The dust has settled after the 2023 Jack Henry™ Connect, but the excitement is still going strong.
Why is that? How can there possibly still be so much buzz around a banking technology innovation conference that took place in October?
It’s the relationships.
Why Relationships Matter
Building strong relationships – between peers, clients, customers, and members alike – nurtures trust, which is essential for enabling effective communication, collaboration, and problem-solving.
That’s why Jack Henry Connect links you with more than just the tools and technology that are running your financial institution. It focuses on connecting you with people and developing relationships that will ultimately help you do your job more efficiently, manage your teams with more empathy, and understand the dynamics of your accountholders.
During the week of the conference, we embraced individuality and discussed inclusion in multiple sessions, creating a safe space to learn and grow.
In the session Fintech (It’s Not Just for Boys), Kristin Zell, Director of Sales at Jack Henry, passionately spoke about the importance of supportive relationships between women in tech and the impact her “girl tribe” has made on her career. Kristin and the attendees approached conversations with grace and respect. Women in the audience shared vulnerable and empowering moments.
The nods of agreement and understanding made it clear that Kristin and the panel inspired everyone to build relationships based on advocacy and respect.
Experiencing the Conference Day by Day
Our Indy Insider was live blogging throughout the week, showcasing sessions, experiences, and quotes from attendees.
It’s amazing to see the impact and enjoyment that can happen when more than 4,000 people come together. The education, insights, and comradery were out in full force. Check out these highlights if you haven’t already:
- Day 1: We shared what it means to count your steps during the conference and how much of a difference it made for this year’s charity, Special Olympics.
- Day 2: Attendees scored big by having fun on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium.
- Day 3: Halfway through the week, attendees focused on sharing and discussing banking technology innovation.
- Day 4: Our final lap had people raving that this was the best conference yet! One client shared, “I’ve been coming for 10 years now. I always learn something new, and I always meet someone new to pick their brain for knowledge or connections.” – Alicia Johansen, Core Support Supervisor, Southern Michigan Bank & Trust
Connecting People With Insights
When you have a moment, log in to your favorite social media account (my personal go-tos are LinkedIn and Instagram) and search #JHConnect.
You’ll find pages and pages of clients, exhibitors, and Jack Henry associates flooding the feed. When you scroll through, you’ll see a central theme: attendees came for the insights but they stayed for the connections.
I saw credit union attendees hug as they reunited with acquaintances from years past. I saw a group of women from a bank invite someone who came alone to hang with them all week. I saw attendees making new connections at the lunch tables and interacting with Jack Henry™ leaders at the Lucas Oil Stadium mixer. The best part was seeing hundreds of people sporting Jack Henry gear – proud and excited to be with us in Indy and sharing their excitement.
It’s all the small – small but meaningful – moments that make this community-focused event truly incredible.
Worth the Investment
While conference travel certainly has its perks, we also recognize that it’s an investment for banks and credit unions to send people to attend Jack Henry Connect to learn about banking technology innovation.
Getting the budget for air and hotel, not to mention the emails and tasks when you return. Plus, leaving family (and our fur friends) can be a challenge. Even still, more people and more Tech Hall exhibitors attend every year.
Why? Again, it’s the relationships. Simply put, the connections made at this conference are meaningful.
They’re meaningful to your strategy and to your bottom line. But also, they’re meaningful to that little part that’s within each of us – the part that gets inspired by what we do and by surrounding ourselves with people who feel the same.
Personally, I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be part of this event every year and I’m proud to work for a company that places a high value on the relationships we make.
In Kristin’s session, she also said, “We bleed Jack Henry blue, that’s just who we are. It’s in our culture.” I couldn’t agree more with this sentiment and am looking forward to seeing all the same smiling faces (and some new ones!) at our 2024 Jack Henry Connect October 7 – 10 in Phoenix, Arizona.
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