Industry events can be game-changers early in your career. Conferences, summits, and trade shows give you a seat at the table with industry veterans—helping you learn what your peers and clients actually care about, and the challenges practitioners are facing. They’re also one of the best ways to grow your network. 

If you have the chance to attend a live event, it’s important to make the most of it. Show your leadership that sending you wasn’t just a perk—it delivered real value through market insights and meaningful connections. 

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In this blog, I’ll share tips on what to do before, during, and after an event to maximize the return on investment for yourself and your team—and improve your chances of attending more in the future. 

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The Pre-Game

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A little about me first—my name’s Alexa, I’m a sustainability consultant from Chicago, and I’m currently leading the Sustainable Sport Index. I stepped into this leadership position for working with 40% of professional sports venues in the US through a combination of luck and hard work. Luck because my predecessor went on maternity leave; and hard work because I’ve spent the past 3+ years at my company building trust through persistence and teamwork. 

 

When I came across the Water and Venue Exchange (WAVE)—an event directly aligned with topics from our annual benchmarking survey and just a few blocks from where I live—I knew I wanted to attend and advocate for it. 

In my experience, leadership usually asks three key questions when you request to attend an event: 

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1) How much does it cost?  

2) Who else is attending?  

3) How will your attendance support business objectives? 

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Answering these upfront not only strengthens your case—it also prepares you to show up confidently and speak to the right people. 

Working with a business development colleague, we put together a clear case outlining potential connections and outcomes. We also strengthened the ask by securing a presentation slot, giving us visibility and credibility at the event. 

In the weeks leading up to WAVE, my colleague and I aligned on materials (like our presentation deck and digital business cards) and mapped out a simple “plan of attack” to make the most of our time. 

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The Game

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By the time the event arrived, I had practiced my presentation more times than I can count—but building relationships was my top priority. 

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I’d consider myself a natural networker, but I’ll be honest—it can still feel intimidating walking into a room full of Sustainability Directors early in your career. 

My advice: don’t let fear get the best of your opportunity. Lean into your curiosity. The people you’ll connect with most are the ones who appreciate that genuine interest and authenticity. 

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Here are a few ways to set yourself up for success: 

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• Make the connection. Don’t leave conversations without a way to follow up. LinkedIn QR codes can be your best friend—connect on the spot, then move to email or other channels if all parties are interested in taking the conversation further. 

• When in doubt, write it down. Capture key learnings, ideas, and connections in the moment (or at least at the end of each day). These will be invaluable when you’re pulling together a recap for your team. 

• Stay focused on your goals. There’s a lot happening at these sorts of events. Keep your core objectives in mind—not to limit yourself, but to stay intentional while still being open to unexpected opportunities. 

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The Post-Game

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Once the event wraps up, your job isn’t done—it’s time to show the value. 

While everything is still fresh, meet with your team to debrief, share insights, and assign follow-ups. From there, you can build a concise summary of key takeaways and next steps to share with leadership. 

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And don’t underestimate the value of sharing your experience externally. Posting on LinkedIn is a great way to reinforce what you learned and keep new connections warm. Here’s an example from my recent experience.

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The goal isn’t just to attend events—it’s to turn them into meaningful career moments. With the right preparation, focus, and follow-through, conferences can open doors you didn’t even know were there. 

If you’re an early career professional looking to attend conferences or events and needing advice, feel free to get in touch with me at Alexa.Smith@APTIM.com.