How to convince your boss to send you to Nivan
A practical guide for anyone who knows this conference will change how they think — and just needs to make the case.
The Numbers First
What you bring back
Before you send the email, arm yourself with context your manager actually cares about.
19
Speakers across Tech, AI, UX & Design
11
Industries represented under one roof
13
Partners driving real-world perspectives
What a day looks like
Structured to move you forward
Nivan is designed as a journey — not a series of random talks. The agenda has a clear arc: context, clarity, action.
Morning
The Past — Foundations & Origins
Where did we come from? Keynotes and debates that trace how we got here — in AI, design, and human experience.
Midday
The Present — Tensions & Decisions
Creative duels and lightning talks on the real trade-offs happening right now — power, ethics, tooling, craft.
Afternoon
The Future — What we build next
Workshops, immersive sessions, and a Time Capsule where you commit to what you believe — and revisit it later.
What to actually say
Three scripts that work
Pick the framing that fits your manager's language.
If your boss cares about staying ahead of AI
"Nivan brings together 19 speakers from 11 industries to talk honestly about AI's impact on how we work and design. I want to come back with a clear picture of where things are heading so we're not reactive — we're ready."
If your boss cares about team development
"This isn't a typical conference. The format is designed around active learning — debates, workshops, immersive sessions. I'll come back with frameworks I can immediately apply and share with the team."
If your boss cares about cross-functional perspective
"What's rare about Nivan is that it pulls design, tech, research, and business into one room. It's exactly the kind of cross-pollination that gets us out of our own echo chamber — and that thinking compounds."
Copy-paste ready
The approval email
Customize the bracketed fields and hit send.
The ROI Frame
Subject: Conference request — Nivan 2026, May 21
Hi [Name],
I'd like to attend Nivan on May 21 in Chicago — a one-day innovation conference on Tech, AI, UX, and Design at the Institute of Design at Illinois Tech.
The reason I think it's worth the investment: 19 speakers from 11 industries in a single day, with formats built around active application — debates, workshops, and immersive sessions rather than passive talks. The return is immediate. I'll come back with a written summary and present key takeaways to the team within a week.
The ticket cost is [X]. I'm happy to skip [travel / offsite / other budget item] to make it work if needed.
More at www.nivan.live — happy to discuss.
[Your name]
The Strategic Timing Frame
Subject: One day in May that I think matters — Nivan 2026
Hi [Name],
I want to flag an event I think is worth attending: Nivan, May 21 in Chicago. It is a focused one-day conference on Tech, AI, UX, and Design — and the timing feels right given where we are with [current project or initiative].
The agenda moves through past, present, and future: how we got here, the tensions we are navigating now, and what we build next. Nineteen speakers, eleven industries, and session formats designed for practitioners — not just observers.
I would come back with direct application to [specific challenge]. Happy to share the full agenda if useful.
More at www.nivan.live.
[Your name]
The Team Value Frame
Subject: Nivan 2026 — professional development request
Hi [Name],
I am requesting approval to attend Nivan on May 21 — a one-day innovation conference at the Institute of Design at Illinois Tech focused on Tech, AI, UX, and Design.
What stood out to me is the format. It is structured around active learning: creative debates, immersive sessions, and collaborative workshops — not a passive speaker lineup. The goal is thinking you actually use, not notes you never open again.
I plan to document what I learn and share it with the team through [a Slack post / lunch-and-learn / team meeting]. The knowledge does not stay with me — it comes back to the group.
Details at www.nivan.live.
[Your name]
Quick checklist
Tie it to something live
Name one current project or challenge this will directly inform. Specificity converts.
Offer a deliverable.
A one-pager, a team lunch-and-learn, a Slack recap. Show the ROI extends beyond you.
Lead with the date
May 21 — early in the email. Managers need to calendar-check before they read further.
Link the site
www.nivan.live does the heavy lifting. Let the design and speaker list close the case for you.
Keep it short
Three paragraphs max. A tight ask reads as confident. Long emails read as uncertain.
Ready to register?
Once you have the yes — secure your seat.