Dent the Future 2016

[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/BDQvLIVRPku/?tagged=dent2016[/embed]About a year ago, I shared my criteria for what I look for in a conference:

• I walk a way with one new idea (outside of traditional OCM knowledge – what I call horizontal learning)
• There is one session that makes me reflect on my practice critically
• I meet one person who would be cool to have at a dinner party
• I meet one person who would be useful to me in developing ideas and bouncing off things, either virtually or in person from time to time.
• I meet one person who I can help out in some-way (connections or knowledge)
• It’s in a great location – worth sitting on a plane from Melbourne Australia to get to.

I’ve just finished up at Dent the Future 2016, in Sun Valley and can happily say all criterion were thoroughly met. The crowd were largely technology and entrepreneurial in background and with a few exceptions incredibly warm and interesting. It is a remarkable community and one that is definitely worth connecting to. The organizers have done an outstanding job of curating a community that is absolutely likely to “dent the future” – and that is very exciting to be around.In reflecting on the success of conference the following thoughts occur to me…The organizers (Jason Preston and Steve Broback) do an extraordinary job of making you feel special and looked after. From the simple things – double sided lanyards, so people ALWAYS known who they are talking to, ample provisions of wine, to fantastic sponsors  so you are always spoilt. It creates a container for invigorating and inspirational conversations.One example that comes to mind is the use of Buick as a conference sponsor, so that whenever you need a car to get around there is one at hand. Not having to think about this means you continue the conversations, and meet other people in sharing a car.[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/BDMIDxORPm8/?taken-by=jenfrahm[/embed]Outside of the conferences sessions the networking opportunities are abundant and in breathtakingly beautiful locations and the organization of outdoors activities fantastic. Again, you are spoilt for choice. [embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/BDMJAjLRPpX/?taken-by=jenfrahm[/embed]With regards to the formal speaker sessions all were interesting and impressive. I’d say the one area that that needed the most work was ensuring the programming met the brand promise (of Denting the Future). Very few of the presentations challenged me in this regard – the exceptions were the fireside chat with Gavin Andresen (Chief Scientist of Bitcoin) on the Future of Bitcoin, Amy Webb’s very unnerving presentation on Sci Fi meets Reality, Nonny de la Peny's presentation on the use of virtual reality in empathetic narrative in journalism and Beverly Parenti's talk on the rehabilitation of incarcerated individuals through entrepreneurial start up programs. With all of these I could see potential for making a dent in the future – but I was left a little underwhelmed with the speakers in this regard. It may have been the jet lag and a lack of explicit calls to action.  I’ve been spoilt from TEDx days with “Ideas worth spreading”. [embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/BDTrfLIRPvx/?taken-by=jenfrahm[/embed] One area to heed is the community is very tight – as a newcomer you do need put your big girl / boy pants on and play the extrovert (if not one already) to crack the crowd and break the cliques. There are clearly some big Dent characters who have achieved folklore status and that can be a bit distracting to the newcomer. However, as noted before there are so many opportunities to do so – and the crowd is genuinely friendly, so not hard to break into.[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/BDPFQOsRPmk/?taken-by=jenfrahm[/embed]Overall, Dent the Future is totally worth the 27 hour travel time! It wouldn’t be one I would do every year as for me it is international travel and that would come at the cost of other conferences, but if I lived in the US, hell year, I’d be there in a heart beat! As some-one outside the US, it’s definitely one I would do every couple of years… And hey, if the Denters want to do Dent Down Under, happy to have that conversation!