“Home isn’t a place, it’s a people.” – paraphrasing Thor Ragnarok

By Christopher S. Penn

(Publication date not provided)

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Lots of events build community in some fashion. I’ve had the pleasure and privilege to speak at many of them, from Boston to Melbourne.

Lots of events create value for attendees, sponsors, and speakers.

Lots of events are worth going to.

But very, very few events feel like home, and one of them is MarketingProfs B2B Forum, which just wrapped up. For 2+ days, B2B marketers from around the globe make the trek to Boston to learn, share, and grow their marketing skills.

What makes #MPB2B feel like home? Care and attention to detail. From the moment you arrive, to the fine dining (and I mean that unironically, the food at MPB2B is second to none), to the decor (this year, a rustic lodge theme for Thanksgiving), all sets the mood and tone for attendees.

We feel looked after. Cared for. Loved, maybe, to the extent you can do so within professional boundaries. And that in turn changes the tone and tenor of the event, encouraging everyone attending to share more, to be more present, to relate more.

When you feel looked after, even the dreaded “networking” changes tone, from a self‑centered “what can you do for me?” attitude prevalent at many events to “how can we relate and enjoy this shared experience”. I know I felt it – sitting at meals, more often than not I busted out my laptop and taught something impromptu. At breakfast on day 1 at a roundtable, I showed one person how to build a competitive marketing strategy with AI. At lunch on day 2, I gave an impromptu tutorial on generating leads using generative AI at my table.

I gave without asking in return in part because that’s what you do when you’re at home with friends and family.

If you want to know how to throw an event the right way, MPB2B is a master class. If you want to experience an event that has few peers, MPB2B is the place to go.

Thanks to the entire team but especially the crew that helped me:

…and see you next year in Boston for MPB2B 2026.

AI #GenerativeAI #GenAI #ChatGPT #ArtificialIntelligence #LargeLanguageModels #MachineLearning #IntelligenceRevolution