A personal journey through community, scholarship, and intentional visibility in Information Systems
Introduction: Why ICIS Matters Beyond the Conference Program
For many scholars, conferences are measured by sessions attended, papers presented, or panels chaired. But ICIS, the International Conference on Information Systems, has always been more than a schedule of talks for me. ICIS is a living ecosystem. It is where ideas collide, careers quietly pivot, friendships form, and futures take shape in hallways, lobbies, and unscripted conversations.
ICIS 2025 reinforced something I have come to deeply believe: the field advances not only through research outputs, but through people who show up with intention. This year was not just about being present. It was about being seen, engaged, and connected.
This article is a reflection on my ICIS journey: the people I met, the communities that emerged, the moments of serendipity, and the growing conviction that the future of Information Systems scholarship must be built openly, collaboratively, and visibly.
Doctoral Student Corner: Where Community Quietly Begins
One of the most meaningful moments of ICIS 2025 began in what might seem like an ordinary space: the Doctoral Student Corner. What started as a casual networking session quickly evolved into something far more significant.
I had the privilege of connecting with an exceptional group of doctoral scholars, Mason Wagner, Adrianna Jezierska, Fardin Sabahat Khan, Rawan Qadri, Yannick Heß, Jaeyeon Jeong, Cherileigh L. Chandler, and Doron Yeverechyahu. Through genuine conversation and shared aspirations, we organically formed what later became known as the Gold Group.
What stood out was not just intellectual alignment, but intentionality. As conversations continued beyond the session, we collectively decided this would not be another fleeting conference interaction. We chose to build a real community, one grounded in collaboration, mutual support, and meaningful scholarly contribution.
Every significant journey starts small. The Gold Group was one such beginning.
Depth Over Transaction: Meeting Mark Keith
Conferences often incentivize transactional networking: quick introductions, exchanged business cards, and polite follow ups. But once in a while, you encounter someone who shifts the entire experience.
In all my years of networking, I have rarely connected with anyone on a deeper level than Mark Keith. Our interaction transcended professional exchange. It was reflective, grounded, and profoundly human.
Mark possesses a wisdom that goes beyond academic credentials, one rooted in lived experience, perspective, and clarity about what truly matters. Conversations with him were less about outputs and more about meaning, values, and understanding life as a whole.
Encounters like this remind me that the most influential scholars are often those who quietly shape how others think, live, and lead.
Meeting a Giant: Fred Davis and the Roots of IS
Few moments at ICIS are as surreal as meeting the scholars whose work shaped your intellectual foundation. For me, that moment came when I encountered Fred Davis, the father of the Technology Acceptance Model.
When I saw him, I genuinely thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. To be sure, I approached him and said, “Your face looks familiar.” He smiled and replied, “I’m Fred Davis.” I laughed and said, “I already know.”
Beyond his legendary status, what struck me most was his warmth and kindness. He was gracious, present, and deeply human, an embodiment of the best qualities of academic leadership.
Moments like this remind you that disciplines are built by people, not abstractions.
Intentional Connections: Grant Oosterwyk
One of the people I was most intentional about meeting at ICIS was Grant Oosterwyk. From our online interactions, I already knew him to be thoughtful, generous, and supportive. Meeting him in person only confirmed this.
His real life presence perfectly matched his online persona, authentic, grounded, and genuinely invested in others. Grant exemplifies the kind of scholar who shows up consistently, not for visibility, but for impact.
This alignment between online and offline presence is rare and powerful.
Beyond Sessions: Community and Culture with Sebastian Boell
ICIS is also about the moments that happen outside conference halls. A memorable example was the visit to Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery, graciously organized by Sebastian K. Boell.
Beyond the elegant Tennessee whiskey, what made the experience special was the conversation, relaxed, thoughtful, and deeply collegial. These moments matter because they humanize academia. They remind us that relationships, not just research agendas, sustain the field.
The Crème de la Crème: Jan vom Brocke
My ICIS journey would not be complete without meeting Jan vom Brocke. I often refer to him as the crème de la crème, not just for his intellectual contributions, but for the effortless elegance with which he navigates academia.
His presence is electrifying. His aura lights up rooms. His ability to combine rigor, relevance, and humanity is something I deeply admire.
I am genuinely looking forward to collaborating with him in the future. And yes, he still owes me an award.
Choosing the Moment: Suprateek Sarker
When I saw Suprateek Sarker walking through the lobby, I knew I had a choice: ask for a photo, or lose the moment forever. I chose the former.
Suprateek’s contributions to Information Systems, through scholarship, mentorship, and leadership, are foundational. Being in his presence was a reminder of the responsibility scholars carry to shape fields thoughtfully and inclusively.
Serendipity and Design Science: Alan Hevner
One of the most unforgettable moments of ICIS involved meeting Alan Hevner, the father of Design Science, without having my phone.
What could have been a missed opportunity turned into serendipity. I asked a stranger for help, who turned out to be Sreelakshmy G, a Managing Director at Accenture.
That simple act led to a meaningful conversation and an unexpected connection. I told Alan I would frame the photo and hang it in my living room. If you do Design Science in IS, he is the reason it exists.
Best Paper Nominee: Advancing Quantum Computing in Information Systems
One of the proudest and most affirming moments of my ICIS journey was being part of a Best Paper nominee, a milestone that underscored both the rigor and relevance of the work we are doing on quantum computing within the Information Systems discipline.
Presenting this paper with mu co authors at International Conference on Information Systems was especially meaningful because quantum computing sits at a critical inflection point for the field. As quantum technologies move closer to practical deployment, Information Systems scholars are uniquely positioned to examine not only technical capabilities, but also the organizational, strategic, socio-technical, and ecosystem-level implications of this emerging paradigm.
Our work contributes to this conversation by framing quantum computing not merely as a computational breakthrough, but as an evolving socio-technical system that has the potential to reshape decision-making, collaboration structures, innovation networks, and competitive dynamics across industries. Being recognized as a Best Paper nominee affirmed that these questions matter and that the IS community is ready to engage with them seriously.
What made the experience particularly rewarding was the quality of dialogue that followed the presentation. The questions, feedback, and discussions reflected a growing curiosity and commitment around how quantum computing should be theorized, studied, and integrated into mainstream IS research. It was clear that the field is beginning to move beyond asking what quantum computing is and toward asking how it should be responsibly and strategically examined.
This nomination was not just a personal highlight. It was a signal that quantum computing has arrived as a legitimate and necessary research frontier within Information Systems. I left the session energized, validated, and more committed than ever to advancing this stream of work in collaboration with others who recognize its long-term significance.
Mentorship in Motion: Matthias Söllner
Meeting my Design Science mentor, Matthias Söllner, was another defining moment. Over the fall semester, I learned from him everything from problematization to designing novel artifacts.
This encounter reinforced my belief that documenting moments matters. Pictures are not vanity. They are memory anchors and narrative artifacts in an academic journey.
Building Africa’s IS Future: Likoebe Maruping and IS Researcher Africa
A deeply meaningful conversation at ICIS was with Likoebe Maruping. We discussed the urgent need to build a strong, visible, and collaborative Information Systems community across Africa.
Africa remains profoundly underrepresented in IS, despite facing some of the world’s most pressing socio technical challenges. This realization led to the launch of IS Researcher Africa, officially kick started at ICIS 2025.
I will be dedicating ISResearcher.com to this mission, publishing scholar profiles, building visibility, and creating momentum for African IS researchers.
Table Talk: Visibility, Branding, and the End of Silos
My Table Talk at ICIS centered on a simple but powerful idea: the era of working in silos is over.
We discussed academic branding, collaboration, and the importance of showing up, sharing work openly so others are inspired to enter and remain in the field. At the intersection of AI and socio technical systems, visibility is no longer optional. It is foundational.
The next generation of IS scholarship will be defined by those who lead, connect, and build in the open.
Closing the Circle: From Podcasts to Presence
Seeing Jan Recker in person was a full circle moment. Long before my PhD, his podcast shaped my understanding of IS. When I finally met him at ICIS, I did not even have my phone, so I asked him to take the selfie himself. He did, graciously.
Moments like these remind you why journeys matter.
Final Reflections: Volunteering and Belonging
Volunteering at ICIS allowed me to immerse myself fully in the community, to contribute, connect, and build friendships that extend far beyond the conference. Without hesitation, I would do it all over again.
ICIS 2025 reaffirmed something deeply personal: the future of Information Systems will be built by scholars who show up with purpose, generosity, and vision.
This was not just a conference.
It was a chapter.
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