“Inbound is an annual event, powered by HubSpot, that unites thought leaders from over 161 countries across marketing, sales, customer success, and revenue operations.”
The Conference
A week in Boston, MA including a little bit of work, conversations, inspirational leaders, and coffee (lots of coffee). My first-time visiting Boston since 2017 was to attend the annual Inbound conference for work. We’ve had our sights set on attending Inbound for the past two years, only to have those plans squashed due to covid. Finally, Inbound is back in-person (but still offering an online option) as a festival style event layout hosting over 10,000 in-person attendees.
The opening Spotlight featured the CEO Yamini Rangan, CPO (Chief Product Officer) Stephanie Cuthbertson, and CTO Dharmesh Shah of HubSpot. Introducing the theme “crisis of disconnection,” new platform features, and the importance of community.
My sessions attended included the following and a few key take-aways and inspirations:
- How to Tech-enable Your Business with Customer Apps and Integrations on HubSpot with Dave Lapointe, Director of Integrations and Applications and Guido Bartolacci, Sr. Manager of Product Strategy from New Breed
- Don’t be afraid of “Big Bold Thinking” & ideas that foster “Small Changes Huge Impact”
- “You’re building a boat. Not a bed.” Sometimes ideas require constant maintenance to support, sometimes ideas are build it and leave it. Know which one you have.
- The Intelligent Inbound Podcast: Against All Odds with Jen Spencer, CEO and Stephanie Valenti, CRO of SmartBug Media.
- Authenticity is key to leadership.
- Conversational Marketing: Is This the End of Mobile Apps? with Ted Franz, Director of Product Strategy at Infobip, Emily Flanigan, Head of Marketing at Infobip, and Cassidy Shield, Chief Growth Officer at Refine Labs
- Are brand-centric mobile apps going to be replaced by conversational channels including: SMS, WhatsApp, and social media communication channels?
- What’s Next: Leadership Lessons with Brian Halligan, Co-Founder at HubSpot & Dannie Herzberg, Partner at Sequoia Capital
- On Capital, Creativity, and Community Care with Viola Davis, Actor, Producer, and Philanthropist
- How It Started & How It’s Going: How Failure & Pivoting Can Create Massive Opportunity with Jay Schwedelson Founder and CEO at Worldata Group
- Don’t be afraid of your “Fuck It” era.
- Rebuilding Our Collective Future with Jane Goodall, Founder at Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace
- If you find something you are passionate about, find a way to do it.
- How to Make Old and New Data Coexist Peacefully in HubSpot with Luke Dringoli Sr. Marketing Technology Director at Media Cause
- Plot > Prep > Push
- The Catalytic Power of Language: How Babbel Creates Community Through Language Learning with Meredith Silver, Director of B2B Revenue at Babbel for Business
- Hard-Won Lessons on Starting and Growing a Community with Dharmesh Shah, CTO at HubSpot & Sam Parr, Host of My First Million
- From the Frontlines of Libya to the Trenches of Tech with Jeff Kofman, Founder and CEO of Trint
- 1. When shit hits the fan you need to stay calm. “The worst things get, the calmer you have to be.”
- 2. Assuming people know what you are thinking is dangerous. Over communicate!
- 3. Know the limits of your ability, admit what you can’t do.
- 4. When others try to shape your story > Own your story.
- 5. When you are told you can’t just keep going.
- No Straight Path: A Conversation with Dawn Dickson, Founder and CEO of PopCom
- “The only reason why I haven’t failed, is because I never quit.”
- “You can pick the destination; you can’t pick the journey.”
- How RSG Group Uses HubSpot to Create Synergy with Gold’s Gym, JOHN REED and HEIMAT with Silke Hensel, CMO at RSG Group, & Chandler Harmon, Digital Experience at RSG Group
- A Conversation with President Barack Obama
- “Things are never as good as you think they are, and things are never as bad as you think they are.”
- Sometimes you are presented with a question that doesn’t have a right or wrong answer. If you arm yourself with all sides of information and allow diversity of input, no matter what the outcome, you can know that you made the right decision.
Food & Drinks in Boston, MA
Breakfast
Tatte
Score: 10/10
Location: 200 Pier 4 Blvd, Boston, MA 02210
What we ordered: Black coffee, Halloumi Sunny-Side Breakfast Sandwich
Why we like it:
- Good Coffee.
- Mouthwatering bakery items on display & made to order breakfast items.
- I ordered the Halloumi Sunny-Side Sandwich, a runny yoke, on a toasted brioche bun. Would absolutely eat again.
- This place was busy in the mornings (which is always a good sign!).
- Location: located on the pier for a lovely morning stroll by the water with your coffee.
Website: https://tattebakery.com/
Lunch / Dinner
Lincoln Tavern and Restaurant
Score: 9/10
Location: 425 W Broadway, Boston, MA 02127
What we ordered: Truffle fries, summer zucchini chips, Adobo Steak Bowl, Maine Beer Co. Lunch IPA (which ended up being my go-to beer in Boston)
Why we like it:
- Delicious food! Look this place up on Yelp and you will see people RAVING about the brunch at Lincoln. We can happily report that the dinner menu was just as rave-worthy. I highly recommend the steak bowl.
- Big menu with options for the whole crew.
- Laid-back, bar-style atmosphere.
Website: https://www.lincolnsouthboston.com/
City Tap Fort Point
Score: 6.5/10
Location: 10 Boston Wharf Rd, Boston, MA 02210
What we ordered: Hummus, Pretzel & Pimento, Logan Square Pizza, Honeysuckle Mule
Why we like it:
- The food was very much basic bar-style food. And it was really tasty! Highlight of my meal was the maple bourbon mustard that comes with the pretzels (I poured it all over my pizza). The food saves the overall score.
Why we didn’t:
- They didn’t have CO2 for the taps = no draft beers (at a Tap House??)
- The servers weren’t very well versed on the menu or alteration options, a little on the inattentive side.
- The atmosphere was quiet, there were many open tables. The music was 90s pop throwback and didn’t fit the vibe.
- It’s a small chain, I would really rather eat local when I travel.
Website: https://www.citytap.com/location/fort-point/
SRV
Score: 9.5/10
Location: 569 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02118
What we ordered: Marinated olives, Crab in Saor, Prosciutto, Arugula Salad, Fig, Mushroom Risotto, Lunch IPA
Why we like it:
- Multiple course style ordering, menu is broken up into small, medium, and grain plates. Great opportunity to order a lot of different options and share with the table.
- The flavors were all STRONG! Foodie paradise. Risotto was my favorite course, and the serving was very generous.
- Cute outdoor back patio with Christmas lights.
Notes:
- Dress code: business casual +
- Would be a GREAT date night location.
- Price point: $$$$/$$$$$ (4/5)
Website: http://srvboston.com/
Food Truck: Daddy’s Bonetown Burgers
Score: 6.5/10
Location: Food Truck
What we ordered: Angus Cheeseburger, Thick-cut fries
Why we like it:
- Fries were thick, crispy, better than average.
- Fast
Why we didn’t:
- For a food truck that specializes in burgers, I was not impressed. No flavor.
- Pricey for food truck food: Burger ($14) + Fries ($5)
Drinks & Apps
Fromage Wine Bar & Restaurant
Score: 9/10
Location: 401 W Broadway, Boston, MA 02127
What we ordered: Cheese Monger’s Delight (three cheese), J Vineyards Pino Grigio (CA)
What we liked:
- Waitress was super bubbly, helpful, friendly.
- Quiet (we were the only ones in the little restaurant which we liked).
- Highly rated.
- Good wine!
Website: http://www.fromageboston.com/
Temazcal
Score: 8/10
Location: 250 Northern Ave, Boston, MA 02210
What we ordered: Harpoon IPA
What we liked:
- We didn’t eat here but the food smelled amazing, and the fajitas were sizzling.
- Pretty restaurant, you walk through an artistic archway to the front desk, the interior decor was very aesthetic.
What we didn’t:
- Poor choice of beers at the bar.
Website: https://www.temazcalcantina.com/
Our Hotel: Renaissance Boston Waterfront
Location: 606 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210
Another Mariott stay featuring: Starbucks in the lobby, bar & lounge, and a 2min walk to the waterfront. We ended most nights with a drink at the bar, my drink of choice being the Sip of Sunshine IIPA.
The rooms were a little outdated, averagely clean. Comfortable beds. But great pricing for the proximity to the convention center, waterfront, and downtown area at just over $300/night.
Nothing exceptionally good. Nothing exceptionally bad. Rating, primarily driven by location is 8.5/10
and-adventures.com 