By Sheldon Bruck
Social Media Manager

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AWS re:Invent, the largest cloud conference, brings together cloud novices, practitioners, and experts from around the world in the vibrant city of Las Vegas to discover the latest cloud innovations, gain skills and expertise that would take weeks or months to learn at home, and network with fellow cloud enthusiasts & AWS experts. With the conference rapidly approaching, we’ve put together this comprehensive guide to help you maximize your AWS re:Invent experience, whether you’re a first-time attendee or a seasoned veteran.

Preparing for AWS re:Invent 2023

Before heading to AWS re:Invent, take the time to research the available sessions & workshops and create a schedule that will optimize your experience. We highly recommend downloading the AWS re:Invent app, which will help you keep track of your schedule and navigate the conference center.

Zesty Tip: pack comfortable shoes, as you’ll be doing a lot of walking, and consider packing a portable battery pack to ensure your phone and other devices stay charged throughout the day.

Understanding Session Codes

While browsing through the sessions, you’ll come across what seems like a random jumble of letters and numbers, but they’re not. The first three letters of each session code represent the track, and the first number represents the level:

• 100s: Foundational
• 200s: Intermediate
• 300s: Advanced
• 400s: Expert

Zesty Tip: If you identify a pattern of session topics that pique your interest, use the track code to discover other sessions that might also resonate with you.

Maximizing Your Time

With so much going on at the conference, selecting which sessions and workshops to attend can be overwhelming. Therefore, you should prioritize your schedule based on what best aligns with your interests or business goals. Make the most of networking opportunities by attending meetups, receptions, and other events.

Zesty Tip: Be sure to take plenty of breaks. Visit the solution expo and partner expo halls between sessions to discover new products & services, and network with exhibitors. After the conference, review recordings of the sessions & workshops you attended after the conference to refresh your memory.

Networking Effectively

While attending meetups and receptions is a great way to meet other professionals within your industry, you should also take advantage of networking opportunities during sessions and workshops by participating in group discussions and asking questions.

Zesty Tip: Exchange LinkedIn profiles at the event and take the initiative to follow up with those you met to make the most of your connections after the event. Additionally, you can use LinkedIn’s Find Nearby feature on your mobile device to find LinkedIn members in your surrounding vicinity of up to 100 feet (30 meters).

Exploring Solutions Expo & Partner Expo Halls

If you’re interested in staying up-to-date on the latest cloud computing trends, be sure to check out the solution expo and partner expo halls. There, you’ll have the opportunity to meet with vendors, explore new technologies and services, and even participate in demos.

Zesty Tip: Be sure to take your time and talk to exhibitors to learn more about their products and further your knowledge of solutions out there. For example, visit booth #474 to learn how you can leverage ML-powered cloud solutions to uncover hidden AWS savings!

Staying Connected After The Conference:

After returning home, we recommend staying connected with the people you met and developing a plan for yourself to implement any relevant techniques or technologies. After the conference, all the breakout sessions from AWS re:Invent are recorded and uploaded to YouTube, so take the time to reflect on the information you learned and revisit key insights from sessions and workshops you attended.

Zesty Tip: Follow up with contacts you met at the conference by sending them personalized emails or LinkedIn messages to stay in touch and keep an eye out for other upcoming AWS events and conferences.

AWS re:Invent is an exciting opportunity to delve into the latest trends, technologies, and best practices in cloud computing. Following these tips should help make the most of your experience and gain valuable insights while refining your networking skills and having fun. Remember, preparation is key, so take the time to research and prepare before the event, and don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone to connect with other attendees. With a little time and effort, you’ll be able to take advantage of all the incredible opportunities AWS re:Invent has to offer.