The Value of Learning Something New at Every Event

For all the talk about how AI is transforming the way we work, one thing hasn’t changed for me: I still learn best from other people.

We have more technology, more data, and more ways to connect than at any point in our careers. Yet when it comes to truly understanding what’s working in business, what’s not, and where we’re heading next, nothing replaces being in the room with your peers.

I’m reminded of that every time I attend an event, whether it’s something as large as the recent Gartner Data and Analytics Summit 2026 in Orlando or a small, more personal setting like a roundtable discussion or a customer dinner. People don’t just show up at events to sit through sessions. We attend to learn from each other.

Learning Doesn’t Just Happen on a Stage

When I say “learning,” I don’t just mean listening to presentations. That’s part of the experience, but for me, it’s not the most valuable part. Real learning happens in conversations.

It happens when customers and prospects share how they’re using data and where they’re running into roadblocks. It happens when marketers open up about what’s working in their organizations and, just as importantly, what’s not working. It happens when I benchmark myself against peers and competitors to understand where I’m leading and where I need to improve.

That’s why I believe in the value of small, high-touch experiences. Dinners, roundtables, and networking events create space for meaningful dialogue. They open the door to new perspectives and new ways to solve emerging challenges.

Even at large trade shows, you can see this dynamic play out. The booths that draw people in aren’t just about flashy messaging. They create moments that spark curiosity, and that curiosity leads to conversations.

What Actually Encourages Conversations

Lately, I’ve been paying close attention to what gets people to stop at a booth. The competition for attention is intense, so it’s important to find out what resonates with attendees.

Like many companies, Actian has experimented with different approaches. Some worked exactly how we expected. Others didn’t. For example, we tried tapping into nostalgia with a Golden Tee arcade game. We thought it would entice people and it did to a degree, but it wasn’t the primary driver of engagement.

What’s actually working are what I call “attention-grabbers,” which are unexpected, interactive experiences that make people stop. I’ve seen everything from mentalists performing live in booths to AI-generated images that turn a quick interaction into something memorable.

While some of these tactics might feel a little gimmicky, they serve a purpose. They create an entry point. They give someone a reason to pause, engage, and start a conversation.

Something that hasn’t changed? People love swag.

It doesn’t matter how advanced the technology being featured is or how sophisticated the audience. People are drawn to something tangible they can take with them. At Actian, we’ve seen strong engagement with even simple items like our branded pullback toy cars. They’re fun, memorable, and create a connection.

The item itself isn’t the point. It’s the interaction it creates. Once a conversation starts, that’s where the real value begins.

Valuable Insights Come From My Peers

Learning from my peers is one of the most powerful tools I have. I regularly talk to other marketers, both inside and outside of our industry, and I’m always asking the same questions: What are you trying? What’s working? What failed?

Failure, in many ways, is just as valuable as success. Knowing what you don’t want is just as important as knowing what you do. When something doesn’t work, it sharpens your focus and helps you refine your approach.

That mindset is especially important right now. With AI evolving so quickly, no one has all the answers. We’re all experimenting, and we’re all learning in real time. The more I can learn from others, the faster I can move forward.

Simplicity Wins More Than Complexity

One of the biggest themes I’m seeing and bringing back to our team is the importance of simplicity. In technology, it’s easy to fall into the trap of overcomplicating messaging. We want to explain every feature and differentiate ourselves in every possible way. Before long, the message becomes too dense to resonate.

What I’m seeing instead is that simple, attention-grabbing language is what gets people to engage. Words like “observability,” “agents,” “metadata,” and “data products” are straightforward on their own. When we combine them in interesting ways, like “trusted data products backed by contracts,” it creates enough intrigue to make someone stop and ask, “How can this help our business?”

That question is exactly what I want. This moment of curiosity starts a conversation where we can connect capabilities and technologies to real business outcomes.

Striving to Get 1% Better Every Day

Even at this stage in my career, with nearly three decades of experience, I still prioritize learning and growth. We’re in an industry that’s evolving constantly with new technologies, new expectations, and new ways of engaging. Nothing stands still. If we’re not learning, we’re falling behind.

At Actian, our CMO challenges us to be 1% better every day. It’s a simple idea, but it’s powerful. It’s also attainable and realistic. Over time, it adds up in a meaningful way.

Events, conversations, and continuous learning give me the opportunity to keep improving, even in small increments. In a world that’s changing as fast as ours, those small increments can make all the difference. If you’re attending these industry events this year, be sure to connect with us.

About Author

About Liz Brown

Liz Brown is a high-energy, results-driven marketing professional with a proven track record of driving business growth and inspiring, mentoring, and enabling colleagues and peers. Known for her strategic thinking and collaborative leadership, Liz excels at building impactful marketing strategies, ABM programs, and enablement initiatives tailored to top accounts and industries. She has extensive experience in brand positioning, integrated campaigns, and customer engagement, from large-scale events to targeted digital initiatives.