Using GITEX as a case in point, I’ll share why I believe attending such events is more than just worthwhile: it’s a practice that helps us stay sharp, connected, and open to unexpected opportunities. And in the next entry, I’ll give a glimpse into how I prepared for GITEX – and what the experience turned out to be.

One with Everything

As knowledge workers, we strive to dive deep into our topics to understand interdependencies, connections, implications – and to choose the best paths for optimal outcomes. But the deeper we go, the greater the risk of staying in the rut for too long.
To throw another metaphor at you (and no, this one’s not about trees and forests): we might dive so deep that by the time we’re supposed to resurface, we’ve already grown gills.

This confirms a simple truth: prevention is always easier, cheaper, and more effective than repair.
That’s exactly where events like fairs, conferences, and expos come in. I see them primarily as vehicles to stay in sync with the world beyond the tunnel of client projects and specialized deep work.
To support my clients in seeing the bigger picture – to help them anticipate the long-term effects of mission-critical decisions – I also need to question my own assumptions and reflect on them from a broader context.

Independent, but Not Alone

Being an independent consultant and interim manager is both a blessing and a curse. You’re free from the downsides of working within rigid organizational structures. But you also miss out on the everyday exposure to top experts and inspiring colleagues.

That said, independence opens up countless opportunities to meet diverse organizations and collaborate on exciting initiatives.
In that spirit, a big shout-out goes to mip Consult and SIBB. I’ve been working with mip Consult on various projects since day one of Verarius, and I’m honoured to join them at GITEX – made possible thanks to SIBB, the digital association of Germany’s capital region.

SIBB’s mission is to help shape a livable digital future – and they walk the talk. Their support in co-hosting our presence at the fair is a great example of that.
It’s this kind of partnership and professional community that reminds me: Yes, I am independent. But I’m not alone.

Serendipity

The glimpses and impulses I gather at events like this might not always have a direct or immediate application – and that’s exactly their magic. One thought leads to another, one conversation sparks the next… and before I know it, I’m writing a PhD thesis. (Almost not a joke.)

For someone who thrives on processes, routines, and rituals, there’s always a hidden danger: becoming a slave to them.
That includes the urge to quantify everything, to assign KPIs to the unmeasurable, to become rigid – in both action and thinking.

Events like GITEX are my kind of strategic reset and anti-rigidity vaccine. They reconnect me with spontaneity, with broader perspective, and with people and ideas I didn’t plan to meet.
And that’s precisely why it’s worth it – because sometimes, to stay true to your framework, you have to step outside of it and leave room for lightning to strike.