SPEAKERS FAQ
Who speaks at Catalyst Conference?
What types of presentations are delivered at Catalyst Conference?
What are the responsibilities of Catalyst Conference speakers?
How are Catalyst Conference speakers selected?
What happens if a speaker is unable to present?
Who attends Catalyst Conference and what do they expect from speakers?
What is the required length of stay for conference speakers?
How much time do the speakers at Catalyst Conference have to present
their materials?
Do I need to sign a copyright release form?
or What if my presentation contains copyrighted or proprietary information?
Whom should I contact with other questions?
Who speaks at Catalyst Conference?
There are four general categories of speakers at Catalyst Conference: Burton Group
analysts and consultants, end-users with case study presentations, independent market
analysts and vendors.
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What types of presentations are delivered at Catalyst Conference?
Catalyst Conference presentations fall generally into four categories: Addresses
by Burton Group analysts and consultants; neutral, industry- or market-related presentations
given by industry experts and standards-body representatives, vendor presentations
discussing clients’ requirements and the vendor’s specific response to those requirements;
and end-user case studies that spotlight corporate challenges, directions, and solutions.
Note that case studies are delivered by end-user company representatives who may
not share the podium with vendors. Burton Group values strong case study presentations
and we are pleased that vendors encourage clients to submit proposals, but case
study speakers are required to present on their own. End-user speakers are welcome
and encouraged to discuss their requirements, selection criteria, product choices,
and deployment experiences with the audience.
What are the responsibilities of Catalyst Conference speakers?
Speakers must follow the presentation guidelines provided by Burton Group speaker
mentors. These guidelines focus on the issues and concerns of Catalyst Conference
end-user attendees which vendors should address directly in their presentations.
Catalyst Conference is not an opportunity to give canned marketing pitches. Speakers
should tailor a message to address substantive issues.
How are Catalyst Conference speakers selected?
End-user speaker criteria:
- Relevance of presentations to the theme and topics of Catalyst Conference, and
- A speaker's willingness to frankly discuss real issues. Burton Group doesn’t ask end-users to reveal proprietary information about their implementations and business models, but we do ask that they openly articulate the issues they need network vendors to address. Case study presenters should present both successes and problems.
- Relevance of presentations to the theme and topics of Catalyst Conference;
- Freshness, and uniqueness of what a vendor has to say. Catalyst Conference is renowned for meaningful discussion of substantive issues. Speaking at Catalyst Conference is not a marketing opportunity, but rather a chance to show thought leadership, describe strategic plans, and make significant announcements.
- A vendor's industry position. Burton Group selects a mix of established industry leaders and emerging companies who are entering the market with new products. The speaker selection process and its related criteria are outlined on the Speaker Submission form.
The speaker selection process and its related criteria are outlined on the Speaker Submission form.
What happens if a speaker is unable to present?
Burton Group selects you as a speaker at Catalyst Conference based on the content
of your proposed presentations, positions and roles within your companies, and your
reputation in the industry. If you must withdraw, Burton Group asks that you propose
an alternate speaker from your company. Burton Group reserves the right to select
the substitute speaker—either your proposed alternate or someone from a different
company.
Who attends Catalyst Conference and what do they expect from
speakers?
Catalyst Conference is an ideal environment for enterprise technologists, product
and service providers to meaningfully interact and discuss the issues facing the
industry. Conference attendees are primarily middle- and upper-level IT planners,
architects, and managers who are technically adept. They attend Catalyst Conference
to hear industry leaders share strategic future vision and address substantive issues,
not hype products. Corporate strategy announcements are welcome; product pitches
and software demonstrations are not. Demonstrations are permitted in Hospitality
Suites.
What is the required length of stay for conference speakers?
Registration fees for all Catalyst Conference speakers are covered compliments of
Burton Group. Speakers are welcome and encouraged to participate in the full conference
but are required to attend the entire day on which they speak. Each day begins with
a speaker preparation meeting and may conclude with a roundtable in which all the
day's presenters participate. Attending the entire day also allows each speaker
to be fully aware of outstanding issues or events that occur during the day. A speaker
mentor is assigned to each speaker and will provide specifics about speaking schedules
and presentation duration.
How much time do speakers have to present their materials?
Speaker participation includes a formal presentation (25 minutes) followed immediately
by a brief question and answer session (10 minutes).
Do I need to sign a copyright release form? or What if my presentation
contains copyrighted or proprietary information?
When you agree to deliver your presentation in front of the live Catalyst audience,
you also agree to the distribution of those materials via printed copies, on the
Burton Group website, and on Burton Group CDs. If you do not have permission from
the appropriate authority within your company or otherwise for this type of distribution
of your materials, please notify your speaker mentor and request a "restricted distribution
form" prior to approving your presentation title and description.
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Whom should I contact with other questions?
Contact your speaker mentor or Matt Roblyer.
