How to get the most out of Knowledge18?

Dubz · ‎04-04-2018

Hi All,

Knowledge18 will be my first Knowledge conference, or indeed any sort of conference like this. I've been running through the agenda items on the MyEvent section of the Knowledge website and registering for a few bits and pieces but i don't know how to get the most out of this event.

If there are any Knowledge veterans out there with wisdom to impart it would be great if you could share some guidance on what to expect, how the event is formatted and how best to squeeze out the maximum possible value?!

Cheers

Dave

Nia McCash · ‎04-04-2018

2017 was my first year to Knowledge and this is what I learned...

Subscribe yourself to the Knowledge Community place/space in the community forums.

I found it useful to turn on email notifications for the space so I was emailed of every new post to the board (but, you may also get unnecessary emails from subscribing). Use whatever method works for you to follow this space, to not miss the important info and helpful tips that are posted (some of which, the ones I personally found useful, I will repeat below).

Last year, my coworker missed the post about us getting a new backpack at the conference, and regretted having brought his backpack from home (just an extra thing to lug around unnecessarily).
Follow the @NOWsupport, @NOWCommunity, @Know365 Twitter accounts if you aren’t already following. They may post good-to-know information about the upcoming conference.
Browse for the #Know18 and related (eg. #knowledge18, #CreatorCon) tags on social media . The tags may reveal some good-to-know info that aren’t posted elsewhere, like this Twitter post from K17 about CreatorCon swag .
Sign up for sessions as soon as you can . Some of them fill up real fast. If you follow the community forums closely and on social media, you’ll be one of the first to know when session selection is available.

But, also check back often as new sessions open up or more space in popular sessions are made available.
“ Spend about half your time in sessions focused on helping you optimize the modules and processes tha... ” <-- I found this post has some helpful advice.
Walk the Expo hall, often. At K17, there were arcade games available throughout the Expo hall floor, if you needed to unwind. One day, there was a mini donuts station churning out fresh, warm, fried-before-your-eyes mini donuts, served dusted with icing sugar! Vendors may have new swag, restocked swag, or new prize giveaways. You never know what you’ll find.

Download the app. It contains lots of useful info, games, and push notifications of various announcements, some of which are useful.
If you’re not happy with your session (whether it’s a breakout, a lab, a workshop, whatever), feel free to leave to find something that is a better use of your time. The app can help you find other sessions that are running at the same time.

Or, opt to...
- Walk the Expo hall (see above)
- Participate in the multitude of other events like collecting your community bling .
- Participate in the CreatorCon challenges to win prizes. I was only aware of this through the app and didn’t see any info about it posted elsewhere.
- Attend the variety of other events. There will be drop-ins and socials organized by vendors and even by various ServiceNow teams (example: your chance to provide feedback to the HI team ). These may not be announce until closer to conference dates.
Bring something to personalize your Knowledge backpack . I brought some maple leaf/Canada branded lanyards for my bag at K17 and was pleasantly stopped by fellow attendees and by vendors who were also Canadian. Your bag decoration may just help you connect with someone at the conference.
Bring a jacket . They kept the temperature really cold indoors, arctic cold. I had a light sweater with me at the keynote and I really, really wished I had a warm jacket.
Wear comfortable shoes . Lots of post on this in the Community for K17. Use this as your excuse to go shoe shopping if you want. Regardless, you’ll be doing a lot of walking. The conference is huge and getting from one session to another may be a bit of a hike.

TLDR / Basically,

Yes, there are TONS of stuff happening at Knowledge.

No, you can’t possibly do everything.

But, you can still have a great time and get valuable experience at Knowledge. A bit of preparation can go a long way. Don’t feel bad for missed opportunities. You’ll want to go back next year, anyways.

View solution in original post

Jeff Hiller · ‎04-04-2018

Dave, Glad to see some folks have stared to respond.

This will be my 6th conference and each one is a bit different.

1. Bring comfortable shoes - bring a few pairs and nothing new. You will want some causal clothes and maybe some a little more upscale. It is Vegas.

2. Subscript to the Knowledge 18 mobile app once released. You can use it to get updates, takes notes at your session and complete surveys.

3. Always have your conference badge with you.

4. If the Expo opens on Monday Night, make the rounds, due as many drive bys as you can and then on Tuesday Night take more time with the vendors you want to dive into. Vendors will be all over you so it could be a bit overwhelming. Take the time to visit the ServiceNow booths. Become a Champion. Check out the Hackathon entries for some cool examples of how SN is being transformed.

5. Not sue what your specific role is but hone in on areas that you currently trying to solve. If admin, take some labs, but don't be afraid to check out some break-out sessions too. Check out as much as you can but don't be disappoint as you will be bound to miss something. That is just how busy you will be.

6. NETWORK NETWORK NETWORK - bring your business cards, introduce yourself to others in sessions, etc. You can make some great contacts that you can partner with post conference. Join a SNUG group if you haven't already. Usually there is a SNUG event one night. Check it out.

Be happy to show you the ropes or connect in person if you struggling or just have questions. Reach out privately and I'll catch up with you. Hard sometimes to get to these events with 15K+ participants.

If we don't connect, have fun!

Jeff

Dubz · ‎04-05-2018

Thanks a lot for the info Jeff, shoes certainly seem to be a top priority!

I'm an admin/wannabe-developer so i've signed up to a bunch of labs and workshops geared around that. I'll certainly be getting the app so i can redirect if some of those don't work out. I'll have to see about getting some business cards made up as well, i've not needed them before!

Jennifer Chapin · ‎04-05-2018

All -

This is great stuff! Thanks so much for sharing what is valuable to you. Next year, I'm going to feature you all in my blog posts about what to expect at Knowledge!! 🙂

See you there!

Jennifer

JB23 · ‎05-03-2018

Here's what I learned last year: Keep yourself organized, wear comfy shoes, and don't drink too much because the 8:30 keynote sessions are no fun with a hangover. Take notes when it helps you, and remember that most of the content will be made available after the conference ends via documents or videos. If you waited until the last minute and it looks like sessions you may be interested in are full, make a spreadsheet of the session/location and show up anyway, because you might still get a spot if someone skips out. There are lots of vendor-sponsored break-out sessions that are not on the scheduler. The exhibit hall contains a wealth of information. Also, make some new friends. Join your local ServiceNow user group (SNUG) - it will be based on where you live/work.

jnovack · ‎05-04-2018

1. I tell everyone about the "On Demand Library". It is under Events at the top black menu bar of this page. Knowledge18 will show up as soon as the conference opens.

> don't drink too much because the 8:30 keynote sessions are no fun with a hangover

* You don't need to go, it's ALL in the On Demand Library!!

* Don't be that idiot standing up and taking photos of slides. It's ALL in the On Demand Library!

* If you have a choice between two equally good sessions, pick the one more relevant, and you can find the other one, you guessed it, in the On-Demand Library!!

2. Focus! If you are not looking to shop and looking to learn, STEER CLEAR of any Vendor sponsored breakout. Yep, their product is cool, but if your business won't buy it, you are wasting time. You PAID to be there. If they want to show you products, get them to visit you at work (with lunch). Also, be on the lookout for ServiceNow Add-On presentations that you do not have, again, that's just product promotion.

3. I can't believe nobody mentioned comfy shoes.

4. Wait at the door if a session is full. There will be a line off to the side for you filthy casuals, you might be able to get in or get in the back. I've sat on the wall for a hot session.

5. Don't forget to visit Vegas! This should be an entire separate thread...