Why Present at the ICE Exchange? 4 Past Speakers Weigh In
Speaking at a conference like the ICE Exchange is a great professional development opportunity, as well as a way of sharing your expertise with peers. We spoke with a few past ICE Exchange presenters to get their take on the benefits of submitting proposals.
Planning the ICE Exchange, held this November in San Diego, California, is already well underway. ICE is now accepting proposals for session submissions, with all proposals due Wednesday, March 27.
Speaking at a conference like the ICE Exchange is a great professional development opportunity, as well as a way to share expertise with your peers. We spoke with four past ICE Exchange presenters to get their take on the benefits of submitting proposals.
What are the benefits of presenting at events like the ICE Exchange? What is your advice for someone unsure about presenting or considering it for the first time?
As a presenter, you and your organization are profiled in the conference materials before and during the conference, providing multiple opportunities for others to learn about you and your organization. These multiple opportunities for attendees to see your name, in addition to connecting with you in your session, encourage people to learn more about you in-person and through the app. Contributing to the ICE Exchange as a presenter is the perfect opportunity to connect with other credentialing professionals in an easy and meaningful way. While I have personally benefited from what I have learned attending sessions, I know that I have made more meaningful connections as a facilitator and through our presentations. I have also helped more people understand the mission of the National Institute for Social Media and value of becoming a certified social media strategist as a speaker.”
Presenting at the ICE Exchange is a tremendous opportunity to establish yourself as an industry or topic expert in whatever area of expertise you have. Being a resource for others is a great way to get to know professionals in credentialing, gain valuable experience, and give back to the community. You never know what unique knowledge you may have that is exactly what someone else is looking for.
The opportunity to engage with thought leaders of a common purpose is the most meaningful aspect of presenting at the ICE Exchange. Sharing new ideas and best practices – that are relevant and practical – elevate the entire credentialing community.
The ICE Exchange is a well-recognized forum that fosters the collegial dialogue between the presenter and audience. While serving as a first-time presenter at the ICE Exchange, I learned as much from the audience as the audience learned from me.
Presenting at events such as the ICE Exchange provides a positive opportunity to network and collaborate with others in the credentialing field. Being a speaker has allowed me to co-present with very knowledgeable and respected peers and to bring recognition to my work and organization.
For someone that may be on the fence about presenting, I suggest to just do it! Find someone that you like to work with (or would like to work with) and identify an issue of interest or relevance to your work or to the credentialing industry. If it is relevant to you, it probably will be relevant to someone else. The benefits of presenting are definitely worth the effort needed to organize and prepare a session.
I have presented at the ICE Exchange 17 times during the course of my career and found it to be very beneficial. Preparing for a presentation helps sharpen my understanding of a topic. When I receive positive feedback from audience members after presenting, it is enormously gratifying. The most rewarding feedback I can receive is when an attendee tells me they learned something they will take back to share with their own organization.
Presenting can also be very stimulating, particularly when engaging with the audience through brainstorming and Q&A. Given the opportunity to share, participants can enhance a session with their own knowledge and perspectives.
Presenting at the ICE Exchange has enabled me to become more connected to the credentialing community through increased visibility and new relationships. For me, presenting was a gateway to taking on new and different volunteer roles with ICE.
In terms of deciding whether or not to present… Go for it! You have nothing to lose and much to gain. Here are a few things that may be helpful to consider when preparing your proposal:
- There are many ICE members who are experienced presenters. Find a mentor to guide you through the process of developing your submittal.
- Consider pairing up with one of your vendors – many have presented numerous times.
- Realize that you are an expert on your own topic. Have confidence in your own expertise.
- There are many options for presenting, including posters, roundtables, and concurrent sessions. You may feel more comfortable with one format than another for your first presentation. Request the format that best aligns with your preferences.
- When you do submit, consider how your work will benefit others. Avoid the “show and tell” approach. Attendees want to bring information back to their organizations to help them enhance their own programs.
2019 ICE Exchange Call for Proposals
The ICE Exchange is an annual gathering for the credentialing community to exchange ideas on industry trends and best practices, connect with each other, and participate in high quality education.
Share your voice, experience and expertise at the ICE Exchange by submitting a session proposal. Learn more here.