This year, I attended my first Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM) CONNECT Annual conference. Hosted in the heart of downtown Chicago, there was representation across top companies. It was a great chance to revive my pre-pandemic networking skills and learn best practices across the industry. I’m sharing highlights from my favorite moments, plus details on where and when the 2023 CONNECT Conference will be!
1.Small Group Speaker Seasons
There are so many sessions to choose from when it comes to the smaller group sessions. It’s a great environment to ask questions and hear from experts. One of my favorite sessions was led by Danaka Porter, a fellow MIT Supply Chain Management master’s alum! Her session, “Are you making the Most of AI, ML, and IoT?” began with the basics and led up to specific case studies.
Here’s some of the key lessons that I saved in my notes: 1. If you only have one data set to test, break it into thirds. 2. Beware of biased data! Using the same set to both test & train will bias it. 3. Your algorithm is only as smart as the data used to train it!
The small group speaker sessions ranged from experts like Danaka speaking on a single topic to panel discussions with speakers from diverse backgrounds. Listening to other professionals share their experiences sparked new ideas. Having a distinct perspective when problem-solving is so valuable in the corporate world. The sessions I attended left me with a fresh point of view on my own work.
2. Meaningful Networking Opportunities
Networking is a great way to gain perspective on your work and expand your career opportunities. I met some amazing supply chain professionals over the daily coffee break, at the 80’s dance after party social, and even while waiting to hear former NASA astronaut, Dr. Mae Jemison speak! It was so refreshing to meet with people who have similar passions and work experiences. I even got to meet the 2023 ASCM board chair, Lisa Veneziano. She’s the former Executive Director of General Motor’s Global Supply Chain. I had the chance to ask her for career advice and she said, “Get as many different experiences as possible early on in your career. This is a great way to learn the business, make connections across the company, and build your reputation.”
3. New City Experiences
Going to ASCM CONNECT and meeting up with your supply chain gals makes it more fun! I love combining work + play, so it was really nice that the central location made it possible. I met up with Brittany, who works in warehouse management consulting at Manhattan Associates. Since the conference is in the heart of the city, there’s plenty of time to see sights, try coffee shops, and grab drinks nearby. You can arrive a day early to really take advantage of the opportunity to explore before sessions begin on Sunday.
ASCM CONNECT was a whirlwind fun 3-day trip to Chicago, that blended growing professionally and broadening my network. It’s so important to take time out of your daily 9-5 to focus on your professional development. Save the date: September 10-13th, 2023 for the next ASCM CONNECT Annual Conference in Louisville, Kentucky!
