Professional IT conferences should be seen as not only an opportunity where one is enabled to publicly demonstrate their business and career development but also as a platform where people can “trade” insights and notions. Since in the core of such events lies the idea of learning – learning from the listeners and learning from the speaker, participants can also embrace the chance to get to know the challenges of the tech field. For every IT-centered business attending conferences can play a huge role in the progress of the particular company. Giving the quality of this type of group meetings, they can be perceived as the boosting factor which has an impact on the very foundation of the success of one institution or another. So what exactly are the benefits of you as a manager or as an employee of taking part in a conference?
First and foremost, there is the key perception of extracting something useful out of what the person in front of you has to share. In this sense, you learn from the expertise of others and acquire never-tried-before strategies that are working for someone else. It is like having a crystal clear physical example sitting right before you which is demonstrative enough, informative enough and, experienced enough. Accept it as a live case study that offers intelligent insights into your field. Absorb as much as possible from the inspiring talks and apply the gained knowledge in your own professional as well as personal life.
Conferences also provide you with the exclusive chance to interact with an abundance of business specialists and vendors while exchanging innovative ideas, suggestions, visions and perspectives. Integrate your professional opinions, discuss current aspects of the IT sector that hinder or reinforce its further evolution. Be active. Create a rich network, build connections and rely on them in the future because most of the time collaboration equals favorable outcomes.
Another beneficial reason for being present at conferences is to position yourself as an expert who also has what to reveal to others. Place yourself out there and demonstrate your capabilities, works and subtlety of mind, which in the IT industry is a characteristic as valuable as the 105-carat Koh-i-Noor diamond in the crown of Queen Elizabeth.
If you have already set your mind on visiting an IT conference, here is a list of the top 5 conferences to choose from in 2015:
- ITEXPO
Whether you are part of a big enterprise, mid or small-sized software development company, or you are just now deciding to run an IT business, it does not really matter. ITEXPO business and technology show promises to offer something for everyone. The event will be held in October 6-8, 2015 at the Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California.
This is rather different but at the same time excellent opportunity for Londoners and people all around the world to experience a unique week full of technological innovations, IT advancements and much more. The event is a chance for enthusiasts to meet national and international tech specialists and learn from them in person. London Tech Week is taking place in June 15-16.
Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing is the largest meeting of women technologists on a global scale. Produced and sponsored by the Anita Borg Institute and the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM) this conference is much-anticipated because it has the goal to highlight the presence of women in the IT world. The date is October 14-16 and the place – George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas.
- Dublin Web Summit
Taking place on the 3-5 November, 2015, Dublin Web Summit has been regarded as “the best technology conference on the planet.” Gathering above 22,000 attendees from more than 100 countries, the event’s huge success is due to the high-class speakers and hot IT topics.
QCon represents a practitioner-driven series of global conferences, concentrating on the requirements and needs of software developers and tech-oriented experts. The aim of the conferences is to encourage people working in the IT sector to share experience, knowledge and skills. This year, QCon will be happening in two cities in the US: New York City, June 8-12 and San Francisco, November 16-20 (including tutorials and conference).
What matters most are the thoughts of the readers, so in your experience is it worth attending a conferences and if so what are the benefits?