Chairman’s Corner

KBA CHAIRMAN’S CORNER by James A. Hillebrand Chairman & CEO, Stock Yards Bank & Trust Co. 2021-2022 KBA Chairman

Making the Most of Your Next Conference

I love attending conferences. Each one is a new chance to improve my skills and learn new ways to better the banking business. With numerous roundtables and other enlightening events throughout the year, the KBA keeps a steady stream of occasions to grow and learn.

Q: So how do I make the most of each one? A: I bring the right attitude and a plan.

For me, the KBA Convention last fall went by entirely too quickly. The excitement of seeing colleagues and vendors for the first time after a long pandemic-imposed separation made it hard to focus on education. These are awesome opportunities to engage with others and educate ourselves – so I do put extra work to make sure they aren’t wasted.

Here are a few things I do to make the most of each conference experience.

1. Clear the calendar.

If you’re doing it right, there should not be a lot of free time at a conference. To take advantage of all a conference has to offer, it’s important to commit to truly being there.

We all have calls we have to take and meetings we can’t miss. I suggest doing whatever you can to clear out your calendar during conference days to ensure you can stay engaged and in the moment.

Doing it halfway won’t do you any favors. If you’re spending too much time trying to juggle work back at the office with networking and education at the event, you’ll lose out. It’s worth the time and effort, even if it means a busy few days afterward, to attend the entire conference and be present when you’re there.

2. Do the homework.

Conferences are a fantastic time to get a refresher on the simple things we often forget and make new connections. Plus, we have a wealth of experts at the ready to help us get up to speed on the latest and greatest vendor offerings. Keeping track of everything you want to cover can be overwhelming. about each session available and its speakers to find out what makes the most sense to attend or send a colleague.

It’s not practical to have your entire team attend a conference, but don’t leave them out. Show the schedule of events to your managers along with the vendor list to see what interests them. Collect any questions they have or topics they’d like to know more about to be able to explore on-site and report back.

I suggest spending time looking at the attendee list too. This is a chance to think about the new players you’d like to meet, who you haven’t connected with in a while and who might appreciate an introduction to someone else.

3. Engage with others.

Conferences are a great time to build relationships, so don’t lose sight of the importance of dedicating meaningful time to connect with others. If networking is outside your comfort zone, find an ally to help introduce you to the people you want to know better. If you already know a lot of people, look for someone who could benefit from an introduction by you.

If you’ve done several conferences before, think back to your first conference and who helped you get a foot in the door. Now is a chance to pay that forward.

Remember: we’re all people and we’re all bankers.

Whether you are representing the biggest bank in the state or the smallest, we have a lot in common. Our priorities for customers have nothing to do with our bank’s size, so don’t be afraid to start up a conversation with other bankers.

4. Maximize time.

It may sound basic but one of the best things you can do for yourself during a conference is to get some sleep. (Been there. Done that. Probably will break this advice again.)

It’s tempting to stay out a little later to network but you’ll pay for a late night the following day. To be present and ready to maximize your time at a conference, you need rest.