Wunmi Adelusi: How One Event Still Echoes in My Life

As we measurement into the last 4th of the year, our calendars statesman to capable up with conferences, summits and meetings of each kind, from UNGA80 to the upcoming World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings, the WIMBIZ Annual Conference, and adjacent the “Preparing for 2026” series. But I ever wonderment however 1 chooses the events to attend.

Meanwhile, I’ve heard radical stock stories of conferences they attended 20 oregon 30 years ago, and however a azygous infinitesimal successful those gatherings became a turning constituent for their lives. At first, I wondered however 1 gathering could clasp truthful overmuch power. Then I heard a omniscient antheral accidental that “The existent interaction of a gathering is not what happens during the event, but what happens successful your beingness aft it ends.”

That reminded maine of 1 of the astir monumental meetings I’ve ever attended.

April 29, 2017. I had conscionable go a caller mum. My archetypal kid was hardly a period old. I was navigating sleepless nights, diaper changes and the newness of motherhood erstwhile I stumbled connected a station connected Instagram. Omilola Oshikoya, a pistillate I profoundly admired from afar, was launching her publication The Richer Woman successful Abuja. The summons outgo ₦15,000, and astatine that time, it felt similar a stretch. But thing wrong maine said, “Go.” So, I did. Alone.

It wasn’t a monolithic league hallway filled with thousands. No, this was different. It was intimate. Sitting there, I felt similar I was surrounded by older sisters who were pulling maine up with their words. I didn’t cognize immoderate of the speakers. I didn’t instrumentality a azygous photo. I didn’t speech contacts. I wasn’t determination to “network.” I was determination to learn. To soak successful the stories. And I did.

One operation from Omilola stuck with me, which she is known for:  Do it afraid.

That connection unsocial was worthy each naira of that registration fee. But the communicative didn’t extremity there.

After the event, I reached retired to 3 of the women speakers personally to pitch. I simply followed up with the words that had resonated astir with me, shared my reflections, and asked thoughtful questions.

Two of those women, Chiomah Momah, an enforcement astatine Guinness Nigeria contiguous and Bola Adefila, the laminitis of a starring Nigerian manner brand, Iredire, became big sisters who person been portion of my travel for years.

Recently, 8 years later, I reconnected with the woman who had moderated that 2017 event. Back then, I was blown distant by her brilliance. This time, our paths crossed done work. When I introduced myself, reminding her of that April 2017 meeting, her look lit up. She remembered. We some smiled, realising however afloat ellipse that infinitesimal had become. Some meetings don’t conscionable end; they proceed to echo done your life.

So, what lessons tin we instrumentality from this?

True networking is long-term. It’s not astir collecting arsenic galore contacts arsenic possible. It’s astir genuine connections that turn with time. Quality implicit quantity. One heavy transportation tin beryllium much impactful than 50 shallow ones. Be driven by growth, not proximity. Don’t be events conscionable due to the fact that “everyone is going.” Choose the ones aligned with your journey, values oregon play of life.

Follow up intentionally. A thoughtful connection astir what resonated with you shows you were listening and that you worth the person’s time. Sometimes the close clip to measurement retired is erstwhile you’re astir unsure; bash it afraid. Invest successful yourself, adjacent erstwhile it stretches you. That ₦15,000 summons was an investment, not an expense. The instrumentality was priceless relationships and a shifted mindset. Some seeds instrumentality years to bloom. That introduction, 8 years later, was impervious that interaction doesn’t ever hap immediately.

As we each measurement the invitations filling our inboxes this season, be the ones that volition agelong you, link you and talk to your season. Sometimes, the astir transformative gatherings are not the biggest oregon the astir glamorous; they are the ones wherever your tone whispers: This is wherever you request to be. Because, truly, the existent interaction of a gathering begins aft the gathering ends.