Holli Konig (Collaboration Evangelist for IBM Lotus Software in the Pacific Northwest territory) shares her Lotusphere story:If you've been before, what are you doing differently this time around?Another mention of the Karaoke opportunities in Kimonos Lounge - looks like it will be a very musical Lotusphere this year! ;-)
This will be my 11th Lotusphere. I have attended as a customer, as a partner, as IBM staff and under the IBM education program. I feel like I have done it all from all perspectives. This year I plan to focus specifically on the social networking technologies. This year I plan to spend a lot of time in the Labs. The sessions of course are amazing, but being in the labs offers an opportunity to not only get to ask questions with focused time, but to foster face to face relationships.
Why are you attending Lotusphere in 2009?
To be with my customers, to meet other customers, to hear experiences, to share resources, to build community, to see my colleagues, to catch up with old friends, to learn learn learn, and to sing karaoke!
What has been your best experience of Lotusphere so far?
Every single year has offered me amazing experiences. All of the learning, exposure to resources, and bonding with customers. My favorite time at Lotusphere is the Wednesday night get together at the park, since this is a time that customers and IBM'ers get a chance to socialize and get to know each other, also we get to meet spouses as well. (Note... I will be on the fountain in the Dolphin lobby 6:30pm) I also love the karaoke nights at Kimono's!
What has your organization gained most from your attendance at Lotusphere?
As an IBM employee my company gains value in my gathering of knowledge and interacting with the customers.
How about you personally?
I personally gain insight to what my customers are thinking. There is huge value in taking conversations out of the conference room, away from emails and deadlines. This makes me a better consultant for my customers for the year ahead. This is invaluable to making me more apart of my customers team, rather than JUST a vendor.
What are you particularly looking forward to seeing or hearing at Lotusphere 2009?
I am particularly interested in finding out from my customers what they are doing and in hearing what their business needs for social networking and extending interactive collaboration. I also really want to hear about what the feedback is from the business regarding the new versions of Lotus Notes and Domino. Specifically what the end users are finding regarding the new client and how the customers are finding their migrations going.
What would be your top tip to someone coming to Lotusphere for the first time this year?
Utilize the network that IBM has offered the customers through out the conference, leverage the scheduling, the networking and tools being offered during the conference. Also document the presentations that you are interested in getting copies of and download them early from the website!
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