Unlocking Potential 2009 National Conference Blog

Closing Session

noreply@blogger.com (Experience) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 22:25:00 +0000

Jenny closes with the reminder to everyone to commit yourself to one idea, just one that you can take away from this conference and make it happen at your school.

The conference has ended, but the energy hasn't, Experience is with you every step of the way. Over the next week, we will send out a survey to hear what you thought about the conference and hear how we can improve the next one, so keep those memories fresh in your mind!

Everything in the Liberty Ballroom has been recorded and we will put that content online as soon as we can so you can review any presentations you've attended or watch anything you missed. All the information will be on the unlockingpotential.experience.com website. Powerpoints from all breakout sessions and a photo gallery will also be available online. Stay tuned!

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.

-Margaret Mead

Contest Winner!

noreply@blogger.com (Experience) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 19:38:00 +0000

Winner of the Xbox prize goes to a very happy Barbara Gregory from Bryant!

Huge thanks to the donation of the Xbox from Microsoft.

Barbara Gregory (right) with Liz Ranelli (left) from Experience

Barbara Gregory (right) with Aimee Sprung (left) from Microsoft

Congratulations Barbara!

Coffee break comments on breakout sessions

noreply@blogger.com (ken) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 18:27:00 +0000

Following the keynote address in the morning, a series of breakout sessions were available for all conference attendees, who had to make the sometimes difficult choice of wanting to sit in on two sessions at the same time period.

Breakout Session #1

noreply@blogger.com (Experience) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:22:00 +0000

Keynote Speaker - Lindsey Pollak

noreply@blogger.com (Experience) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 14:54:00 +0000

Lindsey Pollak's keynote address, "What Gen Y Wants", connected immediately with attendees, many of whom were themselves members of Gen Y,

Some of Lindsey's points included:

1. Enlist students to help career services in promoting your help and envents. They have the technical knowledge and the connections, and once you get them involved, they'll engage. The challenge is getting them involved in the first place, and that's where fellow students can help.

2. Understand why this generation is different than previous generations. They have different expectations, based on different influences throughout their lives. They've had a lifelong desire to be individuals, Lindsey said, and understanding that offers opportunity to provide services to them.

3. Be careful about assumptions about what is common sense. Often students do things such as incorporating instant messaging language into business correspondence or dressing inappropriately for job interviews or choosing a lifelong email address at the age of 8.

Networking Reception

noreply@blogger.com (Experience) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 02:45:00 +0000

Speed Networking: The 8 questions

noreply@blogger.com (ken) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 02:33:00 +0000

At the Speed Networking session, the conference attendees broke into 8 groups, each facing a round-robin of 8 questions to answer, discuss and deliberate.

Every 7 minutes, each group moderator would change, and a new question was posed (think Speed Dating, and you're right on target).

Questions included:

1. If we could give you a crystal ball to tell us the kinds of services you would need to remain competitive, what would they be?
2. What would a product and technology partner such as Experience need to do or say to completely "wow" you?
3. What are your thoughts if we could help you automate your services so you could spend more time working with more students and alumni -- and less time administering products?
4, How do you measure the effectiveness of your office?
5. If you could say anything to the CEO of Experience, what would you say?
6. What do product and technology partners do that "get in your way" of your being successful at your job?
7. What are the biggest changes you've seen in the last 5 years in our industry -- and what do you forsee being the biggest challenges in the future?
8. What are the things that keep you up at night -- things that are big enough that you'd be willing to push your school to make an investment to help solve the issues?

Please feel free to add comments now on any of these questions.

General session

noreply@blogger.com (ken) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 01:59:00 +0000

Scenes at Registration

noreply@blogger.com (ken) — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:21:00 +0000

Keynote Speaker Lindsey Pollak (left) arriving at the conference

General Session is Under Way

noreply@blogger.com (ken) — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:15:00 +0000

With more than 150 gathered in the Liberty Ballroom, Experience's Jenny Floren is addressing the General Session.

Following some lively (and loud) networking around the room, the conversation turned to the topic on everybody's mind this week -- What Gen Y Wants.

After Jenny's remarks and some additional insights from Experience's Ed Wagner, in a few minutes the larger group will be breaking into 7 smaller groups to look at different pieces of that puzzle.

Signing In at Registration

noreply@blogger.com (ken) — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:19:00 +0000

Picking up name badges and registration materials, CSOs braved the cold and snow of Boston in January to share ideas and knowledge.

Checking in

noreply@blogger.com (ken) — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:41:00 +0000

Gettting ready for the conference to begin

Registration has started!

noreply@blogger.com (Experience) — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:33:00 +0000

It is a beautiful Thursday afternoon and registration has just started!

What will this blog feature?

noreply@blogger.com (Experience) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:46:00 +0000

The conference is in less than 24 hours! For those of you who are going - see you soon! For those who aren’t able to make it to Boston, we've created this blog exclusively for you so you can see all the highlights of our 2009 National Conference. We are set to open registration at noon this Thursday, January 8th and continue through to 4:30pm on Friday, January 9th. We will post highlights throughout the two days with videos, pictures and commentary. Check back frequently for updates.