Last week I attended the first ever Influential Summit in Carlsbad, CA. It was a two-day experiential event held on February 9 + 10th. that connected influencers in the parenting, lifestyle, and wellness niche with brands. Unfortunately I was only able to attend one of the days, so my experience is from Saturday’s event.
As a blogger, I find it very important to attend these conferences. It’s a great way to network and feel inspired by those that have been in the business for some time. Most importantly, it’s a great place to learn. Influential Summit has become one of my favorite conferences and here’s why:
Highlights from INFLUENTIAL SUMMIT
1) The Location
The inaugural Influential Summit was held in the beautiful Cape Rey Carlsbad hotel, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Coming from the LA area, it was about a 1.5hr drive and it was the perfect way to spend a little “mommy time” outside of town. The space was intimate and everything was held on one floor…a plus for me!
At the center of the conference was the Brand Showcase hall – that was opened Saturday only from 10am to 4pm. It was chance for influencers to come face-to-face with brands like b.box, Crane, and Mable’s Labels to learn and discuss influencer programs. Brands like UPPAbaby was also there showcasing their new MINU stroller…it’s a must-have!
2) The Speakers
The day started with a light breakfast and a conversation between Influential Summit co-founders: Xza Higgins + Saarah Samadani and Little Women: LA’s Terra Jole. Other inspirational speakers included a Lunch Panel chat with Samantha Gutstadt, Danielle Schaffer, Dr. Kim Van Dusen, and Angela Kim discussing “The Rise of the Microinfluencer.” The day was also filled with speakers best in their field, sharing their knowledge during Sessions. Closing keynote speaker, Angel Laketa Moore closed out the event with an inspiring message about building self-esteem and falling in LOVE with yourself.
3) The Sessions
There were a total of eight different sessions on Saturday, two per hour…that were hard to choose from. So it was a good time to make a new friend who’s attending the other sessions to swap notes! Sessions ranged from “Building Your Media Kit” to “How Brands Work with Influencers,” where the people behind Ju-Ju-Be, UPPAbaby and Mable’s Labels gave us an insightful look + tips on how brands work with influencers. Since Influential Summit was an intimate setting, the sessions became an open conversation between brands and influencers.
4) The Swag
We were greeted at check-in with the most amazing swag bag! I am a big fan of Ju-Ju-Be diaper bags and we were all given the Ju-Ju-Be “Super Be” bag filled with the most amazing products! I almost want baby #3. Our swag included products from Rhoost, b.box, Mable’s Labels, Ergobaby, oxo tot, and more! But stay tuned and be sure to subscribe to my mailing list, because I’ll be doing a GIVEAWAY with some of my favorites!
5) The Details
Lastly, it was all about the details at Influential Summit and they thought of all the attendees. There was a nursing lounge sponsored by evenflo feeding, a Huggies’ diaper changing station, an outside play area for the little attendees with Step2, AND every conference room had a play area in the back to occupy the kids while attendees got to listen to speakers. How amazing is that?!
Big congrats to everyone involved and thank you so much for having me! For more information and to find details for next year’s event, go to http://influentialsummit.com.
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