BigCo leaders are under tremendous pressure to keep their organizations relevant and growing in the face of increasing uncertainty. It is more critical than ever to learn from the corporate professionals who are finding success, and to connect with other individuals who are seeking the same answers that you are. We started Courageous Minds Only communities in cities like Cincinnati, New York, and Chicago to enable those connections. We also highly recommend attending conferences, especially if you have a desire to learn more about specific topics, tools, mindsets, and methodologies. Here’s a list of our favorite conferences (in no particular order) based on our experiences as attendees.
- Front End of Innovation Conference (FEI)
- Held in Boston every year, FEI is one-of-a-kind when it comes to connecting with innovative BigCo leaders. You’ll meet a wide range of innovation lab leaders, design leaders, those innovating across the core business, internal innovation consultants, and more— all tackling similar challenges. We’ve been participating in this conference for several years. It’s a great way to stay involved and at the forefront of the ecosystem.
- The Quirks Event
- In 2023, this market research conference will travel to London and New York to bring together research and insights leaders at an affordable cost. This year’s theme is Driving Your Marketing Research Forward. From our experience, these events tend to be very regionally attended, so if you’re close to London or NYC, this is a good chance to sustain and grow your local network.
- The Market Research Event (TMRE)
- We’ve been a attending TMRE for many years. This conference consistently attracts insights, marketing, and innovation leaders alike, especially those who are tasked with finding new, innovative ways to keep their core business relevant. This conference consistently offers a good mix of battle tested stories and inspiring keynotes.
- Natural Products Expo West
- An amazing showcase for all things natural and organic. In 2023, we noticed five significant trends.
- Consumer Electronics Show (CES)
- According to their website, CES is the most influential tech event in the world. Check out these highlights and insights from our research team.
- BevNET Live
- One of the leading events in the beverage industry, featuring a wide array of products and their distributors. Coconut water, coffee, beer, and everything in between!
- FounderMade
- This media company hosts events in New York and Santa Monica multiple times throughout the year. Their ecosystem is designed to bring together the “brand innovators of tomorrow” through their DTC Summits and Innovation Shows.
Big conferences aren’t the only way to learn from leaders in the market research space. As we’ve gotten involved in the Chicago ecosystem and stayed involved in Cincinnati, we’ve found our local tribes at places like 1871 and Union Hall.
