#MILLSUMMIT 2022 talked entrepreneurship, DEI and failure (in a good way)

Another year, another MILLSUMMIT that’s come and gone.

What was new for the annual summit — the professional development and networking event for youngish tech and entrepreneurship types — this year? The format, for one: While the event played with hybrid in 2021, it was still mostly virtual, with the exception of a session at CSC Station featuring country star Jimmie Allen. This year, it was hybrid by design and intention. The virtual content — which still included most in-person content — was streamed through the Hopin app on desktop and mobile. That, too, was a change from the dedicated MILLSUMMIT app of the past couple of years.

The IRL space, The Queen, was also new, as the MILLSUMMIT spent its first few years at The Chase Center on the Riverfront — a good venue, to be sure, but sprawling. At The Queen, there were no more than two events happening at once, either on the Main Stage, the Olympia Stage area on the fourth floor or the virtual Breakout Stage.

So, if you couldn’t make it, what did you miss? Here’s a roundup of highlights from our and others’ social media:

Day 1 delivered a virtual creative experience via spoken word with former Women of the World Poetry Slam champion, poet Denice Frohman, joining from Philly. She’s also a Threshold Fellow at Headlands for the Arts.

#MILLSUMMIT '22 rewind to Day 1 with spoken word poet @denicefrohman!

"[Writing poetry] is deep listening to the things that make your blood move, the passions that you have and trusting your intuition — trusting the ideas that are your own." pic.twitter.com/2tmmFKc7GC

— Holly Quinn (@harlequinn823) August 8, 2022

National diversity speaker and author Lily Zheng gave the day’s closing keynote, with a fireside chat with Nerissa Davis, West Coast market executive for Capital One. Their ultimate advice on DEI:

https://twitter.com/BrunoELT/status/1554606735641481217?s=20&t=YxOGO_u43ljZZ8CNxxOQqg

On Wednesday, MILLSUMMIT went from virtual to hybrid, with events kicking off at The Queen at 9 a.m. MC Blake “The Brain” Saunders made sure everyone was awake and ready for a day:

We’re out here and hype for @MillSummit 2022! Stop by our exhibitors table to sign up for our newsletter and pick up some swag. #MillSummit pic.twitter.com/TWcJwIb5AP

— Technical.ly Delaware (@technicallyDE) August 3, 2022

Terri Trespicio’s keynote tied in with her book, “Unfollow Your Passion.” The counterintuitive title sums up the no-BS philosophy of the occasional standup comic and former senior editor of Martha Stewart’s Whole Living magazine.

“When you’re a kid … they ask you who do you want to be, what do you want to do when you grow up,” Trespicio said. “Little kids will say whatever they just saw — a teacher, a singer, a policeman.

“Probably not on that list? Account executive. HR manager. Wig catalog copywriter. Someone’s got to do that job. And I did that job. I loved that job. But you don’t wake up in the morning going, ‘That’s what I want to be.’ You find your way into the roles you have.”

We don't need feedback and criticisms. #whatif #itsnottoolate #keeplearning #MILLSUMMIT pic.twitter.com/TqX63xHb1r

— Nicole (@Doowop713) August 3, 2022

Day 2’s entertainment was New York City a capella quintet, BackTrack Vocals:

https://www.instagram.com/tv/Cg0jhAzD5w2/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Cora Castle, president and CEO of OmniPotential Energy Partners, recently helped write and pass a bill in the state legislature increasing access to electronic vehicle charging stations in residential areas. She spoke about a recurring theme — failure — during the “EntrepreneuHER” session on Wednesday:

Zakiyyah Ali, executive director of the Delaware IT Industry Council, talked about whether or not “bringing your whole self to work” is a good idea:

The Connect led a highly immersive networking workshop that started with ice breaker ideas for Delaware professionals:

If You're from Delaware, what high school did you go to? #MILLSUMMIT #theconnect #netde pic.twitter.com/kqSH7o6ypB

— Holly Quinn (@harlequinn823) August 4, 2022

Saunders has a big day on Day 3, starting with a talk of his own, “Failure is Dope.” Over lunch, with the last minute cancellation of a scheduled speaker, he hosted a “Family Feud” style game show on stage. NBD:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cg2bAryubSS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The “Entrepreneurial and Intrapreneurial Mindset” panel on Day 3 featured Scott Malfitano, VP at CSC; Nicole Homer, cofounder and CEO of Hx Innovations, Inc.; John Himics, president of First Ascent Design; and Luis Santiago, VP at Bank of America:

Of course, this is by no means a complete list of highlights. If you went this year, what were your favorite moments? Let us know on Twitter (@technicallyDE), or on Technical.ly’s public Slack.

And if you are a registered MILLSUMMIT ticket holder, you can access any sessions you missed or want to rewatch on the Hopin desktop app (not the mobile app). Sign in, join the MILLSUMMIT event and click on the “Replay” button. In-person-only events are not replayable.