What Happens in Vegas...

This week I was blessed with the opportunity to fly out to Vegas to attend the TSIA World Envision Conference. It was an incredible experience to network with the executives of some of the biggest tech companies and dive deeper into understanding the industry and what it has to offer. I met so many amazing professionals and feel like I was really able to grow my business acumen and knowledge these past four days. Below I talk all about my experience in Las Vegas and with TSIA. Please enjoy my little overview and contact me with any questions!

Day One: October 16, 2022

The Departure

I left Stillwater around 3:00 Sunday to fly to Dallas and from Dallas to Vegas. It was a pleasant trip, and I enjoyed getting to know my fellow TSIA Intern, Benjy. While on the plane I spent a lot of time looking over the schedule for the next few days. Boy was it packed. I was excited though for the week and mentally prepped myself for the crazy amount of networking I was about to get to do.

I knew I was in Vegas the minute we stepped off the plane, instantly finding myself surrounded by slot machines and bright lights. We ubered to where we were staying for the week: the Aria. It was amazing. Benjy and I immediately checked our bags and headed to our rooms. Mine was on the 8th floor, and it was SO FANCY. I had two queen size beds, so I used one for lounging and the other for sleeping. The view from my window was spectacular. So many colors and lights. After taking in the sights, I quickly got ready for dinner and met Diane and Benjy at a restaurant in the hotel.

Carbone Review 10/10

Carbone is located on the second level of the Aria Hotel, nestled between shops and secluded from the bustle of the casinos down below. Although very pricey, it was worth every penny in my opinion. Not only was the service here excellent, but the food was otherworldly. I sampled a little of everything, including three different types of bread (the buttery tomato was my favorite), pickled cauliflower, and roasted asparagus. It all tasted like perfection. I was very satisfied with my meal, which I wasn't necessarily expecting. I have found a pattern of overpriced and under-portioned food in most fine-dining establishments I have had the privilege of trying (and that is very limited). Well, let me tell you, this food though overpriced was at least not under-portioned. I ordered the Chicken Massimo and was pleasantly surprised when they brought out half a chicken on a bed of spinach and artichoke hearts. I am never one to leave food on my plate, but I was stuffed before I could even fathom eating all of it. And then they brought out dessert... and I wasn't full anymore. I ordered the carrot cake, an absolute favorite of mine. They brought out a huge slice paired with the freshest ice cream I had ever tasted. The cake was perfect. Very moist, not too sweet, topped in light and fluffy cream cheese frosting, sprinkled with candied nuts. I was in heaven. I can not praise this establishment enough. If you ever find yourself at the Aria in Vegas, you simply have to eat at Carbone.

After Dinner Festivities: The Strip

After enjoying our meal, Benjy and I set off to the Strip to see the sights of Vegas.

A friendly word of advice: take a taxi to the strip, not an Uber. There were a few moments where I thought I was going to get kidnapped or mugged, but overall it was a fun experience. 30 minutes was all I need though. At one point, a very strange man ran up to us and started break dancing. Doesn't sound too strange, right? Yeah, but he wasn't a street performer. He was just very intoxicated. So fun.

The Bellagio Fountain was amazing. It goes off every 20 minutes and was so mesmerizing. The display we got to watch was to the tune of the Star Spangled Banner. Of all the things I saw, that was my favorite.

Day Two: October 17, 2022

TSIA World Envision

I woke up early the next morning, did my hair and makeup, and got dressed in business professional excited to start the day. Around 7, I went down to the conference room in the Aria and checked in. They had an open tea and coffee bar, so throughout the course of the day, I think I had two cups of coffee and five cups of tea. Worth it. After a quick breakfast, I attended my first session on making the most of my week.

TSIA is a company that compiles data from other tech companies to gain insights and help them make business decisions to grow. We learned more about what the conference was centered on. Of the 1300 people there, Benjy and I were the only 2 college students. That was very intimidating. After learning more about our role, the real sessions started. I attended a few that probably made more sense for the people within the industry who knew the lingo, but I still found them enjoyable. Telemetry was a new term I learned and that discussion made me feel so dumb, but the presenter was a German Professor and was super nice.

After sitting through a few more presentations, it was lunch time and the Expo opened up. It was like the career fair on steroids with booth after booth of some of the world's biggest tech companies. I got my headshots taken and networked around for a bit before heading to the Keynote by J.B. Wood. He talked about APLAER, a method used to navigate the second wave of digital transformation within the industry. I really liked the parts I understood and the insights I was able to glean about the behind-the-scenes of business.

The rest of the day carried on the same as the morning until the Expo Reception and open bar (which I did not partake in). After talking with more companies and stuffing my face with hors d'oeuvres, it was time for dinner. But not just any dinner. Benjy and I had the privilege of eating with the executives of the companies. We sat around munching on chicken piccata and lobster, discussing the ins and outs of the business world casually with some of the most brilliant leaders of the tech industry. It was a dream. Not only did they talk to us like equals, but they even asked for our opinions on some of the issues they had noticed happening within the industry. I am so grateful for the wisdom they poured out on us and also thankful to my professors at OSU for giving me enough business acumen to hold my own in one of those conversations. One of my favorite people I met that night was Dan Gingiss who was actually going to present the keynote the next day. About an hour later, I was spent so I dismissed myself and headed to bed ready to start the next day.

Day Three: October 18, 2022

Lights. Camera. Action.

The second day looked a lot like the first with one minor difference: Benjy and I got called on stage to talk about our time at the conference and what we had learned. I was so nervous, but I think it went really well. I enjoyed talking with JB, Vice President of TSIA. While on stage I got bold and made a joke that went over really well, so now everyone thinks I am funny. Yay. But on a more serious not, this is what I said about my experience:

I have been really blessed to have been given this opportunity to learn more about the industry and the direction it is heading. TSIA has allowed me to gain insight into what I need to be doing now to prepare for my career in the future.

The rest of the day carried on as normal and ended with dinner at a hibachi grill and a trip to the top of the Stratosphere. The view was absolutely breathtaking. Another highly recommended tourist trap.

Day Four: October 19, 2022

Last but Not Least

The final day was short and sweet. We attended more sessions, ate more good food, and talked with more amazing professionals. I had way too much coffee and tea as I did the other days, and then packed up, called an Uber, and was back in Oklahoma before I knew it. It was a fever dream of a day, but so rewarding.

Key Takeaways

I want to begin by expressing how grateful I am for the amazing opportunity to attend TSIA World Envision in Vegas. I feel so blessed to have gotten connected with so many brilliant people in the tech industry, people who are quick to give advice, support, and insights.

I think what surprised me the most from the conference was how great an emphasis was put on soft skills and developing those versus technical skills. It actually made me feel a little relieved since I don’t have much technical expertise yet. Most people told me that I should work on developing soft skills now, and those technical skills will come later with the job. Another great word of advice I got was simply to always say “yes.” If I am offered a position that I don’t feel 100% qualified for, say “yes” anyway because most of the time, employers are just looking for someone who is willing to put in the work, try new things, and continuously learn.

My favorite part of this whole conference (besides speaking on stage) was the TEN Event. It was so invaluable to just be able to sit there and talk with executives about real business topics. It was so engaging and enlightening to hear the perspectives of someone so well-versed in the industry. I never thought I would ever do anything like that. I have really enjoyed being a part of this program.

Thank you for reading about my week and all my amazing experiences! I am feeling energized and excited about what my professional future holds.