Event Series, Part 2: How to be a Standout Attendee & Actually Realize A ROI with Steph Rubio

You bought the ticket. You’re in the room. Now what?

This is Part 2 of our four-part cross-posted podcast series with Steph Rubio on the Rooted & Relentless Podcast — and we’re talking about how to actually get ROI from business events and conferences.

If you’ve ever left a networking event, mastermind, or women’s entrepreneurship conference thinking, “That wasn’t worth it,” this episode is for you.

Because sometimes the return isn’t missing.

It’s under-leveraged.

In this episode, we break down:

• How to prepare before a business event or conference

• Why pre-event communication matters

• What being fully present really looks like

• How your behavior impacts your reputation

• Why leaving early costs you more than you think

• How to strategically ask questions and create follow-up opportunities

• What it means to be a standout attendee — not background noise

Your reputation is built in rooms like this.

And the way you show up at conferences, masterminds, and networking events directly impacts referrals, collaborations, and future invitations. If you want better ROI from live events, this episode will change how you walk into the room.

Steph and I structured this as a cross-posted series between our two podcasts!

LISTEN IN ORDER:

Part 1: Practical Tips You Can Use to Choose Events that Make Sense for YOU
Listen on Rooted & Relentless

🔗 On Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rooted-relentless/id1821487374

🔗 On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7A6B4bZZXOU0IOduXDSxXJ?si=794bfbf6a12b4788

Part 2: How to Be a Standout Attendee & Actually Realize A ROI(You’re here!)

Part 3: How Event Hosts Can Act with Integrity & Provide a Stellar Stakeholder Experience
Listen on Rooted & Relentless

🔗 On Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rooted-relentless/id1821487374

🔗 On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7A6B4bZZXOU0IOduXDSxXJ?si=794bfbf6a12b4788

Part 4: Protect Your Safety & Sanity at Events
Coming Friday, March 5, here on The Power Table Podcast!

If you care about maximizing ROI from conferences, building reputation in the room, and leveraging networking events strategically — don’t skip this series.

MORE:

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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Let's talk about how to be a standout attendee at a conference or an event and how to actually realize a return on your investment, of your time and your money to be there in person in the room. Welcome back to the Power Table podcast. Before we dive into today's episode, I need to ground you on where we are in this series because this conversation is layered and it's going to make the most sense if you listen to it in order. So in case this is the first episode that you're stumbling on of this podcast, this is actually part two of a four-part series I'm doing with my friend, fellow community leader, and guest, Steph Rubio. Steph is the creator of the Rooted and Relentless Community Podcast and Mastermind. She is also one of our speakers on stage this year at our conference Power Table Live. And you may have heard her as a guest on this podcast before. In part two, the episode you're about to hear, Steph and I talk about how to be a standout attendee and get the real results that you want out of attending events. But if you haven't listened to part one, which is about practical tips that you can use to choose the right events in the first place, the ones that are going to make sense from you, you're going to want to pause this episode and go start there. But hold on, if you went and looked at the Power Table podcast podcast feed, you're not actually going to see part one listed below this one because this is a cross-posted podcast series. So what that means is that episode one is actually over on Steph's podcast, which is called Rooted and Relentless. You'll find the link to episode one in the show notes below this episode. Part one is live over on Steph's podcast, and you can go listen to it right now. In that very first episode of the series, we broke down things like how to evaluate whether an event actually aligns with your business goals. What red flags to look for when it comes to strong events versus events that are not a good investment of your time and money? What are the green flags that you should be looking for? The difference between aspirational events versus operational substance and events that will actually lead to strong results and outcomes for you, and how to stop making emotional or FOMO-based decisions with your time and your money when it comes to conferences, when it feels like everyone might be hanging out without you. That foundation is important. So I want to encourage you to start there with that episode if you haven't listened yet. And today in part two, how to be a standout attendee and actually realize an ROI. We're going to flip the lens. So we're going to say, hey, you've already bought the ticket. You're in the room. Now what? This episode is about your responsibility as an attendee, how you prepare, how you show up, how you engage, how your behavior in the room directly impacts your reputation. Sometimes the ROI is there for an event and you're just under-leveraging it. Steph and I both share exactly how we maximize our time in the room, how we get powerful results, including sales from attending in-person events, as well as other visibility opportunities such as collaborations, podcasting, and speaking invitations. And I think you're going to enjoy this conversation right here today about what it actually takes to be an attendee and walk away with a tangible ROI. Let's get into the episode. Okay, Steph. So my next question for you is what do you feel like are your personal responsibilities as an attendee of an event? You've already bought the ticket. Now what's your responsibility?

SPEAKER_00 3:48

Yeah, ooh, I like that. Okay. So one of the things, so starting with buying the ticket because before I'm officially attendee now. Um the first one is read the communication before. So if the event host, and hopefully they are, is sending any sort of communication, read what it is so that you, your expectations are set accordingly. And they have taken the time, hopefully, to set those expectations. You want to know what's coming. Understand the agenda, make the most informed decision for yourself. Now, event and and participate before. I've seen event hosts like create spaces. So this isn't just responsibility either, this is just smart for you and your business, is they've created spaces intentionally before you ever walk into the room. Participate in those. Not only do they take the time, but it's so smart for you because you're getting a little preempt to who's going to be in the room. And it's so hard, no matter how many people like to meet everyone, you know, in at a conference, as much as you try. I've literally taken me months to meet people after, like, because so much can happen in that day, it can spin away from you. So even meeting people before, you can then know who you want to like beeline for and start to make those connections before. So event day arrives now, and you've done that. You've read the communications, you know what to expect, you go with your own plan of like if there's breakouts, what you want to go to, how you want to show up, who you want to connect with, then when you're there, you need to be present. And I mean present and participate in what's happening. So not popping it in and out to go like hop on your phone. They took the time to create this room for you. So it's just stupid for your business, anyways, because people notice you doing this and don't feel that true, genuine excitement and connection to be there. But also, like from the event host perspective, they've taken the time to put this event on. So be present and participate. That means putting your phone away. Like, even at Power Table Live last year, first it was so dumb because I took all my notes on my phone and then my phone died toward the end of the day. And I was like, what an idiot. I need this for content. But they give you a notebook. I know. And I was like, you know, me little systems girl, I'm like, oh, and this person and put it over here and do all these things. So it was dumb on so many levels. So don't use your phone to take notes, but don't use it at all unless it's like to grab content and still be mindful of that when there's presentations going on and things like that. Like be engaged, pay attention to the speakers because it's also smart for your business. These people, especially when the event host has been thoughtful about everything from like who's there and the topics and the lineup of who talks about what when, that is benefit to you. So pay attention and be present and stay the whole time. Event hosts are telling you if their event is from nine to six or ten to seven or whatever. And that's what you've now committed to. So stay for that. It's it drives me nuts to see like people dwindle out of the room. Um, also, it's so freaking disrespectful, not to just the event host, but the speakers on stage, those last two speakers that you dipped out on, or that last conversation, or whatever the case is, they also made time and effort to come pour into your business. So stay there and also support them. Again, and the theme of like women supporting women, that's a part of it, or anyone there, there's a support aspect to that. And then another one I like to add that a lot of people don't think of is complete any feedback requests. It's another way that you can help folks. So the double-sided here is like hopefully anything you do with like client experience and stuff like that, you are asking for feedback so that you can iterate me better. I'm gonna do this event again next year. What do people think about it? What would have been more beneficial? What wouldn't? So you should be asking that. But as an attendee, take the five to ten minutes to do that. I know better than anyone. There's no shortage of things to do, but I always try to find five or ten minutes to complete someone's survey or their feedback because what I'm doing is not just about me. And if I can help them get better, it helps them. And for the event next year, it's gonna help the other women that show up in that room next year. So I just carry the responsibility, I think, a little bit beyond just me. Anything you would add to that?

SPEAKER_01 7:54

Well, something you say a lot is that you know, your reputation is everything. And so as you were talking about like stay off your phone, don't dip out late. As an event host and a speaker, I can tell you from the stage, we notice when you walk out. We notice when you're on your phone. And if you're there to make connections, it doesn't look good for your reputation if you are checked out. And it is hard, I think, to earn the respect of someone once you've already lost it for something that was simply a distraction. And at my event, we always try to book a venue where we got some kind of quiet space, some kind of like outside the room for things like moms, there's an emergency, for that like today is kind of a big deal emotionally. I just need to step out and take a minute. Like, I always try to have some kind of extra space, but I can tell you it doesn't feel good both as a host and as someone who's looking to connect with others, even if I'm an attendee, and I see people hanging out on their phone because they didn't fully commit to being in the room and paying attention to the speaker. So then it's like, if you didn't, if you couldn't pay attention today and stay fully present today, what makes me think that you would be fully present if I were to hire you?

SPEAKER_00 9:16

Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 9:17

Right? If you need to be scrolling on your phone in the back of the room or in your chair, why should I ever hire you or refer you to my clients? So being present, it plays into so much, not only for you to absorb, but also the way that people then come to think of you and what impression you're giving off.

SPEAKER_00 9:36

Exactly. Everything you do, every relationship that you build in your business builds your reputation. And and in entrepreneurship, as the solopreneurs and the nifty little teams that we're growing here into something truly freaking great. Um, our reputation is our revenue. It carries us in rooms that we're not in, but it starts in the rooms that we're in because it follows you. I promise. I will give an example because I think your examples helped a lot earlier. Is that I watched this uh perhaps in your room, and I can tell you there were people that I thought would be impressive and thought that I would be impressed by, and their knowledge is great, but their knowledge was stopped on the stage. They share their knowledge on the stage or in that conversation, that one moment they had networking with you where they wanted to give you their spill and connect with you and get whatever, um, if they even took the time to have that with people. And um, they're not the people I'm still connected with, they're not the people that I respect. And I could again, fault that I would. They're not the names that I'm sharing, they're not the events that I'm recommending people go to when I see that they're hosting events. Nada. The people that I'm still connected with took a little bit of time for conversation. They paid attention, they nodded their heads and shook along. I could tell what they resonated with on the stage. Obviously, I'm resonating because I'm included, but I could see what mattered to them and they took the care into having those conversations. Those are events that I recommend, even if I haven't been to. I recommend Power Table Live because I've been to it and I see what you stand on. But I recommend like Michelle Thing's event, and I've never been, but I can see her work ethic, I can feel her work ethic, I can see that she cares, I know what she stands for, those kind of things they matter, and that's what I mean by I've never paid Michelle a dollar. And I still recommend what she does because I see that she takes it seriously, that she invested in herself and the people around her, and that care comes back on your reputation, and people are paying attention, and especially people like me, there's very little I miss, quite quite literally. If you walked out of the room, I noticed it. If you're on your phone, I noticed it, and the opposite is still true, and people form their opinions and how they work with you based on that. And but the reality is sometimes that folks don't care because they'll get their five people out of that and their ten out of that. So I'm talking to the people who do care and understand that folks, it that little bit, that day that you committed to and staying engaged could be the difference in this people recommending your name and runes and what you stand for, even if they never spend a dollar with you for years to come, because they know that you're ethical and that you care and that you're present and that kind of stuff matters. That's who I want to work with, and that's who I want my people to work with, and who I recommend also affects my reputation. So I don't want to recommend people that I can't be certain. That's what you just touched on. It's like, who do you think I'm recommending to? It's not people that I don't know if you're gonna stick around or if you deliver what you said you would on that dollar amount and then you're gone. Like, is that enough? I'm not putting my name on that because it reflects back on me and suddenly I've lost credibility because you can't be present and deliver a great experience. So yeah, good one.

SPEAKER_01 12:45

Yeah. Okay, I want to share just like one more different point of view on this attendee responsibility that I think we haven't talked about, and that's kind of more on the positive side. Like, how do you be a standout attendee, right? Like, how do you get noticed if you're going there and you have big dreams and big aspirations, and you're like, I want to be a part of everything that's happening here. So, like, how do you be a standout attendee? So, a couple of tips I can share with that is when there's an opportunity for audience questions, raise your hand. Like, shoot that hand up, don't hesitate, think about what they just said. I hope you're taking notes. Like, think about what they just said and like ask a question. So many people are scared or they feel like it would take too much energy to formulate and ask a question. But I will tell you this the people who ask a question are the ones who are gonna then be able to follow up with speakers and be able to approach them more easily and make connections with those speakers. But also, you're getting filmed, you're getting content, like other people remembered. Oh, yeah, she's the one that asked that question. So, like, be the, I know this sounds a little silly, but make it your goal to like be the star student in the room and you will stand out. And then the other tip I'll add is um if you have the timing capacity, try to build in extra time before or after the event and be the person to invite somebody else to coffee, like the day before or the morning after. If you've got the ability to be a little bit more present, try to set up those one-off lunches or coffee or dinner or something like that outside the event. That can also be a great way to build connections, whether that's with other attendees or you want to invite a very specific speaker to have coffee with you. When speakers are at an event, like usually that's a great time where they'll agree to sit down and give you one-to-one time. And typically that would never happen anywhere else. If you ask someone for free one-to-one time online, they're not gonna give it to you more than likely. You can get the stripe in voice. Right, exactly. I'll send you a payment link. But if you were like, I loved your presentation, is there any way we could grab coffee for 30 minutes before you go to the airport? Like, I'll say absolutely to that because it meant so much to me as a speaker that they took the time to really pay attention to my talk.

SPEAKER_00 15:12

Yeah, and it's smart business. Like at the end of the day, you know, if you can't find much else in it, like what you're describing is smart business. And that's great. I didn't even think about like on site necessarily trying to follow up. Typically, I think about my follow-ups too. So that's helpful to me, like as this ongoing thing. And yeah, I did have a question and I want to follow it up or had a great conversation with that speaker, and I want to follow it up. So we do the slide into the DMs and we start connecting or whatever. But like if you have the time that you can carve out to make it then, especially like you said, they're before they head to the airport. Why not? What are you doing anyway? And most of us love to talk and continue that conversation because we love what we do. So you want to ask me a question about you want me to talk more than the 20 or 30 minutes I did. So yeah, I love that. That is such a good tip. How to be a standout attendee.

SPEAKER_01 16:00

Wow. What an episode, right? We talked about how to choose events wisely, and then we talked about how to show up once you're actually in that room and get the results that you want. Now we're gonna shift to a different lens of this conversation and shift the responsibility from attendee to event host. Part three of this podcast series is how event hosts can act with integrity and provide a stellar stakeholder experience. And that episode is live tomorrow, if you're listening to this in real time, on Thursday, March 5th, over on the Rooted and Relentless podcast. And in this episode, we're speaking directly to the hosts. What do you actually owe the room that you've created? Steph and I get a little spicy and we deep dive into the fact that you don't just owe people a beautiful venue. You don't just owe them good content and good marketing. Instead, what you owe them is integrity, strong communication, stewardship, and ownership of the space and the event that you create. If you host events or if you plan to in the future, you need to listen to part three. And if you've never hosted an event and that's not in your plans at all, but you're just nosy, you want the behind-the-scenes experience of what it is like to build events, and you in particular want to know my take on events as the leader of Power Table Live, you're going to want to listen as well. The link to episode three is in the show notes below. So go listen to that episode over on Stephanie's podcast, Rooted and Relentless. Talk to you soon.