In an industry defined by constant change, it can be easy to get caught up in roadmaps, metrics, and daily demands. But every so often, it’s important to step back and reconnect with the broader conversation shaping where we’re headed.
As the ATM and payments world keeps evolving, one thing I’ve learned is that the best way to stay grounded and keep learning is by spending time with the people who work in this industry every day. That’s why I’m looking forward to attending upcoming industry events like the prestigious ATMIA conference.
For me, these events are less about booths, badges, or agendas and more about conversations. There’s something uniquely valuable about stepping out of the day-to-day routine and hearing how peers across banks, credit unions, processors, vendors, and networks are tackling similar challenges in different ways. You quickly realize that while institutions may differ in size or geography, many of the pressures we face are remarkably alike.
Those shared challenges create a sense of common ground that’s hard to replicate anywhere else. When people speak candidly about what they’re seeing in the field, it helps turn abstract industry trends into practical, real-world lessons.
I’m especially excited about the opportunity to listen and learn. Whether it’s discussions around self-service strategy, ATM channel evolution, security, operational efficiency, or customer/member experience, industry events provide a rare chance to hear unfiltered perspectives from people who are actively working through these topics. Often, the most useful insights come not from formal sessions, but from hallway conversations or impromptu discussions over coffee.
Those informal moments often surface the nuances—the tradeoffs, constraints, and lessons learned—that don’t always make it into presentations, but are critical to understanding what’s really happening.
I’m also curious to see how the conversation around the ATM channel continues to evolve. Topics like smarter self-service, increased software flexibility, stronger security expectations, and the push toward more efficient, software-driven operations are coming up more often. It feels like the role of the ATM is being re-examined not just as a cash machine, but as a broader touchpoint in the customer journey and I’m interested in hearing how different organizations are thinking about what that means for the future.
That shift raises important questions about how teams prioritize investments, balance innovation with reliability, and ensure the channel continues to meet changing customer expectations.
What really makes these events worthwhile are the conversations that happen outside the scheduled sessions. Whether it’s a quick chat in the hallway or sitting down with someone to compare notes, those moments are where ideas get exchanged and perspectives shift. They’re also where relationships form that carry forward well beyond the conference itself.
Over time, those relationships become a trusted network—people you can reach out to long after the event ends to share insights, ask questions, or sense-check decisions.
I’m also looking forward to better understanding what’s top of mind for others right now. What’s working? What’s proving more difficult than expected? What’s keeping ATM leaders up at night? Where are teams investing time and energy, and where are they pulling back? Being able to compare notes across organizations helps all of us gain perspective and avoid operating in a vacuum.
Hearing those perspectives firsthand is invaluable, especially as budgets tighten and priorities continue to shift across the industry.
Ultimately, my goal for attending is simple: to come away with new ideas, fresh context, and stronger connections. If someone reads this and thinks, “That’s a conversation I’d like to have,” then the event has already started doing its job.
Industry events are at their best when they spark dialogue, challenge assumptions, and remind us that progress often comes from shared experience.
If you’ll be attending as well, I look forward to connecting, listening, and learning together.