Treasury conferences present an invaluable opportunity to network with peers, hear thought leadership, connect with vendors and stay up-to-date with regulatory developments. But without proper planning, it’s easy to lose focus and miss out on key opportunities. We asked three treasury professionals for their top tips on how to make the most of conferences.
1. Benchmark best practice
“To get the most out of treasury conferences, come prepared with clear objectives. Prioritise sessions aligned with your strategic priorities and allocate time for networking – some of the best insights come from informal peer discussions.
“Use the opportunity to benchmark best practices, explore vendor solutions hands-on (those you know and those you discover), and engage directly with bankers and fintechs. Don’t hesitate to ask challenging questions in panels or one-on-one.
“Schedule key meetings in advance, but stay flexible for serendipitous encounters. Finally, take notes with action items to share and implement back at the office – conferences are not just events, they’re catalysts for change.”
François Masquelier, Chair of EACT & CEO of Simply Treasury
2. Be prepared
“For attending industry conferences, I always reserve key calendar slots well in advance. These are the few days that can be dedicated towards new learning, like understanding best practices, getting to know new regulatory developments, or connecting with peer groups on informal knowledge-sharing subjects.
“The ability to meet with senior treasury leaders in a forum when they are not time pressed is the perfect opportunity to share with them my career goals, as this can open new doors in the future.
“Many key conferences have been soaring in popularity, so the crowds are massive – and if you have not prepared in advance, there is a good likelihood that you will get swamped by the ‘marketers’. My approach is as follows:
-
Consider the people I want to meet personally and connect with them in advance via a conference tool or LinkedIn. Then request to meet them personally during the conference, so that they understand the need to spare 15 minutes for a meeting at a silent corner.
-
Identify three or four sessions that I absolutely must attend. This needs to be a deliberate choice based on my specific learning needs, as otherwise sessions can get missed while juggling multiple priorities.
-
Consider the tech demos I need to attend and make a list of the features I want to check out. And try to signal this in advance to the vendors who also bring in their specialist teams – leveraging this opportunity is critical.
“Finally, it’s also very important to pair up with one or two like-minded folks so that post conference sessions can be as much fun as the conference!”
Rahul Daswani, Director Group Treasury, Al Dahra
3. Choose sessions that match your role
“Personally, I find that industry conferences are a must, especially for treasurers who often feel like the ‘exotic animal’ in their organisation. It’s one of the few places where you’ll meet others who speak your language and share similar challenges.
“Choose sessions that truly match your current role: juniors should focus on relatable topics and credible speakers (tip: check their LinkedIn profiles prior to attending), mid-levels can explore vendor solutions aligned to their treasury maturity and specific needs, and senior treasurers should prioritise networking and peer exchange.
“If a session doesn’t add value, don’t stay just to scroll through your smartphone, it’s better for both you and the speaker. Always ask questions or follow up, side conversations can spark big ideas.
“I have attended many conferences and I have never left without learning something new. Just don’t forget to leave space in your suitcase – the trophies are real!”
Marianna Polykrati, Group Treasurer, Avramar Group
