A WiTCH’s Guide to Surviving Conferences

Large conferences are a lot. Thousands of people, hundreds of vendors, and dozens of talks, often spread out in a vendor hall the size of a small country. There are things to do and people to see literally everywhere, and it often seems like everyone has it figured out while you are hiding in the bathroom, trying not to hyperventilate. I have been there and done that, now I have been to more of these events than I can count and even hosted a few of my own. Here is what I have learned:

Tip 1: Set an intention, not an itinerary

Before the event, decide why you are really attending the conference. It could be that your work has mandated it, or that you have been convinced you just have to go to this by everyone on LinkedIn, but either way, figuring out what you want to get from the conference is the most important thing you can do.

 In fact, it is good to have one or two goals to accomplish. Those might be:

• I want to find a mentor in cloud security

• I want to understand what’s happening in OT/ICS right now

• I want to have three real conversations with people I don’t already know

  
  

I know that when I set a clear goal for what I want to achieve at the conference, it makes it easier to plan my schedule around it. I can skip the keynote, I’m not that bothered about, or that AI talk I have already heard 100 times; instead, I get to focus on what is relevant to me.  So, before you go, set your intention and stop trying to do everything and focus on what really matters.

Tip 2: Read the programme the night before (yes, actually)

This one sounds obvious, but most people don’t do it. I know I didn’t. I would get my ticket, pick up the agenda, look at it for 30 seconds and then completely ignore it. So instead of going to the talk I was actually interested in, I would end up at a talk simply because I was standing there and it started in three minutes, and the room was nearby.

Spend 30 minutes the evening before. Find the two or three sessions you genuinely want to attend, whether they help your goal, you want to potentially meet the speaker after, or it genuinely just sounds like a talk you would enjoy, mark them. Build the rest of your day around those.

If you’re neurodivergent (like me) or find sensory overload genuinely difficult, this prep pays off so much more. Not only do you arrive with a plan and a map, which strips out a significant chunk of the cognitive load before you’ve even walked through the doors it also allows you to create break periods and find quiet spaces so you can take breaks.

Tip 3: Some of my best conversations have happened in the hallway

Talks are great. The coffee queue, the lunch queue, the awkward bit of corridor between two rooms? Well, that's HallCon, and it’s the best place to make connections. This is also particularly good for smaller conferences like BSides, and why I hardly ever see talks these days.

At conferences like this, you are surrounded by people who care about the same things you do. I’ve had conversations in conference corridors that led to collaborations, job offers, and friendships that are still going. So make sure you are making time for the networking, not just the talks or stands.

If starting conversations cold makes you want to relocate to another dimension, because I know it does for me, prep three low-stakes openers:- “What have you seen so far that’s been interesting?” - “Are there any talks you are looking forward to?”- “Is there a stand that I just have to go to?”

This works every single time. People love talking about what they found interesting. It’s basically a cheat code for small talk. Now, if you don’t know who to talk to, find the person by themselves; they are probably feeling just as awkward as you.

Tip 4: Find your people early

Most conferences have networking sessions, community meetups, or, at a minimum, a Slack or Discord somewhere. Find where your people are likely to be and show up early.

If there’s a women in tech gathering, a neurodiversity session, or a community track, I go. For me these sessions and rooms tend to have better conversations and make it easier, plus people I know and want to catch up with are likely going to be in these rooms.

If going to these bigger networking sessions is still a bit too intimidating, you can always bring an emotional support person. In all seriousness, bringing a friend or finding someone you know to meet up with before the conference can add a sense of security and comfort to an event this big. So don’t be afraid to post on LinkedIn or reach out to someone you know who is going.

For Infosec: Check out the amazing community stage and area hosted by the Cyber House Party, or the Women in Cybersecurity event on Wednesday afternoon.

Tip 5: Manage your energy like the finite resource it is

Conferences are physically and socially exhausting. I learned this the hard way. I used to push through until I was running on caffeine, a sad conference pastry, and anxiety.

So now I build in breaks and keep an emergency protein bar in the bag, because I am likely going to skip lunch and regret it. If your energy levels are draining make sure you find a quiet corner, and don’t be afraid to leave the venue if you need to get some space or fresh air. Finally, make sure to have breakfast so you can have some real fuel to start the day, before you are running entirely on caffeine and anxiety. This is especially important if you’re introverted or neurodiverse; you already know that three days of constant people is going to cost you.

If noise, crowds, or sensory overload are genuinely difficult for you, it’s worth contacting the organisers beforehand to ask about quieter spaces or other accommodations. Most decent conferences have something sorted. You often just have to ask.

Tip 6: Follow up the same day

I’ve lost count of how many good conversations I let slip because I meant to follow up later and then didn’t. At conferences this big, you’ll meet people, you’ll meet a lot of people. You’ll mean to connect properly later. Life will intervene. Work will have another emergency most of the time, but you won’t. That is, unless you do it the same day.

A simple message is all it takes: “Really enjoyed our chat about [thing]. I would love to stay in touch.” That’s it. In fact, ask if you can connect with them on LinkedIn, and include that in your request to add them to your network.  No elaborate follow-up strategy required, and it also gives you notes for why you contacted them. Maybe lay off the pitch immediately.

Also, on a side note, get comfortable making notes. No one is going to judge you for carrying around a notebook or for finding an app on your phone that you can keep at hand. Especially in multiday conferences, you will forget everyone you talked to, and a small note is a great way to remember who you met on day one when everyone's names are starting to blur. I know this is one I need to remember to do more.

Tip 7: You are allowed to be here

There are so many times, even now, that I've stood in the registration queue wondering whether I was experienced enough, technical enough, or successful enough to be there. Looking around at all the familiar faces, impressive job titles, and seemingly confident people, it's easy to assume everyone else belongs more than you do.

Spoiler alert, they don't.

Over the years, I've learned that conferences have a funny way of amplifying self-doubt. Something about being surrounded by thousands of people can make even the most capable person question whether they've earned their place in the room.

So if you're feeling that way, let me tell you something I wish someone had told me sooner. You are allowed to be here. You don't need to prove your expertise before you walk through the doors. There is not, in fact, an entry test unless you count figuring out the badge machine.

Whether you're here to learn, explore, network, find inspiration, or figure out where you fit in this industry, that's reason enough to attend, and you certainly don’t need to justify your presence. So if your imposter syndrome kicks in, notice it, acknowledge it and then grab a coffee and find someone interesting to talk to, there are a lot of them in the room.

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One last thing: the people who get the most out of conferences aren’t necessarily the ones who do the most. Don’t try to win Infosec. There is no prize for attending the most sessions, collecting the most business cards, or surviving on the least amount of sleep.

Pick what matters to you. Protect your energy. Stay curious.

And most importantly, wear comfortable shoes.

You’ve got this

WiTCH is a community for women in tech and cyber. If you want to find your people before, during, or after the next big event - come and join us.