Benefits Of Attending Engineering Networking Events

There may be occasions in your career where you feel that going to an event could be worthwhile but your boss or organization isn’t supportive. My advice to you: if you think the event would be professionally valuable, even if you’re not quite sure what may come out of it, it’s worth spending your own money to go and taking paid leave to do so. To many of you that may sound absurd: why pay your own way for a work-related conference? But every time I’ve done this, it has born fruit in ways I could never have imagined. Here’s the thing: - For a lot of law firms and organizations, the benefits of sending staff to conferences are limited. Sending you is either a bonus for hard work, a way to support your professional development, or a way to bring knowledge back to the team. They lose a few days or a week of work from you and pay for the privilege. Since budgets are restricted, conferences attendances usually need to be split across the team. - The benefit for YOU of attending the conference is different. In addition to learning from others and developing your expertise, you get to build your professional network, see what opportunities exist in your profession by meeting people in different roles, and potentially build your profile. All of those things are useful when you plan your next step. - Even though it can be very good for them, organizations don’t care about you building a profile. But having a profile can mean you have a seat at the table in the broader industry. It means you’re part of a bigger conversation that goes beyond the job you do now. It also means that in your current workplace you have more clout to bring in good speakers, have access to better market advice, and more insights into what’s happening. All of that is valuable. But it can also lead to unexpected benefits. An example: one event I went to on my own dime was the Legal Design Summit in Helsinki, in 2019. I had applied successfully to take part in a workshop called BrainFactory, that paired teams of participants with clients in real world design challenges. My boss thought I was crazy - Finland! Legal design?! But there I met people who would become lifelong friends, through whom opportunities have arisen to take up advisory roles, contribute papers to international legal journals, and speak at global conferences. We have supported one another in all kinds of ways and various European legaltech communities have been opened up to me in ways that would otherwise have been difficult. Now that I run a business, that’s meaningful - but back then I could never have known how or why it would become so. So if anyone reading this is wondering whether it makes sense to spend some of your own hard-earned money on an event that is calling your name, just do it. Don’t wait for your own organization to sponsor you - be your own sponsor. You’ll thank yourself later. #career #networking #law #legaltech

I Used to Think Industry Conferences Were a Waste of Time… For years, I saw them as nothing more than vendor sales pitches, recycled content, and a time suck that pulled me away from real work. Sitting in sessions that felt more like commercials than insights? No thanks. Wandering an expo hall where everyone wants to scan your badge and sell you something? Hard pass. I figured my time was better spent at my desk, tackling actual problems. But I was wrong. What I hadn’t considered—the real value—was the networking. Conferences aren’t just about the sessions; they’re about the people. 💡 They’re about connecting with others in the industry who are facing (or have already tackled) the same challenges. 💡 They’re about learning how peers are solving process problems, implementing technology, and handling the same pain points you’re struggling with. 💡 They’re about building relationships with vendors you can actually trust—people who understand your business and can help you find solutions, not just make a sale. Some of the best insights I’ve ever gained didn’t come from a keynote or a breakout session—they came from a hallway conversation, a coffee chat, or a chance encounter at a networking event. Now? I make it a point to prioritize those conversations. If you’re heading to a conference this year, don’t just focus on the agenda. Be intentional about who you meet, what you ask, and the relationships you build. You never know when that one connection will make all the difference. What’s your take—have industry conferences been valuable for you? Or do you still find them overrated?

10 reasons why you should attend more conferences and why i’m attending GHC this year: 1. You can meet so many people. Especially if you’re from a small town like me, conferences can really open a big door for you. 👯♀️ 2. Learn new skills. All conferences have technical or interview prep workshops and these can be super helpful because you can ask questions specific to you compared to watching something on YouTube which may be generic. 🔬 3. Many conferences have a job fair where reps come to talk to the attendees. Some of these conferences even have interview slots. Past recruiters have confirmed that there’s a number of people they try to hire from each conference. 🎓 4. If you’re passionate about a topic, but don’t have a huge audience yet, submitting a talk to speak at a conference can be a great start. 🎤 5. Friends!!! I met so many of my amazing friends across the country at these conferences. Especially super helpful if you’re a student because you can relate with each other in so many ways and grow your careers together. 👯♀️ 6. Swag LOL 🤣 7. You leave with sooo much inspiration. Usually many conferences have panels with a bunch of people that you might look up to, these always leave me soo inspired. If you’re looking for that motivation, go! ⚡️ 8. You get to explore a new city/state on a budget. I see conferences as an investment in my career. If a $200 trip can land you a six figure salary or whatever your dream may be, it is so so worth it. There’s always room for scholarships/grants as well.✈️ 9. Many companies host private events for attendees. This is different from the career fair. These events can bring you even closer with the company rep/officials and potentially a career with them! I’ve seen this happen at the SWE conferences. 🎪 10. As simple as a break from school and a sneak peek into a career within an industry you hope to be in. Sometimes we get so focused on classes and exams that we forget what a career might look like. 📝 I’m attending AnitaB.org Grace Hopper Conference next week to continue strengthening my relationships from the conferences i’ve already attended and to land my dream role in Product Management + being a media partner so I can share information with those hoping to attend in the future! Super excited to meet so many people next week in Philadelphia! Look out for my next post about conference prep checklists :) 📸: Taco Bell Live Mas Conference in San Diego, CA with Arin Goldsmith and Aashna Ramani #GHC24 #ghc #conference #Philadephia #MediaPartner #GraceHopperCelebration