Three reasons why industry events are key to moving forward on our collective goals

As CEO, my job is to work with the Calian team to make decisions that help us do our best work while focusing on our growth. Reflecting on our core purpose is something I always come back to. Part of that core purpose is to help people stay safe and lead healthy lives. From this strong foundation lies the opportunity to create the world we want to live in.??

For those who don’t know, much of the work we do for our customers centres around safety. As a global provider of innovative defence solutions, we provide military training and simulation (including virtual reality), health care, manufacturing, communications and connectivity, and cyber defence. Essentially, we equip militaries to deliver on their missions from concept to in-service support.??

Working together with those dedicated to keeping us safe at home and abroad — especially when they can’t afford to fail — is high stakes work. Which is why one of the biggest markers of success is one we know well: Preparation. The expertise we have at Calian is immense and I draw on people like Jay Ballard, Military Training and Simulation Lead, who often reinforces the importance of staying 10 steps ahead. In a recent webinar, he looked at the significance of trend-forecasting as wars and cybersecurity become increasingly sophisticated and complex. This is important for keeping pace with changes in our customer’s needs— they shift over time and require us to continuously level up.??

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As I’ve highlighted in previous articles, we take technology and innovation seriously. Coupled with listening and responding to customers, innovation is the reason we keep moving forward and adapting to a changing and challenging landscape. We couldn’t do what we do without our in-house experts, our partners, and our collaborators and connectors around the globe. Finding opportunities to connect with others in the defence industry to share new learnings is paramount to our collective goal of keeping people safe.??

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As many of us prepare for CANSEC, Canada’s largest global defence and security trade show, the value of connection, knowledge sharing, and collaboration is on my mind. The privilege to meet in-person, share stories, interact with displays, and watch demos, gives us the opportunity to do our best for our customers and the people they impact around the world.?

In light of that, today I’m sharing three reasons from my perspective on why industry trade shows like CANSEC are key to learning from each other to move forward on our collective goals.??

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1. Stay up on the latest??

Trade shows are where everyone brings their latest technologies, in-house experts, and most relevant solutions that fit the needs of the industry — making it a golden opportunity to stay up-to-date and ahead of trends. Predicting what’s next and being prepared for any situation increases our chances of success.??

2. Make new connections??

Being able to meet someone in your industry in person where you can learn about each other’s role, visions and goals, and exchange industry knowledge can be incredibly valuable, both for your professional career, but also for moving the needle on your organization’s goals.??

3. Widen your company’s reach??

Whether you are exhibiting a new product or service, or simply talking about your company or connecting on LinkedIn, it’s helping to widen your company’s reach. For us at Calian, I look forward to the conversations that will take place as we share all that we do to prepare, equip and deliver for members of the Canadian Armed Forces and allied forces around the world.??

I’m grateful for tradeshows like CANSEC which provide the opportunity for the Canadian defence industry to collaborate effectively and look forward to connecting with familiar and new faces, learning new things, and showcasing all that Calian has on offer at our booth. Want a sneak peek of what you’ll see? Check out our booth highlights. ?

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?***?Please share a comment below: How important are industry trade shows to your business or career??***??