How to survive (and win) conference season 📇
11 strategies to make every conference count, from networking hacks to avoiding burnout
The Spring conference season is coming up, and I’ve got a packed schedule ahead. Millennial Masters is hitting the road, connecting with the people shaping the future of business, and bringing back the best insights on AI, sustainability, fusion energy, and automation.
Conferences can be a goldmine for ideas and connections, but they can also be exhausting. Too many panels, too many business cards, and not enough real takeaways. Without a strategy, it’s easy to get lost in the noise.
That’s why I’ve put together this survival guide. Over the years, I’ve picked up a few tricks to make conferences work for me, and I’m pulling in some smart strategies from Tim Ferriss and Keith Ferrazzi, author of Never Eat Alone.
Whether you’re there to expand your network, close deals, or get inspired, these takeaways will help you stay sharp and get real value.
Here’s where I’ll be over the next few months (check my full agenda page):
🌍 Sustainability Week (March 10-12, London) – The big bets on sustainable tech, agriculture, and supply chains.
🔋 Energy Transition Summit (March 10, London) – AI, green hydrogen, and fusion. What’s actually moving the needle?
💡 Business Innovation Summit (March 25-26, London) – Cutting through the AI hype to find real business wins.
⚛️ Fusion Fest (April 8, London) – The race for limitless energy and the business opportunities that come with it.
⚡ Microsoft Power Summit (May 24, London) – AI, automation, and low-code. Where it’s all headed.
If you’re heading to any of these, let’s connect. If not, I’ll be sharing insights along the way.
Now, let’s get into it: how to actually win at conferences.👇
Millennial Masters is brought to you by Jolt ⚡️ The UK’s top web hosting service
1️⃣ Pre-game your networking
The best networking starts before you even step into the venue.
Lock in meetings early: the best people fill their schedules fast.
Warm up key connections: drop a quick DM or comment on LinkedIn before you meet IRL.
Make yourself visible: post on social media that you’re attending (and tag the event).
Pro move: Create a hit list of people you want to meet and reach out before the event. A simple “Looking forward to meeting you at [conference]” makes an intro smoother.
2️⃣ Get into the right rooms (even if you’re not invited)
The best conversations don’t happen on stage, they happen at private dinners, speaker lounges, and invite-only side events.
Find a way in: ask mutual connections, track down unofficial side meetups, or just be where the action is.
Stay open to last-minute invites: the best events aren’t always on the official schedule.
Follow the speakers: if they disappear after their panel, they’re likely heading somewhere interesting.
Pro move: A casual “Are you going to any interesting side meetups?” can open doors to events you didn’t even know existed.
3️⃣ Skip the obvious questions
Nobody wants to answer, “So, what do you do?” for the 50th time. Stand out by making the conversation memorable.
Ask about their talk, recent work, or why they’re at the event.
Find common ground: mutual connections, city, industry pain points.
Be genuinely curious: people love talking about their experiences, not their job title.
Pro move: Have a go-to opener that sparks conversation. Try:
“What’s been your biggest takeaway so far?”
“What’s a trend in [industry] that’s overhyped?”
“Which speaker are you actually excited about?”
4️⃣ Work the coffee and lunch queues
Networking doesn’t just happen in breakout rooms: some of the best conversations start in line for coffee or food.
Look up from your phone: use those few minutes to strike up a chat with whoever’s next to you.
Mention something relevant: a speaker you both saw, an industry shift, or just ask for food recommendations.
Read body language: if someone’s open to chatting, don’t waste the opportunity.
Pro move: Offer to grab an extra coffee for someone you want to meet, it’s a simple way to break the ice.
5️⃣ Leave gaps for serendipity
Back-to-back schedules look productive, but they kill spontaneous opportunities.
Leave buffer time between sessions for unexpected encounters.
Skip a talk if the right person is free: a 10-minute chat with an investor or potential client beats sitting through another panel.
Follow the energy: if a great convo is flowing, stay with it instead of rushing to the next session.
Pro move: If you hit it off with someone, make an instant move and suggest a quick coffee, swap WhatsApps, or walk to the next session together. Moments like these don’t wait for later.
6️⃣ Don’t collect business cards, collect real connections
Business cards end up in a drawer. Meaningful connections stick.
Connect on LinkedIn or WhatsApp immediately: add a note to remind them where you met.
Take a quick photo together: it makes follow-ups more personal.
If you get a card, snap a pic and message them later.
Pro move: After chatting, say, “I’d love to stay in touch, what’s the best way?” and add them then and there.
7️⃣ Nail your exit strategy
Dragging out small talk kills momentum. Master the graceful exit so you can move on and meet more people.
Wrap up with intent: “Great chatting! Let’s connect on LinkedIn and pick this up after the event.”
Pass the mic: introduce them to someone else before you move on.
Use the next session as a reason: “I’m heading into [panel/talk], but let’s continue this later!”
Pro move: Always have a reason to reconnect: a follow-up question, an article to share, or an invite to another event.
8️⃣ Prioritise post-event follow-ups
Most connections die in the inbox. The key? Follow up fast while they still remember you.
Within 24 hours send a quick message with a personal reference to your chat.
Make it easy: suggest a clear next step (grab coffee, jump on a call, intro them to someone).
Engage on LinkedIn: comment on their latest post or tag them in a relevant article.
Pro move: If you met someone valuable, don’t just follow up once, stay on their radar without being pushy.
9️⃣ Conserve your energy
Conferences can be exhausting if you don’t pace yourself.
Hydrate like crazy: coffee and alcohol don’t count.
Sneak in quiet time, find a quiet corner, step outside, or skip a session to recharge.
Get sleep: late nights are fun, but showing up sharp the next day matters more.
Pro move: Set social and business goals. If you’ve hit your key meetings for the day, give yourself permission to take a break.
🔟 Create your own “conference wrap-up” content
After the event, everyone leaves with insights, but few people share them well.
Tactic: Write a LinkedIn post, Twitter thread, or podcast recap with key takeaways from the event. Tag people you met and include quotes from speakers. This keeps you in the loop and positions you as someone worth knowing.
Pro move: If you took photos with speakers or panelists, DM them after and say, “Great meeting you, mind if I share this shot in my event recap?” It’s an easy way to reconnect without feeling transactional.
1️⃣1️⃣ Play the long game
The real ROI of conferences is in the relationships you build over time.
Keep key connections warm: drop a message every few months.
Give before you ask: offer an intro, share an opportunity, or send a useful resource.
Stay visible: post about the event, tag people you met, and keep the momentum going.
Pro move: Be the connector. Introduce people from your network and add value without expecting anything in return. That’s how you build a reputation.
TL;DR? Here’s my conference playbook
✅ Plan key meetings before you go
✅ Ask better questions and ditch “What do you do?”
✅ Work the in-between moments at coffee queues, lunch, hallway chats
✅ Leave gaps for unexpected opportunities
✅ Get into the right rooms even if you weren’t invited
✅ Swap business cards for real connections
✅ Follow up within 24 hours while you’re still fresh in their mind
✅ Pace yourself, conferences are a marathon, not a sprint
✅ Stay in touch — real networking happens after the event
Master these, and you won’t just survive conference season, you’ll own it.