Conversations Outside the Meeting Room
Building Connections in Phoenix
The Business Development program provides opportunities to forge and strengthen peer connections through activities ranging from a hot air balloon ride to golf on Phoenix's renowned courses. As INTA’s Laura Polo discovers, some of the most valuable conversations can happen outside the meeting rooms.
Next month, around 1,500 volunteer leaders will gather in Phoenix, Arizona, for the 2026 Leadership Meeting, where a full slate of Business Development (BD) activities will complement the educational program while creating more opportunities to meet fellow members, strengthen existing relationships, and build new connections in relaxed and memorable settings.
Leadership Meeting Co-Chair Jennifer A. Van Kirk, Partner at Womble Bond Dickinson (USA), notes: “This is a relationship business. And relationships are built through shared experience and spending time with one another, so the BD excursions and actvities really allow people to do that, to spend some time together getting to know each other in a setting that isn’t completely work-focused.”
Networking can sometimes feel more natural when you’re sharing an experience. Whether exploring the Arizona desert, discovering local flavors, giving back to the community, or spending a day on the golf course, these BD activities provide an opportunity to connect away from the traditional conference environment.
Connect, Experience, and Discover Phoenix
The BD program is designed to accommodate a range of interests and networking styles. Sacha Colquhoun, Senior Manager of Business Development at INTA, says: “The Meeting is where much of INTA’s committee work gets done, but it’s also where members really get to know one another. The Business Development program is built for that.
“Whether it’s an afternoon at the ranch, a morning in the community garden, or a round of golf, these BD activities give people time together away from the meeting room. That’s often where an introduction becomes a working relationship that lasts well beyond Phoenix.”
Get a head start on networking and sign up for some pre-meeting activities. Want to view things from a different perspective? Above the Desert: A Floating Experience (November 15, 2:00 pm–7:15 pm) in a hot air balloon will offer an unforgettable perspective of the Arizona landscape—and a truly unique setting in which to share an experience with other INTA members.
Participants will also have the opportunity to discover the extraordinary surroundings of Phoenix through Legends of the Desert: Ancient Ruins Expedition (November 16, 12:00 pm–4:00 pm), where conversation and adventure come together against the backdrop of one of Arizona’s most iconic landscapes.
For a taste of the region’s Western heritage, Grand Western Soirée: MacDonald’s Ranch (November 16, 3:45 pm–8:30 pm) will provide another fun and informal environment for networking.
Networking is sure to get off to a high-octane start at the Phoenix Indoor Grand Prix on November 19 from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm, one of Phoenix’s premier indoor go-kart tracks. Whether you’re cheering on colleagues, sharing race-day stories, or meeting new people, this action-packed experience is the perfect way to network, spark conversations, and build new connections in a fun and energetic setting.
Perhaps you prefer a more relaxed backdrop for networking, so why not raise a glass to new connections during Hops & Highlights: The Arizona Brew Tour (November 19, 5:30 pm–9:00 pm), an informal and engaging BD experience designed to bring INTA members together beyond the traditional meeting setting.
The BD program will also include Roots of Change: Community Garden Project (November 19, 7:00 am–10:00 am), giving participants the opportunity to roll up their sleeves, contribute to the local community, and connect with fellow registrants around a shared purpose.
On the last day of the Meeting, the Scottsdale Grand Tasting Experience (November 20, 11:00 am–2:00 pm) will bring registrants together around local flavors and shared conversation.
"Whether it’s an afternoon at the ranch, a morning in the community garden, or a round of golf, these BD activities give people time together away from the meeting room."
- Sacha Colquhoun | INTA (USA)
Take Your Networking to the Golf Course
A highlight of this year’s BD program will be Tee Up & Connect: Phoenix Golf Tournament (November 20, 5:00 pm–10:00 pm), and we encourage golfers of all levels to join us!
Golf offers something particularly valuable at a conference: time. Instead of a quick introduction between sessions, participants have the opportunity to spend several hours together, allowing conversations and relationships to develop naturally throughout the experience.
Whether you’re joining colleagues you already know or being paired with new connections, the tournament is an excellent opportunity to expand your professional network while enjoying some friendly competition surrounded by the beauty of the Arizona desert.
You don’t need to be the best golfer on the green. The focus is on participation, connection, and enjoying the experience together. If you’ve been considering signing up, gather your colleagues—or come ready to meet new ones—and join us on the course.
So you never know where a conversation on the fairway might lead.
Session-to-Table
This year there’s a new opportunity to engage with peers and continue the conversation after the educational sessions.
Immediately following select Wednesday and Thursday sessions, registrants will have the opportunity to continue the conversation over lunch with “Session-to-Table,” a discussion-based extension of the session.
Join fellow registrants at designated tables to talk through what you just heard, exchange perspectives, and explore how the ideas discussed may apply to your own experiences.
Each Session-to-Table discussion is connected to the session topic and includes discussion prompts to help registrants continue the conversation and share practical insights.
There’s no formal presentation or preparation required. The conversation is meant to be free-flowing, giving you the opportunity to ask questions, compare takeaways, and hear different perspectives on the topic.
Session moderators and speakers will also be nearby and available to answer questions or provide additional perspective.
Look for the designated Session-to-Table area in the lunchroom immediately following the session.
"BD excursions really allow people to spend some time together getting to know each other in a setting that isn’t completely work-focused."
- Jennifer A. Van Kirk | Womble Bond Dickinson (USA)
Managing Partners Retreat
For those looking for a confidential, peer-driven environment in which to discuss the most pressing challenges facing law firms, there will be a Managing Partners Retreat on Friday, November 20, from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm.
The retreat is an invitation-only executive forum designed exclusively for managing partners and firm leaders of intellectual property (IP) and IP-focused law firms.
"The registrants at the Leadership Meeting are typically senior in their positions. They’re leaders in their organizations, and the content has been curated to reflect that," notes Ms. Van Kirk
Operating under the Chatham House Rule, the retreat emphasizes candid discussion, peer benchmarking, practical problem-solving, and actionable leadership insights rather than traditional conference presentations.
"It’s an opportunity to build a foundation for a more meaningful connection with others. That’s how I look at the BD activities."
- Deirdre Clarke | Novartis Pharmaceuticals (USA)
Make BD Part of Your Leadership Meeting Experience
The Leadership Meeting brings together an extraordinary community of IP professionals from around the world.
BD activities provide additional opportunities to make that community feel smaller—turning introductions into conversations, conversations into relationships, and relationships into potential future collaborations.
Leadership Meeting Co-Chair Deirdre Clarke, IP Counsel, Novartis Pharmaceuticals (USA), notes that BD excursions are an excellent opportunity for people coming from other areas to get a sense of what Phoenix has to offer.
She adds: “While doing that, they have an opportunity to meet new people and do fun things together. It’s an opportunity to build a foundation for a more meaningful connection with others. That’s how I look at the BD activities.”
Each experience has been selected not only as a way to enjoy Phoenix, but also as another opportunity to connect. So, as you plan your Leadership Meeting schedule, make room for something beyond the sessions.
Step outside the meeting room, try something new, and meet someone you might not otherwise have had the chance to meet. Because sometimes the most valuable connection of your Leadership Meeting starts with a shared experience.
Afternoon and Evening Receptions
Tuesday, November 17 • 3:30 pm–4:30 pm | First-Timers Social Hour • 4:30 pm–6:00 pm | Welcome and Awards Ceremony • 6:00 pm–8:00 pm | Welcome and Awards Reception Wednesday, November 18 • 5:00 pm–6:00 pm | Current Board & Board Alumni Reception* • 6:00 pm–7:30 pm | INTA Political Action Committee (PAC) Reception Thursday, November 19 • 5:00 pm–6:30 pm | INTA Foundation: The Brand Frontier Reception Friday, November 20 • 3:45 pm–4:45 pm | Closing Cocktails *By invitation only
