On your way to Inman Connect New York? Don’t miss these sessions and events
Reading the Inman Connect New York Calendar is basically the conference equivalent of drinking espresso at midnight and deciding that you’re going to reorganize your entire life. Every speaker and every session looks so good, but it’s impossible to do everything.
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So I’m going to share with you the sessions I’m most excited about, as well as some side quests where you can network and get the most out of the experience.
Most people don’t really know how to read an event agenda; they circle buzzwords. They chase celebrity panels. They are in rooms that… feeling important and leave with nothing but a branded notebook and a LinkedIn post about “great conversations.”
That’s not how you work at a conference. And it’s certainly not how you tap into the potential when you attend Inman Connect.
It is essential to identify the sessions that will have a positive impact on your business. These are the ones where the subtext is more important than the slide deck. The ones where you hear how decisions are actually made – not how they are marketed.
Below you will find my hit list. It’s not exhaustive, but these are the rooms I’ll stay in while everyone else wanders around the expo hall or hotel lobby pretending to be busy.
Read it. Or not. But if you miss these sessions, don’t tell me the juice wasn’t worth it.
But before the first session, here are a few tips
- If you want to make the most of your time at ICNY, you should organize your content. Don’t miss my recent conversation with video content expert Ransome Tucker for the advice you need to maximize your content planning: Conferences are gold mines (if you know how to film them).
- Even if you’re jet lagged, it’s smart to get out on Monday evening, walk around and explore the area before ICNY even starts. Go to a meeting bee Bridges Barright in the Midtown Hilton, to get to know some of your fellow visitors and Inman Ambassadors, reconnect with old friends, meet new ones, and get insider tips on how to make the most of your Connect experience.
- Or come with me to a party I’m organizingfeaturing slices from some of the city’s most iconic pizzerias and proptech courts at NYC’s best gaming lounge – the perfect spot for a battle. (RSVP space is limited!)
Okay, so here are the sessions I’m most excited about
These are the sessions everyone will be talking about, so you need to attend them if you want to get the most out of your time at Inman Connect:
The Inman Interview: Robert Reffkin
Whatever you think about the Compass-Anywhere deal, this conversation between Brad Inman and Robert Reffkin will be great. Brad is known for not holding back; he asks tough questions and gets involved in conversations that real estate professionals want and need to hear.
This conversation is guaranteed to be smart, spirited, and worth the price of admission.
The leader’s playbook: turning strategy into ruthless execution
Sean Soderstrom, the founder and CEO of Courted, makes his debut as an Inman moderator during this session. I got to know Sean very well: it all started with a beer in the lobby bar.
From there I followed his career and luckily had the opportunity to interview him few articles that we did together. He worked at McKinsey and Compass before developing Courted and was Inman’s 2024 Innovator of the Year.
Recruitment and retention in the age of consolidation
Two of my favorites on one stage? I don’t miss this. Stacie Staub has built a great brokerage, never sold out to the larger brokers and continues to grow. (Did you know she has a coffee shop and pilates studio next to one of her offices? She knows how to connect with the local community.)
Michael Valdes has been a mentor to me; I met him at another Inman Connect event when we were on stage talking about the differences between recruiting and attracting agents. Every conversation he participates in is a masterclass in expansion and brand building.
Culture wins loyalty
Everyone talks about culture and how they ‘want it’. But what kind of culture? I’m excited about this conversation because I know these panelists and have worked together firsthand. Nick Schlekeway has built Amherst Madison into a powerhouse real estate agency; I worked with him when I sold homes in Idaho.
James Wong founded MAXA Designs – not a real estate agency, but a technology company. Employees enjoy working there, and customers (like me) consider MAXA part of their team, not just a product or service provider.
Quick tips for AI workflows
Okay, this one will only take a few minutes, so take your time walking into the room for this. In fact, create a calendar reminder right now. Luis Poggi is the co-founder and CEO of HouseWhisper, and I enjoyed all my conversations with him. He really is a genius and the product is amazing, so I can’t wait to hear his tips.
Every conversation I’ve had with him has been one of those “Oh, I have to think bigger” moments. I can’t wait to hear his tips.
Decoding facial features transforms negotiations
Don’t miss this presentation by Brian Galke on Wednesday. I was lucky enough to sit next to Galke at a dinner hosted by Justin Benson, the founder of Shilo. I learned so much from Galke – and reading faces is a real thing.
I was extremely skeptical at first, and then he analyzed my facial features, recorded my communication style and preferences, and then sat around the table and did the same for everyone there. It was mind-boggling. If you negotiate (you do), then go.
The 5 Types of Wealth
Andrew Flachner has one of my favorite real estate podcasts, featuring insightful conversations with top industry leaders. Now we get the chance to see him interview Sahil Bloom, New York Times bestselling author of The 5 Types of Wealth. (View a preview here.)
I know how much Flachner loves this book and what he has personally learned from it and implemented in his own life. In fact, I bought my own copy thanks to Flachner, so yeah, I’m going to try to get them both to sign it.
How to be found in the age of AI
I’m not even sure why you wouldn’t be in the room for this: AI is something that is on EVERYONE’s mind right now. The panelists are all so knowledgeable. I’ve seen them all before on other stages, so this will be a valuable 20 minutes, with key insights that you can implement in your business tomorrow and see results.
I’m excited to see three of my friends on stage together: Lauren Henss is one of the industry’s top marketing VPs and growth leaders in the industry. Molly McKinley is a brand and strategy mastermind who helps companies create authority and trust in the AI era. Karen Stone is a rock star cop who actually practices what she preaches (she’s also a great trivia night host).
This is an ongoing conversation that started in 2025 at Inman Connect San Diego. Don’t miss it. This could very well be one of the best conversations of the event.
Building a business that runs smarter (not harder).
We’ve all heard “work smarter, not harder” – AI is the first time this is real. Drew Fabrikant (Founder and CEO of Scout) shows how AI can automate follow-up, content, marketing, and workflows so your business runs more smoothly without you being the bottleneck.
I’ve seen it firsthand what Manufacturer and Scout can do with prospecting and predictive models, significantly improving lead generation and customer engagement. If you are still the busiest person in your company, then this one is for you.
The future of broker profits with AI
Ashar Rizqi, CEO of Bounti, has spent his career building successful technology companies and now works in real estate, building to solve problems that really exist. Vanessa Bergmark is CEO of Red Oak Realty, one of the indies I’ve admired for years. (I even used it as a case study when I started my first indie brokerage, The Address.) What a great panel.
This is not ‘fun’. This is necessary. Because AI is changing the economy – and too many brokers are still operating like it’s 2016.
The state of the luxury market
To wrap up the event, it looks like they’ve saved one of the best sessions for last in this study of luxury buyers, pricing, branding and influence. Miss my friend Quiana Shonte Echols, CEO of Watch Realty Co. not. She’s a powerhouse!
Finally, one of my favorite moderators, Laura Monroe, is back. Be sure to check out one of her conversations, as well as the ones with Kendall Bonner and Holly Meyer Lucas.
When done right, an Inman event isn’t about volume. It’s about curation. The full agenda features a lineup that reflects the real conversations real estate professionals are having right now. Choosing from the different tracks and sessions is the key to optimizing your experience.
I’m so excited about this ICNY, not because it’s bigger, but because it’s sharply curated for what the industry needs to see and hear right now.
So show up prepared. Create content worth sharing. Go into rooms (and conversations) that make you uncomfortable – skip the sessions you’re already okay with.
This is one of those events that you will either use in your business or regret as a missed opportunity. Choose wisely.
Sign up for Inman Connect New Yorktaking place next week on February 3 and 5, where Sahil Bloom and other top leaders in the real estate industry will share insights on growth, leadership and the next wave shaping the sector.
Register here
Troy Palmquist is the founder and director of HomeCode Advisors. Connect with him LinkedIn.
