Hands-on wins: Why FAB’s 2026 workshops will be the hottest seats in the hall
Walk the aisles of any trade show and you’ll pick up brochures. Sit in a workshop and you leave with a plan. That’s the difference FAB has leaned into since day one: short, hands-on sessions where you build a template, wire up a live demo or pressure-test a pricing model right there with specialists and peers. In 2025, every workshop was full, and the feedback was clear – decision-makers crave space to try, not just be told.
Why workshops punch above their weight
- Proof beats pitch – thirty minutes with real data under the hood shows value faster than any stand demo.
- New angles, new allies – mix CFOs, tax partners and software architects at one table and you spark ideas impossible inside a single-discipline silo.
- Time-boxed, zero fluff – 30-minute slots keep presenters honest and delegates alert.
How to squeeze every drop from a FAB workshop
- Set a micro-goal for each session
Ask yourself, “What decision will this help me make on Monday?” – whether it’s choosing a consolidation tool, refining a fee model or polishing an Accounting Excellence award entry. - Arrive with live data
Bring a redacted client trial balance, a sample forecast, or your last award submission. Real numbers turn a generic demo into a tailored solution. - Install the tech beforehand
If the session involves sandbox access, load trial licences or apps on your laptop/tablet the night before. You’ll spend the first five minutes doing, not downloading. - Sit up front, speak up early
Questions shape the direction of a small workshop. Voice your challenge first and the facilitator is likely to anchor examples on your scenario. - Photograph whiteboards and slides
Most slides flip fast. Snap every diagram, then transcribe key actions into your task manager while they’re still fresh. - Book a follow-up chat while you’re there
If a vendor or peer drops a golden nugget, schedule a 10-minute coffee later in the day – before you both dive back into the floor rush. - Translate insight to action within 48 hours
Block an implementation hour the week you return. Copy templates into your workflow, brief your team, and send any award-entry tweaks to marketing before momentum fades.
Follow this checklist and each 30-minute FAB workshop becomes a springboard for concrete, Monday-morning progress – not just another note in the conference notebook.
What’s next for 2026
Expect deeper dives and fresh tracks – think multi-GAAP consolidation sandboxes, AI-assisted tax advisory models and live cyber-resilience walkthroughs. The rule stays the same: capped numbers, expert hosts, real work done.
