Discover the career-boosting benefits of attending and participating in events tailored for internal communicators, people and culture leaders, and employee experience professionals.
Whether you’re looking for valuable lessons or fresh insights, the best internal communications (IC) and employee experience (EX) ideas come from real-world experiences and meaningful conversations with other passionate professionals and industry leaders.
That’s why attending industry events is so important. It provides the perfect setting to engage with experts, exchange ideas, and discover innovative strategies. These events help elevate your career while bringing fresh perspectives and actionable insights back to your organization.
IC and EX events are more than just a chance to attend educational content sessions. They’re an opportunity to connect with peers, learn from thought leaders, and discover new tools and strategies that can elevate your career.
Whether you’re aiming to increase your influence within your organization, adopt new technologies, or expand your professional network, these events provide the platform to achieve those goals.
What to expect at IC and EX events
Talks from industry leaders
Attending IC and EX events offers valuable opportunities to learn from industry-leading voices. Insights from thought leaders on emerging trends and key topics can provide a deeper understanding of how internal communications and employee experience approaches are evolving.
These sessions not only offer actionable takeaways but also help attendees anticipate future challenges and opportunities within their organizations. By gaining new perspectives, participants are better equipped to drive innovation, enhance employee engagement, and implement strategies that align with the evolving needs of their workforce.
Seminars and workshops
Seminars and workshops are a key feature of most events, offering opportunities to explore specific topics in more detail. These sessions are typically hands-on and interactive, allowing participants to actively engage with new strategies and tools. Whether you’re exploring the latest approaches to employee engagement or discovering innovative communication platforms, these seminars provide practical, real-world takeaways.
Attendees leave with skills and insights they can immediately apply to their roles, empowering them to drive positive change within their organizations and stay ahead of industry developments.
Roundtables and panel discussions
Roundtables and panel discussions offer a different kind of value compared to talks and workshops. While talks provide structured insights and workshops focus on practical skill-building, roundtables create space for organic conversations. These discussions often unearth issues and approaches in a more dynamic way, allowing participants to explore challenges and solutions that might not surface in more formal settings.
By engaging directly with peers, attendees can connect on a deeper level, share diverse perspectives, and collaboratively uncover strategies that align with the evolving needs of internal communications and employee experience.
Networking opportunities
While the educational content is undoubtedly valuable, the networking opportunities often prove to be the most transformative aspect of these events. Attending an IC or EX event connects you with like-minded professionals, from peers to senior leaders across the industry.
Whether it’s over lunch, at a social gathering, or during a breakout session, the chance to exchange ideas, share experiences, and build meaningful relationships with others in your field is an invaluable career asset. These connections can open doors to new opportunities, collaborations, and long-term professional growth.
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The career benefits of attending IC and EX events
Learning from industry leaders and peers
One of the most immediate benefits of attending these events is learning from others. Internal communicators who attend can access fresh ideas and innovative approaches from industry-leading organizations and experienced peers. For instance, an event might introduce you to new strategies for increasing employee engagement, managing change communication, or aligning communication efforts with broader business goals.
Being exposed to a variety of case studies, success stories, and challenges from your industry means you’re constantly learning and improving your craft. This learning extends beyond the formal sessions too—casual conversations with peers during breaks or social events can provide unique insights that you might not find in a formal talk.
Discovering new tools and technologies
Staying up to date with the latest technology is vital for internal communicators. IC and EX events often feature vendors who offer practical demonstrations of tools designed to enhance employee communications and engagement. You might come across new platforms for managing remote teams, advanced employee feedback tools, or cutting-edge communication apps that streamline internal processes.
Learning about and adopting the right technology can not only make your job easier but also position you as an innovator within your organization. Introducing effective tools can help your company improve its internal communication strategy, which in turn can boost your credibility and career standing.
Increasing your leadership visibility
Internal communications professionals often struggle to get recognized as strategic partners by leadership. However, many IC and EX events offer sessions focused on leadership communication—how to improve it, manage it, and align it with overall business objectives. These sessions give you the knowledge and tools to communicate more effectively with senior leaders and make a stronger case for the value of internal communications in driving business success.
By applying these strategies, you can demonstrate to leadership that you’re not just a tactical executor but also a strategic partner who can help guide the organization’s communication efforts. Increasing your visibility within leadership circles can open up more opportunities for career advancement.
Expanding your professional network
Building a robust professional network is essential for career progression, and attending IC and EX events is one of the best ways to broaden that network. These events are attended by professionals at all levels, from entry-level communicators to senior leaders. By engaging in conversations, sharing ideas, and exchanging information, you’ll build relationships that could lead to future collaborations, partnerships, or mentorships.
The expanded network also means staying in-the-know about industry developments. Having contacts in different organizations allows you to keep your finger on the pulse of what’s happening in the internal comms world, giving you an advantage when it comes to spotting trends and staying ahead of the curve.
Discovering job opportunities
Not only can networking at these events help you keep up with industry trends, but it can also open doors to new job opportunities. Many IC and EX events include recruiters or hiring managers, and being in the right place at the right time can make all the difference. Even if you’re not actively looking for a new position, growing your network means you’ll hear about openings that might not be advertised publicly. Plus, a strong network makes it easier for others to recommend you for positions when the time comes.
The benefits of speaking at an event
While attending events can offer numerous advantages, there’s another level of career growth available if you’re willing to take the stage as a speaker. Here’s why you should consider it:
Enhance your personal brand
Speaking at an IC or EX event is an excellent way to establish yourself as a thought leader in the industry. When you share your knowledge, insights, and innovative ideas with others, it boosts your credibility and reinforces your expertise. Over time, this can help build your personal brand, making you a go-to person in your field.
Networking with decision-makers
Speakers often have additional networking opportunities that regular attendees may not have. By being on stage, you immediately position yourself as an expert, and other attendees, including decision-makers and senior leaders, may seek you out for conversations or future opportunities. You’re no longer just someone in the crowd; you’re a recognized voice.
Showcase your expertise
Speaking at an event gives you a platform to showcase your unique expertise, skills, and successful projects. This can set you apart from your peers and help you demonstrate the value you bring to your organization. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to highlight the innovative approaches you’ve implemented in your workplace and bring attention to how they’ve driven success.
Boost your career growth
Being a speaker enhances your professional reputation, making you more attractive for promotions or new opportunities. When you’re seen as a thought leader and expert in your field, senior leaders within your organization may be more likely to consider you for leadership positions or strategic roles. External opportunities may also arise as a result of your visibility at these events.
Influence industry practices
By speaking at an event, you have the chance to shape the future of internal communications and employee experience. Your ideas and insights can inspire others in the field, and you may even set new trends or best practices. This influence can further cement your role as a thought leader and innovator in the industry.
Gain feedback and learn from others
One of the less obvious benefits of speaking at an event is the feedback you receive. After your presentation, attendees may approach you with questions or suggestions, offering you new perspectives on your ideas. This can help refine your strategies and improve your work moving forward. It’s also an opportunity to learn from others by engaging in discussions sparked by your presentation.
Increase recognition for you and your organization
When you speak at an event, both you and your organization benefit from increased visibility. It’s a form of recognition that can elevate your personal reputation while also highlighting the great work being done at your company. This can lead to further speaking opportunities, as well as recognition within your organization for being an effective ambassador.
Boost your confidence and public speaking skills
Public speaking is a skill that many professionals work to improve over time, and presenting at an IC or EX event is a great way to build that skill. The more you speak, the more confident you become, which can positively impact other areas of your career. Improved public speaking can lead to better leadership communication, more effective team management, and stronger presentations in front of senior executives.
IC and EX events to look out for in 2025
If you’re looking to grow your career in 2025, below are some notable events to look out for in 2025 that offer opportunities to learn from experts, discover new technologies, and expand your professional network.
These events provide valuable insights into the latest trends in IC and EX, equipping you with the tools to advance your career and shape the future of workplace communication.
From Day One brings together speakers from across the enterprise to discuss everything from corporate social responsibility to human resources. Its events facilitate people-focused conversations that promote real, actionable ideas for and from executives, civic-leaders, authors, and journalists across the country.
Annual Strategic Internal Communications (West)
An event for strategic internal communications professionals in the western United States, this conference focuses on developing and implementing effective communication strategies that drive business results.
Gartner Digital Workplace Summit
The Gartner Digital Workplace Summit 2025 is organized to help digital workplace leaders tasked with enhancing digital employee experience, leveraging GenAI and improving technology adoption.
This event focuses specifically on intranets and their role in employee engagement and organizational success. Attendees explore intranet design, development, and content strategies, and learn how to create intranets that align with business objectives.
Ragan Employee Communications & Culture Conference
This conference offers insights into the latest trends and best practices in internal communication and employee culture. Attendees will learn how to improve employee engagement, build strong company culture, and create a positive employee experience.
This comprehensive event explores a wide range of workplace topics, including HR, leadership, and employee experience. Attendees will gain valuable insights into creating effective workplaces that drive business results and employee satisfaction.
This summit focuses on strategies to improve employee engagement and motivation. Attendees will learn how to measure employee engagement, implement effective engagement initiatives, and create a positive and productive work environment.
This event is dedicated to internal communication and digital workplace transformation. Attendees will explore the latest trends in internal communication, learn how to leverage technology to improve communication, and gain insights into creating effective digital workplace strategies.
This summit offers insights into Gallup’s research on workplace culture, employee engagement, and leadership. Attendees will learn how to build high-performing teams, improve employee satisfaction, and drive business results.
The IoIC Festival is a global event for internal communication professionals. Attendees will have the opportunity to network with peers, learn from industry experts, and gain insights into the latest trends and best practices in internal communication.
This international conference brings together communication professionals from around the world to discuss the latest trends and challenges in the industry. Attendees will gain valuable insights into strategic communication, crisis communication, and digital communication.
Interact’s Communicate event series
To support IC and EX professionals with the tools, knowledge, and network to stay current and grow in their careers, Interact launched the Communicate event series.
In 2024, the series spanned key cities such as New York, San Francisco, Edinburgh, and Dubai, featuring leaders from top brands like Domino’s, New York Life, and Manchester City Football Club.
Attendees gained insights into cutting-edge communication strategies, improving workplace culture, and the latest industry tools, making it a can’t-miss event for IC and EX professionals.
With 2025 on the horizon, Communicate is set to expand even further, offering a platform for new ideas, fresh perspectives, and a deeper dive into the emerging trends shaping the IC and EX landscapes. While official dates and locations for 2025 have yet to be announced, Interact will update the events page with details throughout the year.
Communicate presents a unique opportunity to learn from industry leaders and real-world case studies, participate in hands-on workshops, and connect with peers in a meaningful way. Each event is designed to provide dynamic learning and collaboration opportunities that will provide new insights and actionable strategies for enhancing employee engagement, strengthening internal communication, and building a more connected workplace culture.
Beyond attendance, Communicate also welcomes professionals who want to share their expertise. If you have innovative ideas, proven strategies, or success stories to share, now is the perfect time to get involved. Speaking at Communicate not only enhances your personal brand but also allows you to influence industry best practices and inspire your peers.
We are actively seeking new speakers to join the event lineup for 2025—if you’d like to speak, please get in touch!
2025 promises to be an exciting year for the Communicate series, with even more opportunities for internal communicators to grow, learn, and connect. Whether you’re looking to attend or contribute as a speaker, this is your chance to be part of a global conversation on the future of internal communications and employee experience. Keep an eye on upcoming announcements and get ready to take your career to the next level with Communicate.
How to justify conference attendance (free template)
While attending IC and EX events can be a great way to expand your knowledge, network with key players, and bring fresh insights back to your team, getting the green light from your boss might require a bit of persuasion. Crafting an effective message that highlights the value of the event to both you and the company is essential.
Start by clearly identifying the event and explaining its relevance to your role or department. For example, you might mention specific sessions or speakers that will address current challenges the company is facing. Then, explain how the event will benefit the company, not just your own career development. Emphasize the opportunity to learn new skills, gather industry insights, or bring back information that can help improve your team’s processes.
Now that you’ve laid out the key points—what the event is, why it’s important, and how it will benefit both you and the company—it’s time to put it all together into a clear, concise email. Keep your tone professional yet enthusiastic, and make sure to address any concerns your boss might have, such as time away from work or the cost.
The goal is to make it easy for them to say yes by showing you’ve thought through the logistics and how the event aligns with the company’s objectives.
Key Points to Include
- Event Overview: Describe the event’s relevance to your role and the company, emphasizing the practical takeaways.
- Industry Representation: Highlight that major industry players and competitors will attend, showing its importance for staying competitive.
- Specific Benefits: Explain how the content aligns with your current responsibilities and the organization’s strategic goals.
- Cost and ROI: Provide a cost breakdown and explain the return on investment, including knowledge, tools, networking, and potential business leads.
- Networking and Peer Insight: Emphasize that you’ll have the chance to network with industry leaders, decision-makers, and competitors, enhancing your knowledge and professional network.
Use our free template to help you get started.
Invest in your future at IC and EX events
Attending internal communications and employee experience events is a powerful way to advance your career. From learning new strategies and tools to expanding your network and increasing your visibility within leadership, these events offer numerous benefits that can help you grow professionally. And for those looking to take their career to the next level, speaking at an event can elevate your personal brand, enhance your credibility, and open up even more career opportunities.
Whether you attend, speak, or both, making the most of IC and EX events is a strategic investment in your future. If you’re ready to push your career forward, don’t hesitate—make these events a regular part of your professional development plan.
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