NGLCC Conference – Key Takeaways
Our team attended the 2023 NGLCC International Business & Leadership Conference this year — here’s our quick recap and key takeaways.
Conference Snapshot
The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) is the largest non-profit dedicated to LGBTQ+ businesses with year-round programming and support.
The NGLCC annual conference was held in Denver Colorado this year at the Hyatt Regency and adjacent state-of-the-art Colorado Convention Center and Bellco Theatre.
The guest list includes diverse suppliers like Diagonal Media, we’re Certified LGBTBE®, allied businesses, and corporate entities who bring on diverse suppliers for their various needs.
The goal is to connect companies with suppliers, facilitating a pipeline that fosters growth for LGBTQ+ businesses and meets the demands larger corporations have for discovering diverse suppliers. The conference is also jam-packed with special breakout sessions on marketing, networking, DE&I, and growing your business.
Key Takeaways
We attended some incredible breakout sessions this year, featuring speakers at the top of their game – challenging the audience to push beyond their comfort zone.
Chala Dincoy provided a helpful framework for nailing your elevator pitch. Key takeaway: Focus on the pain point and how you solve for it.
This year Diagonal Media was mentored by The Walt Disney Company as part of NGLCC’s Mentorship Program. Jayzen Patria spoke to the mentors and mentees in a special breakout all about branding. Key takeaway: “LIVE YOUR BRAND – do you want to be just coffee, or are you Starbucks?”
Everyone knows how important DE&I is but we need to dig below the buzzword. Jennifer Brown, Jim Massey, and Shalynne Jackson, MHR, SHRM-SCP spoke to a packed audience about the importance of authentically sitting in your unique story, sharing it, and listening to others’ experiences. Key takeaway: Assess where you’re already an advocate and where you’re still learning so that you can take action to become an advocate for intersectional change.
On the final day of the conference we attended the Breakout – Hacking the Fear of Public Speaking for LGBTQ+ & Allied Leaders led by Fearless CEO and Founder Eduardo Placer. It was an absolutely soul-affirming and eye-opening experience focused on bringing the energy to your next presentation or even Zoom call – we got to see that our fears of public speaking are not unique, and we even did some elevated sparkle-ation (iykyk) – probably our favorite breakout of the entire week!
Guest Speakers
The morning and afternoon plenary sessions featured guest speakers from all walks of life. Their insightful chats and presentations inspired us to keep dreaming big, some of our favorite moments are below…
Shola Richards, the keynote speaker from the Opening Plenary Session spoke about the importance of taking responsibility for your energy and how you show up for yourself and your team.
“Commitment means staying loyal to what you said you were going to do long after the mood you said it in has left you.”
Dr. Mochio Kaku, a renowned theoretical physicist and special guest at the Luncheon Plenary Session spoke about how AI is the next wave driving wealth.
“Ride the wave to riches because you understand the tech.”
At the Opening Reception Co-Presented by Sony Pictures Entertainment and Macy’s and closing Out at the Ballpark Reception Presented by Molson Coors Beverage Company we reconnected with old friends and made some new ones too!
We had a great time handing out our brand new “On Camera Survival Kit” to prospective partners, clients, and new connections. They got rave reviews, so come find us at the next conference to get yours too!
Grateful to the NGLCC for putting on such an informative and energizing event. We’ll be back for more.
Are you joining us next year?
