Summary
Lou and Lata Gorlenco open Enterprise Experience 2020 by reflecting on the conference's evolution since 2015, highlighting its resilience amid format changes and the growing importance of UX in enterprise contexts. They emphasize the challenges and growth in enterprise UX, especially in tough economic times. Lou acknowledges long-term contributors like Dan Willis and Gajandar, while welcoming newer team members. MC Cheryl Platte shares her experiences adapting to virtual events and stresses learning as a marathon rather than a sprint, encouraging attendees to pace themselves. The new conference website features a timezone switcher, attendee cohorts, and an active sponsor-led session program. The event is structured into four thematic days, each culminating in a panel to answer audience questions. The organizers stress community kindness, clear code of conduct enforcement, and comprehensive support via Slack and email. They thank sponsors for their vital role, noting digital swag bags and multiple engagement opportunities despite the absence of a physical expo. Overall, the talk sets an optimistic, inclusive tone for navigating enterprise UX complexities virtually.
Key Insights
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Enterprise Experience has grown resiliently since 2015, adapting from in-person to virtual without losing its core community focus.
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Enterprise UX remains an expanding field despite economic and hiring challenges, requiring resilience and strategic team management.
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The 2020 conference introduced attendee cohorts and enhanced sponsor-led sessions to improve engagement in a virtual format.
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MC Cheryl Platte emphasizes pacing oneself during online events, acknowledging online fatigue and the need for breaks.
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The new conference website includes a timezone switcher to accommodate a global audience effectively.
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The conference structure spreads over four half-day sessions grouped by daily themes for better audience retention.
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Q&A sessions are aggregated into daily panels, allowing deeper discussion and more thoughtful answers than immediate post-talk Q&A.
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Slack remains the central platform for community interaction, with dedicated channels for general discussion and support.
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The event maintains a strong community code of conduct to foster an inclusive and respectful environment.
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Sponsorship support is critical in virtual conferences; sessions go beyond typical booths, offering demos, case studies, and focused content.
Notable Quotes
"We have to do that virtually and we’re going to do our best."
"Enterprise is kind of sexy because all the big, hairy, asking problems of scale live at the enterprise."
"Learning is a marathon, not a sprint, especially in the context of online conferences."
"Your body is going to give you signals that you need a break."
"This conference is really tracking with the growth and development of doing UX in and with enterprises."
"We made a very intentional choice to build in five minute breaks after every talk based on feedback and experience."
"You can use that drop down to call out just the sponsored sessions."
"Even though we are virtual, we are a community and obligated to treat each other with kindness and respect."
"If anything occurs that makes you feel unwelcome, please engage with conference staff."
"The conference structure allows you to let everything wash over you and come back as you need."
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