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As Troy Palmquist prepares to attend ICNY next week, he shares the can’t-miss speakers, sessions and extra events he’s most excited about.

Inman Connect

Invest in yourself, grow your business—real estate’s biggest moment is in New York!

Reading the Inman Connect New York agenda is basically the conference equivalent of drinking espresso at midnight and deciding you’re going to reorganize your entire life. Every speaker and every session looks so good, but there’s just no way to do it all.

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So I am going to share with you the sessions I’m most excited about and some of the side quests where you can network and get the most out of the experience.

Most people don’t really know how to read an event agenda — they circle buzzwords. They chase celebrity panels. They sit in rooms that feel important and leave with nothing but a branded notebook and a LinkedIn post about “great conversations.”

That’s not how you work a conference. And it’s definitely not how you tap into the potential when attending Inman Connect.

It’s essential to identify the sessions that are going to move the needle on your business. These are the ones where the subtext matters more than the slide deck. The ones where you hear how decisions are really being made — not how they’re being marketed.

Below is my hit list. It’s not exhaustive, but these are the rooms I’ll be in while everyone else is wandering the expo hall or the hotel lobby pretending to be busy.

Read it. Or don’t. But if you miss these sessions, don’t tell me the juice wasn’t worth the squeeze.

But before the 1st session, here are a few tips

If you want to get the most out of your time at ICNY, you’ve got to get your content lined up. Don’t miss my recent conversation with video content expert Ransome Tucker for the advice you need to maximize your content planning: Conferences are goldmines (if you know how to film them).
Even if you’re jet-lagged, it’s smart to get out, walk around and get the lay of the land on Monday evening, before ICNY even begins. Head to a meetup at Bridges Bar, right inside the Midtown Hilton, to get to know some of your fellow attendees and Inman ambassadors, reconnect with old friends, meet new ones and get insider tips on making the most of your Connect experience.
Or join me at a party I’m hosting, with slices from some of the city’s most iconic pizza places and proptech pitches at NYC’s premier gaming lounge — the perfect place for a pitch battle. (RSVP space is limited!)

OK, so here are the sessions I’m most excited about

These are the sessions everyone will be talking about, so you must attend them if you want to get the most out of your time at Inman Connect:

The Inman Interview: Robert Reffkin

No matter how you feel about the Compass-Anywhere deal, this conversation between Brad Inman and Robert Reffkin is going to be amazing. Brad is known for not holding back; he asks the tough questions and gets into conversations that real estate pros want and need to hear.

This conversation is guaranteed to be smart, spicy and worth the price of admission.

The Leader’s Playbook: Turning Strategy Into Relentless Execution

Sean Soderstrom, the founder and CEO of Courted, is making his Inman moderator debut in this session. I’ve had the opportunity to get to know Sean very well: It all started with a beer at the lobby bar.

From there, I’ve followed his career and, fortunately, had the opportunity to interview him for a few articles that we’ve done together. He worked at McKinsey and Compass before developing Courted and was Inman’s 2024 Innovator of the Year.

Recruiting and Retention in the Age of Consolidation

Two of my favorites on one stage? I’m not missing this. Stacie Staub has built an amazing brokerage, never sold out to the bigger brokerages and continues to grow. (Did you know that she owns a coffee shop and pilates studio next door to one of her offices? She knows how to connect with the local community.)

Michael Valdes has been a mentor to me; I met him at another Inman Connect event when we spoke onstage about the differences between recruiting and attracting agents. Every conversation he’s part of is a masterclass on expansion and brand-building.

Culture Wins Loyalty

Everyone talks about culture and how they “want it.” But what type of culture? I’m excited for this conversation because I know and have worked firsthand with these panelists. Nick Schlekeway has built Amherst Madison into a powerhouse brokerage; I worked with him when I was selling homes in Idaho.

James Wong built MAXA Designs — not a brokerage but a tech company. Employees love working there, and customers (like me) think of MAXA as part of their team, not just a product or service provider.

Rapid Fire Tips on AI Workflows

OK, this one is only a few minutes long, so make the time to walk into the room for this. In fact, make a calendar reminder right now. Luis Poggi is the co-founder and CEO of HouseWhisper, and I’ve enjoyed all of my conversations with him. He is honestly a genius, and the product is great, so I can’t wait to hear his tips.

Every conversation I’ve had with him has been one of those, “Oh, I need to think bigger” moments. Can’t wait to hear his tips.

Decoding Facial Features Transforms Negotiations

On Wednesday, you can’t miss this presentation by Brian Galke. I was fortunate enough to sit next to Galke at a dinner hosted by Justin Benson, the founder of Shilo. I learned so much from Galke — and the face reading is a real thing.

I was skeptical as hell at first, and then he analyzed my facial features, nailed my communication style and preferences, and then proceeded to go around the table and do the same for everyone there. It was mind-blowing. If you negotiate (you do), go.

The 5 Types of Wealth

Andrew Flachner has one of my favorite podcasts in real estate, featuring insightful conversations with top industry leaders. Now, we’ll get the chance to watch him interview Sahil Bloom, New York Times bestselling author of The 5 Types of Wealth. (Get a sneak peek here.)

I know how much Flachner likes this book and what he has personally learned and implemented in his own life because of it. In fact, I bought my own copy because of Flachner, so yes, I’m going to try to get them both to sign it.

How to Be Found in the Age of AI

I’m not even sure why you wouldn’t be in the room for this: AI is something that EVERYONE is thinking about right now. The panelists are all so knowledgeable — I’ve previously seen each of them on other stages, so this is going to be 20 minutes of value, with key takeaways you can implement in your business tomorrow and see results.

I love seeing three of my friends on stage together: Lauren Henss is one of the best marketing VPs and growth leaders in the industry in the business. Molly McKinley is a brand and strategy mastermind helping companies create authority and trust in the AI era. Karen Stone is a rockstar agent who actually practices what she preaches (she’s also a great trivia night host).

This is a continuing conversation that started in 2025 at Inman Connect San Diego. Don’t miss it. This could very well be one of the best conversations of the event.

Building a Business That Runs Smarter (Not Harder)

We’ve all heard “work smarter, not harder” — AI is the first time that’s actually real. Drew Fabrikant (Founder and CEO of Scout) is showing how AI can automate follow-up, content, marketing, and workflows so your business runs smoother without you being the bottleneck.

I’ve seen firsthand what Fabrikant and Scout can do with prospecting and predictive models — significantly improving lead gen and client engagement. If you’re still the busiest person in your business, this one’s for you.

The Future of Brokerage Profit with AI

Ashar Rizqi, CEO at Bounti, has spent his career building successful tech companies and now works in the real estate industry, building to solve problems that really exist. Vanessa Bergmark is CEO of Red Oak Realty, one of the indies that I’ve admired for years. (I even used it as a case study when I started my first indie brokerage, The Address.) What a great panel.

This isn’t “fun.” This is necessary. Because AI is changing the economics — and too many brokerages are still operating like it’s 2016.

The State of the Luxury Market

Closing out the event, it looks like they saved one of the best sessions for last in this examination of luxury buyers, pricing, branding and influence. Don’t miss my friend Quiana Shonte Echols, CEO at Watch Realty Co. She is a powerhouse!

Finally, one of my favorite moderators, Laura Monroe, is back. Make sure to check out one of her conversations, as well as those featuring Kendall Bonner and Holly Meyer Lucas.

When it’s done right, an Inman event isn’t about volume. It’s about curation. The full agenda features a lineup that reflects the real conversations real estate pros are having right now. Choosing from among the different tracks and sessions is key to optimizing your experience.

I’m so excited about this ICNY, not because it’s bigger, but because it’s sharply curated for what the industry needs to see and hear right now.

So show up prepared. Create content worth sharing. Get into rooms (and conversations) that make you uncomfortable — skip the sessions you already agree with.

This is one of those events you’ll either put to work in your business or regret as a missed opportunity. Choose wisely.

Register for Inman Connect New York, taking place next week on Feb. 3–5, to hear Sahil Bloom and other top real estate leaders share insights on growth, leadership and the next wave shaping the industry.

Troy Palmquist is the founder and principal at HomeCode Advisors. Connect with him on LinkedIn.

Topics: Anywhere | Brad Inman | Compass | lead generation | leadership | productivity | Robert Reffkin Show Comments Hide Comments Sign up for Inman’s Morning Headlines What you need to know to start your day with all the latest industry developments Sign me up By submitting your email address, you agree to receive marketing emails from Inman. Success! Thank you for subscribing to Morning Headlines. Read Next