International attendees were proud to see their country’s flag represented with the all other countries present at the ATD Global Village located in the Sails Pavilion of the San Diego Convention Center. Our friends and colleagues from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) caught my attention as they welcomed people to their discussion table by serving Arabic coffee (kahwa). If you didn’t know, those of us from Arab nations serve kahwa as an act of kindness and hospitality. Made and served according to protocol, it is the first item offered to guests in ceremonies and celebrations.

Yet, nothing seemed too strange to us as we all attended with open minds and hearts to appreciate the research, work, and progress that became key to our own learning and development experiences. Regardless of differences and positions, we all came to speak and learn from each other in one language—the language of learning and development (L&D).

Every moment spent in San Diego, and at ATD 2018 in particular, was a learning experience. Starting from a technology stumble during the International Orientation, which a talented facilitator adapted to by delivering the session without visuals, the message came through clear: ATD was ready to help its international attendees make this a great experience. On day two, us like-minded professionals lined up very early that sunny morning in long queues to attend the keynote session by the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama. Though we were all eager to listen and learn from a great speaker, we stayed calm, chatted with each other, and showed patience. President Obama highlighted this characteristic in his discussion when he said, “It takes some time to grow.”

On the third day, the hall was once again full and we enjoyed the keynote by researcher, thought leader, and author Marcus Buckingham, who discussed key points from his forthcoming book, Nine Lies About Work. The perseverance of our L&D community of professionals and practitioners was never clearer—nothing was going to stop us from learning at every opportunity, working from our strengths, and developing a better future.

I must admit, ATD succeeded in organizing San Diego into a global village of L&D knowledge by bringing together global experts, professionals, and unique speakers. Everywhere in the city, without exception—in malls, restaurants, museums, bars, or hotels—we were talking about the event. Others were curious and wanted to understand why such a large group of strangers and international delegates were visiting the city at that time.

The tremendous effort and resources that the Organizing Committee, partners, sponsors, volunteers, and officials put into the event was demonstrated in the high level of professionalism in every aspect, and each deserves our appreciation and recognition. I found that attending ATD 2018 in San Diego was never about leisure, but became my mission and opportunity to hear great leaders, network with professionals from the same field, share knowledge and best practices, and meet friends and associates who we don’t often see in such a setting.

A big thank you goes to my company, Saudi Aramco, for offering me and my colleagues in the various L&D units the opportunity to be part of such a successful international event. Equipping L&D and other profession disciplines with the latest research and practice is evidence that the company aligned with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 2030 Vision. We hope to have the same opportunity to attend, participate, and represent the Kingdom in such important global gatherings in the future.