Directions – By Lauren Harbert
The event was excellent — and the learning isn’t over
Photos by Morton Visuals
Hello LTEN community, and happy July! I hope that this summer has allowed you an opportunity to rest and enjoy time with your family and friends, and perhaps even celebrate the successes of the first half of 2024.
Speaking of successes, this year’s LTEN Annual Conference was held last month in Kissimmee, Fla., at the Gaylord Palms, and was a resounding success. We brought together life sciences training professionals from around the globe, and the event was a powerhouse of innovation, collaboration and learning.
In the pages following this article, you’ll see pictures from the event and meet this year’s award winners. But first, I’d love to share a few of my key highlights with you.
Diverse Workshops and Labs
With more than 110 workshops and learning labs available, attendees tailored their learning journeys, enhancing their professional skills and knowledge across various domains. Attendees really embraced the “bring your own device” sessions we’d set up for hands-on (literally) learning.
Powerful Keynotes
FreeStyle+ and Chad E. Foster were our incredible keynotes this year, and each really delivered. Their cutting-edge insights and strategies set the tone for Tuesday and Wednesday at the event.
Networking Opportunities
There were many opportunities to connect and network with one another throughout the week – for some of us, that’s the best part. Our speed coaching session provided attendees a chance for rapid, high-impact discussions with experienced mentors, offering their personalized advice and strategies for professional growth.
The Welcome Bash on Monday evening and Tuesday’s Happy Hour and Charity Activity were not just fun but also pivotal in building relationships in a relaxed, social environment.
Giving Back & Going Forward
Let me take a moment to thank all the LTEN members who showed up to support this year’s charity selection, and the LTEN Charity Committee for setting up a year-long plan to keep on giving. This year, LTEN will be hosting various drives to aid the mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities to support children and families afflicted by illness. The conference was a great start, with our members putting together 250 care packages to help guests at Ronald McDonald houses in Central Florida.
Excellence Awards
The 10th Annual LTEN Excellence Awards celebrated this year’s outstanding achievements in life sciences training, highlighting best practices and innovative approaches. We had a great ceremony, emceed by LTEN Board members Jeff Hartzler and Brittany Pilcher. You can check out the list of winners (be sure to congratulate them!) and you can even view the ceremony, which was livestreamed, as well. Hopefully you’ll find some inspiration in their initiatives and next year we can celebrate your work!
The Learning Village Exhibit Hall
Loud, colorful and truly amazing, the Learning Village Exhibit Hall showcased more than 80 of our industry’s top training partners, offering solutions and tools to meet diverse training needs. The Learning Village is typically the heart of the conference, the center for many of the activities. It was great to see people talking casually, making connections for the future and basically supporting one another.
New AI Experience
We kind of saved the best for last when we innovated a new way to wrap up our week together. On Thursday, we introduced an AI-focused morning of learning that provided expert perspectives on leveraging artificial intelligence in training.
Our final keynote, Commonwealth University professor Karl Kapp, shared his insights and participated in a panel discussion of learning leaders, who kicked around the concept of AI-powered training. We heard about opportunities, concerns, trends and best practices, and we gave everyone a chance to get involved. Expect to see more deep dives into the topics that matter to you.
Looking Forward
From Monday’s kick-off event to Board President Greg Adamson’s goodbye on Thursday, the conference was not just about learning but also about building a cohesive community. And it started with a community too!
Thank you to everyone who made #LTEN2024 an unforgettable experience – it’s a big list that includes our leadership and team, our sponsors, our speakers, our committees, our judges and, of course, our attendees. Let’s carry forward the momentum and continue to elevate the standards of life sciences training and education.
As we reflect on the successes of this year’s conference, we are already planning for next year, aiming to provide even more value and opportunities for our community. Stay tuned for more updates and for opportunities to join us in our ongoing journey to excellence.
You can find more details on this year’s event and to stay updated about our 2025 conference by visiting www.L-TEN.org or www.ltenconference.com.
We’ll see you there … but I hope to see you even sooner!
Lauren Harbert is executive director of LTEN. Email Lauren at lharbert@L-TEN.org or connect with her through linkedin.com/in/lauren-harbert-25373b35.
