Well, that was fun! Now what? Post-Conference Networking

JaMor Hairston is the Managing Director at Healthlytics Consulting Group and currently serves on the HIMSS Professional Development Committee.

Let's explore a concept that supports business acumen and colors outside the lines to personal and professional growth: the power of networking! In its simplest form, networking means promoting yourself and broadening your options in response to the question, “Who do you know?”

This article focuses on tips to enhance your networking skills after the initial interaction, specifically in the context of post-conference. I do not want to delve too deeply into my educational background in biology, but networking is much like a muscle. When you stop actively exercising a muscle, it undergoes atrophy and loses the strength and endurance it once had. Networking is your professional muscle. You must actively train this skill, or you will fail to realize its full potential. Remembering the phrase, often attributed to author Porter Gale, “Your network equals your net worth,” helps me stay committed to developing this skill.

With that disclaimer and biology lesson out of the way, please allow me to set the stage for the remainder of the article.

I can imagine where you are right now: you're finally settling back into your regular groove after what is likely the largest conference you’ve experienced so far, the HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition. Overwhelmed much? You’re not alone; the conference is enormous.

While expansive, the annual HIMSS Global Conference offers a truly unique experience. I hope you spent much of your time interacting and networking with fellow attendees, utilizing the networking tips shared by my colleague in a previous Professional Development Committee (PDC) article (Dichter, 2025). After establishing numerous connections and contacts, you might now wonder, what should I do with them? I suggest putting them to the test.

Understanding Your Networking Goals

Before discussing how to test or best utilize your newly formed connections, we must understand your goal for attending the conference. Your objective likely influenced your experiences, conversations, and the connections you made in person. We will use this same objective to determine your specific next steps in networking.

The response to “What do you hope to gain from this conference experience?” will differ for each reader, as goals should be personalized. However, I want to emphasize some of the most common goal scenarios.

• I attended the conference to seek my next employment opportunity.
• I am new to digital health and seek a community of like-minded colleagues.
• I am a vendor supporting my company’s business development efforts.
• I am a leader in the field, seeking to network specifically with individuals I want to do business with.
• I attended to broaden my knowledge base and seek potential mentors in specialized areas.

Universal Post-Conference Networking Tips

While people attend for various reasons, these general post-conference tips can benefit everyone.

• Understand the reciprocity of networking: Just as you have, the interesting individuals among your pile of business cards and contacts likely also encountered tons of interesting people.
  • Stand out! Send a follow-up message via LinkedIn, email, or text. Recall the in-person moment when you first decided this was someone you wanted to keep in touch with – what sparked that connection or conversation? Add a personal touch by including this in your follow-up.
• Drop immediate expectations & embrace the long game: It's fine if the connection doesn't become quantifiable or tangible right away; many don't. Often, the best connections are developed over time, and sincere interest usually leads to the most rewarding relationships.
  • Stay updated on the person’s activities via LinkedIn. Engaging with relatable posts through reactions or comments, though minor, can leave a lasting impression.
  • Did the interesting person post about a new promotion or job opportunity? If so, consider leaving more than just an emoji reaction; instead, leave a comment to congratulate them.
• Offer value first: Networking is a two-way street, and the most successful networkers prioritizegiving first.
  • Identify ways you can support your new connections in their goals
    • Make introductions to people in your network who might be valuable to them.
    • Offer your expertise or insights when relevant to their work or challenges.
• Expand beyond digital connections: While digital follow-ups are efficient, consider more personal touchpoints when appropriate.
  • Propose a virtual coffee chat to continue discussions initiated at the conference.
  • If geographically feasible, arrange in-person meetings with connections.
  • Consider joining other professional organizations or communities where you might encounter these connections again.
    • Many of us overlap with other organizations and conferences (e.g., ACHE, AMIA, AHIMA, NAHSE, HFMA, etc.). Recognizing a familiar face serves as an excellent conversation starter.

Targeted Networking Strategies Based on Your Goals

More specific tips based on your reason for attending include:

• If you attended the conference in search of your next employment opportunity:
  • Contact companies you're interested in sooner rather than later.
  • Tailor your outreach to mention specific company initiatives mentioned.
  • Update your LinkedIn profile to reflect insights gained at the conference.
  • Share thoughtful content related to conference sessions to demonstrate your expertise.
• If you are new to digital health and wish to connect with a community of like-minded colleagues:
  • Join a local HIMSS chapter.
    • Further, engage through the chapter’s committees or workgroups.
  • Ask well-established connections in the field for recommendations to other communities or industry events to participate in.
  • Create a regular cadence of engagement through social media (i.e., LinkedIn) on industry content, re/build your brand in this new field.
• If you were a vendor who came to support your company's business development efforts:
  • Segment your new contacts by their potential value and prioritize follow-up accordingly.
  • Create personalized outreach that demonstrates an understanding of their specific challenges.
  • Offer a no-obligation demonstration or consultation as a next step – What caught their eye in the exhibition hall?
• If you are an established leader looking to network with potential collaborators:
  • Propose concrete collaboration opportunities in your follow-up communications.
    • Virtual roundtable discussion on the mutual interest(s).
    • Co-authoring content or speaking together at future events.
  • Introduce strategic connections that could benefit both parties.
• If you seek to expand your knowledge and identify potential mentors:
  • Express specific areas where you're seeking guidance in your follow-up messages.
  • Share what you admired about their work or perspective from conference interactions.

Maintaining Momentum

Remember that successful networking doesn't end with the post-conference follow-up. The actual value of these connections emerges over time through consistent, authentic engagement. Set aside time each month to nurture your professional relationships; your network will become one of your most valuable professional assets.

I can confidently share these tips because I have personally used each of them. I am proud to have found many individuals in my tribe through this community. My connections at HIMSS encompass collaborators, employers, employees, mentors, friends, and much more.

By approaching post-conference networking with intention and strategy, you can also transform those brief interactions into meaningful professional relationships, your tribe, that will support your career goals for years to come.

As you continue to exercise your networking muscle, you'll find it becomes stronger and more efficient with practice. The next time you attend a conference, you won't just collect business cards – you'll be working the room and laying the groundwork for your professional future.

I hope to see you there!

JaMor Hairston

Digital Health Leader