Esri User Conference Behind-the-Scenes: GIS Managers' Open Summit
What is the GIS Managers’ Open Summit?
The GIS Managers’ Open Summit (GISMOS) is an all-day interactive experience followed by the new GIS Managers track with eight sessions on Wednesday and Thursday of the User Conference. The summit focuses on showing people with a GIS background how to be successful as leaders. Adam Carnow the Community Evangelist, explains the summit aims to “turn managers into leaders.”
The summit began in 2010 at the User Conference with a meet-up of 30 people and the Managers in GIS LinkedIn group. Since then, GISMOS has grown to include 180 attendees.
W
ho should be attending this summit?
Anyone that is a manager or a leader of a GIS team, and even future managers/leaders can attend the GISMOS. This could mean CIO’s, managers, IT leaders or anyone that wants to one day lead their team.
Registration is free, and seating is limited. You must be registered for the User Conference to attend this summit. Please click the link below to register.
What should I expect at the summit?
Presentations
Among the other GISMOS activities this year, we are going to have an Esri led presentation focusing on the executive and elected officials’ view of GIS, and three guest speakers. The seating will be designed to encourage activities and discussions between presentations.
I asked the GISMOS team what made these guest speakers standout, and they expressed that the presenters have a strong handle on the business-side of GIS. They show the power that GIS can have and how their GIS work has transformed their organizations. The GISMOS team hopes that the speakers will be able to inspire the attendees in their own work.
Networking
GISMOS is not just a day of inspirational presentations. The emphasis is also on networking and the interactions between participants.
The day starts off with an icebreaker. This is your opportunity to make many new connections.
Group discussions are held after each presentation using the Lean Coffee method for meetings. The group discussion helps further the understanding of the presentation topics. At the end of each discussion, attendees are asked to share the topics they discussed. Fortunately, this will be very simple when you already have your sticky notes ready!
Please see the attached agenda for more details!
Tips from the Team:
- Bring business cards (especially if you are going to this event!)
- Get active on social media so you don’t miss out on the excitement of the conference. Remember to use your hashtags. #EsriGeoNet #EsriUC #Esri #GIS #TheScienceofWhere
- Join the Managers in GIS LinkedIn
- Post during the conference, let people know what you are doing at the summit
- Check out the Lean Coffee method and video before the conference starts
- Explore the other GIS Manager Events at the conference
For Discussion:
For our former GISMOS attendees, what made you choose to go to the GISMOS, and what was your favorite part?