MWC'23 Barcelona

In late February 2023, I had the amazing chance to attend the Mobile World Congress (MWC), a major global event held annually in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. As someone relatively new to my career, this experience was incredibly important for me. Over the course of four exciting days, I was fully involved in presenting our company's latest products and services and building important business connections.

MWC Barcelona, organized by the GSMA, takes place at the Fira de Barcelona Gran Via. It's a key gathering for leading electronics and telecommunications companies to showcase their newest innovations, attracting over 88,500 attendees from various sectors. Big names like Samsung, IBM, and Huawei come together here to discuss the latest in smartphone technology, advancements in 5G, and the future of artificial intelligence.

The scale of the event was truly impressive. Prior to this, I had the chance to explore exhibitions in Turkey, providing me with insights into the exhibition environment and event culture, thus better preparing me for what to expect. However, nothing quite prepared me for the sheer size and energy of MWC. Stepping into the bustling exhibition halls, I immediately realized this was unlike anything I had experienced before. Barcelona itself was transformed into a vibrant hub of activity, seemingly tailor-made for the occasion, as visitors from around the world converged for this special event.

As the conference unfolded, each day brought new opportunities for engagement. On the initial day, much like other participating companies, our team members were primarily stationed at our booth, dedicated to showcasing our diverse range of products and services, elucidating on how we assist our clients in developing and expanding their network architecture. During breaks, I explored the exhibition grounds, getting ready for the days ahead.

On the second and third days, I actively ventured into pavilions representing Eastern, Northwest, and Northern European countries, strategically expanding our business outreach. I directly began forging connections in Lithuania, Belgium, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, Romania, France, and the UK. Notably, the relationship I established with Business France, the national trade organization for France, gave us the opportunity to deliver a company presentation in the French Pavilion.

The final day of the event was more relaxed, allowing me to enjoy the “fun” side of the exhibition. Throughout MWC, our company organized numerous promotional and business meetings in various country pavilions, highlighting our commitment to expanding our business and promoting our products in the European market.

I am extremely grateful to my company for giving me, as a junior employee, the opportunity to represent them at such an important international event. This experience has given me valuable insights and skills that will undoubtedly benefit my career in the future.