My New Orleans Recruiting Conference Takeaways


I had a great time attending a recruiting conference in New Orleans last week.

Last year’s takeaway was more tactical. We clarified our focus and committed to patent litigation. Instead of trying to serve everyone, we chose to go deeper in one area. Over the past year, that decision allowed us to work closely with patent litigation associates, counsel, and partners to help them build stronger, more intentional practices.

This year’s insights were more personal in nature.

Mentorship Matters

Mentorship is rarely passive—it’s a two-way dynamic. In a relationship-driven industry like recruiting, mentors usually don’t come to you first. If you admire someone’s work or thinking, it’s important to initiate the relationship yourself and lead with genuine curiosity.

When you show how you think and take a real interest in others, meaningful connections tend to form naturally over time.

Presence Pays

Even a light but consistent professional presence can create a sense of familiarity. I was genuinely surprised by how often people mentioned seeing my LinkedIn posts. In many cases, when I introduced myself, others already had some context.

That small level of visibility made conversations easier and reduced the friction of meeting new people in unfamiliar rooms.

Kindness Wins

There’s a strong overlap between high performance and kindness. Some of the most accomplished people I met were also the most approachable.

They were engaged, open, and operated with an abundance mindset when meeting others. It was a reminder that success doesn’t require intensity at the expense of warmth.

Conclusion

Entrepreneurship and recruiting can both be demanding, and being in rooms with people further along in their journey makes what’s possible feel more tangible.

The core lessons were simple: mentorship requires initiative, a modest but consistent presence builds confidence, and the most successful people often lead with kindness.

These weren’t formal agenda points—but they were the ones worth taking home.

No conference photos this time, but plenty of New Orleans memories—and one very sweet (big eater girl) travel companion.

If you’re heading to your next conference, approach it with curiosity and don’t hesitate to initiate the connections that matter.

Read more insights here: https://emmalarson.org/



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