Every spring I get a jolt of energy, a feeling of anticipation as ATD’s International Conference & Exposition’s preconference education programs arrive. It could be the sunshine or the final melt of the winter’s snow, or it could be the intangible energy that our preconference programs bring, kicking off a global gathering of talent development professionals eager to hear from one another. It’s infectious. There’s something about learners investing in their own professional development before venturing off to invest in the benefit of their organization by attending the conference. It’s quite literally a win-win.

As I travel throughout the year facilitating ATD’s education programs, the one question I hear most is: How do I convince my supervisor to invest in my professional development? Read: More training please! It’s a hard sell sometimes to prioritize our own learning because we have to allocate for time away from the day-to-day, travel costs, meal reimbursements, and so on. It can be quite tasking to get the approvals needed to invest in our own professional development.

One suggestion I always have is to maximize your investment of time and budget by finding opportunities that offer a variety of learning and networking options with one trip. ATD’s International Conference & Exposition energizes the learning and development landscape by bringing together thought leaders and practitioners of our industry to discuss best practices, latest trends, new solutions, and knowledge on how to attract, retain, and develop top talent. Bringing together more than 10,000 professionals, 400 speakers, 300 sessions, and 400 exhibitors on our EXPO floor allows you to become exposed to a plethora of information to take back to your organization.

If you’re already traveling to the conference, why not show up a few days early and complete a certificate program while you’re there, essentially maximizing your return on the investment? It’s a great way to advance your professional development and gather information that benefits your organization.

ATD has done some of the work for you. Build your business case to attend using our manager letter, session and exhibitor worksheet, and our investment worksheet located here to convince your boss of the benefits.