Navigating Conferences: A Strategic Guide to Maximize Your Experience

Events
Written By Jonta Kamara
Professional woman networking at conference, reviewing schedule on tablet while standing in modern venue.

A Black woman at a conference looking at a tablet. (Image generated using AI)

As we continue our professional development journey, I want to share insights on conference attendance and strategic networking, expanding on my March social media content.

Conference Attendance Guide:
1. Find Conference

  • Monitor newsletters and LinkedIn for relevant conferences or check out this blog post

  • Follow organizations aligned with your interests on social media

2. Participation Strategy

  • Decide between presenting or attending

  • Consider your goals and time investment

3. Registration Process

  • Take advantage of early bird rates

  • Look for student and LMIC participant discounts

  • For presenters: Submit abstracts well before deadlines

    • Note: Abstract submission deadlines typically precede registration deadlines

  • Watch for presenter benefits (potential fee waivers or discounts)

4. Funding Opportunities

  • Explore institutional support for conference attendance

  • Research travel grants and scholarships

  • Connect with academic departments about available funding

Once you have registered for the conference start preparing to attend! One of the best ways is to plan which events you will attend ahead of time.


Strategic Networking:

The key to meaningful conference networking is in your conference preparation. Just like how you prepare for classes, prepare for the conference. This can be done by researching organizations and people you want to connect with and drafting questions. Another suggestion is to review the conference schedule thoroughly, keeping in mind the following:

  • Key organizations and speakers

  • Priority sessions and networking events

If you do not like networking or are very shy, practice your pitch and how you will introduce yourself when you meet people. When you talk to people, you want to appear confident.

Remember: Conference attendance is an investment in your professional growth. Thoughtful planning ensures you maximize both learning opportunities and relationship-building potential.

I'd love to hear about your conference networking experiences! Share your stories in the comments below.

Jonta Kamara
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