Finding Your Community at SIM: Connections Beyond the Conference Program
Posted on behalf of the SIM Membership Committee
At a glance
SIM Community Events at AOM 2026
🤝 Speed Networking (registration required)
🏃 Morning Runs (Fri, Sun, Tue)
🌍 Social events across Philadelphia
🚶 SIM Walking Tour
💬 SIM PhD WhatsApp Community
The SIM Division is more than a programme of sessions, we are a community of scholars. The Membership Committee's goal is to create opportunities for connection that extend beyond formal presentations and into meaningful professional relationships.
At AOM 2026 in Philadelphia, we have a curated a range of events to help members connect, collaborate, and feel at home within the Division.
Why community matters in SIM
Academic conferences can often feel overwhelming, especially for first-time attendees. SIM aims to create a more connected and inclusive experience by offering structured and informal opportunities to meet colleagues.
These interactions often become the foundation for future collaborations, mentorship relationships, and friendships that extend far beyond the conference itself.
Featured community activities
We will also be organising off-programme events across Philadelphia. Our final schedule will be unveiled over the coming weeks, but SIMians (& friends from other divisions!) can certainly look forward to morning runs on Friday, Sunday, and Tuesday at 8 a.m., co-organised by Annie Snelson-Powell & Catherine McDonald. There is no need to sign up –
just turn up before 8 a.m. outside of the Loewe's entrance.
Speed Networking with SIM (ID: 17985), for registration please visit this website
This structured networking session brings together participants and senior scholars in small-group rotations.
The aim is to create meaningful conversations across research, teaching, and career development topics in a short period of time.
SIM Morning Runs
For those who prefer to start the day actively, informal morning runs are organised across three days of the conference. These runs provide a relaxed setting to meet colleagues while exploring Philadelphia together.
The morning runs on Friday, Sunday, and Tuesday at 8 a.m., co-organised by Annie Snelson-Powell & Catherine McDonald. There is no need to sign up- just turn up before 8 a.m. outside of the Loewe's entrance.
SIM Walking Tour
The SIM Walking Tour offers an informal opportunity for doctoral students and members to explore Philadelphia together while building community connections outside the formal programme. This initiative reflects SIM's broader commitment to creating accessible, low-barrier opportunities for engagement.
🗓 Sunday, August 2, 2026
🕡 6:45 PM
⏱ Approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes
Register here: https://forms.gle/oEXxeXzvkTT59kTg6
Additional SIM community moments
Beyond Membership Committee initiatives, several Division-wide events also contribute to the SIM community experience:
- SIM Social
- SIM Business Meeting
- SIM Plenary Keynote
- Award Sessions
- Doctoral Consortium and Junior Faculty Consortium
Community highlight
SIM is built not only on scholarship, but on relationships that form in hallways, workshops, morning runs, and shared conversations.
Join us in Philadelphia
Whether you are attending your first AOM or returning as a long-standing SIM member, the Membership Committee warmly invites you to take part in these activities and help strengthen the SIM community.
Plus, we are also in the process of organizing additional social events, cultural excursions, and various sportive activities designed to keep us moving and connected. Stay tuned to the listserv for the calls and registration links coming very soon!
Connect with the SIM community in Philadelphia.
➤ Join networking events
➤ Participate in informal gatherings
➤ Meet new colleagues
➤ Say hi 😊
------------------------------
Nabi Ebrahimi
PhD in Management
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Lowell MA
------------------------------