“It was overwhelming - so much happening at the same time.”
“I wish I had thought more about how to make the most of it.”
These are real examples of feedback we have heard from past Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) attendees.
With so much opportunity to engage at highly-curated, invitation-only convenings like CGI with extraordinary depth and breadth of substance, and lots of star power of every kind, overwhelm and “analysis paralysis” aren’t uncommon.
Which session should I attend when I’m interested in two happening at the same time?
How can I make the most out of networking?
Should I introduce myself to the person next to me in line for coffee?
We’ve been there. We understand.
Multiple members of our team have attended nearly all of the 12 Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meetings and their offshoots. We’re excited to be back for the first one in 6 years! After CGI’s 6-year hiatus (and a pandemic to boot), it’s thrilling to think about seeing so many peers, clients, and collaborators.
The world needs CGI’s ecosystem of world-changing, commitment-focused leaders like you now more than ever. So it is back and you’re going. But how to make the most of it and avoid the perils of opportunity overwhelm in the process?
After all, there are extraordinary plenary sessions, equally incredible - and simultaneously occurring - breakout sessions, and even coffee breaks where leading world change makers are presenting, attending, and even just making meaningful connections during casual conversations.
There’s a lot going on at every minute of the program. Throw in week-long competing events and opportunities across town, across the street, or even just in the lobby, and it can be downright overwhelming.
But it doesn’t need to be.
To avoid content and opportunity overwhelm or analysis paralysis, follow these simple, practical, experience-based tips to make the most of your time at CGI:
Begin with the end in mind (and set reasonable expectations in the process).
Mitigate overwhelm by reminding yourself why you are attending CGI and begin the process of planning for success before you ever leave home. Conferences like CGI are designed to appeal to a vast array of interests. So the agenda is expansive, inclusive, and incredibly interesting. It’s designed that way so that all attendees find meaningful opportunities to engage with what interests them. But with so much different programming for so many varied interests, there are inevitably competing sessions with a lot of interesting content. That’s why it is important to remind yourself - both ahead of time and while on site - to maintain a focus on your “why” for attending.
Try This: Focus on what is most valuable to your work and keep that focus top of mind for your CGI experience. Remember that “where focus goes, energy flows” so keep your primary focus top of mind to guide your experience. Also, give yourself a break and remember (and remind yourself) that you can’t do it all. Nobody can be in two places at once, and it’s impossible to consume and digest everything that looks interesting, because it is all interesting, by design!Plan the work and work the plan.
Because you can’t be in two places at once or enjoy all the content you might like to - much delivered during competing sessions - you’ll need a plan of action to make the most of the experience for you! Make the most of your prep time and decide which sessions are most relevant to you and your work. Commit to a plan that includes that focus and prioritize and attend the sessions most relevant and exciting to your work! By creating a focused plan, you’ll create a flywheel of momentum that sets in motion a domino effect to align the rest of your experience as you’ll be among, have conversations, and make seemingly serendipitous connections with those with similar interests. If luck is “when preparation meets opportunity,” you’ll be surprised how much luck you have when you commit to this tip! And you’ll be able to avoid becoming one of those people for whom the entire experience was a blur without a common through line.
Try This: Commit to attending each Plenary session (they’re worth it). Then, pick your “Core 4” breakout sessions of particular importance and commit to those. Choose the sessions that you would regret missing if you looked back at your experience and realized you missed them, and then protect the time you need to attend those sessions. Send yourself a calendar invite or set a reminder to be sure that you pull yourself away from whatever interesting conversation you’ll inevitably be having and be sure you get to the sessions you prioritize!Make the most of the space to make new connections (but NOT the restroom).
Well curated conferences like CGI produce magic by inviting incredible people who have done amazing work that is riveting to hear about (and, yes, a bunch of celebrities too). And the session seat you choose and the table at which you eat can impact who you meet and the conversation you have - strategically or serendipitously. And the serendipity is half the fun. You’ll inevitably connect with incredible people no matter where you sit because every attendee is someone interesting - so don’t overthink this either! But equally important are the lounges, break stations (see #5 below for more on this) and even just the hallway itself.
One Caveat: Restrooms are off limits for pitching, asking for time, or otherwise chatting up someone you’ve always wanted to meet. Seriously. We’ve seen this happen. Don’t do it. Restroom networking is a hard no. Respect this space and personal time. There are plenty of other spaces you can - and should - use for connecting.
Try This: Commit to making use of the designated lounges, break times, and networking opportunities built into the experience. Don’t retreat to your hotel room or cell phone. Be present in the moment and the opportunities within it. There are a whole bunch of people who wish they were in that space. Commit to making the most of it!Expand your horizons.
As you build your plan, leave some room for something new. Maybe you’re committed to the health equity pillar but there’s a competing breakout session on an unrelated topic you find interesting. Go for it! It’s unlikely that any of the session content on the agenda is completely irrelevant to your work. So even though you want to ensure you commit to the “can’t miss” sessions that are most relevant to your work so you avoid the regret of missing both the substance and inevitable serendipity of who you might learn from, sit next to, and/or otherwise connect with at those Core 4 sessions, give yourself permission to explore “the adjacent possible” of other interesting topics. It’s the only way you’ll learn, meet, and/or expand your horizons to something new.
Try This: In addition to the Plenary Sessions and your Core 4 breakout sessions, pick and commit to attending 2 other sessions that interest you most. If a serendipitous hallway conversation or work emergency needs to pull you away, these can be sessions you might sacrifice, but try to keep these on your radar screen as well.Say hi!
It’s that simple. Say hello and introduce yourself to the person next to you at a session, in line for coffee or the snack break, or when you sit down for a meal. Whether it’s someone you’ve never seen before in your life or someone you’ve always wanted to meet, we’re all “in the bubble” and are supposed to be here. So it’s totally ok to say hello and it is shocking how many people don’t or who pull up short (you know - that subtle acknowledgement head nod). Not only is it nice, friendly, and makes the world a better place to greet someone and introduce yourself, it is a practice full of opportunity. I have met some of the most interesting people and best friends I know in life today because of this exact situation. And when you’re “in the bubble” of this event space, it’s virtually guaranteed the person next to you is someone super cool who at the very least is going to be fun to meet. And it is entirely possible that this person (or someone they introduce you to next) could just be the next great collaborator, program partner, or even friend you never expected to meet.
Try This: Say hi, introduce yourself, and share the most interesting pieces about your work, focus, and what you hope to accomplish at CGI to get the conversation going in the most productive direction possible.Carry business cards.
I mean old school, hand-held, business cards. I know (and agree) that virtual business cards, QR codes, and even the event app are helpful for making digital connections and knowing who is who (or trying to figure out why someone looks familiar), but giving someone something to take with them increases the odds of a reciprocal exchange of their business card and the opportunity for a post-event reconnect. Every year of CGI attendance I’d pull out the stack of business cards I received, refresh my memory, connect on LinkedIn or via email, all because of the good old fashioned business card! It’s not the only tool, of course, but it remains a helpful one!
Try This: Find your business cards now and pack them so you have them (or place an order for new ones if you’re running low). Carry them with you throughout the event, don’t be shy about sharing, and ask others for theirs! Then follow up after the event!Be in the moment!
Take a mental snapshot - or better yet an Apple Note (or equivalent) - with the key details of the person, the conversation, and/or the business card they just handed you. It’ll help with your overall recall rate of individuals and your conversations with them post-conference. It’s amazing how much happens in just a few days. And things you’re certain you’ll remember from Day 1 can be pushed into faded memories pretty quickly by all the awesomeness that follows. So be in the moment, take the mental or actual note, and do whatever works best for you to recall the importance of a session, connection, or conversation that you’d like to follow up on later. This is a gift to “future you” and you’ll thank yourself later!
Try This: Prepare your favorite note taking method for speed and efficiency. If you’re an Apple Note user like me, prepare your line when you pull out your smart phone to let your conversation partner know you’re “just taking a note about this great conversation” (so they don’t think your email was more important than them!) or bring your favorite notebook and an extra pen if that’s your jam. There’s a double bonus here too - you make people feel great when you effectively tell them they’re so important that you’re taking notes about your conversation! And we all love to feel great. And if circumstances don’t allow you to do so in the moment, take the next available opportunity to jot down the note. “When” you do so is less important than “that” you do so.
None of us are immune to confusion and overwhelm of fast-paced, high-intensity environments where information and opportunity seem to move in a blur. But preparedness is key. Use these steps to make the most of your CGI experience and you’ll come away as inspired, engaged, and motivated to commit to more action than you were when you first arrived!
See you at CGI!