What did you learn? Who did you meet? How many rides did you go on at Universal Studios? Even now, months after Citrix Synergy 2017, attendees are still talking about their favorite parts of the conference. But if—like 63% of attendees—you have never been to Synergy, it’s almost impossible to describe the energy, the excitement, and the enthusiasm. Synergy is one of the most buzzworthy events in the industry, with more than 80% of customers and partners likely to recommend Synergy to a colleague, much higher than industry averages.
Data aside, the experience of attending Synergy this year influenced perceptions about Citrix and increased loyalty significantly. Here are some of the reasons—reasons that I hope will make you consider joining us next year for Citrix Synergy 2018, May 8–10 in Anaheim, California.
The Speakers
“Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier,” said Gen. Colin Powell in his wide-ranging talk on the importance of information systems and the power of positive thinking. It’s not every conference that features a former U.S. Secretary of State—we were proud to welcome Gen. Powell and New York Times bestselling author Malcolm Gladwell to our Innovation Super Session series to discuss cybersecurity in the age of Desert Storm and the role of experts in a world of uncertainty.
Synergy 2018: The Innovation Super Session series will be back next year. We set a high bar with the first sessions, and we’ve been in discussions to bring on new guests for 2018 who will engage and inspire you. Watch the Synergy website for news and announcements.
The Sessions
Relevant content, engaging speakers, and the ability to apply knowledge gained were the top reasons sessions were such a huge hit at Synergy 2017. We’re identifying the speakers with the highest ratings from Synergy 2017—they’ll go through our rigorous speaker training program and be back with new insights and hands-on learning experiences next May.
Synergy 2018: The session catalog launches in March 2018. Right now, we’re developing content that helps you learn about the applications of Citrix innovation, with sessions that hit all the high spots from last year. Breakouts will include a mix of introductory and advanced sessions along with a focus on both new technology and tech updates. Interactive Fireside Chats and Hot Topics Roundtables will also be back: these offer great feedback and networking opportunities, allowing attendees to discuss their specific concerns and hear different approaches in a more personal setting. Case studies received the highest scores in our post-event survey, so it’s not surprising that these would be our top-rated Meet the Experts sessions—we’re focusing on even more case studies for 2018. And the tiny-but-mighty Match.Geek program gets consistently high reviews: you can bet we’ll be bringing back our super-knowledgeable, friendly geeks for an encore.
Citrix Booth Experience and Workplace Experience Center
A completely redesigned Citrix Booth Experience to Synergy 2017 generated a huge boost in satisfaction scores as attendees dove deep into the technologies that are shaping the workspace of the future.
Synergy 2018: The best way to understand the Citrix story is to experience it hands-on: the Workplace Experience Center will be back, with immersive experiences that show firsthand how Citrix innovation impacts real workplace environments. Last year, attendees could pick up an iPad and be a doctor in the healthcare center, interacting with the EMR app, or experience the OpenSpace concept in an office environment and launch a meeting from a smart conference room. We’re planning some great experiences for 2018. The Workplace Experience Center will also feature Product Pods with deep dive demos of the hottest, newest technology, from IoT to cloud to networking. You’ll also be able to meet with experts including product managers, Citrix Consulting and others who can speak at a high level about roadmaps and solutions in the Experts Bar.
Key Dates
The annual Call for Topics is coming in September—the number of submissions keeps growing, so watch for dates to get your proposal in to be a session presenter at Synergy 2018. Call for Topics sessions are run by the most passionate Citrix users who present compelling, industry-relevant stories. Think you could be a rockstar presenter? Start making plans now.
In October, get key insights and inspiration from Synergy 2017 as the Synergy Unplugged roadshow travels to cities around the world. From new migration paths to the cloud to a new security approach that minimizes risk, you can see the core technologies that are transforming the enterprise. Find a location near you.
Then, in November, registration opens featuring our End of Year Sale with the lowest prices ever for Synergy. If you have Q4 training dollars to use or just want to lock in your dates for next year, take advantage of this promotional rate, which ends on December 31.
I hope to see you in Anaheim for Citrix Synergy 2018—add May 8–10 to your calendar today. Stay tuned to www.citrixsynergy.com for news and important dates. I’ll also update my feed with news as it happens: follow me on Twitter @merisummers.
