Day 1 at TBO24 – Highlights and Key Learnings
Yesterday was packed with invaluable insights and fresh perspectives from some of the most inspiring voices in bid management and leadership.
Leadership Lessons from Professor Damian Hughes
I explored the 5 STEP leadership methodology and learned that not everyone naturally thinks in abstract ways. Damian shared golden communication techniques like Bottom Line Up Front and Contain and Explain – tools that sharpen focus and impact. It was fantastic seeing how his principles connect not only to sport but to our bid world.
Defy Expectations: Turning Frustration into Growth
Defy Expectations opened my eyes to a new self-awareness tactic:
They offered practical steps to turn these insights into personal growth.
The Power of Design in Bids with Maddie Barnes and Ciara Gilsenan
Maddie Barnes and Ciara Gilsenan brought home the power of design in bids. They demonstrated how to improve our proposals’ readability with the tools we already have – and how those changes boost our chances of success by making it easier for evaluators to engage and score. The concept of design in bids is something I want to discover in more depth.
Navigating the New Procurement Act with BidCraft
From BidCraft’s leadership team, I gained a deep understanding of the new Procurement Act and how it will shape our field. They mapped out the evolution of bid management, showing how our community has tackled shared challenges together over the years. It was both empowering and energizing!
SMA’s Practical Bid Solutions
SMA, our headline sponsor, provided practical strategies for some of the most common issues we face every day in bids – true tools to keep in our back pocket.
Celebrating Leadership: Neeta Patel’s Outstanding Achievement
The day ended on a high note at the glamorous gala dinner and awards ceremony, where my amazing boss, mentor, and leader Neeta Patel took home the Outstanding Leadership award! Couldn’t be prouder.
Day 2 at TBO24 – A Day of Insights and Strategies
Day 2 of the APMP BidX TBO2024 was every bit as energizing as the first! It was a packed day, and I found myself wishing I could be in several sessions at once to soak up everything on offer, like a superhero with a cape and stuff. 😅
Defy Expectations: Leadership and Mental Health
Defy Expectations opened with a powerful look at the human side of leadership. With all the tech advancements in our field, we’re also seeing new pressures on mental health. Vicky and Helen shared some really insightful strategies on balancing results with genuine care for our teams – a leadership skill that’s more critical than ever.
SMA’s Price to Win Strategies: Early Engagement and Capture
Then came an absolute masterclass from SMA on Price to Win strategies. The key takeaway for me was the huge impact of early engagement and capture. They shared several tactics around MEAT/MAT strategies, and I can’t wait to bring these back to my team at Softcat.
Simon Hubbard on Engaging Senior Leaders in Bid Functions
Simon Hubbard gave us practical tips on getting subject matter experts and senior leaders invested in growing the bid function. One fun takeaway?
I like “dragon” more. 😉
Jon Williams on Competitive Intelligence
To wrap up, Jon Williams delivered a mind-blowing session on competitive intelligence. He gave us practical ideas for digging into what our competitors are doing and showed just how powerful that knowledge can be for a bid team. I came away with some new tactics that I’m excited to try out.
Thank You to the TBO24 Organizers
And a shoutout to the organizers for a fantastic day – the food, facilities, and overall setup really made it feel like we had everything we needed to focus and learn.
