Lean Startup Conference: A Learning Experience

I had some expectations, based on many of my recent conference experiences, of the Lean Startup Conference. After months of planning music events, trainings for educators, and workshops for conferences, I was excited for an opportunity to just learn. To fill my brain and be on the receiving end. I learn a lot in isolation and I learn a lot by doing, but the opportunity to essentially go on a brain cleanse is always appealing to me. When I have time to just focus on absorbing and immersing myself in learning, it’s good for me. In the past, I have attended a few conferences that I would consider “big time,” including WWDC and SXSWEdu. They were OK, with lots of great keynotes, big production, a giant venue, and a bit of that “I’m trapped at a conference” feeling. On the last day of those confs, I saw almost as many new faces as I saw on the first day. 

These previous experiences shaped my expectations for the Lean Startup Conference…

Expectation for Lean Startup Conference 

• Quality facilities

• Well planned sessions

• Networking

• Learning

• Decent food

All of these expectations had to do with what the event would be like upon arrival to Vegas in November. Prior experiences told me to expect nothing to much in advance - there may be an app or a website. In general, I use the night before a conference to really dig into the sessions and events. However, when it cam to the Lean Startup Conference, even before I arrived, my expectations began to shift. 

My impressions began to morph when I first reviewed the presenters and facilitators - while the keynote speakers started some well known companies, many of the other speakers seemed like people I knew from attending events in Chicago, like Kelly O. Cambry of Paige and Paxton, or amazing college friends like Ted Ulrich of Tomorrow Lab, or maybe, like me and my work with Wholesome. I my was refreshing to see real founders featured. I appreciated knowing that one day, maybe I too could share my stories of iteration, bootstrapping, and learning with other startup founders. I was a little surprised, but also hopeful that this meant the event would be authentic - real founders sharing real experiences.

Shortly after identifying with the speakers, another inspiring piece of info popped into my inbox. The book, Lean Impact, written by Ann Mei Chang. Without reading anything about the book other than its subtitle, “How to Innovate for Radically Greater Social Good”, the claim I’ve been making since learning about the lean canvas, has been validated - the lean methodology can be applied to initiatives in all fields, not just business. As a teacher and school leader, I am more than familiar with the experience of getting hard things done with limited time, funds, and people.

The boss round win of my pre-Lean Startup Conference experience was receiving yet another email from the crew only weeks before the event.  This time, instead of sharing new information with me, I was asked to get even more involved by facilitating a round table. Fully knowing that this email could have gone out to every single attendee, but secretly hoping someone had noticed that I have facilitated discussions in the past, my excitement for attending a conference sky rocketed. 

Then the day came. I was fortunate enough to arrive to Vegas the evening before the conference. Unlike many of my airport colleagues, I was not heading to the strip, but instead to downtown Las Vegas. I will not lie- this was really appealing to me. As someone who travels on a budget, I’m familiar with the less traveled paths, and like to be close to the locals. The hotel was cool- lots of Lean Startup Conference branding made me feel special and connected.

The morning of the first day of a conference is always a blast- from people you meet (on the elevator, on the walk, at breakfast, next to you in the theater, at the first session) to the hospitality and enthusiasm of the hosts and staff, it’s foreshadowing of a conference. My morning at Lean was blissful. 

Reality of the Experience

I had a great time having the privilege to facilitate a round table on the use of lean methodology in the social sector. It was awesome to meet others working in education, nonprofits, or to make social impacts. I felt empowered and it made the conference experience even more fulfilling to be so authentically connected.

Unlike those other big conferences where I saw new faces ever day, I found myself crossing paths with a few people who shared similar interests in sessions. The Lean Startup team was also incredibly welcoming. After introducing myself to one member of the team at a session on coaching for innovation, I was immediately connected to three other people. By the end of the conference, I was having drinks and singing karaoke tunes with the Lean Startup crew, and reflecting on the highs and lows of the event with the woman who planned the whole thing. Talk about feeling welcomed and engaged.

One morning, there was a mindfulness session. It started before I made it to the Zappos campus (where the keynotes and big sessions took place), but because they live-streamed it to the big screen in the outside gathering space, I was able to participate while grabbing fresh air and sunlight. At the end of the session, I had a real moment of gratitude. To be able to learn, connect, and reboot was a try privilege that I was thankful to experience.

Instead of being out at bar or show or meeting new strangers, I spent my last night in Vegas in my hotel room, eating my Grubhubbed dinner, thinking about the disruption food delivery services must be having on hotels that are accustomed to high margin returns on room service purchases, and reflecting on the last three days. It was a conference and learning experience that I’ll remember for a while.