As we draw closer to kickoff, we can expect to see the volume of announcements increase around hot topics on tap for #OFC2015 (official live tweets are available by following @ofcconference on Twitter). According to show organizers, the buzz this year is crystallizing around several important themes including the monetization of optical networks; SDN and virtualization; 100G/200G/400G network design; interoperability and optimization; terabit and beyond optical networking; integrated photonics; and cloud and data center networking/interconnect.

For the first-time ever, Tuesday’s Plenary Session will be offered as a free live-stream, online event. Featured speakers include Juniper Networks’ Pradeep Sindhu, TE Connectivity SubCom’s Neal S. Bergano, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Kevin Slavin. Expect speakers to offer interesting and important discussions focused on the latest developments in optical networking, including the future of transport networks, a very cool talk on undersea fiber optic cables enabling a connected world (did you know the first successful transatlantic telegraph cable connected North America to Europe in 1866?), and an equally cool discussion of algorithms’ impact on networking and the ‘physics of culture at-large’. At home viewers will need to pre-register to receive the live-stream link.

It’s no surprise that SDN is a hot topic at OFC 2015. A quick Google search shows that just about everyone is talking about it…new alliances are being formed, SDN conferences are coming online, and a slew of vendors are making SDN-related announcements. At OFC, SDN will be featured in the Service Provider Summit, a half-day event from the show floor on Wednesday, March 25 in Expo Theater I. Specifically designed for the service provider and carrier sector, the Summit includes panel discussions, a keynote presentation, exhibit time, and networking opportunities.

SDN will also be featured in a track of sessions in the Expo Theaters II and III, also located on the show floor. These sessions, and a dozen or so others focused on business, networks and FTTX, and datacom, enable attendees to take advantage of a host of educational programs without having to leave the exhibition.

Market Watch, yet another feature open to attendees from Expo Theater I on the exhibit floor, is an exhibition-long series of panel discussions exploring the latest application topics and business issues in optical communications. Speakers from industry, research, and the investment community will cover a range of topics like the state of the industry, network convergence verses equipment divergence, monetization of optical networks, and integrated photonics technologies, among others.

OFC 2015 is an important show for Interprose clients ADVA Optical Networking, booth #1449, and the Ethernet Alliance, booth #2531. ADVA will highlight its new NFV strategy, while the Ethernet Alliance hosts a multi-vendor interoperability demonstration showcasing the latest in 10, 40, and 100 Gigabit Ethernet technology from an array of its member companies. In addition to the great things happening in their booths, both organizations will participate in several speaking panels. Be sure to stop by and check them out!

Presented by The Optical Society (OSA) and co-sponsored by IEEE Communications Society (IEEE ComSoc), and IEEE Photonics Society, the OFC 2015 technical conference is March 22-26, with the exhibition taking place March 24-26 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, California.

The full list of programming and special events happening throughout the conference and exhibition is available on the OFC 2015 website. Check it out and let us know what you’re most looking forward to at this year’s OFC.

I was in Maui in early May of this year, kitesurfing with a friend. As I chatted with other kiters there – who have subsequently become friends – I learned about Maui’s MaiTai Global events. This unique annual networking gathering brings together elite kiteboarders, venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, and tech companies.

For me, being a PR professional in the tech space, living in Hawaii, and a kitesurfer, this networking event not only sounded like absolute bliss to me, but also got me wondering: what makes the best networking event? What do extreme sports enthusiasts, tech entrepreneurs, PR professionals, and VCs have in common?

In my opinion, the best places to network are where you share a common cause or interest, combined with some kind of physical activity. This means that you’re there because you want to be, not because you feel like you have to be. Next, the participation in a physical activity makes it incredibly easy to break the ice with others. You are more likely to return to these places again and again, making closer connections and building trust each time you visit.

Whether participating in an extreme sport like kitesurfing, or something a bit calmer like playing Frisbee, or even participating in an endurance sport like road biking, physical activity can be an excellent way to bond with others. Participating in physical activity together builds camaraderie and respect and often leads to a new business deal or the beginning of a lifelong relationship. Mind you, you don’t have to be a top athlete or even a competent athlete to create these bonds. Your participation and attitude are what counts, and is truly what creates the strongest impression among your peers.

Golfing is the best example of this to date. Thousands of relationships have been built and deals made on the golf course, some of them by really great golfers, and others who are only so-so golfers. Another benefit is that pitching ideas, or giving speeches or presentations at a networking event tends to feel less stressful when you’ve already bonded with attendees on the field (or in the case of kitesurfing, in the water).

Although extreme sports-and-technology networking events are still relatively uncommon, it is indeed growing in popularity. There are some skill sets that kiteboarders, venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, and PR professionals have in common, that are driving its popularity:

Jill and friends kitesurfing in Maui.

Moving out of your comfort zone – No doubt about it, success for PR professionals, entrepreneurs, VCs or extreme sport enthusiasts requires moving out of one’s comfort zone, on a regular basis. Being willing to act boldly when the situation requires it, especially when the probability of success is low, is a skill set that we all share.

Persistence – We share the “never give up” attitude. In the eye of adversity, we continue to move forward; a positive mindset is key to success. A setback to us simply means that we are making progress. If we crash our kite, or get turned down by a reporter or an investor, we don’t get discouraged and give up. We just try again.

Being active and social – Human beings are social animals. We all like to have friends and enjoy life. Today, as more and more people work remotely from their homes, it has become even more important for us to socialize and be active outside in the sunshine, on the beach, or on the track. We see work and play to be one in the same and truly relish in both.

Clear goals – Clear goals give us all direction and purpose. The power and drive to overcome the obstacles comes from knowing our goals. Kitesurfers and other athletes are continually setting goals for themselves, as do PR professionals and entrepreneurs. Having a goal, and the drive to push through to it, is a very admirable quality.

Intelligent risk-taking – This is a lot different than just “risk-taking.” Successful communications experts, tech leaders, and extreme sports athletes often engage in this. We all possess “situational awareness”, meaning we are aware of our physical surroundings, our markets, our target audiences, or our customer’s needs, and based on that knowledge, we intelligently decide when and where to take our risks. By doing it intelligently, we reduce the chances of danger and increase the opportunities for success.

The lessons and skill sets that we learn playing sports, at school, or at work, all tend to cross over in our multi-dimensional lives. So it makes sense that next-generation networking events will do the same, by combining tech leaders, entrepreneurs, PR professionals, and VCs with an interesting and challenging sport such as kitesurfing, just as the Maui MaiTai event does. The exposure to new people, technology, and sports is a recipe for some terrific bonding and relationship-building. I can’t wait to participate in them!

Check it out! Bloomberg TV reported on one of the MaiTai Global events: