When I go to a conference, my goal is not only to learn something.
My goal is to create something from what I learn.
That might be a new program, a new offering, or a better way to help the people and organizations I work with.
Bloom’s Taxonomy
Bloom’s taxonomy is a helpful way to think about this. We can remember what we heard, understand the ideas, apply a few takeaways, analyze the patterns, and evaluate what matters most. But the highest level is creating. That is where learning becomes something new.
This is how I try to experience conferences like CultureCon. I’m listening for what people are talking about, what challenges keep coming up, what feels current, and what needs are emerging.
At the inaugural CultureCon AI Summit, that kind of listening helped me create an AI adoption hackathon. I heard that people were not just looking for more AI tools. They were looking for ways to help teams build confidence, experiment together, and connect AI to leadership, learning, and culture. This AI Hackathon for AI Adoption, Learning, Leadership, and Culture became something I launched.
As the main CultureCon conference approaches in August, I’m thinking about this question:
What is something new that I can create and launch from this experience?
That is also the spirit behind the CultureCon pre-conference workshop I lead each year. We use design thinking and innovation methods, but the real value comes from the people in the room and what they are ready to create.
A conference is full of raw material. The deeper opportunity is to turn that material into something that helps people.
CultureCon
If you’d like to join us at CultureCon, I can provide a code for a 20% discount to any CultureCon conference. You can use the Innovation20 code in this link: https://ti.to/culture-con/culturecon2026/discount/INNOVATION20
Check out the “Full Conference Experience Pass” which includes my PreConference day. If you’d like to come, move fast, this conference sells out. It’s my favorite conference each year.
Want a program to help you create and design something special? Design your own experience with our innovative workshop design and facilitation coaching or our innovative facilitator design thinking certificate program.
At your next conference, don’t just attend, create!