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NCMA World Congress 2026 FAR & Away Jeopardy Challenge: The Acquisition Edition
- Crystal Glenn
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
Some conference moments fade into a blur of hotel coffee, hallway hellos, and notes you swear you will organize later. Then there are the moments that announce themselves from across the hallway.
At the recent NCMA World Congress at the Swan & Dolphin Resort in Orlando, our Jeopardy session was definitely in the second category.
It was loud. It was competitive. It was funny in the best possible way. It also reminded us why in-person conferences still matter so much. You can read articles, watch webinars, and scroll through slides later, but you cannot recreate the energy of a room full of people laughing, buzzing in, second-guessing themselves, cheering for teammates, and learning without realizing how much they are learning.
The Jeopardy session brought the room to life
We had a feeling the Jeopardy format would work. We did not expect it to take off the way it did.
There is something about a game that changes the temperature in the room right away. People sit a little taller. Teams start whispering strategy. Someone leans forward with a grin that says they know the answer before the clue is even finished. A friendly rivalry develops before anyone has formally declared one.
That is exactly what happened.
The Jeopardy session gave everyone permission to loosen up while staying connected to the substance of the conference. It was not entertainment tacked onto the agenda. It was a different way to process the same kind of knowledge attendees were already there to sharpen.
Answers were shouted with confidence. Some were absolutely right. Some were close enough to earn a laugh. A few produced that classic conference-room moment where half the room nods, half the room groans, and everyone learns something.
The best part was the speed of it. Traditional sessions can be thoughtful and valuable, but they often ask people to sit still and absorb. The Jeopardy session asked people to participate and join a team. It turned the audience into the engine of the session.
And once people realized it was safe to have fun, the room opened up.
You could hear the shift. The early answers had that polite, cautious tone people use when they are testing the vibe. Then the buzzers started flying. Teams cheered. People negotiated with their own teammates. A correct answer felt like a small victory, especially when it came after a dramatic pause.
By the end, the room had that post-game buzz that you cannot fake. People stayed to talk and share contact information.
That is when you know a session worked.
A quick apology to our neighbors
Now, a small confession.
We got loud.
Not a little loud. Conference-rooms-with-shared-walls loud.
To any speakers, attendees, moderators, or session leaders nearby who heard bursts of laughter, applause, or the occasional dramatic reaction from our room, I owe you a sincere apology. We were having a great time, but I know that sound carries, especially in a busy conference space where every room has its own agenda and rhythm.
We did not set out to compete with anyone else’s session. The energy just built quickly, and once the game was rolling, the room had a life of its own.
So, to our neighboring sessions: thank you for your patience. If the noise interrupted a key point, pulled focus, or made anyone wonder what on earth was happening next door, I am sorry.
I hope the answer, at least, is comforting: learning was happening. Loud learning, yes, but learning all the same.
There is probably a lesson in that too. Interactive sessions need a little extra planning around room placement, microphones, walls, and expectations. When a format invites applause and quick reactions, it helps to treat it more like a live event than a lecture. That way, the fun stays fun for everyone, including the rooms nearby.
Jeopardy Hosts: Julie Linton & Crystal Glenn
Why interactive sessions work so well
The success of the Jeopardy session was not just about novelty. It worked because interactive learning meets people where they are.
By the time someone arrives at a major conference, they are taking in a lot. New names, session topics, travel logistics, industry updates, side conversations, emails waiting back home. Even the most engaged attendee can hit a wall.
Interactive formats wake the brain back up.
They also make room for different kinds of people to contribute. Not everyone wants to stand at a microphone and ask a question in front of a packed room. Not everyone processes information best by listening quietly. Some people learn by talking it through. Some learn by testing themselves. Some learn because a teammate says something that makes the idea click.
A Jeopardy-style session does a few things especially well:
It lowers the pressure.
A game gives people permission to try, miss, and keep going.
It creates shared memory.
People remember the question they debated with their team.
It encourages quick recall.
Participants have to reach for what they know, not just recognize it on a slide.
It builds connection.
Teams bond fast when a buzzer, a timer, and bragging rights enter the picture.
It keeps the room awake.
Movement, sound, and surprise all help attention come back.
That does not mean every session should become a game. Some topics need quiet focus. Some discussions need depth and time. Some speakers are excellent because they create space for reflection.
Session Team Participants
A final thank-you
To everyone who joined the Jeopardy session, thank you for bringing such great energy. You made the session work. The format gave us a structure, but the participants made it memorable.
To the teams who debated answers like championship titles were on the line, thank you.
To the people who laughed at the misses and celebrated the wins, thank you.
To the attendees who stopped me afterward to share a thought, a joke, or a suggestion for next time, thank you.
And once more, to the neighboring sessions that had to hear our excitement through the walls, thank you for your patience. We will try to keep the learning just as lively next time, with slightly better volume control.
See you at the next one. If there is a buzzer, don't be shy.
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