If you’re new to Las Vegas, it can be an overwhelming experience. The same could be said for UNLEASH America, albeit for many differing reasons.

While I’m by no means a newcomer to industry events, my background lies in far more niche and focused events that cater to more specific and smaller groups – in other words, the complete opposite of what UNLEASH America is all about.

Having joined UNLEASH shortly after last year’s event in Paris, I’ve had plenty of time to hear about our ‘International Festival of HR’ from colleagues and previous attendees. It’s safe to say expectations were high during the run-up for Las Vegas this year.

But being part of it all firsthand, for the first time, is undoubtedly a very special experience.

I’ve attended, reported on, participated in and hosted numerous industry conferences during my journalism career and, no word of a lie here, there’s nothing else quite like UNLEASH America.

“Of course you’d say that, John…you work for UNLEASH!”,  you say. Well, that’s a fair point, but let me explain.

Real leaders lift each other up

One of the key messages I took from speakers was that no-one has all the answers, no matter their track record or foresight. 

To hear industry leaders emphasizing the importance of learning from each other was genuinely pleasing, primarily because it’s something so different to what I am used to.

I spent the majority of my career in various parts of the financial services markets, where confidence, bluffing and – let’s be honest – arrogance, are often the baseline for most conversations.

And while it would be ingenious to say that no HR leaders are immune to these traits themselves, I also observed a good deal of humility and openness to learn from each other at the same time.

Believe me, that is something you don’t often hear, or at least with any real sincerity behind it. 

It’s a reflection on how HR leaders are aware that the world and future of work are shifting quicker than ever before, and that those who maintain historic walls between themselves and their peers are much more likely to be left behind.

Talking about the here and now

Another element that really stood out as a first timer to an UNLEASH event was how speakers didn’t want to just dwell on the past.

A big frustration for journalists is hearing the same industry discussions and comments year in, year out. Nothing is less inspiring for us than being able to accurately predict what a speaker or interviewee is going to say before they do.

While I may not have experience to compare what was said in Las Vegas this year to previous iterations, what did strike me was that many HR leaders spoke to their primary focus or actions now – particularly when it came to the hot topic of AI.

Again, comparing this to my previous experiences – even among events with similar levels of attendee and sponsor volumes on-site – it’s a world away from conversations that skirt around the issue without ever arriving at genuine insight.

And there were plentiful insights to be found. From the aforementioned discussions of how AI is transforming the HR landscape right now, to how wider digital transformation efforts are being led by HR – particularly where it concerns skills development.

From the importance of embracing diversity as part of the HR approach to company culture, to what makes a leader truly great – head or heart? – there was something for everyone to get stuck into.

Don’t sleep on the power of vibes

It may sound superficial, even silly to some, but getting the vibe of an event just right is crucial to success.

It’s not easy either, what with so many moving parts and participants, each with their own needs and wants to cater to. 

To say that UNLEASH America has its own party vibe wouldn’t be totally accurate, but it wouldn’t be unwholly true either. 

The expo floor, packed with vendors and delegates had a rare buzz to it that rarely let up, while the speakers possessed an energy that kept attendees – and journalists – engaged throughout.

It’s not the first time I’ve experienced such an atmosphere at an industry event, but it’s not common by any means. As any good motivating leader will know, keeping energy and positivity levels high across an extended period of time is a tough job.

It can also be a rare thing to have so many C-suite and industry thought leaders happily taking time out of their own agendas to sit down with journalists, particularly if they are speakers themselves.

But, as you’ll see from the UNLEASH site and forthcoming content from the editorial team, we certainly were kept busy talking to various HR leaders and experts throughout the conference, who kindly shared their insights with us – and soon you too.