There's a Hunter S. Thompson quote that goes: “Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming—'WOW—What a ride!'" That's how I feel about Dreamforce.
I consider myself a Dreamforce “old timer”. This year marks the 14th year of Dreamforce and my 12th trip to the event. Each year, Dreamforce continues to raise the bar, repeatedly ranking as one of the top tech industry events. It's grown tremendously—the first Dreamforce (2003) had 1,300 attendees, and an estimated 170,000 will be in attendance this year. While there are other gigantic tech events, no one can surpass the Dreamforce level of execution or match the experience.
In a press release prior to the first Dreamforce, Mark Benioff, CEO of Salesforce.com said “It is the goal of Salesforce.com to foster open communication between our customers, developers and partners, to spark the imagination, creativity, innovation and collaboration of the Salesforce.com community and the software-as-service community as a whole.” These themes drive Dreamforce (and Salesforce.com, too), and are the reason why I love this product and event.
Colleagues, associates, friends (and even my husband) question why I go every year. Well, here are my key reasons for attending, and why you should attend Dreamforce, too:
Reason 1: Learning
Dreamforce features over 2,000 sessions, including Hands-on Training Sessions (HOTS), customer stories, and more. Choosing between so many sessions can seem daunting, so each year, I try to select one or two focus areas and choose sessions based on those criteria. As a Consultant and Admin, the sessions I like best are those that show me the “gut” of the solution. Dreamforce is all about collaboration, right?
Reason 2: Networking
Making connections is key! Whether it is sitting in a session, attending a cocktail party, browsing the Expo Hall or just eating lunch in one of the many venues, networking opportunities are everywhere at Dreamforce. It always amazes me that, despite the massive number of attendees, I still tend to run into people I've met over the years. I've built many friendships through these interactions, and I look forward to reconnecting with them each year.
Reason 3: Keynotes
Yes, keynotes are broadcast, but nothing compares to attending in person. The excitement, music, special guests, and energy make learning about product innovations and seeing live demos feel nothing short of exhilarating.
Reason 4: The Expo Floor
It's not just a great place to collect one-of-a-kind tchotchkes (bring an extra suitcase—I do!). The Expo floor gives you the opportunity to talk to partners about apps that have been built to extend the Salesforce platform. Have a need for enhanced functionality? There's a very good chance that a solution is waiting on the Expo floor. Make a list of potential vendors you want to meet beforehand so that you can maximize your time.
Reason 5: Product Demonstrations
Visiting the Admin Zone, Developer Zone and the Customer Success Showcase is a great way to see Salesforce in action. Ask questions, get answers, try new things and see how companies around the globe are using Salesforce above and beyond what you thought was possible.
Reason 6: Gala and Social Events
And last but not least are the Partner Parties, AppBash and the grandest event of all —the “Gala”. This year, I believe they're calling it "Dreamfest", and U2 will be performing! How cool is that? Remember that these events aren't just about eating, drinking, dancing and playing games—they're also amazing opportunities to NETWORK!
