My First pre-Rising and Rising

Initial Thoughts on Rising

I just got back from my first pre-Rising and Workday® Rising in Vegas, and they were hands down some of the best events I’ve attended. Both events know how to do things right—between the valuable insights shared and countless networking opportunities, there was never a dull moment. It was a perfect blend of learning, connecting, and getting inspired!

AI Theme

Artificial Intelligence (AI) took center stage at Rising, with nearly every topic touching on it in some capacity. Workday’s new AI platform, dubbed Illuminate, aims to support and enhance human efforts rather than replace them. It will do so by accelerating routine tasks, assisting with complex challenges, and transforming business processes.

I found Aneel Bhusri, Executive Chair at Workday, insights on how other technologies, like Cloud, navigate the hype cycle to be quite fascinating. Initially, there’s a significant spike indicating inflated expectations, followed by a sharp decline into the trough of disillusionment.

Over time, we begin to identify what truly works, leading to the plateau of productivity. It’ll be intriguing to observe if AI follows a similar trajectory.

Expo

My only gripe with Rising was the abundance of lines—lines, and more lines. With over 18,000 attendees, it wasn’t unexpected. The large crowd also meant that sessions, especially the popular ones, filled up fast. But here’s the good news: most sessions are recorded and made available to attendees soon after the conference ends. That’s why I found spending my time in the expo hall to be incredibly worthwhile.

The expo features booths for every Workday product and partner, offering a perfect opportunity to ask specific questions and see live demos firsthand.

Fellow People Analytics Enthusiasts

I'm passionate about People Analytics, and I had the amazing opportunity to have dinner with fellow experts in the field, including two of my heroes, David Green and Richard Rosenow. It was great conversation and company—definitely a night to remember:

DMV Workday Regional User Group

I recently joined the leadership team of the Workday Regional User Group (RUG) for the DMV (Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia). We’re working to revitalize the user group and will hold our first meeting in November. A small group from the RUG got together for lunch on the second day of the conference, and it was great to connect. I'm looking forward to many more meetings in the future!

Customer Sharing Movement (pre-Rising)

My favorite part of the conference was the pre-Rising event organized by the Customer Sharing Movement. It included two days of small group discussions, with topics changing every hour at each table. It was all about asking questions, sharing insights, and learning. It was truly fantastic! The highlight for me was the connections I made before Rising even started, and we continued to enjoy each other's company throughout the conference.

I’m looking forward to attending pre-Rising again next year!

Conclusion

Overall, pre-Rising and Rising were incredible opportunities to learn, share, and connect with others in the industry. From the wealth of resources available to the meaningful conversations and new connections, they exceeded my expectations. I left feeling energized and excited to apply what I learned and looking forward to staying connected with the amazing people I met. I can't wait for upcoming Sharing and Learning events!

Forever Forward!

Author: Christian from Maryland