This was my first experience at the SHRM Annual Conference in the US. I thought its important to share my experiences to help my HR Community Online. I would like to share the experience in three parts : 1. SHRM Conference 2. Networking & 3. City of Las Vegas. At the end of the 3 parts I would share some of the inputs from the conference & what could be next at the end.
SHRM Conference: Probably the largest gathering of HR professionals in the world. There are 18000 professionals under one roof. More than 1000+ International Delegates. India pumped in 53 to the International attendees. 200 speakers and sessions parallely without even delay in seconds and best in managing the time. The Mega Daily sessions with 14000 seating capacity and managing the entire show has been marvelous... The Conference Daily published by the next day monring is an amazing way to keep you informed about what transpired the previous day. The video/Picture coverage of the previous day used effectively at all the locations the next day. The exhibitors have done their best job in attracting people to their desk. Ofcouse, Monetising a conference can be best learned from this experience.
Networking: It was an opportunity to network with everyone. The tone of the conference itself is based on the networking. The value for conference comes from the networking and the friends you make in every session, discussion that you involve. Ofcourse, not to forget the interaction with speakers gives an other level of networking opportunity.
The Global Lounge created for interaction of International Attendees and the interested HR professinals given a great way to connect to people from more than 50 countries. I met and made friends from China, Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Australia, Germany, Dubai, Canada, Brazil,Kenya,WI and the list goes on... I hope to be in touch with them on mails, Linkedin & Facebook to continue the networking opportunity...
Las Vegas City : Wow! what a city to visit... I think one must visit the city of Lights, Excitement, Gambling and monuments (creation of cities like NewYork, Paris etc.,). The original Las Vegas at Fremont street experience was out of this world. Travelling through the RTA bus around the city, Helicopter Ride in the night,Limousene ride through the streets...ofcourse many attractions help you spend as much as you have in your valet.
Some Quick Learnings: Sounds the Indian Way! Yes!
- Treating Employees like family members
- Employee average age in an organisation decreasing (The typical challenge of Growing India Business)
- Understanding employees beyond your professional boundaries
- Business focus on Values, Culture of organisation
- Business Excellence with Leadership
- Communicate, Communicate & Communicate Vision to derive results
- Business Results with Facilitated Motivation
- Building Teams based on their best past performance
- Focus on Customer Performance not just Customer Satisfaction
What would make it even more interesting: While the acknowledgement was there for the future Business Destinations as India, China & Rest of the World, the coverage of sessions related to them are alomost nil. The contents, coverage, speakers are mostly from US based.
Few contents on the following would help the next Atlanta Conference a success with a real mega global HR conference:
- The India & china story of HR Management
- HR Challenges in Doing Business in India & China
- Best companies from India & China to be showcased with HR Practices
- The SME's(The Small & Medium Businesses) and their HR stories from India & China.
SHRM Conference: Probably the largest gathering of HR professionals in the world. There are 18000 professionals under one roof. More than 1000+ International Delegates. India pumped in 53 to the International attendees. 200 speakers and sessions parallely without even delay in seconds and best in managing the time. The Mega Daily sessions with 14000 seating capacity and managing the entire show has been marvelous... The Conference Daily published by the next day monring is an amazing way to keep you informed about what transpired the previous day. The video/Picture coverage of the previous day used effectively at all the locations the next day. The exhibitors have done their best job in attracting people to their desk. Ofcouse, Monetising a conference can be best learned from this experience.
Networking: It was an opportunity to network with everyone. The tone of the conference itself is based on the networking. The value for conference comes from the networking and the friends you make in every session, discussion that you involve. Ofcourse, not to forget the interaction with speakers gives an other level of networking opportunity.
The Global Lounge created for interaction of International Attendees and the interested HR professinals given a great way to connect to people from more than 50 countries. I met and made friends from China, Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Australia, Germany, Dubai, Canada, Brazil,Kenya,WI and the list goes on... I hope to be in touch with them on mails, Linkedin & Facebook to continue the networking opportunity...
Las Vegas City : Wow! what a city to visit... I think one must visit the city of Lights, Excitement, Gambling and monuments (creation of cities like NewYork, Paris etc.,). The original Las Vegas at Fremont street experience was out of this world. Travelling through the RTA bus around the city, Helicopter Ride in the night,Limousene ride through the streets...ofcourse many attractions help you spend as much as you have in your valet.
Some Quick Learnings: Sounds the Indian Way! Yes!
- Treating Employees like family members
- Employee average age in an organisation decreasing (The typical challenge of Growing India Business)
- Understanding employees beyond your professional boundaries
- Business focus on Values, Culture of organisation
- Business Excellence with Leadership
- Communicate, Communicate & Communicate Vision to derive results
- Business Results with Facilitated Motivation
- Building Teams based on their best past performance
- Focus on Customer Performance not just Customer Satisfaction
What would make it even more interesting: While the acknowledgement was there for the future Business Destinations as India, China & Rest of the World, the coverage of sessions related to them are alomost nil. The contents, coverage, speakers are mostly from US based.
Few contents on the following would help the next Atlanta Conference a success with a real mega global HR conference:
- The India & china story of HR Management
- HR Challenges in Doing Business in India & China
- Best companies from India & China to be showcased with HR Practices
- The SME's(The Small & Medium Businesses) and their HR stories from India & China.
Excellent GR.. you just made whole conference for me right here live in my visuals.
ReplyDeleteI also liked your suggestions for next Atlanta Conference.. it is a must if we have to really call it international..
Thanks GR for sharing this and being a part of Global HR forum.
ReplyDeleteRahul
Good intro. Waiting for what really transpired. The HR fraternity is high on words but low on action.
ReplyDeleteThe real indicator that HR is gaining in importance will be when the best minds from institutes like IAMs or Harvard opt for HR as a career.Has that trend started in US at least in a small way. Was any light thrown on this in the conference?