As chair of Spark, powered by NetVU, held in mid-November in Cincinnati, I had my share of pre-conference jitters. Would the event be received well? Would it run smoothly, without any weather or logistical snafus? And how would our decision to limit the number of attendees work out?
II am pleased (and relieved!) to say I need not have been nervous. The feedback we’ve received shows that the event was even better than we’d hoped! In fact, 100% of the attendees who provided feedback indicated they were either satisfied or very satisfied with the event!
Limiting the number of participants facilitated interactions and direct conversations that are difficult to have in a larger setting. There were many peer-to-peer discussions, which cultivated great ideas, and even better, actions.
I came away from the event feeling that I developed not just business relationships but friendships that will continue well beyond that long weekend. In fact, everyone who provided feedback said they appreciated having opportunities for deeper and more personalized discussions.
Difficult decisions
As we developed the Spark agenda, our goal was to offer sessions that resonated so much that attendees would find it difficult to choose just one for each time slot. From what I saw, that was achieved. In fact, I found myself wishing I could have attended sessions that were held while I was already moderating other ones.
For our overall theme, we decided to target three content areas that weren’t too narrow but were particularly important to our audience. We chose:
- Growth – including organic, strategic, and acquisition.
- Talent – hybrid environments, recruiting and retaining talent, and developing teams.
- Efficiency – using technology and best practices to build the agency.
These themes corresponded well to the profile of attendees, most of whom were experienced agency leaders focused on expanding and strengthening their businesses for the long term.
I wish there were space to discuss all of our excellent facilitators. Spekit’s Zoe Hartsfield shared her expertise in “Personal Brand 101,” which included advice on identifying the giving aspect of community while building a LinkedIn following. She highlighted ways to use the social platform in a methodical and efficient manner that will, over time, become a sustainable way to generate leads.
Making it personal
Keynote speaker Jason Young, a former senior executive with Southwest Airlines, candidly discussed his business wins and losses. He shared how adaptability and communication continue to help him manage challenges, and he specifically cited the importance of intra-agency relationships. Spending time really listening to internal customers — that is, our agency co-workers — greatly helps solve the problems of our external customers, he said. This message resonated with me and is one I am committed to carrying out on a more consistent basis. Perhaps most notable about the session is how Jason is the same person on and off stage: transparent, genuine, and gracious with organizers and attendees alike.
The many personal interactions at Spark allowed me to deepen earlier connections made over Zoom, email and telephone. Clearly, there is no substitute for meeting in person, and what a joy it was to see and openly converse with so many individuals for the first time.
One conversation that’s stuck with me was with someone I hadn’t previously met. This person was facing challenges not unlike ones I had dealt with five years ago. Speaking in person, sharing difficult truths, gave me the opportunity to relate my own experiences and hopefully provide some sound guidance. It was gratifying. It was also an opportunity to pay forward some of the great advice I’ve received over the years from NetVU members. We have a wonderful group with a wealth of knowledge and experience — and the desire to help one another.
There are so many benefits to participating in our in-person conferences, like Spark and Accelerate, which bring together the many faces of NetVU. These gatherings provide educational and personal experiences that are unmatched, and I urge you to attend a future event. I’m sure you’ll find it’s well worth the time away from the office.
Accelerate - May 7-10, 2023 in Austin
Spark - November 5-7, 2023 in New Orleans
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