Things I learned at the Future Business Forum

I’m really interested in innovation, leadership and culture.

And I’m really really interested in how events are adapting to online formats.

When I saw that FutureX, an organisation that creates and curates content for business leaders to build a more socially-conscious global economy, were hosting the Future Business Forum online on June 24th, I knew I had to snap up a ticket.

Caption: photo of online summit next to book ‘What they don’t teach you at Harvard Business School’.

Here’s what I learned.

1.      Online conferences can replicate a lot of functions of in-person conferences. Key notes? There’s an online stage for that. Networking? Sure, head over to the Remo platform to ‘sit’ at a table.

2.      However, you will need time to train yourself in online event software – whether an organiser or facilitator. Future X nailed this with detailed guidance for all delegates to read in advance of the event. Note: you might need some time to make an online profile in advance.

3.      Networking still has the potential to be awkward, and perhaps even more-so (‘Let me just fumble around trying to close this window’).

4.      Online events benefits range from the small things, like not needing to remember people’s names as it’s on their profile, to the ability to reach global audiences. The biggest advantage has to be the access to talk replays, meaning you never have to deliberate over time-slots again!

5.      Ushering people is a thing of the past. Organisers can take-over your screen and force you to attend the plenary sess…*shakes fist as cuts out mid-sentence*

6.      Accessibility in online events is something everyone seems to still be adapting to. Who are the new ‘hard to reach’ audiences? Who is not ‘in the room/Zoom’?

7.       Although you don’t have the joy of flask-pumping for a cold coffee that will inevitably run out by the time you reach the front of the queue, you can grab snacks and refreshments whenever you want. (I also put on a clothes wash #productive).

8.      I need to up my Zoom background game. So. Many. Bookcases.

9.      You shouldn’t try a new morning run route on the day of an event. You will end up getting lost, running an extra 1k and stumbling on camera with wet hair.

10.  Oh and the actual conference content? Now is the time for being playful, embracing change and being innovative, of course. It only took a global health pandemic for a lot of people to notice.

Caption: Photo of working on laptop outside in park on picnic blanket.

I’ll give the last word to David Gram of Diplomatic Rebels whose talk on being playful resonated with the recovering perfectionist in me: ‘We tell our children when they fall down to stand up and try again – why do we lose that?’.

Here’s to being playful and trying out the world of online events.