Ready to win the day?
Team Letter | August 3, 2026 | The No-Policy Guide to Representing Alpaca at Events
Happy Monday, Alpaca!
WOW it was so much fun welcoming new team members last week and closing the month strong! This week is another big week — we have so many new team members traveling and representing Alpaca at a conference this week for the first time — and I am so excited for y’all!
With so many traveling for the very first time, I thought it might be a good moment to offer all of us a refresher on some guidelines for traveling for Alpaca. As you know, I’m not much for policies and handbooks. I want each of us to operate as a team of owners, and a group of people looking out for the best interests of our customer, company, and team. That said, if you haven’t traveled for work much or been to many conferences, it can be confusing to know what to pack or how to plan, and we don’t want anyone feeling confused or unconfident. We’re never going to tell you exactly what to wear or do (that’s just not our way!), but thinking about three things will help you plan. Ready!? Here we go!
When traveling for work and representing the company at an event, consider these three things:
1. You are representing Alpaca’s brand and values from the moment you leave the office until the moment you return.
Your time at the booth exhibit hours is not the only time people will see you representing Alpaca. How you operate in the airport, during event set-up, at the conference hotel, and after hours is connected to how people will perceive our company. That means: probably don’t wear sweats to set up the booth, keep your language professional (even at the hotel bar!), and remember that on any given airplane, you might be sitting next to a superintendent (or our next hire!). No need for formality, but remember the importance of first impressions, no matter what you’re doing.
2. We are working to establish trust as thought leaders and peers. Dress the part!
“What do I wear?” is often a question for team members just getting started at Alpaca events. Obviously, you have your conference “capsule” so you have plenty of options for branded items to wear, and we typically recommend you wear something with Alpaca’s brand on it for each conference day. But what do you pair with that shirt or jacket?
The way we think about it is this: we want our customers to see us as respected professional peers. To achieve that, we want to “match the pitch” of the level of professionalism of the customers that will be at any of our conferences. That can vary depending on the conference itself and who’s there, so feel free to ask someone who’s been before what it’s like.
And if you’re wondering “Is this professional enough to wear?” ask yourself this: “If a school principal or district leader were wearing this exact thing, would I find that at all unprofessional or surprising?” If the honest answer is yes, you might just pick something different. Want someone else’s take on it? Just ask!
3. Give yourself the best chance of winning.
Everything we do while traveling for work or representing our company should help you feel more confident in your ability to win the day. If that means you need to wake up early and get some fresh air before the conference starts, do that! If it means you need to get to bed early, do that! If it means you need to call your sister to get some “conversation time” warmed up before you’re on the floor booking meetings, by all means, do that!
What you wear, how you show up, what you eat, how you hydrate, and how you find connection and support from your peers all goes into that equation! We can’t tell you the exact right thing to do for your day — but thinking intentionally about how you’re going to win the day (and then doing those things!) can make the difference in your ability to achieve your goal!
If you remember nothing else, know this: your team is here to support you and help however you need it. Need a pep talk? Advice? Outside walk? Egg bites? We’ve got you — and we’re here to win the day together.
You all are going to crush the goal at SAI!
KB