On Saturday, May 14, Harvard Business School Online hosted its first-ever hybrid Connext conference. The day-long event, centered on the theme “Reimagining Leadership,” provided our global community the chance to network, engage, and learn from HBS leadership and faculty.
Connext 2022 by the Numbers
Connext 2022’s attendee list broke records on every front. Here’s a snapshot of this year’s audience by the numbers:
- Nearly 3,900 registrants
- 132 countries represented
- More than 22 Community Chapters represented
- 26 HBS Online courses represented—every course in our current and past catalog
The event also featured a packed lineup of faculty sessions, networking opportunities, and fun activities, including:
- 14 presenters from HBS’s faculty and leadership
- Seven faculty-led case discussions
- 21 networking tables
- Three informational booths
- One closing presentation by an HBS Online participant
- 581 photo booth submissions
- 78 social media wall contributions
- 2,357 mentions of Connext 2022 on social media
HBS Online’s Premier Hybrid Event
Kicking Things Off
To start the day, HBS Online Executive Director Patrick Mullane welcomed attendees to Connext and introduced Professor Luis Viceira, senior associate dean for HBS Online and Executive Education.
Viceira overviewed the dynamic year HBS Online has had, which included:
- The introduction of Learning Tracks
- The 2021 Community Challenge with United Planet
- The announcement of the 2022 Community Challenge with Empowered to Educate
- The launch of HBS Online's Free Business Lessons site
- Four new courses: Design Thinking and Innovation, Power and Influence for Positive Impact, Sustainable Investing, and Business Strategy
Viceira then introduced Professor Julie Battilana, who teaches the online course Power and Influence for Positive Impact. She delivered an invigorating keynote titled, “Power For All: How It Really Works and Why It’s Everyone’s Business.”
Watch the opening remarks and keynote here:
Learning Opportunities
Throughout the event, attendees had several opportunities to learn from HBS faculty and leadership, including:
- Faculty-led case discussions with professors Randolph Cohen, V.G. Narayanan, Michael Wheeler, Suraj Srinivasan, Forest Reinhardt, and Ethan Bernstein
- A Live Online Classroom case discussion led by Professor Mitch Weiss
- A large-scale, interactive discussion led by Professor Bharat Anand
- A panel discussion featuring Professor Lakshmi Ramarajan and Terrill Drake, HBS’s inaugural chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer, which was moderated by HBS Online’s Managing Director of Marketing and Product Management Simeen Mohsen
Watch the panel discussion, previously livestreamed to Facebook, about how to foster a racially just, inclusive, psychologically safe workplace.
Networking & Connection
Networking remained a pillar of Connext. Attendees were able to connect in person, join 21 virtual networking tables, or use the Connext 2022 app to message fellow attendees.
The virtual event and app featured three informational booths where attendees could learn more about HBS Online courses and Learning Tracks, the HBS Online Community, and the Community Challenge.
Throughout the day, Community Organizers from 22 Chapters presented in the Community booth and hosted in-person and virtual networking sessions. Attendees engaged with other Chapter members and asked Organizers questions about how to join the Community.
Having Fun & Documenting the Day
Whether attending virtually or in person, there were plenty of opportunities to have fun at Connext, including:
- Using a virtual photo booth (pictured below)
- Stocking up on HBS Online swag from the HBS Coop
- Contributing to a social media wall using the hashtag #HBSOnlineConnext
Additionally, attendees were treated to a virtual closing presentation by Disruptive Strategy past participant Melaine D’Cruze on visual thinking and creative notetaking.
An Inspiring Send-Off: Gratitude and Future Plans
Patrick Mullane closed the day with an announcement, an expression of gratitude, and thoughts about the future.
Mullane announced that the HBS Online Community will be hosted on a new Community platform scheduled to launch in mid-June. He went on to express his gratitude for HBS Online learners and their role in the future of education.
“This time with you all is a reminder of why we do what we do here at HBS Online,” Mullane said. “The future of education is being built right now, and each and every one of you is a part of it.”
Thank you to all who attended Connext 2022! We’re excited to welcome you back next year for another day of learning, inspiration, and connection.
Want to learn more about Connext? Explore our previous blog posts covering the event, and subscribe to receive blog updates so you can read one attendee’s perspective of the day.
