ATD25 Is What You Make It, So Make It Good

When I attended my first ATD conference last year in New Orleans, I expected long hours, lots of small talk, and exhaustion by the end of the week. That’s because, as a staff member, I was focused on making this the best conference that I could for all the attendees I would meet. I had never been to a conference this big before, and I certainly wanted to leave a good impression on those who were also joining for the first time or who had made the ATD conference an annual tradition. I figured that this conference was for everyone else to enjoy, and I was part of the force that made it worthwhile.

While I was right in some of my expectations—the hours were long, the small talk was often, and my feet ached long after the closing of the conference—I was wrong to assume that there wasn’t something for me to gain as a staff member outside of my expected work. For one, the keynote speakers were fantastic. Dan Pink, an ATD24 keynote, gave powerful advice on taking a break to improve productivity. I immediately implemented his recommendations to my work lifestyle.

I also learned that networking doesn’t always need to be a structured event. You can turn any conversation into a chance to exchange contact information, advice, and ideas. I made so many connections both on LinkedIn and personally as I talked with people throughout the week. However, there was one specific conversation that changed my life. This very important conversation took place in the Talent Development Leader (TDL) Networking room.

For context, I lived in a rural town in South Korea for two years before joining ATD as a content specialist. While in South Korea, I volunteered with a children’s welfare home and continued to work with them even when I returned to the United States. One of the projects I was working on last year was a “girls in STEM” summer camp that was taking place a few weeks after the ATD24 conference. Part of my job was to fill the programming for that summer camp, including finding speakers, museums, and science projects for the girls (this is a difficult task to do with a 13-hour time difference and a sizeable language barrier).

As I was working at the ATD24 conference in New Orleans, I was also contemplating the planning of this summer camp. Enter: the TDL networking sessions.

During last year’s conference, I was assigned to scan attendees’ badges as they attended one of the TDL networking sessions. I scanned people as they entered, one by one. Suddenly, a badge appeared in front of me with a company logo I recognized as SK Telecom, a South Korean telephone and technology company. I looked up at the man the badge belonged to, and he smiled back as I scanned. I knew this conference was well attended by an international audience, but I was still caught off guard at that moment.

The networking session went on without a hitch, and the topic was fascinating (AI Strategies for TD Leaders by Markus Bernhardt). While the session was running, I kept wondering if SK Telecom could somehow help me with my other project, the summer camp. Surely a tech-innovative company like SK would have someone within their organization who could share insight into working in STEM with the camp participants. But could I muster up the courage to ask?

When the session was over, the man with the SK Telecom badge made his way over to the TDL refreshment table. I figured this was my only chance. I walked over to him, introduced myself, and explained the project I was doing in South Korea.

The man turned out to be head of HR for the company, and he was more than willing to hear my request for help. I learned that the company had an interactive “experience the future of technology” exhibit, and they conduct private tours. While these tours can be hard to book, he gave me his business card and said he would connect me with someone directly. Just a few weeks later, I was walking around the exhibit in Seoul. The girls of the STEM camp loved this experience, with many of them saying it was their favorite part of the week.

My personal story from ATD24 illustrates that the conference is set up for everyone to succeed. However, the conference can’t make the introductions, attend the sessions, or write the notes for you. When you arrive at ATD25, keep an open mind as to what you might discover. You will be in the same room as people who might just hold the key to a project you are about to launch or a problem you need to solve.

When I say the conference changed my life last year, I truly mean it. The volunteer work I do with the Korean organization is very important to me, and the success of the camp has led to more opportunities to work with them and other organizations in my local area. In addition, I gained skills that I used in my work at ATD. At the next (smaller) ATD conference I attended, I was more confident in my networking capabilities. It’s a skill I lacked because I found the whole concept ingenuine. I learned that true networking will always feel genuine, and growing this skill has paid off exponentially for me.

What is it that you want to gain from ATD25 this May? Do you want to make connections? Improve your training or instructional design skills? Step into your role as a leader? Meet an author? Earn a certification? Explore the nation’s capital and enjoy a week of learning?

Whatever your goal, don’t wait for it. Be bold and go after what you want. Say “hi” to the person next to you; they could just change your life.