As with any event, GITEX is very much about networking and establishing connections. At the same time – especially given the focus of the event – I felt that there was more to it. Not just connection, but a deep sense of connectivity on many levels and across many layers. There were several reasons for this.

First, the expo gave a platform to topics such as security, software development, asset management, and many other areas where it has become common practice to work through (video) calls without live meetings. In fact, it’s not unusual to complete an entire project without a single face-to-face encounter. Why? Because it’s possible in the first place, it saves time in the second, and because we humans are energy-efficient – which sometimes means we get lazy. While this may be a sound approach in the short term, something starts to feel missing in the long term. That “something” is the human touch. Being at an event like GITEX helps me put a (friendly) face and spirit to many organizations that can sometimes seem abstract due to their sheer size and perceived distance (for instance, Bundeswehr, which had a very impressive presence at GITEX).

Furthermore, I found it extremely inspiring to see how organizations from all over the world address solving similar issues and how their geographical location shifts their perspective. Especially at the moment, when there is so much turbulence on a global scale, events like GITEX are a great reminder of how tightly knit we are, how connected and intertwined we’ve become, and how inspiring different perspectives from around the world truly are.

Finally, thanks to SIBB generously offering its stand as a hub, there was a powerful sense of having a home base within the global hive – a feeling of connectivity and belonging, even in the midst of something much larger in scale.

While the sense of connectivity during the event is strong, the phase before the event can be even more powerful – especially when you’re not participating solo, but rather as part of a joint team effort. Using this premiere as a try-run, I made a few notes to myself for future reference, which I’m happy to share as a closing thought:

• Having a healthy stock of merchandise and branded materials helps shift focus to more thoughtful and detailed content preparation
• As the event approaches, communication should become more precise and concrete to counterbalance the growing excitement
• If it’s your first time, you’ll gain far more by doing the “footwork” and understanding the parameters of the event: who it’s for, how your offer can stand out in context, and which parts of your portfolio create real value from the participants’ perspective
•  Next time, my preparation timeline might look like:
  o 3 months prior to the event: decision to participate made
  o 2 months prior: participants finalized & roles/responsibilities discussed (as much as possible – expect last-minute cast changes)
  o 1 month prior: merchandise ordered & key contacts in the network reached out to
  o 3-2 weeks prior: online campaign launched
  o 1 week after the event: follow-ups with newly established contacts

With so many realities to choose from – augmented, enhanced, meta – it is crucial to have an anchor and a reminder every now and then of what a wonderful world we live in. I am very grateful GITEX reminded me of that last week.