I am strolling around the expo as if I own the place, watching people scud around incessantly, huddling together and separating, their long lanyards sporting identity tags. The conference is bubbling like no other: hungry for a big event affiliates avidly devour — metaphorically, of course! — every bit of information they are exposed to, taking photos on the go, exchanging business cards, and dropping by the brightest booths that attract their attention.
Even that early in the day I can safely say: it is worth it.
February 24
The first official day is always the most important, even if you are a widely acclaimed VIP in shining armor. Private drink receptions, VIP dinners, and other exclusive events may be extremely useful, but they do not offer as much diversity as the first day.
On February 24, diversity begins at 8:30 in the morning: the organizers introduce us to a healthy lifestyle and invite all guests to participate in a revitalizing yoga session to reset, realign, and recharge. Yoga classes — or jogging, or padel, or something else entirely — aren’t exactly a novelty in the affiliate marketing sphere, but SiGMA takes sports to a new level. They could’ve asked anyone, find a decent yogi on the internet, ask for their assistance, and call it quits once the clock strikes ten, but they chose one of the best to make sure the guests felt comfortable and at ease: Allaoua Gaham, a famous yoga teacher and a gifted TEDx speaker created the right mood. Energized and excited, I set off to the conference, ready to meet more new people.
The air is thick with cupidity for knowledge: seasoned experts and callow affiliates alike are exploring the expo with the enthusiasm worthy of a scientist making a revelation. Dismissing jejune and hidebound conventions of business, guests rush to the booth and hope to break the ice by a cheerful chat. Usually, it pays back almost immediately: I can see the same boisterous girl with a pack of various business cards, a brand-new tote bag, and a couple of other prizes she’s picked up somewhere. She’s hardly entered the conference, and already making friends everywhere she goes, the skill I highly admire. As much as I want to count how many collaborations she’s going to make in the first hour of SiGMA, I hasten to the AIBC Stage: I’m eager to see what’s popping.
The AI and Blockchain Conference, abbreviated as AIBC, covers a vast domain of topics: today’s schedule encompasses panel talks on crypto and payments; compliance and business solutions, and various workshops, essential for improving entrepreneurial futuristic thinking. While it doesn’t directly correspond with SiGMA’s iGaming agenda, the tips offered in the keynotes and reports will certainly enrich you with crucial knowledge, help you expand reach, and strengthen protection.
The Main Stage’s schedule is even tighter: first, we learn to build trust and secure data; then we examine key audience insights and industry trends businesses must navigate to prosper; after that influencers take the floor, giving us an exceptional opportunity to get behind the scenes of their campaigns and take a look at the often-overlooked metrics; next, a startup pitch unfolds; consumer journey optimization talk, MENA impact insights... We don’t have all day to complete the list, but trust me, if you’re here for knowledge, that’s a well of it.
With my head reeling, I plow through throngs of people, hooking up with the most garrulous specialists here and there, hoping to make it in time: I have a party going. A lot of parties. I wish I had Hermione’s Time Turner to attend them all.
February 25
Rise and shine! Splatter some water onto your face and make haste: here’s another elite class with Allaoua Gaham! I savored the taste of yoga the day before, and today is the day for a more demanding training session: who would’ve thought I would enjoy high-impact bootcamp fuses combat drills, breathwork, and mindset training? Actually, my sore muscles thank me with every step: maintaining the right level of physical activity works wonders, and I need wonders — because I have a few more hours of the amazing conference. Feeling my confidence sharpened and composure enhanced, I set my foot into the expo.
On February 25, I already recognize a lot of faces: that jives with SiGMA’s mission to bring people together; we greet each other, discuss the previous night (oof, that’s a blast!), and listen to whatever’s happening at the AIBC Stage. One of my new acquaintances apologizes and flounces to the stage: he’s planning an Esports campaign and wants to know more about the MENA region. His colleague snickers, saying that he’ll be surprised to discover that the next topic is dedicated to NFTs. Turns out that guy is a polymath of digital marketing, and in his free time, he tests other verticals as well, tapping into whatever his heart desires.
NFTs aren’t something I’m good at, so I choose to saunter across the hall and make connections: Capitalist, Adcash, Texcell, Paidora, 0xProcessing, and many other companies are forming a peculiar alliance that will certainly transform the market in the nearby future... All these inspiring thoughts about future sober me up a little, and I realize that I am famished and would eat... Well, something! So, grabbing my newly acquired friend, I head over to the food court where I finally get a respite and can prepare myself for the nighttime endeavors, of which I have a lot. I’ll only drop by the inspirational talk dedicated to women in tech... And get enthralled by another thousand of activities unfurling before my eyes.
Wrapping Up
The more you read, the more intricate the text becomes, and the writer is not to blame: she’s doing her best, and she knows how to write decent articles. The problem is that SiGMA is so vast, so extraordinarily diverse that it’s hard to pause and gauge the world around. You want to be everywhere: chat with the guests, participate in the panel talk, listen to the reports; you wake up early in the morning to do some training; you are floored at the multifaceted and thoughful approach of the organizers, and you can’t but crave more. SiGMA should be your tourist destination, because it provides mindful techniques and physical development alike.
