Ann Johnson’s Post

Great Tips for getting the most out of RSA #AnnRocks

Attending DEF CON as a #neurodivergent person. It's 4 days post #defcon31 & I've been processing my experience since Sunday morning. By the end of DefCon, my stims couldn't be controlled & I had cried twice. I wanted to share some tips that I learned through this experience as someone who is neurodivergent. #1 Bring noise cancelling headphones. DefCon is overwhelming. There are so many different sounds, pitches, smells, textures, squirrel moments that I definitely recommend alleviating one of the sensory inputs. Sound is the easiest one. Las Vegas is loud. We went to a restaurant that somehow got even louder after 9pm with drums & entertainment. (The entertainment was awesome - the noise was not) I wish I had brought headphones so I wasn't randomly holding my ears while I was in Vegas. Vegas is also bright. I'd bring sunglasses if you plan on being out at night just in case some of the billboards/signs/etc are too bright for you. #2 Understand your triggers & find your safe space. This one is important. My safe space was the TCM booth I was working. While I masked throughout a lot of it, it was a predictable routine & comforting. I knew what to expect (people coming up, talking to people, etc) & it was safe for me. When I stepped away from my safe space, I was on sensory overload. My team checked in on me throughout our time in Vegas. If I was dissociating, they'd pull me out of it. If an after party was too much, they'd let me know ahead of time. They never once judged me or made me feel like a burden. #3 ALWAYS have your badge on you. Even after the main DefCon event is over for the day. I made this mistake. My badge wasn't a part of my routine. Make it a part of your routine. Learn from my mistakes, don't forget your badge! Tie it to your belt loops if you need to for mini cons (I did). #4 Find an awesome Discord community that's been to DefCon. Usually, I am the type of person to plan everything down to what I'll be drinking that day, but I figured it'd be similar to other work conferences I had been to; we'd work & then go out after. Big mistake. Find people in the community who have been & can give you a rundown on their experiences with DefCon. #5 Bring something to help you while waiting in lines. There were lines everywhere, especially for registration & the vendor. Over 30,000 people attended DefCon this year. If you can, bring a small handheld fan to help keep the air circulating around you while you're waiting (in addition to headphones) & something to keep your hands/mind busy (video game, plushie, etc.) #6 Try to get sleep. Time doesn't exist in Vegas. Have a hard cut off so you can go back to your room & get some sleep. Sleep is really important. I've run out of characters for this post, but I hope these tips help if you're neurodivergent (or not) & plan on attending DefCon in the future. P.S. I didn't find a calm down/sensory room while I was there - if anyone saw one, let me know!

Vulnerability Thursday: I once hosted a Happy Hour where no one came. 😭 Just me, my colleague, and 2 people from a partner organization (co-hosting with us). We even did what felt like all the right preparation... - Picked a stellar location overlooking the city. 🌆 - Marketed for weeks leading up to the event. 🗣 - Promoted it during exhibition hours. 🤝 - Invited partners and current customers. ✊ I took it very personally. 💔 Felt like the kid without anyone to dance with. Wondered what I specifically had done wrong... But here's what I didn't consider: - We were competing with about 100 other happy hours. - We were the new kids on the block with few customers. - People are exhausted at the end of conference days. - A simple happy hour rarely cuts it anymore. So in turn, here's what I learned: - Smaller, curated events are much more effective. - Have to ensure current customers actually like you. - Can't sweat it if people bail. Those days are LONG. 😅 - Make the best situations. Partnership strengthened ✅ It still feels a bit embarrassing to post this. But I was framing it all wrong. This wasn't a direct reflection on my personal character. But it did teach me I have to be more intentional. So here’s to (hopefully) never being the lonely kid at the dance. But even if you are, it happens to SO many of us! ❤️ #vulnerability #vulnerabilitythursday

FOMO for #CL24!!! As a single mom, I've had to make some tough calls – decisions that often meant missing out on industry events I would have loved to be part of. I understand the feeling. The FOMO is real. But I'm here to tell you, it's okay to miss out sometimes. This year, I won't be able to attend the #CL24 conference, an event I've been looking forward to for months. It's a fantastic platform that brings together industry leaders, innovators, and enthusiasts. The discussions, the knowledge sharing, the networking - there's so much to gain from it. And yet, I chose to prioritize my amazing girls. But hey, that doesn't mean we can't stay engaged. Here are three ways we can still keep ourselves in the loop: 1️⃣ Virtual Participation: Many conferences offer online streaming or recorded sessions. Take advantage of these. You might not be there physically, but you can still learn from the comfort of your home. PCMA has free digital registration. Check it out. https://lnkd.in/e_8SKmVp 2️⃣ Social Media Updates: Follow the conference hashtag, #CL24. Engage with live tweets and posts. It's like having a front-row seat to all the action. Need an easy way to track #CL24 - This LinkedIn Help article can show you how to add hashtags to your feed. https://lnkd.in/e3HCxd9H 3️⃣ Networking Online: Connect with attendees and speakers on LinkedIn. Ask questions, start discussions. There's no better way to stay involved. Here's a list of speakers - https://lnkd.in/ee8bCnqE. A few of my favorite industry experts... Nick Borelli Shawn (Yih-Hsiang) Cheng Will Curran Howard Givner Tammy Moore, CMP, CMM Zoe Moore Annette M. Suriani Malene Ward, CMP, CEM, DES And let's not forget, each one of us has our own unique journey in this industry. I've spent years nurturing my expertise, learning, growing, and most importantly, sharing. It's not the events we attend, but the value we create and the impact we make that defines our professional lives. So, let go of that FOMO. Instead, let's celebrate the opportunities we have right here, right now. Let's make the most of them in our own way. I'd love to hear your thoughts on how you balance personal and professional life while staying engaged in your industry. Comment below and let's start a conversation. From one working parent to another, we've got this! 💪🏼 #FOMO #CL24 #WorkLifeBalance #IndustryEngagement

Planning to head to #ExchangeETF in Miami next week? Here are the 6-essential tips on preparing for a successful conference: https://lnkd.in/gaWaM5dg  Register now for Exchange 2024! 🏖 #FinancialServices #FinancialAdvisors #FinancialAdvisers

#JPM24 is just one week away! Learn how we can amplify your presence at this highly anticipated event. Delve into our newest blog to uncover strategies that will prepare you for a successful conference. https://lnkd.in/dNJgBra7 #JPMorganConference #ConferenceStrategies

Check out our #JPM2024 blog on preparing for a successful conference LaVoieHealthScience

Internet :100, Lady Jade - 1000% with a come back. I was set to welcome guests at a virtual event after I had a pre-event test run with the Convener to check that the internet connection was great and we were good to go. As I was about to welcome the guests to the event, my connection got disconnected. I calmed myself and tried troubleshooting my device, but my internet wasn’t connecting. Thankfully, I had checked out a work station the day before, but it was closed. I checked online,and it was open for the day.I informed the Convener in a message about what was happening and how I had found a solution. I got to my new location in a few minutes, settled in and connected to the event, and informed the Convener that I was live. With the spotlight on me, my comeback was excellent, and the audience was elated to receive me. For the next virtual event I had after this incident, I went to the work station to avoid "unforeseen circumstances". How do you manage pressure when the odds are against you? Share with me in the comments. My name is Jadesola Adewodun (Lady Jade Global), I create robust and thrilling experiences for your audience, drive conversations with relatable stories and infuse activities connected to the purpose of your events with enthusiasm, poise and a warm smile. For booking and inquiries - https://lnkd.in/d3fSgny8

Missing some interaction? Join us this Tuesday! what: eForum xChange  topic: Quarterly Roundtable when: September 5 | 4:00 PM ET   why: Once a month, on the first Tuesday, eForum participants can join a live virtual discussion. No CEUs and usually no slides – just a facilitated discussion about a particular topic or whatever that day’s audience wants to discuss. It’s sort of a members-only virtual town hall meeting. This month we're featuring our quarterly roundtable discussion where anything is on the table for conversation.   how: The eForum and eForum xChange are members-only benefits. If you have not participated before, the xChange is a live monthly facilitated discussion usually focused on a specific topic. Members who want to participate must opt-in by emailing Lucie Castro or Jessica Bonin.

Joining us for the first time at ARIN 52 or just need a refresher? Make sure you sign up for our virtual Meeting Orientation when you register, or edit your registration preferences using the link in your confirmation email. We're excited to provide you with an overview of what to expect and how to participate, including in-depth info about the policies up for discussion. See you next Thursday at 2 PM ET 👋 #ARIN52 #SanDiego #InternetGovernance #InternetPolicy #PolicyDevelopment #PublicPolicy #InternetNumbers #IPaddresses #IPv6 #IPv4 #RPKI #RoutingSecurity #NetworkOperators #NetworkArchitecture