Conferences Provide Unique Professional Developmental Opportunities
Each year there are multiple nonprofit industry conferences that provide unique developmental learning experiences. These multi-day conferences provide interactive learning platforms that together provide enriching learning experiences that are hard to replicate in regular brief stand-alone training and educational sessions. The Nonprofit Symposium (powered by GWSCPA) is one of the best examples of a professional nonprofit industry conference done extremely well and should not be missed.
For me, what makes professional conferences especially valuable is the opportunity to learn, connect, and lead in meaningful and transformative ways outside the rush of our everyday business lives. The temporary pause to immerse ourselves and luxuriate in a focus we normally cannot afford on a daily basis is special. Professionally, this can be life-changing.
I have found the Nonprofit Symposium to be one of the best-balanced nonprofit industry financial conferences in the country. This conference has been around for many years. During that time, I have had an active front-row seat as an attendee, participant on the planning committee and as a presenter. From this seat I have observed the Nonprofit Symposium’s evolution and GWSCPA’s robust efforts to assemble a conference that is current to the times, sensitive to substantive issues and honors interactive learning.
What makes the Nonprofit Symposium so special is that the themes of “learn, connect, and lead” are the central focus of design and planning. Each year the planning starts with an evaluation of the last Symposium with a critical eye on whether we met the professional learning needs of the attendees. This information, along with a separate analysis of emerging fiscal, financial, reporting, and compliance issues, drives the goal to have the best content to satisfy the educational needs of attendees.
Equal planning time is also spent on assessing whether the Symposium content will foster the professional growth necessary to build leadership skills for the attendees and the firms and nonprofit organizations they represent. “Learn” and “lead” are separate objectives but they are synergistic when considered together. Quality educational content is enhanced when topic selection has a leadership development and organizational growth emphasis. We are always asking whether the topics selected will meet the educational needs of attendees and spur innovation, progress, and stronger leadership skills.
Making sure attendees can connect and learn from each other as well as interact with the content leaders and sponsors is another value-added benefit of the Symposium. So often a post-presentation discussion among attendees, content leaders and sponsors will lead to new insights and sharing of experiences. These interactions sharpen attendees’ problem-solving skills and spark ideas for innovation. Quality connection and networking time is built into each Symposium. You will find this networking time will greatly enhance your overall conference learning experience.
Planning Tip – Be thoughtful and start early with your planning to attend professional conferences. Most conferences only occur once a year. Start planning your professional conference calendar at the beginning of the year based on the approximate schedules from years past. Keep an eye out for early bird registration dates and agenda previews. Factor in calendar, strength of content, relevance to your professional needs, cost, and time commitment to make sure you make the best choice possible. Starting late will limit your options and the benefits you can receive.
The benefit you can derive from a professional conference is directly related to your commitment to fully investing in the experience, being interactive in making connections, and staying completely attentive during presentations. Adhere to these tenets and you will come away from the conference with valuable knowledge, new friends, and wonderful memories.
