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Miguel welcomes Gary Denning to the First Gen 101 Podcast to share practical strategies for making the most of professional conferences.  Gary explains how conferences can accelerate learning, expand your network, and create unexpected career opportunities.

Gary shares advice on preparing before a conference, researching attendees, setting networking goals, starting conversations, and staying connected after the event. He also discusses the differences between virtual and in-person conferences, common mistakes to avoid, and why being confident, present, and engaged matters.

Whether you're attending your first conference or looking to improve your networking skills, this episode offers practical advice for building meaningful, long-term professional relationships.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

01:11 Gary’s Career Twists

05:47 Majors Aren’t Linear

07:44 Why Conferences Matter

09:20 First Conference Story

10:59 Cities and Recharging

12:46 Prep Like a Pro

17:01 Simple Networking Goals

19:02 Introverts Can Network

21:05 Conference Connections Pay Off

27:26 Staying in Touch Systems

30:02 Virtual vs In Person

34:22 Common Conference Mistakes

36:12 Be Present Not Phone Bound

38:49 Confidence and Final Takeaways

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