Ahead of this year’s FundForum International, Editor In Chief Jenny Adams highlights what is new in 2014, and how you can get the most out of your time at this year’s conference.
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How should people prepare in advance for FundForum? Will there be a delegate list and how can people use this?
The more preparation the better as this is the one time in the year when all the main players, the main selectors are all in one place one time – so you need to strategic! The delegate list will be available on our MyFundForum networking platform. This will be available to all fully registered delegates two weeks prior to the event. You can download the MyFundForum app and not only see who is attending but directly message anyone. You will also be able to see the agenda and plan your time effectively.
In addition you need to look at the networking features for which you need to sign up in advance. This year we are launching “MatchMe” which is a kind of Supercharged Speed-Networking that more accurately targets and brings together selector need and fund manager supply. This facilitated session will happen in the morning coffee-breaks of 24th and 25th June. Places for asset managers are limited and you must sign up first thing each morning and list your top three most interesting funds. Should be great and perfect for small funds too with an interesting geo or niche!
If you know someone is attending, would you recommending getting in contact in advance? Should you suggest a formal meeting or just to go for coffee?
It depends who they are and what your objective is. The more ways that you try and get in touch the better as at least some will work. So yes, message as a basic thing to do. Secondly if they are speaking, go to the sessions and approach them afterwards. Thirdly check out our extensive schedule of new small – group facilitated discussions and that run alongside the main content every day. These new “Engaged Conversations” are an excellent way of creating conversations and building relationships. Then fourthly of course we have our fabulous Coffee Houses and Smoothie Bars which are great places for bumping into people and having a good chat.
Are the sessions worth going to? Although it is a conference, do most people actually go for the networking and the parties? Would you recommend going to sessions? How can the sessions benefit people’s careers?
That’s a great question! Yes definitely. Don’t you want to have the inside edge on what the most important players in the industry are thinking and doing so that you can frame your strategy? Don’t you want to hear from some of the most important influencers in the world who have direct impact on your business – like China’s Sovereign Wealth Head or the US Lead Advisor on Technology and Cyber Crime and it’s likely future impact on business. These are not people or arguments that you can Google. These are unique insights you only get by being there.
The sessions benefit people’s careers by giving a tremendous breadth of context to frame your arguments. Imagine you have fought hard to have a meeting with a top buyer; it is these insights and these perspectives which will be so impressive and set you apart from the crowd.
I think the days of people just going to the parties and vaguely networking with people they know are long gone. Delegates need to go back to the office with hard results. They need to show that they know how to target and build relationships with the people they need for the business to be sustained. They need to show that they have created an interesting, intelligent and distinctive story around their product based on the latest high-level discussions going on at FundForum.
That is why we have created a range of features and small group discussions to help people be as productive as possible, in the one time in the year when everyone is one place and face to face.
How do people make sure they are striking the right balance between attending sessions and networking?
Check the Event Diary very carefully in advance and prioritise the sessions, small group discussions and structured networking that are most important to their objectives. I think the term “networking” is problematic as it can mean vague chatting. Our aim is to guide people through the different sessions and structured networking to the conversations they need to have to build the relationships that they need for their business growth.
There are regular coffee breaks. What should people do to make the best use of these breaks?
There are always things happening so they must check the Event Diary – either in the hard copy or via the FundForum Connect App for the latest updates. These should be done in advance as some features may require a sign-up. All features during the breaks do happen in the Exhibition Area for maximum buzz!.
How important are the parties for meeting new people?
I think parties are fun, but it’s tricky to meet new people and you tend to just speak to people you know. The best way to meet new people is via the more structured ways I have already described above – approaching speakers after their sessions, using the app, participating in the new small group discussions, and participating in the new structured meeting formats
Any other tips?
Firstly for every old contact you speak to, try and speak to someone new! Secondly be open to all new ideas, this is the one time in the year when you can shed your preconceptions and open your eyes to new thinking and fresh perspectives that will sustain your strategy throughout the year.
You can find out more about this year’s event on the FundForum International website.
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