Over the past few years, I have had the honor of playing a key role in the content creation and hosting of the annual Channel Partner Conference & Expo. Truth be told, it is a job I really enjoy doing, one that yields a great deal of satisfaction watching attendees use the platform to further their business endeavours. When putting together the conference track, channel professionals often ask our team why they should attend or to send them a cheat sheet so they can participate in the event highlights. So, allow me to share the “Bobby D Channel Partners Conference Cheat Sheet” to help you navigate the event.
Tip No. 1. Let’s start with the theme of this year’s Channel Partners Conference & Expo: Channel Forward, which is perhaps our event’s most straightforward yet meaningful message to an industry undergoing incredible change. While building this amazing event, we realized the only way to guarantee future success in the channel is to possess a forward-thinking mindset. That means moving your leadership skills, thinking, organization, culture, technology acumen and even curiosity forward in ways you have never done before and perhaps could never have imagined. It is important to understand the event theme as all our speaker training is focused around it, so it is not some trivial catch phrase. A great deal of work goes into having a unified message which at this event is moving the channel forward.
Tip No.2 This is the place to sharpen your leadership skills in the channel even if you didn’t plan to do so in Las Vegas. As we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of the channel into a world of AI, platforms and a host of new cyber-resilient solutions, business leaders must adapt and grow to drive their organizations forward. The key to success lies in developing world-class organizational strategies and personal leadership skills. This event is your roadmap to exploring how, as channel leaders, you can position yourselves and your companies for long-term growth and success. There is no doubt that becoming a forward-thinker--an industry thought leader--goes well beyond simply adopting the latest technologies. It requires a fundamental shift in mindset, operations and execution. To assist you all, every facet of this event is designed to help our attendees succeed. One workshop I would rate as a must attend is the How to Unlock Peak Performance Training training by industry veteran Tracy-Ann Palmer who will help you unlock the keys to commitment, consistency and courage, the three principles of her training.
Tip No. 3 Study the Conference Session track Channel Partners Conference Session Agenda. It’s packed with experts presenting on the latest in cloud, business model optimization, sales, AI, reputation and branding, vertical market opportunities and so many more topics in the world of IT and communications solutions. While we might have thousands of attendees roaming the expo floor, keynote ballroom or meeting rooms, the conference breakouts give our attendees a chance to hear topics of interest to them in intimate settings where you can interact with peers who share similar experiences and challenges. Our team puts an extraordinary amount of energy into these educational sessions—some of which are objective editorial content and others sponsored.
Tip No. 4. Speaking of sponsored sessions, this tip is designed to help you navigate an event which Channel Partners can bring to you because of the investment vendors and suppliers are making here. Our exhibitors such as title sponsors T-Mobile and ThreatLocker are here to sell you their goods and services. They are here to sell you on ideas, products, programs, services, margin opportunities and other goods in their portfolio. It is what makes the world go round as one attendee told me. Our attendees are salespeople at heart and our expo sponsors are here to sell the salespeople which makes this event incredibly unique. As David Dorsey wrote in his famous book, The Force, “People don’t buy things, they buy feelings,” and our sponsors are here to pass those feelings along to you and build relationships.
Tip No. 5 Make sure you have fun at Channel Partners and MSP Summit not because you went to a Vegas show or gambled but because you attended one of the many receptions or parties that take place starting Sunday. We may all be introverted geeks at heart, but one of the things I am constantly reminded of is this event’s rich history of bringing together people to have a good time, laugh, bond and just enjoy time together. You can find all the cool parties Channel Partner Parties and Receptions.
One last bonus tip and this comes from a Vinod Paul, president of channel partner Align, who always builds in time at the event to roam the expansive show floor. Some attendees discount the value of just walking the aisles with an open mind. Paul walks the aisles searching for that next big thing paying attention to the smaller vendors in the back or off the beaten path. A few years back he stumbled upon a company called Adlumin which he said changed the course of his business. You can hear Paul speak during this session Cybersecurity Meets AI 3.0.
I am happy to share tips in coming newsletter and Channel Partners blogs but here at the world’s largest independent gathering of channel leaders, you will find the answers to all the pressing questions of the day. Those answers will be articulated in our mainstage keynotes by accomplished leaders, in our interactive workshops, conference breakout sessions, MSP Peer Groups, deep dives and on the expansive Expo Hall where hundreds of technology suppliers are hungry to engage with attendees. In the Expo Center, you will find tech companies with a vested interest in your success. They don’t only want you to sell their goods and services; they want to create partnerships that benefit the supplier, partner and customer. You cannot find such an experience anywhere else in the world.
Remember, the most successful leaders not only adapt to change, they also drive it forward. As you move your organization forward, we hope you will stay curious, remain open to new ideas, and never stop learning. The future of the channel is bright with encouraging growth forecasts. With the right leadership, your organization can play a pivotal role in shaping it. We hope you will find what you need right here at the Channel Partners Conference & Expo and MSP Summit series. These were designed by channel partners for channel leaders.
If you have not already done so, you can register or buy a pass Pass Options and Pricing. If you work with a distributor or vendor who is sponsoring or attending, you can reach out to them and find out about their partner appreciation campaign which can save you some money on the registration