08/25/2026
I love in person events for professional development and networking. And I know that we’re living in a world where a recording or a webinar would probably be way easier. But I have to tell you that while the sessions are useful, they’re never the actual value.
The real value is connection.
It's sitting next to someone and hearing exactly how they're serving their own community, the version of a problem you're both working on, solved a little differently because their room is a little different than yours. It's the best practices and tips that never make it onto a slide, the stuff that only comes out in conversation, over coffee, between sessions, in passing.
And then there's the part that gets me every time. Watching peers get recognized. Tenure, performance, years of consistently showing up and doing the work well. There's something about witnessing that in real time, in a room, that a highlight reel or an email announcement just can't replicate. It's not just an honor for them. It reflects something back at you about the field you've chosen to be in.
I walked away from this one thinking about how rare it is to be surrounded by people operating at that level, all in the same room, all at once. A space filled with powerhouse leaders!
That's what I keep coming back for. Not the agenda. It’s all about the people in the room. Grateful that I get to take a seat at the table.
When's the last time you were in a room that reminded you what excellence actually looks like?
