It’s hard to believe it’s already that time of year again.

It seems like just yesterday I was feeling the anticipation of summer, yet, somehow we’re already facing the dog days of August, and the lion’s share of my time is spent assembling a standout lineup for our annual Fall Summit.
 
Perhaps the isolation of the pandemic has shifted our perspective in some way, or the remoteness many of us feel in working from home has left us detached. Even at the office, once bustling hallways now reverberate echoes of a busier time, and we often hear our solitary footsteps making our way through them. 

These kinds of thoughts call forth the realization that our opportunities to gather, as a community, have taken on greater importance. Where we once took brainstorming sessions and camaraderie for granted, now we must make a point, make an effort, to come together as colleagues and pool our learnings, share our connections and strengthen the bonds that have held this industry together.

So much of all our working hours (I presume) are spent communicating via screens and keyboards. I believe this has come at a cost. Our minds are at their most fertile with stimulation and rapt attention.

“Networking” was something I long considered a necessary evil, or business speak for looking where the grass might be greener. I no longer attach that stigma. I have come to understand that a handshake and some small talk can often carry deeper meaning and enhance connections in myriad ways that are not always obvious.

It is with this in mind that I extend an invitation to join us for our annual Fall Summit,
the “Super Bowl of Sourcing,” on Nov. 2 in New York City.
Of course, we will have a stellar lineup of executives and thought leaders from a wide swath of our industry speaking on the most relevant topics. And of course, the venue at Cipriani 42nd Street is world class.

I will offer my pitch on the programming and the education as the event draws nearer. For now, I’ll just proffer a reminder of how nice it feels to be around friends, to see familiar faces, trade war stories and catch up with acquaintances.

While attendance is not mandatory or compulsory, I can assure you the effort will be more than worth your while. Looking forward to sharing some small talk together.
     
Peter Sadera
Editor in Chief
Sourcing Journal