Going to ITC Vegas? Build Relationships That Outlast the Conference and Fuel Your Future

You’ve probably heard some version of the stat by now: the insurance industry is retiring out faster than it’s hiring in. What that actually means if you’re early in your career is that the path up is shorter than it was for the generation ahead of you with more open roles, more responsibility handed down sooner, more people looking for someone to hand things off to.

The catch is that path runs through relationships. The people retiring aren’t posting their networks online. You meet them, or the people who know them, in a room. And a conference the size of ITC Vegas, with thousands of people and three packed days, is a hard place to do that if you’re just wandering the expo floor hoping something happens.

That’s the actual value of walking in with a plan for who you’re going to talk to, not just which sessions you’re going to sit in.

You need to understand what companies are struggling with, which skills they value, and who is willing to give an emerging professional a chance to prove themselves.  Relationships help you learn those things. A conversation with someone outside your company might show you a career path you didn’t know existed. A leader might tell you what they look for when they’re ready to promote someone. A peer might become the person who recommends you for a project two years from now. Opportunities often come through people who know your interests, have seen how you think, and trust you to follow through.

Before you go, choose something you genuinely want to learn. Are you trying to move from an individual contributor role into management? Understand how another part of the insurance business works? Figure out which skills will make you more valuable over the next few years? Let that curiosity guide your conversations.

RISE is creating two places to start.

Two ways to connect with RISE at ITC Vegas

If this is your first ITC Vegas, join First Timers Orientation on Tuesday, September 29, from 2–3 p.m. RISE will lead a speed networking activity with short, structured conversations among attendees. It’s a chance to meet several people early in the conference and recognize a few faces as you move through the week.

Then stop by the RISE Young Professionals Meetup on Wednesday, September 30, from 1–2 p.m. in the Community Meetup area on the expo floor. Reconnect with someone from orientation, meet peers from other companies, and keep a conversation going beyond a quick introduction.

Five ways to make those conversations count

1. Ask about something specific. Go beyond “What do you do?” Try “What helped you earn more responsibility early in your career?” or “What’s a challenge your team is trying to solve right now?” You can also ask a peer what they’re learning, what surprised them about their role, or what kind of work they hope to do next.
2. Listen for what matters to them. A useful connection is a two-way conversation. Pay attention to their goals, challenges, and interests instead of concentrating only on how to describe your own.
3. Find out how you can help. You may know someone they should meet, have an article or resource worth sharing, or be able to offer a perspective from your part of the industry. You don’t need to have a big favor to offer. Remembering what matters to someone is a good start.
4. Make a note the same day. Write down who you met, what you discussed, and anything you offered to send. After dozens of introductions, those details make the difference between a personal follow-up and a generic one.
5. Follow up within 48 hours. Mention something specific from your conversation and do what you said you would do. If you promised an introduction or a resource, send it. That small act of follow-through gives the relationship somewhere to go.

You don’t need to meet everyone at ITC Vegas. Start a few conversations you’re genuinely interested in, look for ways to be useful, and stay in touch. The relationships that help you grow in this industry are built one follow-through at a time.

Find RISE at First Timers Orientation and the Young Professionals Meetup. Learn more and RSVP here.