How to prioritise your time and choose events that deliver real value for your business

As our 2024 events programme comes to a close, I’ve been reflecting on how far our approach to events has come. During my introductions at Megabuyte events, I often joked that Megabuyte is not an events company - it’s a research company that happens to host events. In doing so, I unwittingly perpetuated the idea that events were somehow less important than our other two pillars: research and consulting. While we’ve always recognised the value of our events as complementary to our research - helping enrich our knowledge base and fostering CEO connections - we didn’t see them as a pillar in their own right.

How wrong I was.

In fact, we’ve been running events for nearly 15 years, starting shortly after we founded the business. Over time, our events have become integral to our mission of supporting tech CxOs. As our programme has evolved (now featuring 23 events for 2025), the feedback I’ve consistently received from CEOs has made one thing clear: our events are as critical to C-suite knowledge acquisition as any of our research or consulting activities. They’ve become what we call the ‘peer insight’ dimension of our Megabuyte CxO Board Subscription.

As you look ahead to your 2025 calendar and decide how to prioritise your time, it’s worth asking yourself: are you attending the right events? With that in mind, I wanted to share feedback from hundreds of CEOs who’ve attended our events over the years - and, as you might expect me to say, not all events are the same.

The value of events in a tech CEO’s professional playbook

1. Look up - Gaining context is essential to running your business effectively. While analysis and data are vital, there’s no substitute for immersing yourself in shared knowledge. Spending time with peers who’ve been there, done it, got it wrong, got it right, and everything in between offers depth, perspective, and solutions you won’t find elsewhere. As the saying goes, a problem shared is a problem halved.
2. Connect - It’s lonely at the top. Your best source of advice is often other CEOs and Chairs. At Megabuyte events, I’m continually energised by the new CEO-to-CEO relationships that form - many of which we never even hear about.
3. Engage - Attending the right events puts you in the room with potential investors, acquirers, and partners. Just as you attend sales conferences to grow your business, corporate events provide opportunities to drive interest in your company and discover valuable partnerships.

Not all events are worth your time: are you connecting with the right people?

How do you know if an event will be valuable or a waste of time? Start by asking three key questions:

1. Are your peers there? The best events are curated with the right guest list - where you’re learning from and connecting with your peers, not being sold to by sponsors. Events with an overwhelming sponsor presence or poorly balanced guest ratios aren’t designed for meaningful networking. At Megabuyte, we fiercely protect the CxO-to-investor/adviser ratio to keep the focus on CEOs. Most attendees should be people you already know, want to know better, or would like to meet.
2. Is the content right? Content neutrality is critical. You need events with a mix of peer insight and expert analysis - not just sales pitches. At Megabuyte, we uphold a strict “no nonsense” rule, bringing in our industry-leading analysts and, when relevant, investors or advisers with genuine expertise in the UK tech sector.
3. Is the environment open yet protected? For honest discussions to happen, everyone must feel confident speaking candidly - whether on stage, in the audience, or during networking. Strict Chatham House rules and a carefully managed tone from the stage are key. And, once again, this depends on having the right people in the room.

Achieving this balance isn’t easy, but it’s something we prioritise. Our events are CEO-focused gatherings designed for actionable insight and meaningful knowledge-sharing in a supportive environment

Ready to get involved? Why not join me at the 'State-of-the-Nation: Setting the Strategic Agenda for 2025 and Beyond' working breakfast on 28th January? A 2025 scene-setter for UK tech CEOs, this working breakfast offers insights on key influences shaping product & service strategies, progress on AI adoption within Megabuyte’s AI Strategy Framework, and data-driven context for exit strategies.

What tangible business benefits should a good event deliver?

CEOs repeatedly tell me that the networks and insights gained at our events deliver tangible business benefits. While hard to quantify, these benefits tend to fall into three categories:

1. Confidence - A more coherent (and often more ambitious) strategy. Knowing others have solved similar challenges gives you the confidence to find your own solutions - and to say no when needed.
2. Pace - Faster, more effective decision-making. With greater confidence, you can make quicker and typically better decisions.
3. Engagement - A stronger, more motivated management team. When your strategy is clear and focused, your team is less distracted by unnecessary ideas and more aligned with your vision.

Ultimately, the right events should contribute to enhancing shareholder value.

Experience the Megabuyte Difference in 2025

If you’re curious about what makes our events stand out, there’s no better way to find out than by experiencing one for yourself. Our 2025 events programme features 23 carefully curated gatherings tailored for all stages of UK tech companies - from scale-ups to mid-market businesses - and designed specifically for CEOs, CFOs, and NEDs.

While our events are a core part of the Megabuyte CxO Board Subscription, you don’t need to be a subscriber to apply to attend. This is your opportunity to experience the quality of our events first-hand, connect with your peers, and judge their value for yourself.

For a full overview of what’s on offer, visit our website to explore the line-up and apply for the events that align most with your priorities. By prioritising the right events, you can unlock real value for your business and gain a strategic edge in the year ahead.

View and register your interest

• 28th January 2025 I State-of-the-Nation: Setting the Strategic Agenda for 2025 and Beyond Working Breakfast
• Full 2025 Events Programme