How To Get The Most Out Of UNCW Business Week 2014

Business Week at UNCW has much more to offer than just a break from classes. There are valuable connections to be made, ideas to be shared, and coffee to be consumed. Many students have even met their future employers at this event! As seasoned attendees at Hüify, we've compiled a list of all the ways you can get the most out of UNCW Business Week this year.

1. Plan out the sessions you’d like to attend.

Business Week is a valuable time for making connections. Make a list of speakers you would like to connect with and plan your session schedule accordingly. Also, don’t be afraid to register for sessions that aren’t in your particular field of interest. You may not be able to get into all the sessions you intended on going to, so take this time to learn about something new and differentiate your connections in other industries.

2. Reach out to your desired connections beforehand.

Most of the speakers have very busy schedules. During Business Week however, they are typically more freed up than normal. If there is an industry leader you’d like to get some one on one time with, email them before the day of their talk and invite them for coffee, breakfast, lunch, etc. For many entrepreneurs though, “less busy” is still very busy, so don’t be offended if your invitation is turned down.

3. Bring your business cards.

Business cards are like the currency of networking events- no transaction is legitimized without them. They don’t have to be fancy, just up to date. You don’t have to hand out a business card to everyone you meet. Reserve them for the people you make real connections with. Don’t have business cards? Order some online or FedEx Kinko's will print you some in no time.

Bonus: When you receive a business card, write some notes about the interaction on the back of the card. After meeting everyone and their mother during Business Week, these notes will help you recall the important connections you made. 

4. Use the hashtags.

Use the hashtag #UNCWBW14 to interact with speakers and attendees on Twitter and Instagram. Speakers appreciate all the free press and it isn't rare for them interact back with you (like Simon Senak and Marcus Sheridan did with Josh). Veteran conference-goers use TweetDeck to follow hashtags and join in on multiple conversations. It is by far the best twitter management tool out there. Actually, you should probably use it to tweet this right now. 

5. Separate your notes.

Whenever you attend a talk, be it at TED or UNCW Business Week, be sure to distinguish your actionable notes. You don’t want the reminder you wrote for yourself to connect with So-And-So or look up Such-And-Such article to go forgotten in the chronicles of your notebook or iPad forever. Underline, star, or highlight your action steps amidst your other notes after each talk.

6. Boil every talk down to one key takeaway.

Unfortunately, you won’t absorb every nugget of wisdom from each session you attend at Business Week. Distill your notes down to one easy-to-remember sentence you can walk away with and not forget the next day.

7. Stay late.

The conversations you will have at Business Week are arguably more valuable than the sessions you will attend. Most speakers are delighted get to know the students in their audience, so don’t be shy about introducing yourself after the talk. Definitely plan on staying afterwards to meet and exchange information.

8. Keep your schedule open.

Don’t make any evening plans on Tuesday and Wednesday. You could be invited to shmooze with some industry leaders afterwards and even make some friends, or at least some new LinkedIn connections.

9. For the love of everything good and right in the world, ask questions in the sessions you attend.

No speaker enjoys the dead silence in the room after uttering the phrase, “Any questions?” This is the emotional equivalent of receiving a text message that reads “K” after pouring your heart and soul out to someone* in a paragraph long text. The speakers at Business Week aren’t paid. They are there to invest in you, the student. So while you may be there to fulfill a requirement, the speakers are there voluntarily so that you may benefit. Make the most of this time by engaging when the opportunity presents itself.

10. Download the Social Media Posting Checklist.

Brush up on your posting etiquette. This checklist ensures that no Facebook faux pas will ever be attributed to your account. Make sure to read it before you commence posting for Business Week!

Hüify will be giving two separate talks during #UNCWBW14. Josh Harcus will be speaking on "The Advantages of a Social Media Skill Set" at 1 PM in CH 135. You can hear Sara Harcus speak on "Issues Women Face Working in a Start-up Culture" at 3 PM in CH 135. Both Hüify speakers will give their talks on Tuesday, March 25th.

For all of those interested in attending, you will be delighted to know that there will be free stickers and a few Starbucks card giveaways. Tweet this post and tag @teamhuify for a chance to win one! Winners will be announced after the talks.

So, how will you make the most of Business Week this year?