A summit meeting is an event to bring together industry professionals, experts, and potential business partners for a focused discussion on a specific topic or area of interest. A well-executed summit can be an effective way to align leadership, strengthen collaboration across teams, or build resilience in the face of change.
Summit meetings can take on many different formats, including keynotes, workshops, panel discussions, and breakout sessions. Be sure to choose the format that best aligns with your goals and audience. Summits are a great place to educate, inform, and inspire people, but also provide an opportunity to interact and engage with attendees through networking events, Q&A sessions, or small group discussions.
Summits can also serve as a lens for senior management to inspect divisions and individuals, highlighting the leaders who are embracing innovation or those who are stuck in old ways. If your organization uses a summit as an evaluative tool, consider explicitly defining primary players and the primary audience for the event.
Summits are often held in physical locations, but virtual summits are gaining popularity as more and more companies move to remote work environments. When choosing a virtual summit, make sure the platform is easy to use and promotes engagement through features like video chat, live polling, or interactive slides. And don’t forget to offer plenty of networking opportunities for attendees to connect in the hallways or over coffee breaks — the most innovative ideas may not come from the podium, but from chance conversations with fellow attendees.
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