This year there is no reason not to register for SAS Global Forum…and attend as few or as many sessions as you want. Why? Because the conference is FREE!     Where else can you get such quality SAS content and learning opportunities? Nowhere, which is why I encourage you to register today.    It’s safe to say that SAS Global Forum is a conference designed for users, by users. As your conference chair, I am excited by this year’s top-notch user sessions. More than 150 sessions are available, many by SAS users just like you. Wherever you work or whatever you do, you’ll find sessions relevant to your industry or job role. New to SAS? Been using SAS forever and want to learn something new? Managing SAS users? We have you covered. Search for sessions by industry or topic, then add those sessions to your agenda and personal calendar.   Want training or help with your code? Code Doctors are back this year. Check out the agenda for the specific times they’re available and make your appointment, so you’ll be sure to catch them and get their diagnosis of code errors. If you’re looking for training, you’ll be quite happy. Training is also back this year and it’s free! SAS instructor-led demos will be available on May 20, along with the user presentations on the SAS Users YouTube channel.   Chat with attendees and SAS It is hard to replicate the buzz of a live conference, but we’ve tried our best to make you feel like you’re walking the conference floor. And we know networking is always an important component to any conference. We’ve made it possible for you to network with colleagues and SAS employees. Simply make your profile visible (by clicking on your photo) to connect with others, and you can schedule a meeting right from the attendee page. That’s almost easier than tracking down someone during the in-person event.   We know the exhibit hall is also a big draw for many attendees. This year’s Innovation Hub (formerly known as The Quad) has industry-focused booths and technology booths, where you can interact in real-time with SAS experts. There will also be a SAS Lounge where you can learn more about various SAS services and platforms such as SAS Support Communities and SAS Analytics Explorers.   If you would like more details, check out my blog here:  https://blogs.sas.com/content/sgf/2021/05/11/sas-global-forum-your-experience-your-way/   Register today. See you soon!   ... View more

I can’t believe it’s true, but SAS Global Forum is just over a month away. I have some exciting news to share with you, so let’s start with the theme for this year:                                          New Day. New Answers. Inspired by Curiosity.   What a fitting theme for this year! Technology continues to evolve, so each new day is a chance to seek new answers to what can sometimes feel like impossible challenges. Our curiosity as humans drives us to seek out better ways to do things. And I hope your curiosity will drive you to register for this year’s SAS Global Forum.   We are excited to offer a global event across three regions. If you’re in the Americas, the conference is May 18-20. In Asia Pacific? Then we’ll see you May 19-20. And we didn’t forget about Europe. Your dates are May 25-26. We hope these region-specific dates and the virtual nature of the conference means more SAS users than ever will join us for an inspiring event. Curious about the exciting agenda? It’s all on the website, so check it out.   Keynotes speakers that you’ll talk about for months to come Want to be inspired to chase your “impossible” dreams? Or hear more about the future of AI? How about learning about work-life balance and your mental health? We have you covered. SAS executives are gearing up to host an exciting lineup of extremely smart, engaging and thought-provoking keynote speakers like Adam Grant, Ayesha Khanna and Hakeem Oluseyi. And who knows, we might have a few more surprises up our sleeve. You’ll just have to register and attend to find out.   Papers and proceedings: simplified and easy to find Have you joined the SAS Global Forum online community? You should, because that’s where you’ll find all the discussion around the conference…before, during and after. It’s also where you’ll find a link to the 2021 proceedings, when they become available. Authors are busy preparing their presentations now and they are hard at work staging their proceedings in the community. Join the community so you can connect with other attendees and know when the proceedings become available.   Stay tuned for even more details SAS Global Forum is the place where creativity meets curiosity, and amazing analytics happens! I encourage you to regularly check the conference website, as we’re continually adding new sessions and events. You don’t want to miss this year’s conference, so don’t forget to register for SAS Global Forum. See you soon! ... View more

The people, the energy, the quality of the content, the demos, the networking opportunities…whew, all of these things combine to make SAS Global Forum great every year. And that is no exception this year.  Preparations are in full swing for an unforgettable conference. I hope you’ve seen the notifications that we set the date, actually multiple dates around the world so that you can enjoy the content in your region and in your time zone. No one needs to set their alarm for 1:00am to attend the conference!  Go ahead and save the date(s)…you don’t want to miss this event!   Content, content, content We are working hard to replicate the energy and excitement of a live conference in the virtual world. But we know content is king, so we have some amazing speakers and content lined up to make the conference relevant for you. There will be more than 150 breakout sessions for business leaders and SAS users, plus the demos will allow you to see firsthand the innovative solutions from SAS, and the people who make them. I, for one, am looking forward to attending live sessions that will allow attendees the opportunity to ask presenters questions and have them respond in real time. Our keynote speakers, while still under wraps for now, will have you on the edge of your seats (or couches…no judgement here!).   Networking and entertainment You read that correctly. We will have live entertainment that'll have you glued to the screen. And you’ll be able to network with SAS experts and peers alike. But you don’t have to wait until the conference begins to network, the SAS Global Forum virtual community is up and running. Join the group to start engaging with other attendees, and maybe take a guess or two at who the live entertainment might be.   Registration opens in April, so stay tuned for that announcement. I look forward to “seeing” you all in May. ... View more

Calling all postsecondary students -- there’s still time to build a team for the Student Symposium. If you are interested in data science and want to showcase your skills, grab a teammate or two and a faculty advisor and put your thinking caps on. Applications are due by December 21, 2020. ... View more

One of the differences between SAS Global Forum and other conferences is that SAS users are front and center, and the soul of the conference. We can’t have an event without user content. And that’s where you come in! The call for content opened November 17 and lasts through December 21, 2020. Selected presenters will be notified in January 2021. Presentations will be different in 2021; they will be 30 minutes in length, including time for Q&A. And since everything is virtual, video is a key component to your content submission. We ask for a 3-minute video along with your title and abstract.   I am looking forward to seeing your submissions ... View more

Are you interested in being a part of SAS Global Forum 2021?   I am very excited to announce that SAS Global Forum 2021 Call for Content will open on November 17, 2020!    Your ideas are the foundation of our conference, which is evolving to meet the needs of the virtual audience.  We are looking for individuals with innovative ideas, and compelling and engaging presentations that reflect our diverse SAS Users.    If you are interested in being part of this amazing event, please submit an abstract, title and a brief promotional video to share why your topic is important to SAS Global Forum attendees.  We want to give you the chance to show our reviewers your presentation style by submitting a short video (max 3-5 min) where you can make a case of why your presentation would be a great addition to the virtual SAS Global Forum!   We want to ensure that the conference covers different industries and provides content for novice and advanced users, reflecting various topic areas including Analytics, Administration, Programming, Data Management, Data Visualization, and Professional Development.   Let’s make SAS Global Forum 2021 the best virtual conference together!   Please check the website regularly for more updates, and remember, Call for Content opens on November 17, 2020!   For more details see https://www.sas.com/en_us/events/sas-global-forum.html#promo.   Dina Duhon SAS GLOBAL FORUM 2021 Conference Chair ... View more

We are currently planning and preparing for SAS Global Forum 2021, which will be held April 19 – April 22, 2021 at the Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, Nevada.    The success of SAS Global Forum relies heavily on a strong team of volunteers from the SAS user community.  The conference team roles and responsibilities continuously evolve and the need for strong input and participation from SAS users remains for 2021 and is essential for a successful conference.  There are two different types of leadership roles: Conference Advisory Team (CAT) and Conference Delivery Team (CDT).   About these teams As a Conference Advisory Team (CAT) member, you will lead “content selection” for 2021 by: Focusing content on hot topics in your areas of expertise Identifying and inviting dynamic presenters to deliver content on the hot topics as well as the best format Leading the review and rating of the contributed content and recommending the ‘top shelf’ papers Organizing the content into a cohesive sequence of sessions for a singularly rewarding attendee experience Helping to create the best conference experience by creating sample agendas, etc. As a Conference Delivery Team (CDT) member, you will ensure the success of the content for 2021 by: Empowering presenters to optimize content delivery by providing support and resources Ensuring presenters complete requisite tasks leading up to the conference Coordinating mentoring, breakout sessions, e-posters, hands-on-workshops, code doctors, and volunteers Reviewing contributed abstract submissions and creating sample agendas If you are interested in participating in the 2021 conference team, please read the documents (attached to this article) for a description of the roles, the responsibilities and timeline.   Action needed If you are interested in applying to be a part of the 2021 team, please complete the corresponding application (attached) for the lead role you wish to apply for and submit it to me via email at sasebduhon@gmail.com by January 10, 2020.  Please note: there are two different team member roles so please choose the application most appropriate to your interests and expertise. You may apply for both teams, but please let me know your preference if you do.   DEADLINE to apply:  January 10, 2020   There is much enthusiasm and interest across the SAS User Community and there are often not enough positions available, so your reply does not guarantee you will be selected to participate as a team member.  Applications will be reviewed in late January and you will be notified by March 1, 2020. ... View more