DC Velocity - September 2016

IT’S LIKE CHRISTMAS IN SEPTEMBER FOR LOGISTICS and supply chain junkies like us. Each fall, the profession’s preeminent thought leaders gather for a four-day exchange of gifts in the form of industry knowledge. While we have called it Christmas in September for years, it’s officially known as the Annual Conference of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP).

This year, roughly 4,000 logistics and supply chain professionals will assemble at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., for the event, which takes place Sept. 25 through 28. Attendees can avail themselves of thought-provoking keynote presentations, 90-plus education sessions organized into 16 tracks,

25-plus hours of scheduled networking time, and a chance to check out the latest in logistics and supply chain solutions at the popular Supply Chain Exchange.

In an era when schedules and funding are
painfully tight, you may only have one or two
opportunities a year to attend a conference. If
that is the case, CSCMP’s Annual Conference
should be on your short list. That’s not just
because it offers unparalleled education oppor-
tunities (which it does). It’s also because con-
ferences in general are networking gold. As
Alaina Levine, president of Quantum Success
Solutions and author of Networking for Nerds:
Find, Access and Land Hidden Game-Changing
Career Opportunities Everywhere, observes,
“Conferences provide singular opportunities to
… appropriately promote yourself and your brand, and discover
opportunities that can lead to employment, awards, and other
game-changing career experiences.”
But it’s not enough to just show up. To get the most from a
conference, you have to be smart about how you approach it.
In an article on the YoungUpstarts website (“ 15 Proven Tips to
Help You Make Career-Enhancing Connections at Your Next
Conference”), Levine lays out some obvious—and not so obvi-
ous—tips on how to do that.

First, Levine writes, don’t wing it. Come up with a plan before
you go. She recommends reviewing the conference program about
a month in advance and creating a schedule that leaves room for
both formal and informal learning. “Set aside time to attend not
just talks and seminars, but also special events such as town halls,
career events, meet and greets, and other networking-centered
affairs,” she writes.

In the same vein, Levine recommends setting up
appointments in advance. “If you know you’d like
to meet with fellow attendees, request appointments
with them at least two to three weeks before the
conference,” she urges. “They are busy too, so it’s
wise to get on their calendars beforehand.”
As for the meetings themselves, aim to keep
them short. Levine advises would-be networkers to
request brief appointments, such as a meeting over
coffee. “The other person may not have time for a
lunch or dinner, but he can probably squeeze in 15

minutes over a cup of joe.”
Once they arrive at the con-
ference, Levine urges attendees
to “leverage the exhibit hall.”
“Don’t just wander around
aimlessly looking for free pens
and cup holders,” she cautions.
“Instead, try to learn new things
and make connections that will
serve you well long after those
free pens have run dry.”
Consider “leveraging” meal-
times as well. Meals are an
often-overlooked opportuni-
ty for networking, according to
Levine. If you see someone eat-
ing alone, she says, ask if they’d
mind if you joined them. “Chances are the other
person will invite you to sit,” she says. “And since
you’re attending the same conference, you’ll auto-
matically have something to talk about.” You might
even make a valuable contact.

One final tip related to networking (and this is a suggestion from us, not Levine): Put your mobile device in your briefcase and leave it there. If your eyes are glued to your phone, tablet, or other gadget, you could miss out on a connection that could change your career. So, as we’ve said in this column before, “Look up!”