From First-Timer to Workday Rockstar: Making the Most of Workday Rising

Workday Rising is around the corner. For some, it’s familiar territory - for others, a large conference can feel overwhelming. You might even be wondering how to make an argument for the investment. The answer: set clear goals and tie them directly to organizational outcomes. 

When I attended my first Rising, we were mid-implementation and juggling our day jobs. I didn’t know how I’d learn a new system, make it great at go-live, keep up with work and make the most of the event.  I dove right into workshops, keynotes and the customer appreciation party—but still felt like I could have gotten more out of it. Over time, my goals shifted—sometimes driven by company priorities, sometimes by my own growth. The big lesson: when you know the value you’re after, you can maximize your time at Rising. 

While every attendee’s focus is different, the aim is the same: get the most out of Workday and the Rising experience. Now, I’d define a goal tied to company objectives, network everywhere I could, and leave more room for fun. Oddly enough, stepping outside your comfort zone leads to the best connections. 

Let's start with taking a look at attending Workday Rising based on your goals...

# 1 |   Define your goals

Ask yourself: What am I looking to get out of attending Workday Rising this year?

• If your goal is—education + closing your skills gap:
  
  - Deepen understanding of Workday’s strategy and vision by attending the key note sessions, breakout sessions, and product strategy and vision sessions
  - Broaden expertise in your functional or technical area by diving into a hands-on-lab or session geared to a topic you want to learn more about
  - Learn a new Workstream by attending panels, or hands-on-labs
• If your goal is—exploring new features:
  
  - Attend sessions highlighting new functionality
  - Learn from other companies solving similar challenges
  - Catch every keynote for the big-picture view
• If your goal is—networking + finding the right tools:
  
  - Have open conversations on the expo floor, sessions, at lunch
  - Identify gaps and explore solutions
  
  

# 2 |    Document Goals and Link to Organizational Objectives

This is the key to providing ROI!

• Map each company goal to specific Workday Rising sessions
• Include times, speakers and attendees
• Use it as both your pre-conference plan and post-conference ROI tool

# 3 |   Attend with Purpose

Maximize your time by being intentional.

• Bring your goals list with you    

• Capture notes, ideas and photos—whether on paper, laptop or a tablet

• Track anything with direct business impact

# 4 |   Remember to have fun

There is value in building relationships!

• Download the Workday Rising app and join curated activities   

• Connect with your team outside formal sessions (yes, even if it means wearing a goofy hat)

• Say yes to impromptu lunches or dinners—relationships often start in casual moments

• Attend pop-up networking events

• Don't skip the Customer Appreciation Party—it’s a highlight

  
  

# 5 |   Show ROI

Bring home more than just the memories.

•  Review notes soon after returning 

•  Combine insights as a team

• Turn learnings into concrete next steps

• Present findings to leadership to close the loop on value
  
  

Now, let us take a look at approaching Workday Rising based on where you are at in your career...

# 1 |   For first-time attendees or early-career professionals 

• Pick one session to reignite your excitement

• Choose sessions that bridge skill gaps

• Meet people—at lunch tables, breakouts or activities

• Discover one new thing to bring back
  
  

# 2 |   For mid-career or repeat visitors

• Select sessions with specific goals in mind

• Look for advanced topics or deep dives

• Network with presenters and vendors tied to your objectives

• Meet with your Workday-loving peeps
• And yes—still have fun. Download the Workday Rising app and enjoy the lighter side of the week. Try out something new
  
  

# 3 |   For leadership teams

• Before Workday Rising:
  
  - If multiple team members are attending, coordinate sessions to maximize coverage  
  - Encourage identification of features or capabilities with business impact
  - Have the team present their agendas, then guide them toward additional areas of value
• At Workday Rising:
  
  - Attend Product Strategy and Vision sessions
  - Meet with existing Workday partners or explore potential new ones to strengthen  relationships that may last beyond your current organization
  - Hit up the Leader Forums to see how others are approaching similar challenges, be it within the system, organizationally or with new regional/global regulatory requirements
• After Workday Rising:
  
  - Bring home everything you learned and show the ROI! 😊

On a personal note...

A thank you to my mentors whose recommendations connected me to incredible Workday partners. Those connections led me to incredible people at Invisors who helped me augment my work, achieve the ROI we needed and later became trusted collaborators, so much so that Invisors became my first choice for any project at other subsequent companies I worked at. Eventually, when I was ready for a career shift, I knew that I wanted to be part of the amazing efforts I experienced firsthand. 

You never know—the friendships and professional relationships you build at Workday Rising could shape your life and career in ways you can’t yet imagine. 

Workday Rising 2025 is around the corner—September 15th - September 18th, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, CA. Invisors has something planned for attendees at every level + with every goal in mind—YES, even having fun😉

Want to see what Invisors has going on at Workday Rising 2025? Visit our dedicated Workday Rising landing page and find out how Invisors can help you achieve your perfect Workday Rising!