ADVICE WHEN ATTENDING INDUSTRY AWARDS
LESSONS FROM THE CAMPAIGN US AWARDS
By Maggie Gaynor
Last month I was lucky enough to attend the Campaign US Agency of the Year Awards in New York City. As a member of a remote team, I am always eager for opportunities to travel and attend in-person events. It was the first award event I have attended for the advertising industry and I was determined to make the trip count. Reflecting on the trip, I have a few takeaways for anyone who might be preparing for a new work experience of their own. Below are a few lessons I learned from my experience:
Take advantage of face-to-face time with your clients. If you work on a remote team like I do, face time with anyone is rare. Being able to connect with your clients is so valuable for building and maintaining long-lasting professional relationships. In my experience, it also provides a rare opportunity to get to know each other more personally. If you are attending an event alongside clients, I recommend taking the time to talk a bit about your lives outside of work. We all have an identity outside of our jobs, but we don’t typically talk about our personal lives over email or during meetings. This is a chance to better understand who your client is outside of a Zoom box.
Reach out to members of your network local to the area. Just like you should take the time to connect with your clients at the event, utilize the rest of your trip to connect with members of your network who aren’t attending the event. It is also an opportunity to expand your network by inviting someone new to coffee or lunch.
Pay attention! Events like this are an incredible opportunity to learn more about the industry from the people at the top of their game. Introduce yourself, talk to people you wouldn't normally talk to, and pay attention to common themes that could point to emerging trends. Better understanding the future of the industry makes your experience valuable to all of your clients —not just the ones in attendance.
Enjoy yourself! Celebrate your client, and don’t forget that you and your team played a role in their success too. Have fun and enjoy the event. A win for them is a win for you too.