Perhaps you’re taking stock of your accomplishments from the first six months of the year, or looking for inspiration to take with you into 2018. But combing through the list of worldwide conferences can be a Herculean task.
The conference industry is huge and only getting bigger. It’s important to hand pick the best opportunities for you–and these won’t necessarily be the most expensive. The most dynamic networking events have informative talks with new ideas and inspiration (not just the same regurgitated maxims), inspiring keynote speakers, and ample opportunity for gathering contacts in your field.
Let’s take a look at some of the creme de la creme of networking events in late 2017:
1. The Synergy Global Forum
Synergy is the powerhouse event of the fall. At New York City’s iconic Madison Square Garden, speakers include Malcolm Gladwell, Steve Forbes, Arianna Huffington, Mike Tyson, Ray Kurzweil, Nassim Taleb, Jimmy Wales, Gary Vaynerchuk, Guy Kawasaki, and Robin Wright Penn. You can expect innovative perspectives and through-the-roof inspiration on how to take your company to its maximum potential, no matter what size it’s at now.
Once you’ve had your mind blown, the afterparty at the legendary Hammerstein Ballroom will give you a chance to rub shoulders with Paris Hilton. And if you haven’t seen New York in the fall, well, that’s just another added perk.
If you can only make it to one conference this autumn, Synergy is it. The dates are October 27th and 28th, and the pricing structures range from $1,900 for early bird, to premium tickets at $10,000.
2. Summit 2017
The lineup for Summit speakers is truly extensive and diverse. In addition to some of the top business figures that you’d hope to hear from at such a gathering, you’ll have the chance to see special guests like Chairman David Archambault of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, legendary jazz trumpeter, Quincy Jones, and tennis champ, Andre Agassi.
How’s that to whet your appetite? And that’s not the half of it. Check out the website for the full lineup and you’ll already feel the tingles of anticipation. Plus it’s in the heart of downtown LA, which means you can unwind on Venice beach when the event is over.
Summit is November 3rd-6th, and tickets are invitation only.
3. Web Summit
The name of the game here is tech. In less than a decade, Web Summit has grown to be one of the biggest tech gatherings on the planet. If you’re looking for innovation specifics and detailed industry knowledge (rather than glitz and glam), this is the event for you. You can expect to encounter hundreds of speakers from companies like Expedia, Slack, Booking.com, Uber, CNN Digital, and of course, Amazon, Google and Facebook.
The techie hobnobbing begins November 6th-9th, so after Summit you can fly directly to Lisbon, Portugal, and get ready to experience one of this year’s top tech events in one of history’s greatest cities. Remaining tickets range from €495 to €24,995, at the top tier.
4. Inc. 5000
Want to mingle with the fastest growing companies in America? Inc. 5000 puts you in the midst of greatness and invites you to celebrate your growth with them (and no, my editor didn’t require me to include this on the list).
The event kicks off with a casual meet and greet, and a tournament on the green; but don’t forget your black-tie attire for the elegant final gala! You can look forward to speakers like Daymond John of Shark Tank, Michael Dubin of Dollar Shave Club, Dan Price of Gravity Payments, and Inc. columnist Norm Brodsky.
Inc. 5000 is a swanky three-day affair from October 10th-12th, but there are plenty of pre-conference activities, so plan accordingly for any of those you want to attend.
It takes place in Palm Desert, CA, and early bird tickets are $1,395.
5. INBOUND
If you own a business and you want to grow it, INBOUND is your jam. This is a professional event for tools and techniques that will take your company–whatever its size–to its highest potential. INBOUND hosted over 19,000 attendees last year, and this year’s promises to be even bigger. Keynote speakers include Michelle Obama, best-selling author, Elizabeth Gilbert, and Piera Gelardi, co-founder of Refinery29.
INBOUND promises to inspire and educate on how macro trends are changing the future of marketing and sales. It takes place September 25th-28th in Boston. Pricing ranges from the $399 community pass to the VIP at $1,899.
Now that your calendar’s all marked up, you’ll need to decide which of these dynamic events you’re most excited about attending. But you really can’t go wrong.
Any of these top five will undoubtedly deliver an experience that will ramp up the way you do business and connect you with wave-making peers. See you at the registration tables!
The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.