There's a version of conference attendance that looks like this: Fly in. Collect badge. Attend sessions. Nod at panels. Collect business cards you'll never follow up on. Fly home exhausted.
And there's another version entirely.
Leslie Greenwood — our founder and someone who somehow manages to be fully present in every room she enters — put on a masterclass this week at HumanX. She calls it her “WAVES” playbook for maximizing your event presence. Put this one in your pocket, folks.
W — Walk in with a plan (one goal, three types of people to meet)
A — Anchor (find one or two people you trust; create a micro-circle)
V — Value-first (introductions, insight, invites — before any ask)
E — Elevate (amplify other women; treat visibility as an act of generosity)
S — Stay in touch (a 24–7–30 follow-up rhythm)
Here’s what’s unique, in particular:
Most of us were taught, implicitly, that events are for being seen. For collecting. For filling the pipeline. For the awkward small talk that might someday convert into something useful.
Leslie's framework says something different: show up to give first. To welcome. To connect people to each other. To amplify someone else before you ever mention yourself.
Here’s how it looked this week in San Francisco: She gave a hug to a new member for the first time. She had a real 20-minute conversation that led to laughter and new collaborations. She found someone in a speakeasy. She shared a Waymo that backed up a quarter mile down a dark alley and somehow made a memory out of it.
Our partner Chili Piper always does this perfectly as well. They craft events where real connection happens - not just a sales pitch. They build 1:1 relationships with their amazing leaders. They show up authentically – worth so much more than a business card.
These approaches are not a ‘conference itinerary’. They are relationship strategy.
In-person is making a quiet comeback. Not necessarily just because Zoom wears us all down, but because we realized what it couldn't replicate. The accidental hallway conversation. The dinner that ran two hours long. The moment someone looks you in the eyes and says, I've been thinking about what you said.
You can't WAVES your way through a Zoom gallery.
But you can bring that same intentionality to the next room you walk into. One goal. A few people worth finding. Something to give before you ask for anything at all.
The next conference you're headed to? It's worth asking yourself before you land: What's my W?
—
This email was inspired by Leslie Greenwood's WAVES playbook, shared after two days at HumanX. Leslie is a Chief Community Officer, community strategist, and Wednesday Women executive member who believes that the best rooms are built — not just entered.
Find out more about the very special event that Chili Piper is hosting this May at an incomparable venue in New Mexico: 2 days and 150 of the boldest GTM leaders in 1 place. 1 agenda: understand what stays human, what gets automated, and how to lead both.
🌊 The WW Team works hard to craft the emails we send. If you enjoyed it, please forward it to a friend or colleague!
💜 Want to learn about WW events, news, and more? Subscribe to our main newsletter (for everyone) here.