On Thursday, hundreds of entrepreneurs and business leaders gathered at Kansas City’s Union Station for iKC: The Unconference.

The unconference model means attendees show up in the morning, submit topics and then vote to decide which topics will make the most interesting sessions and bring the most value.

SPN’s Iowa editor Megan Bannister and Nebraska editor Jordan Pascale were first-time unconference attendees and thought they’d share what they learned from iKC’s unconventional model:

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1. Keep an open mind

You never know what you’re going to get with the unconference model. Maybe you show up to a session excited about the topic put forth and the conversation never even broaches areas you thought it would. Or maybe the conversation will take a turn and unearth a much more important issue. While some sessions may end up being more valuable than others, there’s no way to know unless you try.

And, per “unwritten” rule number four of  the unconference, if you’re not learning from or contributing to the discussion, it’s your personal responsibility to find some place where you are.

2. Get outside of your usual bubble

One of the best parts of an unconference like iKC is that it brings in a lot of people with different backgrounds and perspectives on the issues being discussed. From the corporate world to startup people to leaders in the nonprofit sector, it’s valuable to learn how people in different personal roles perceive issues.

On a similar note, you never know who could be a good connection or new customer, even if it seems like they might be outside your typical sphere or market. You never know until you ask.

3. Learn to approach your problems in a community-minded way

One of our biggest takeaways from iKC was the community-minded, social good component of the event. It was inspiring to see individuals from so many different backgrounds come together. As a startup community, it’s easy to feel like you’ve met everyone, heard about their companies and know where the city’s future is headed. But with a wider perspective, it’s easier to take a wider lens and validate the problems our startup community is trying to solve.