As the digital infrastructure industry prepares to gather at DCD>Connect | New York, taking place March 23–24, JSA caught up with Laura Hobson, Head of Marketing, Events – North America, to get her insider perspective on how to make the most of the experience. From strategic planning and high-value networking to navigating the venue and maximizing post-event momentum, Laura shares practical guidance for turning two days in New York into meaningful business outcomes. Whether you’re attending to benchmark strategy, explore AI-driven capacity growth, engage around power and sustainability, or build new partnerships, this FAQ offers a smart starting point for approaching the event with purpose.
JSA: Tell us what makes DCD>Connect | New York a must-do event.
LH: DCD>Connect | New York is where the digital infrastructure industry actually comes together to do business. Beyond the scale of the event, what makes it a must-do is the concentration of decision makers, operators, and technology leaders all in one place. The conversations are practical, the challenges are real, and the people in the room are actively shaping capacity, power, investment, and deployment strategies. Attendees are not just there to listen. They are there to benchmark, validate decisions, form partnerships, and move initiatives forward. That combination of insight, access, and momentum is very difficult to replicate elsewhere.
JSA: How do you suggest DCD>Connect | New York attendees approach their personal agendas?
LH: The most successful attendees treat the event as a mix of learning, networking, and opportunity creation. Start by identifying the sessions most closely tied to your current priorities, whether that is power, sustainability, AI readiness, financing, or operations. Then leave space for unplanned discovery. Some of the most valuable outcomes come from conversations or sessions you did not originally expect to attend. It is also worth reviewing the attendee list and scheduling key meetings in advance. A flexible but intentional approach tends to deliver the strongest results.
JSA: How can DCD>Connect | New York attendees optimize networking opportunities?
LH: Networking at DCD>Connect | New York works best when attendees lean into both the structured and informal moments. The event is designed to create natural interaction points, from curated lunches and roundtables to social gatherings and show floor activity. Rather than trying to meet as many people as possible, focus on building a smaller number of meaningful, relevant connections. Be open to spontaneous conversations, use the event app to coordinate meetings, and take advantage of the social settings (like to Icebreaker Party or 5K run) where barriers to interaction are intentionally low. That is often where the most productive discussions begin.
JSA: What are some of the key locations within the DCD>Connect | New York conference venue?
LH: The Marriott Marquis becomes a multi-layered hub for the industry during the event. The main DCD>Connect experience spans multiple content and engagement areas, including the Main Stage, Talks Stage, Showcase Stage, and the new Energy Summit. The co-located Xcelerated Compute Show takes place on the 7th Floor, bringing together the AI and compute ecosystem. The DCD>Investment Forum is hosted separately in the Marquis Ballroom 9, creating a dedicated environment for private, senior-level investment discussions. Together, these spaces allow attendees to move seamlessly between technology, strategy, energy, and capital conversations.
JSA: What are your top 3 tips for making the most of DCD>Connect | New York 2026?
LH: First, plan ahead but stay flexible. Identify priority sessions and meetings, while allowing time for unexpected opportunities.
Second, be intentional with networking. Focus on high-value conversations rather than volume, and take advantage of both formal and informal interaction points.
Third, think beyond the event itself. The real value often comes from follow-up conversations, partnerships, and decisions that happen after New York, so treat the conference as a catalyst rather than a standalone experience.
Don’t Miss JSA TV Live at DCD>Connect | New York
JSA TV Live will be broadcasting from the center of the action on the expo hall floor at DCD>Connect | New York, capturing real-time insights from the executives, innovators, and decision-makers shaping the future of digital infrastructure. Follow JSA on LinkedIn and subscribe to JSA’s YouTube channel to watch all the interviews, behind-the-scenes conversations, and event highlights as they happen.
