When I got the email from my supervisor, I was ecstatic.  I was honored to be invited to present with the Director of Academic Technology and my supervisor.  From the second I got that email, I was looking forward to my first trip to Providence, Rhode Island.

Leading up to the presentation, there was a lot of preparation.  The three of us met two times to create the PowerPoint and coordinate what we would be saying.  I created graphics and edited the PowerPoint slides.  Booking train tickets and making reservations added to the excitement.

On March 11^th, 2013, Beth Sam and I drove to Providence- my first work travel experience.  Before this, I never pictured myself liking travel or wanting to go away for work conferences.  I pictured myself in a steady job, in the same office every day.  I learned that I really enjoy going away for work and would love to take any travel opportunity that came my way.

When we arrived at the hotel, we were ready for dinner.  Another new experience was on the way- edamame.  I am open to trying new things, and when Beth ordered edamame as an appetizer at P. F. Changs, I loved it!

My first business trip filled with new experiences.  It was the first conference that I was attending and presenting at.  First, Beth, Sam, and I listened to the keynote speaker- Frank Barrett, Ph.D., author of the book "Yes to the Mess." He inspired me with his words that morning- giving us all advice on how to be powerful leaders.  A quote from Peter Drucker summarizes it all: "The most important job of a leader is to maximize peoples' strengths so that their weaknesses become irrelevant."  A leader should guide the employees, give them resources and advice, prompt them to produce amazing work, and challenge them by "throwing in a monkey wrench" with love and support.  He connected leading to jazz music and opened my eyes to new concepts in organizational behavior.  He spoke of improvisation and how we, as leaders should be suspicious of patterns.  We should embrace ongoing creativity at every moment, which is the only way change will ever be able to occur.  If an employee goes through the same routines and habits each day, they are not fully present in the work environment.  New possibilities must be embraced for change to come about.  He speaks about how too much consensus can be just as bad as not enough agreement; group think decreases creativity.  Freedom, leadership, trust, honesty, support, and mistakes increase creativity which increases change, learning, and discovery.  With "happy accidents," disruption, competence, and love, progress and change can be made.  Employees can be motivated towards success in this type of encouraging environment.  I got a lot out of the presentation: click here to see him speak for yourself!

Nerves and excitement filled my veins as I stood up to present.  As soon as I started talking, I felt calm and collected.  I felt the pride of the audience as they listened intently, rooting me on with their eyes.  The audience was captured with our presentation and filled the room with questions and discussion.  I was overjoyed at how well our presentation went.  After we presented, it was lunchtime at the conference.  What was for lunch?  Edamame!  I got to try my new favorite snack again at lunch.  It just goes to show, it was a trip filled with adventurous new opportunities.

My trip home was just as thrilling as any.  I was proud that I was included in this conference, and rode back to NYC in luxury on the Amtrak train.  I sat there, looking out the window excited to share my experiences with friends and family who were anxiously waiting to see how everything went.