The Workplace of the future will, by necessity, look nothing like the workplace we knew before 2020. To grow, stay competitive, and survive, Small and Mid-Sized Businesses (SMB) have to make a non-linear jump from: how things used to be to: how things must be going forward. Linear thinking about the workplace will not cut it.

This event brings together local entrepreneurs and founder-run SMB executives to discuss the workplace for half a day in three tracks. We will probe the questions that come up when thinking about the future workplace and how it *must* change in the face of three powerful, pervasive, and unprecedented influences:

1. AI
2. Automation
3. Post-COVID

The UnConference format makes attendees integral to the topics selected and gives maximum agency in the direction of the event.

Registrants suggest topics in advance, upvote, discuss, and interact asynchronously online with other registrants about the topics. Winning topics are announced at the opening of the event.

Suggestions could be:

• experiential, (you will present) e.g., “This is how I . . . “, “What are the best . . . ?”, “Dos and don’ts. . . “
• exploratory, (you want to learn, someone else to present) e.g., “How do we solve . . . ?”, “What do you suggest . . . ?”, “Why do you think . . . ?”
• experimental, (you want to discuss) e.g., “What if . . . ?”, “Let’s assume ___, then ….”, “What are the top 10 . . . ?”

Registrants participate as actively as they choose. Presenting, facilitating, interacting, round-tables, or just listening and learning. Yes, you can suggest a topic you want to learn about from other participants! Totally legit! It’s called a “reverse session”.

This results in a collaborative, innovating, community-building event full of spontaneity, surprises, and—we hope—new ways of thinking about and imagining the workplace.

All without carefully manicured presentations!

When and Where?

• Thursday, 22 February, 2024.
• bwtech@UMBC, Training Room North 1st floor, Suite 110
• 12:15 doors open (sign-in)
• 12:30 lunch
• 1:30 event start
• 5:30 networking happy hour

Who are the speakers?

Attendees. All of us who attend create and populate the content in a grassroots fashion.

No designated “speakers” or “presenters” or “keynotes” in advance.*

What are the topics?

The primary topic is ReThink the Workplace. How do we need to re-imagine the workplace now that AI, Automation, and COVID have—all at once—up-ended so much about what we thought we knew, and how we organize, operate, lead, and manage the workplace?

There are three tracks (AI, Automation, and Post-COVID) with four sessions in each track.

With 10 minutes between sessions, attendees can switch among them while grabbing a snack on the way.

Click here to see (read-only) the growing list of suggested topics.

*How are the topics/sessions chosen?

Registered attendees will receive email instructions on how to suggest, discuss, and vote on topics. Anyone can read suggestions, but only registered attendees can add suggestions, or comment or vote on others’ suggestions.

The most up-voted, discussed, or otherwise pressing session suggestions become UnConference topics. The organizers are meeting ahead of the event to consolidate suggestions into the session track slots. “Winning” topics will be announced at the opening of the event.

How do I attend?

Registration is Closed! 🙁

Who’s in charge?

This event is co-created by the generous efforts of:
            

Food for Thought

To get your thinking juices flowing, here are some recent pieces found out in the wild.

• This one is pretty terrible, but it links to a few useful sources
• Making Your Job Suck Less . . .
• Smaller Tech Hubs Rise…
• “There is not a lot of history of laziness being rewarded with success,” Shah, CEO Wayfairer
• New Challenges in 2024
• Younger workers know being remote has drawbacks, but they don’t care…
• How a Neiman Marcus exec gets workers into the office without forcing them…

What do we do with all this information?

Great question!

Exactly one week AFTER the UnConference, head over to Maryland Tech Council’s 5th Annual Technology Transformation Conference!

There, you can learn from experts from all over Maryland at all levels of business and industry how to put into practice what you’ve gleaned from this event!

Got Questions?

Reach out to us!

Did you attend?
How was it?
Please give us your candid feedback!
Scan or click below: