Assuming that most readers are civilians (i.e., non-academics): summers are for research, and research (kind of) requires conferencing.

There exists a wide spectrum of conferences. On the one hand, you have small conferences on specialized topics where everybody actually attends the sessions. On the other hand, you have large conferences where very few people – sometimes only the presenters – show up.

I attended six conferences this summer (it was almost eight, but thankfully, more important things came up!). While everyone is posting their polished Academy of Management (AOM) Annual Meeting reflections on LinkedIn, so I thought I’d share a few human moments and thoughts from AOM Philadelphia right here.

Being encouraged to bring my “brain and whole heart” to my research

I’m working on a sole-authored paper about a topic I care about deeply. I was invited to present in a symposium, and my discussant, who has seen versions of this paper, was like, “You gotta say what you want to say.” Another presented chimed in, “Go for the jugular.”

I’ve been searching for the right theoretical framing for this paper, and while I think I now have it, I can’t let the theory obscure the actual empirical problem that sparked this problem in the first place. It was incredibly refreshing to be reminded that there are academics who care about the authenticity of the work.

Achieving a joint ‘aha’ moment with a co-author

I met with a brilliant co-author on an idea-stage project at both AOM and another conference right before it. Despite having completed multiple brainstorming calls, it wasn’t until a hotel lobby meeting that lightning struck: we finally named the precise theoretical constructs for dimensions of our experiment.

In unison, we both went, “Ohhhhhhhh!” – followed by a lot of giggling. It was a great moment. (I swear, you had to be there.)

Old friends in new places

At their core, conferences are really about catching up with people you’ve done life with and seeing who’s still chugging along in this highly volatile, somewhat isolating career.

From planned get-togethers, happy hours, and official socials to impromptu corridor chats, hotel lobby run-ins, and one-on-one meals with the most beautiful souls … it’s a crucial reminder of who we’re in this with. As a bonus, between conferences, I even got to crash with a former college roommate who also happens to be a b-school academic!

Meeting new people who already know me by name

As I get further into this career (and I’m still so early!), it’s becoming more common to introduce myself to someone only for them to already know who I am. Or, if it’s a PhD student, to know me by my research (wait … people actually read my papers?!).

It’s deeply humbling, and I only hope that I can maintain the reputation and live up to it, by the grace of God.

Also, as a quick PSA: I will always introduce myself by name if I’m not 100% sure you know it. I’d much rather take on the potential embarrassment than put that awkwardness on you!