Conferences like #BIO2018 are challenging, but highly rewarding experiences. This year was especially good, thanks to the record-setting crowd that attended the event in Boston.
Conferences are a unique way to meet and interact with dozens of highly intelligent, skilled professionals across the entire health care value chain.
Even the interactions with co-workers away from the home office can be a quite valuable way to cement relationships and improve working relationships.
When you think about it, each individual is playing a small role in improving health care globally: scientists, investors, managers, vendors, consultants…everyone.
So events that help all of us do our job can only be a positive for our industry.
Of course, the evening events are a lot of fun. Many of my long-time professional and personal relationships began at the evening events. So they are not to be missed.
Whether your taste is Diana Ross or John Travolta, there is no excuse for spending evenings in hotel rooms or bars. The professional and personal rewards are too great to pass up.
Unless airfare becomes ridiculously expensive, I don’t think these conferences will ever be supplanted by virtual events, as the value gained from face-to-face interactions is tremendous.
However…for all the stimulating dialogue and the good times, there is another side to these events:
> The time away from ongoing projects
> Travel-induced stress
> Record-setting lines for badges, taxis, and boxed lunches
> Unbelievably expensive hotels
> $25 for breakfast?
> Those hot drinks in paper cups which vaguely resemble coffee
> The missed meals and the dehydration
> The disruptions to our health routines (diet, exercise, sleep)
> The planning and execution of an organized follow-up process, which takes away from the day-to-day activities
> The family and friends who only see the pictures from evening events on Facebook, and not all of the other “stuff” that makes these events such a challenge
Conferences are great, and I will continue to attend them.
Indeed, I am already looking forward to BIO-Europe in Copenhagen in November.
But as I crank out follow-up emails on a Sunday afternoon, I also raise my coffee cup and salute my fellow conference attendees who are already executing their follow-up (some of whom have already responded!), managing expectations, and who are preparing for a successful second half of 2018.