Networking Beyond the Conference

Engagement through Whova, the SIOP Annual Conference app, was exceptional, with 329 discussion boards created and nearly 6,500 messages posted to those boards. The app will remain open until August 2 to allow continued access to conference resources and facilitate ongoing networking, but the relationships started at the 2026 SIOP Annual Conference can continue to be fostered in a variety of ways outside the app. If you’re looking to spark or continue a conversation with some of the connections you made, consider some of these suggestions:

1. Follow-up with a brief email or LinkedIn connection to everyone with whom you personally connected. Thank them for the opportunity to chat, mention anything memorable you learned from them, and/or provide anything you promised as a follow-up.
2. Pitch a session for the 2027 SIOP Annual Conference. It’s never too early to start thinking about next year! Although the call for proposals will not be available until this fall, email colleagues with potential topics and formats to explore for a session. Watch the SIOP Annual Conference webpage for more information.
3. Create a group chat. Pick a topic from the conference and start a group chat to share TIP articles and other research, as well as your thoughts on the topics and methods. After a few weeks, hop on a Zoom call to discuss everything in more detail.
4. Start a peer feedback circle. Add a few colleagues to an email thread and once a month, have one person share an article draft to the group for feedback. This may even lead to an Industrial-Organizational Psychology journal submission, which are accepted once a quarter in a variety of formats. The membership directory is available if you connected with a SIOP member while at the conference but didn’t get their contact information.

Whether you’re collaborating on a proposal, exchanging ideas in a group chat, or giving feedback on each other’s work, there are countless ways to stay engaged with the I-O psychology community year-round. Keep the momentum going—your next great idea or partnership might just come from a conversation you start or continue today!