10 Sales Compensation Conferences to Attend in 2023

UPDATE: As information on the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation and corporate travel restrictions have unfolded, dates and details for the following conferences may change. Please check the websites for each conference for more information.

As the focus on sales performance, sales operations, and sales compensation grows each year, we find that the number of conferences dedicated to professional and business growth in these fields also increases.

We’ve compiled a list of the top ten US-based conferences that sales, sales operations, and sales compensation professionals should consider attending in 2023, from small executive forums to large annual events hosted by industry-leading vendors.

Here they are in chronological order:

1)  2020 Consero Corporate Compensation & Benefits Forum (March 1-3, Scottsdale, AZ)
The Consero Corporate Compensation & Benefits Forum consists of three days of networking, learning, and sharing compensation and benefits best practices with industry-leading executives in intimate group settings. One strong suit of this conference is that it focuses on small group discussions amongst peers as well as one-on-one meetings with best-in-class service providers, rather than the tradeshow-type conferences that rely more heavily on booths and larger scale presentations.

2) Frost & Sullivan Sales Team Accelerator Retreat (March 8, New York City, NY)
The Frost & Sullivan Sales Team Accelerator Retreat (STAR) is a great space to tackle sales challenges with workshops and forums on emerging technologies, best practices, and more. At the STAR Mind Xchange, content is tailored for sales leadership, sales management, sales operations, and sales reps.

3) Sales Management Association Sales Force Productivity Conference (May 6 – Virtual Event)
The Sales Management Association’s annual Sales Force Productivity Conference is focused on sales force effectiveness. The conference highlights emerging trends, leading practices, and the latest research impacting sales management, sales operations, sales enablement, and other functions engaged in supporting, managing, developing, or leading sales organizations. This conference will feature presentations from thought leaders, interactive workshops, online manager-to-manager networking, and a technology expo.

4) Alexander Group Operations Forum 2020 (June 10-July 15, Virtual Event)
This year’s annual Operations Forum, a part of the Alexander Group’s Leadership Series’ Forums, is now going virtual with free registration across 5 weeks. The theme is on the 24×7 Customer Experience – how to keep up with rapidly changing market conditions and customer needs. Focusing on Revenue Operations, the Operations Forum will connect the dots between marketing, sales and services to meet customer expectations before, during, and after the sale. Topics include CRM, CPQ, and other sales enablement tools, as well as strategies, models, and tactics of revenue organizations. This forum will provide opportunities for attendees to learn from and connect with Fortune 1000 leaders.

5) Xactly Unleashed Virtual Summit 2020 (June 17, Virtual Event)
The Xactly Unleashed Virtual Summit 2020 is a four-hour virtual gathering of sales, finance, operations, and compensation leaders, replacing Xactly’s usual Unleashed conference. Inspiring keynotes, educational breakout sessions, live Q&A forums, and networking sessions will all be held virtually to provide the latest trends and insights into sales performance management. Xactly Unleashed will feature three tracks tailored to specific areas of focus. Registration is free.

6) WorldatWork Spotlight on Sales Comp (August 21-23, Chicago, IL)
WorldatWork’s Spotlight on Sales Compensation is one of the largest sales compensation events designed to infuse learning, networking, thought leadership and next practices for sales compensation and operations professionals. Thirty-eight sessions are jam-packed into three interactive days, as well as peer learning opportunities – all at a new, bigger venue, Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel. This year’s conference will highlight operations and analytics content to reflect the evolving needs of sales compensation, sales operations and compensation professionals with sales compensation accountability. There will be networking opportunities as well as sessions with sales compensation industry thought leaders. Another great event by WorldatWork is their Total Rewards Conference & Exhibit, featuring over 100 exhibitors and more than 150 speakers, on June 7-10 in Minneapolis, MN.

7) 2022 Sales Operations Institute (October 23-25, The St. Regis, Aspen, CO)
The 2020 Sales Operations Institute by IPMI Online will be hosted in Las Vegas this year with a panel of featured speakers from across a variety of industries. The Sales Operations Institute will include Think Tanks, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities for sales and sales operations professionals. Registration for this conference is not yet available, but further information will become available on the IPMI Online website later in the year.

8) Gartner CSO & Sales Leader Conference (May 16-17, Las Vegas, NV)
Tailored for chief sales officers and sales leaders, this Gartner-hosted conference covers latest research on topics including sales talent, customer buying behaviors, account planning collaboration, and sales technology. Through breakout sessions, roundtables, workshops, and the exhibitor hall, this conference highlights the strategic perspective for increasing sales performance and optimizing sales enablement tools.

9) 2022 Sales Leadership Fusion (October, Naperville, IL)
The ACP Sales Leadership Fusion is a conference dedicated to improving sales performance by discussing sales enablement tools, methodologies, challenges, and best practices to ensure that attending sales organizations are positioned for growth.

10) Varicent Outperform SPM Conference (October 20-22, Boston, MA)
Newly relaunched solution provider Varicent, once a part of the IBM family, is kicking off a new customer conference called Outperform 2020, focusing on Sales Performance Management (SPM) challenges for Varicent clients as well as other sales performance professionals. Outperform will feature celebrity keynotes, industry thought leaders, and best practices covering all aspects of SPM, as well as hands-on courses for certification in Data Science and Analytics. At Outperform, Varicent will publicly unveil Symon.AI™ – the brand-new set of advanced and augmented analytics technology recently acquired by Varicent. Registration for this conference is not yet available, but further information is available from the Varicent press release. Be sure to keep an eye out for the European 2020 Varicent SPM Conference later this year – dates have not yet been announced.

We’re always excited to attend and sponsor the top sales compensation and SPM conferences in the US. Each provides an invaluable way to learn from and connect with industry thought leaders, clients, and other sales performance professionals. While our list is not exhaustive, it’s a great starting point if you’re looking for US events that specifically cater to those tasked with driving sales performance in an organization. There are a variety of fantastic, relevant conferences outside the US as well, such as the Sales Compensation Symposium in London, hosted by E-reward.

If you have questions about what to expect at each of these conferences, or if there are any other conferences, forums, or events we should consider adding to our list, please email us at os_info@www.opensymmetry.com.

Disclosure: OpenSymmetry is a past or current sponsor of all events showcased in this blog.