Illuminate Conference 2024: An Attendee's Guide to Together Digital's Annual Conference (From Someone Who's Been There)

Chances are, you came to a Together Digital event because you were invited by someone, right? You joined your local chapter because you’d finally found a community that gets it.

I joined Together Digital in 2018 after being laid off and immediately found an impressive network of women, all working in my field and beyond. The following year, I attended my first Together Digital National Conference. I attended the opening night happy hour event and was immediately greeted by familiar faces I’d seen on peer circle calls on our various Slack channels. There’s something about the feeling of reuniting with friends you haven’t seen in a while, even though these were people I’d never seen in person! The next days were spent with tons of information from the various workshops and panels, and then, those conversations were carried into lunch and dinner and social mingling time.?

If this is your first Together Digital National Conference, let me walk you through what you can expect to experience as a first-time attendee.?

It all starts the night before

If you’re traveling to Cincinnati for the conference and spending the night on Wednesday, there will be a gathering hosted by some of the local Cincinnati chapter members. It’s a great way to start meeting fellow Together Digital members before the influx of people you’ll meet throughout the conference the next day. It’s a low-stakes gathering. You need dinner anyway, why order takeout and sit in your hotel room or AirBnB??

Conference Day

You’ll be greeted by a very enthusiastic group of volunteers who are ready to check you in. I’ll be honest: all of the volunteers are REALLY excited you’re here. We look forward to this event every year, and hopefully, you’ll see why from the minute you arrive. Here’s where you’ll get all of the information you need to make the most of the day – name tags, swag bags, when you can get your updated headshot taken and a schedule of events.?

Take a lap around the conference space and stake out your spot. I’ll challenge you to sit next to someone you don’t know and make an effort to get to know them. Sure, it might feel a little awkward, but I’ll bet the other person also feels awkward, so you can just be two awesome people feeling awkward for a few seconds.?

If you’re coming with a group and you see someone who is there by themselves (many conference attendees are freelancers, contract employees, solopreneurs, or maybe the only one from their company or organization who could attend, etc.), encourage them to join your table or your group. The goal of the day is connection.?

Keynotes and Conference sessions

We have incredible keynote speakers – our CEO Amy Vaughan, Zontee Hou, and Brooke Daniels. I always come away from those keynotes with some key action steps and inspiration. And every once in a while, I wonder if I could ever be one of those people, commanding the stage and talking to a room of incredibly smart and talented women. Dare to dream. (After all, Amy Vaughan, the owner and CEO, was once a starry-eyed attending member as well.)?

Our goal for the conference is to give you some new skills and key takeaways in the world of personal or professional development–without depleting you. Read through the conference agenda and decide which sessions are going to be the most impactful for you–then leave your FOMO at the door.?

Peer Circles and Ask & Gives

For a first-time attendee, this may be the most challenging part of the conference since it requires not only participation but a little bit of vulnerability. One of the core tenets of Together Digital is our commitment to seeing women in our industry rise. These events give you the opportunity to ask a group of women about the thing in your life that is really keeping you stuck. If the thought of sharing that or saying the thing out loud makes you sweat, let me reassure you that the circle of trust is sacrosanct. Women aren’t always great at asking for help, but the women at your table want one thing for you – for you to succeed and they just want to help. I promise, if there’s something stuck in your craw and you’re willing to talk about it, you’ll have a next step on how to get unstuck. It truly is what makes Together Digital unique.?

Sponsors and Vendors

Events like this one require sponsors and there will be opportunities throughout the event to learn about the companies and organizations that have pledged their support to this event via a sponsorship.?

We’ve also curated a market featuring products made by women-owned businesses. It’s a great way to stock up on some fun gifts or some treats for yourself. I remember buying a little canvas bag at my first conference that said “Tampons & Shit” on it and I went back online, bought several more, and that became a signature gift I gave to many of my girlfriends that year. It’s probably one of my favorite things to buy because it still makes me laugh every single time I see it.?

Immerse Yourself

As a first-time attendee, I know there is a lot to take in and process. And trust me, if you have hit your limit of “people-ing” for the day, there are opportunities for you to step away and reset. But attending the Together Digital conference is a great gift to yourself. Indulge in the company of amazing women who are doing great work in a variety of industries. Be a sponge and soak up as much of the intelligence and awesomeness as you can handle.?

Take Action

Actively connect with the people you meet. Are you an OG with business cards? Hand them out. Prefer digital connects? Have your LinkedIn profile QR code ready. Follow up with everyone you met after the conference. If they’re local to you, set up some coffee dates or lunches. If they’re further away, virtual meetings work, too. However, follow-up is key to creating lasting relationships.

I think you’ll find that almost everyone you meet will ask you some version of this question, “How can I help?” Whether that help is a sounding board to talk through your next conversation with your manager where you finally ask for the promotion or raise you deserve, or you need an introduction to someone at a company because you’re applying for your next job, a day with your Together Digital network is a day well-spent. I can’t wait to see you all in Cincinnati.

Register for your ticket here. Get your early bird ticket before?August 31st and save $100. Members save an additional $100 and enjoy all the benefits of being a part of this strong and supportive community.