4 tips for success as comms pros reimagine the conference experience

The pandemic has taken a toll on nearly every type of business, but few more so than the conference industry. That’s why when things started looking dire at the beginning of 2020, Capital One’s corporate communications team, in partnership with the tech events team, started making some tough decisions.

“I remember having conversations with my colleagues, thinking that we’ll be back in the office in two or four weeks,” says Jeffrey Cooke, corporate communications manager, tech events program. “And pretty early on we decided to make the call that we just need to commit to virtual.”

But as anyone can tell you, virtual conferences generally fall a bit flat. And with the Software Engineering Conference (SECON)—Capital One’s largest internal conference for tech associates—coming up, the stakes were high. Thanks to the ingenuity of the team, not only was the event an overwhelming success, but it was also given an honorable mention by the coveted Ragan Awards.

Here’s the behind-the-scenes story of how the team pulled it off, along with a few lessons and tips to share with those facing similar challenges:

Tip: Ask your attendees what they would find most beneficial in a virtual conference.