuable contacts and take part in a wide range of discussions. What can you expect from the platform? Networking: Find and connect with other participants with similar interests. Events: Register for workshops and create your own agenda. Voting: Don't forget to vote for your favourites in the polls. And much more.  How to get started: 1. Log in to the platform with your login details. 2. Set up your profile 3. Start networking with other participants and exchange initial messages. Don't forget to join our LinkedIn group and keep the network going! The Curious – Future Insight Conference is not just a conference, it is a global movement and being a part of it does not end when the conference days end. Therefore we offer, among further activities, this LinkedIn Group, that allows participants to continue staying in touch, exchanging offers and opportunities, make sure to join it today and not miss out of staying in the loop – united by science for a better tomorrow!   Join our Onlineplatform here: https://lnkd.in/eCiqs8Ew Join our LinkedIn Group here: https://lnkd.in/eB9qyY3h

💧 Do Conferences in the Water Sector Drive Commercial Impact? The water industry is no stranger to conferences and events, but how often do these gatherings translate into real financial growth for companies, both large and small? Impact Beyond Networking: Many companies attend conferences hoping to grow their business, secure partnerships, or attract investors. But the reality is that while networking and knowledge-sharing are invaluable, true commercial impact—measurable revenue growth, expanded market reach, and successful partnerships—is harder to achieve. Many companies find themselves walking away inspired but without actionable outcomes that boost their bottom line. Challenges to Commercial Impact at Water Conferences, Lack of Targeted Opportunities: Often, companies are left competing for attention among a crowded field. This can make it challenging to stand out and secure meaningful business connections. Insufficient Financial Support Channels: Small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) may struggle to access investors and decision-makers directly, especially when larger, more established brands dominate the event floor. Follow-Through on Leads: Without structured follow-up, promising connections made at conferences can fizzle out, limiting commercial opportunities. How Can We Increase True Financial Growth from These Events? To maximize the commercial value of water industry conferences, we need to take actionable steps toward supporting growth across the entire sector. Curated Matchmaking & Funding Opportunities: Events could include dedicated spaces for one-on-one meetings, targeted pitches to investors, or curated matchmaking sessions where SMEs can directly connect with large buyers or funding bodies. Showcasing Real Success Stories: Highlight case studies of companies that gained traction, revenue growth, or partnerships as a direct result of a past event. Seeing what’s possible provides a roadmap for others. Structured Follow-Up and Accountability: Establish post-event touchpoints where companies can reconnect with leads, explore deals, and track the progress of business discussions that began at the event. At their best, conferences should be catalysts for commercial growth. Let’s make these events a place where deals happen, investments flow, and companies of all sizes experience real financial impact. Are we doing enough to achieve this? I’d love to hear your thoughts! #WaterIndustry #CommercialGrowth #WaterInnovation #BusinessDevelopment #WaterTech #Investment #FinancialImpact

It's quite simple really. You want to go to the conference. Everyone is going. You're getting FOMO. But something is holding you back. 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘹𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘦? 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘐 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘯𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘴? 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨? F*ck it. FOMO is getting too much. You're going. Whilst it's not your first rodeo, as a fellow introvert, you're still a bit nervous about networking. Fundamentally, all that doubt stems from one thing: not being able to BD as much as you want. Going up to individuals is easy. Even VCs. "Nice watch." Conversation started. But there aren't many people of value standing on their own. Most event attendees congregate into small groups of 2-4, often seemingly in deep conversation. You don't want to interrupt. That's rude. But you need to approach them, otherwise this is all pointless. How? Here's the best line I learned after 18 conferences and 100s of events: 💡 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘂𝗽, 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝘆, "𝗛𝗲𝘆 𝗴𝘂𝘆𝘀, 𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁, 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝗜 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝗻?" 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗮𝘇𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿. What happens: 𝟭. They say, "Yes of course," and ask you what you do. This means they were just chatting, not in any meaningful conversation. Your turn. 𝟮. They say, "Yes of course," and continue the conversation amongst themselves without looking at you. Don't interrupt it. Just listen in, and leave if it's taking too long. Wait for an end of a sentence and say, genuinely, "I'm gonna run, let's catch up later though!" They're just in conversation, and don't have social skills. Save face. Don't get salty. 𝟯. They say, "Sorry can you give us a minute?" They're in very deep conversation. "Of course, no problems, let's catch up later." Keep an eye on when they're finished, approach one of them, "That sounded intimate haha." It's quite simple really. ___ Here's how to approach VCs at events: https://lnkd.in/gsQfpSg2 Simplicity Group