As an EWC first-timer, I had no idea what to expect but left the conference eager to return the following year—hosted by Dark Report, a reputable laboratory organization providing our industry with information essential to management, operations,lab testing services, and more.
The conference offered attendees multiple education sessions, networking opportunities, and a glimpse of how innovation can propel our industry to the next generation.
The thought of diving back into in-person learning and networking was exciting. However, concerns about exposing my loved ones to COVID-19 still lingered, but I had to trust the contractual protections EWC’s event planners implemented. Nevertheless, I held on to my desire to grow in knowledge, passion for my industry, and a longing for normalcy.
My flight arrived late hours before registration; I had to check in to my hotel room, download and get familiar with the Whova App – an event app used to engage attendees and manage event activities/schedules.
Attending EWC was my first event as a father of two young, energetic boys. As a result, you can imagine how tired I was from helping my wife sort out childcare plans before my departure. I check-in to my hotel room and rested briefly before setting out for the conference.
The conference was held at the HYATT Regency New Orleans an upscale hotel in downtown NOLA. I registered, received my conference badge, and headed for the crowd while fighting my anxiety. However, I had a divine purpose for being there and refused to allow my mental health to get the best of me.
I walked into a networking lunch sponsored by ELLKAY – a data archiving company for healthcare organizations. Dressed in my Sunday’s best and ready to mingle, I immediately found myself glued to the corners of the room as I watched industry peers and leaders mingle. Clinging to my phone with fear that others would notice my anxiety, my Oscar-winning performance gave me a chance to calm my nerves, regroup and focus on the task. I picked my head up, scanned the room, and started exploring.
Part 2:
The first few attendees I met were also first-timers like myself, which instantly reduced my anxiety. I introduced myself – name, professional title, and name of my company then started regurgitating questions I researched earlier to help engage peers at networking events – future post. I left my first session with business cards, an invite to a meet and greet session later that evening, and new friends in the industry. I was pumped and ready for more!
Attending conferences can be daunting, but it comes with benefits. However, to reap these benefits, you must be prepared to capitalize on opportunities presented to you.
Here are tips on getting the most out of your experience:
Plan ahead
Research attendees and keynote speakers ahead of time. Contact peers, you want to get in touch with before the conference and schedule private meetings with them ahead of time. Have your schedule laid out before the conference start date.
Define your goals
Define your primary purpose for sacrificing time and money to attend the conference and approach each scheduled session with the same mindset. Keep your schedule simple and realistic.
Choose the session that fits your defined goal
As a first-timer, one’s desire may be to attend every session – a recipe for burnout and reduced benefit. You have to ability to design your conference schedule to your defined goals. As an aspiring laboratory entrepreneur, I scheduled sessions that gave me access to laboratory innovation, mentors, and collaborators. I kept my goals specific, measurable, and attainable.
Take notes and ask questions
Approach each seminar, presentation, and encounter as a student, be ready to take notes and ask questions. Then, reference these notes post-conference and find essential knowledge for long-term memory.
Be ready to socialize and network
As a natural extrovert, surprisingly, this one was difficult for me. However, socializing at conferences is the backbone of networking. So, overcoming my pandemic battered mind was crucial to getting the most out of my experience – I will share my approach in a future blog. ~Chiemela Nwaobasi
“Keeping your bow steady as the Archer shoots at your Mind – S. Furtick”
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